About this episode
Sarah Pedlow was enjoying an artist’s residency in Budapest when a museum visit changed the course of her artwork and her career. In the Ethnographic Museum, displays of traditional clothing and dowry goods from Hungarian villages showed an extraordinary variety of skills. Many of the intricately embroidered pieces spoke to an earlier time—although some had been created not that long ago. One type of embroidery, írásos, particularly captured Sarah’s imagination. Using a straightforward open chain stitch in bold, graphic lines, the style was distinctively Hungarian, with Turkish-influenced motifs reflecting the region’s history. Although she didn’t speak Hungarian (a notoriously difficult language) and had no previous background in fiber art, Sarah was drawn to learn more about the embroidery. She eventually made several trips to an ethnically Hungarian region of Romania, where she met some of the few embroiderers still working in the technique and learned the stitch for herself. Within the community, this style is called “written” embroidery, and writing the patterns is respected as a distinct skill. After years of traveling in the region and studying with traditional embroiderers, Sarah decided to bring others to experience what she had learned. Working with a local guide, she began leading tours to visit the museums, shops in the markets, and learn directly from the villagers who still practice the art daily. Sarah’s fine-art work has come to incorporate stitching and textiles. Her interest in traditional fiber arts has also grown beyond írásos to include the Arraiolas stitch practiced in Portugal, another destination for her textile tours, and explorations in the embroidery of Estonia, Bulgaria, and Spain—with more destinations capturing her eye. Our conversation made me eager to pack and needle and thread and go explore the world—you may get textile wanderlust, too. Links ThreadWritten website ThreadWritten Instagram Sarah’s studio Instagram Néprajzi Múzeum/Museum of Ethnography, Budapest This episode is brought to you by: Treenway Silks is where weavers, spinners, knitters and stitchers find the silk they love. Select from the largest variety of silk spinning fibers, silk yarn, and silk threads & ribbons at TreenwaySilks.com . You’ll discover a rainbow of colors, thoughtfully hand-dyed in Colorado. Love natural? Treenway's array of wild silks provide choices beyond white. If you love silk, you’ll love Treenway Silks, where superior quality and customer service are guaranteed. Learning how to weave but need the right shuttle? Hooked on knitting and in search of a lofty yarn? Yarn Barn of Kansas has been your partner in fiber since 1971. Whether you are around the corner from the Yarn Barn of Kansas, or around the country, they are truly your “local yarn store” with an experienced staff to answer all your fiber questions. Visit yarnbarn-ks.com to shop, learn, and explore. Peace Fleece began in a small Maine town with a mission: to produce a yarn that brings together parties from areas of historic conflict, transcending boundaries through the commerce of wool. From Russian farmers to the Navajo Nation, the original owners set the foundation for meaningful trade. Today, the spinning mill at Harrisville Designs continues the tradition of sourcing fine wool from Navajo farmers, combining it with US wool and a touch of mohair to create the unique Peace Fleece blend. Visit our website at peacefleece.com to learn more. Eucalan is your go-to delicate wash for the fibers you love. Whether you’re blocking a shawl, freshening up handspun, or preserving a vintage knit, Eucalan’s no-rinse formula with lanolin keeps your work clean, soft, and cared for. Biodegradable, gentle, and available in five lovely scents—because your craftsmanship deserves the best. Learn more at eucalan.com.