Stitch, Care and Connection
Tina Francis exhibited her work with Textiles Hub London in 2014 as part of the pioneering The Geometrics exhibition, which explored the continuing influence of geometry and pattern within contemporary textile practice. During this period, Francis was developing a distinctive body of needlepoint-based work that investigated repetition, rhythm and the visual language of geometric stitch through textiles for interiors, retail and craft.
Of British heritage, Francis has long been fascinated by the expressive possibilities of needlepoint and the quiet intelligence embedded within domestic craft traditions. Her early practice combined bold geometric compositions with an interest in enabling others to make, producing contemporary tapestry kits that invited people to participate directly in the creative process. Rather than viewing the finished object as the sole outcome, she recognised that making itself could become a meaningful shared experience.
Over the past decade Francis has developed this insight into an innovative socially engaged practice centred on creative health, wellbeing and human connection. Through projects including Connect More, Thought Ladder and Thought Weave, she has transformed needlepoint into a tool for conversation, reflection and care. Working across museums, healthcare settings, community organisations and participatory projects, she creates environments in which shared making encourages listening, storytelling and mutual understanding. Her specially designed participatory needlepoint loom allows two people to stitch together while sitting face to face, creating a gentle framework for dialogue where conversation can emerge naturally, without pressure or expectation.
Central to Francis’ practice is her belief that stitch creates unique forms of communication. The repetitive movement of the needle allows participants to relax into conversation while the shared act of making encourages trust, attentiveness and emotional openness. As she has written, “A needle is a meeting place for conversation and care.” Her work demonstrates how textile processes can bridge differences in language, confidence and experience, creating inclusive spaces where every contribution is valued.
Alongside her participatory projects, Francis continues to champion the cultural significance of domestic textile traditions. Inspired by the overlooked histories of women’s home crafts, she has explored how generations of anonymous makers embedded care, love and creativity within everyday acts of stitching. Her tapestry kits honour these traditions by allowing each participant to complete the work in their own way, recognising that while the design may begin with the artist, the finished artwork belongs equally to the person who stitches it.
Francis’ work has been presented in museums and public institutions, including Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, where Connect More invited visitors to experience stitch as a shared act of making, listening and belonging. Increasingly recognised within the fields of creative health and participatory practice, her work demonstrates how textile traditions can contribute meaningfully to contemporary conversations around wellbeing, community and social connection.
Tina Francis exemplifies Textiles Hub London’s commitment to supporting artists whose practices evolve beyond conventional disciplinary boundaries. Her journey from geometric textile design to nationally recognised participatory practice reveals how making can become a powerful form of cultural care, demonstrating that textiles are not simply objects to be admired but living processes capable of fostering empathy, dialogue and human connection. Through artists such as Francis, Textiles Hub London continues to champion textile practice as a vital contributor to contemporary culture, where creativity, wellbeing and community become inseparable.
Further information: https://www.tinafrancis.co.uk
