Stitched together: Sheridan artists create community through embroidery

Many hands make light work, or in this case, create extraordinary embroidery. 

A creative collaboration between Sheridan Honours Bachelor of Craft and Design (Textiles) instructor Kate Jackson, 14 artist assistants and Audible led to the commissioning and creation of a massive embroidered mural celebrating the Audible Original recording of Pride & Prejudice. The piece has now been donated from Audible to Sheridan’s Art Collection, where it will be cared for in the Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design’s Creative Campus Galleries.

The 7.5-foot tall mural was inspired by the era that Pride & Prejudice was set in, and required more than 700 hours of hand embroidery to complete. 

“When Audible approached me about making a large embroidered textile, I explained that I wanted to do the whole project with hand embroidery and that I would need to hire a team to help me get it done in the timeframe they needed,” said Jackson, who also teaches in the Visual & Creative Arts and Art Fundamentals programs, along with her work as an artist. “Because Audible allowed us to stitch this entire work by hand with natural materials like cotton and wool, it strengthened the connection between the original Jane Austin classic and the contemporary Instagram moment that the embroidery provided.” 

The project was showcased in a vaulted booth at Toronto’s Word on the Street Festival in David Pecaut Square in September. Visitors experienced a unique immersive audio of Pride & Prejudice through provided headphones, added their own stitches at the community embroidery frame, and received mini embroidery kits — designed by Jackson and inspired by Audible Original’s cover art — to create their own pieces. 

“When viewers saw the massive embroidery at the festival, they connected with the material, with the technique of embroidery, and with the sheer time and energy that was represented in every stitch,” said Jackson. “They could relate with the characters in the book who were described as sitting in their own rooms stitching.” 

“I learned how to teach dozens of strangers to thread a needle and tie a knot, but I also got to explain why embroidery still matters.”

– Gabbi Knapp (Textiles '25)

Audible supported the project by hiring the artists needed to complete the mural. The 14 participating artists were Jackson’s former students from her 15 years of teaching in the program, with some now serving as faculty. The project allowed both new and seasoned artists to have the opportunity to work collaboratively and connect while stitching together. 

“This opportunity helped me further develop my skills working in a team, from communication to problem solving,” said fourth year Textiles student Tai Huynh. “We all had the same goal; to execute this idea to the best of our ability as we demonstrated the skills (we learned in) Sheridan’s Craft and Design program. This was a great way to enter the field, and I believe it has given me the confidence to apply to work on (new) projects.” 

For many students and graduates, the project became more than a challenge of their technical crafting skills. 

“I learned how to teach dozens of strangers to thread a needle and tie a knot, but I also got to explain why embroidery still matters,” said Gabbi Knapp (Textiles‘25). “Even more importantly, I learned how to be colleagues with the people who were my teachers and classmates, a lesson that will serve me the rest of my life. It was a time and place to transform suddenly from a student to a professional.” 

The mural incorporates traditional regency-era motifs alongside contemporary embroidery materials and hand stitch variations.  

“Bringing together faculty, alumni and students, demonstrated the value of learning through mentorship and hands-on making. It also affirmed that textile-based practices as both culturally relevant and viable career paths.”

– Valentyna Onisko, Assistant Curator (FAAD)

A project of this scope highlights Sheridan’s continued commitment to training and graduating talented artists. Support from students in other programs, such as Art Fundamentals and Visual & Creative Arts, and Craft and Design was essential to the success of the project, as it required a range of skills to build both working and display frames. The project also highlighted how industry partners and sponsors can come together to create art that resonates with a variety of our senses. 

“I was able to connect many of the foundational skills I learned at Sheridan, especially from studio classes where we focused on handwork, textile techniques and craftsmanship,” said Hafsa Ahmed (Textiles ‘24). “Projects like this show how powerful collaboration can be in textile work. It brings together different skills, styles, and perspectives into one unified piece.” 

"The donation of this artwork and its inclusion in Sheridan’s collection is particularly meaningful due to its collaborative nature and strong ties to the Sheridan community,” said Valentyna Onisko, Assistant Curator. “Bringing together faculty, alumni and students, demonstrated the value of learning through mentorship and hands-on making. It also affirmed that textile-based practices as both culturally relevant and viable career paths.” 

The Pride & Prejudice embroidery exhibition will take place at Sheridan’s Trafalgar Road Campus from May 19 - September 11, 2026, and the gallery will be open to the public. A reception will be held on Thursday, June 18 from 3-5 p.m. and will be open to the public. Watch for more information at galleries-sheridan.ca