South Derbyshire In Stitches – Igniting Creativity in 2026

2026 has been a busy year for South Derbyshire’s Stitchers, Derbyshire District Council awarded Creative Melbourne a Derbyshire Makes Grant in December 2025 and the first half of the year has been filled with scraps of fabric, ribbons and buttons galore as over 100 stitchers created appliqued and embroidered squares illustrating what they felt was special about where they lived.

The project has been led by Sharon Brown, along with Fine Art Embroiderer Michelle Holmes and Creative Producer Clare Limb. During the Spring groups in the area from Melbourne to Swadlincote have created a series of four quilts each made up of over 50 individual picture squares to make a South Derbyshire in Stitches Quilt – “Pits & Pots in the National Forest” showcasing the pottery and Mining industries in and around Swadlincote which are gradually returning to nature as the National Forest evolves. Melbourne in Stitches showcases the architecture and heritage of Melbourne – the centre of South Derbyshire until the industrial revolution. The remaining quilts highlight the market gardening, farming, footwear, knitting & glove making industries in South Derbyshire each square packed full of passion for the area and amazing skill and creativity.

The squares have been joined have been pieced together and trimmed with smaller squares made by children from Melbourne Junior School and Belmont School in Swadlincote. Please join us to see the Quilts at The Swadlincote Festival of Leisure in Maurice Lea Memorial Park on Saturday 20^th & Sunday 21^st June and at Melbourne Festival on 19 & 20 September in Melbourne Parish Church.

What better way to 21 years of Melbourne Festival & 5 years of Creative Melbourne operating as the hub for the creative arts in South Derbyshire than by bringing the community together to share “what” local people think makes South Derbyshire so special.

Please contact – Sharon Brown – sharon@melbournefestival.co.uk to find out more!