The Red Dress: Conversations in Stitch is the much-anticipated book documenting and celebrating The Red Dress global collaborative embroidery project and it's coming to Stroud for the Stroud Book Festival for one day only, Thursday 6 November 2025 at St Laurence: Centre for Peace and the Arts, The Shambles, Stroud GL5 1JL

The book explores and amplifies the narratives stitched into the dress and brings together new voices from the wider project. Powerful and poignant embroiderer stories sit alongside reflections from key moments in the dress’ incredible journey from its creation 2009-2023 to ongoing exhibition tour. Featuring insights from the dress’ creator Kirstie and further organisations involved, the book also presents specially commissioned essays on themes such as empowerment, healing trauma and building community which The Red Dress opens up for audiences.

For Stroud Book Festival we are planning timed viewing for The Red Dress at St Laurence: Centre for Peace and the Arts, Stroud, an embroidery workshop with Nikki Green from new Stroud haberdashery The Fold and a talk and panel discussion about the book and the power of stitching with artist Kirstie Macleod, publisher Katy Bevan and book editor Emma Bovill.

10.30am   timed entry viewing of the dress for 60 mins

11.45am   timed entry viewing of the dress for 60 mins

1.00pm     timed entry viewing of the dress for 60 mins

2.15pm     timed entry viewing of the dress for 60 mins   

2.30 –4.00pm  Embroidery workshop with Nikki Green of The Fold @thefoldstroud

4.30–5.30 pm talk/ panel discussion with Kirstie Macleod, Emma Bovill the editor and Katy Bevan from Quickthorn. Book here

Viewing only £5, workshop £25, talk £12 (workshop and talk tickets include access to view the dress)

Nikki from The Fold is calling all stitchers, sewers, embroiderers and craft lovers to help create a hanging inspired by The Red Dress🧵🪡

As the Red Dress arrives in Stroud on 6th November, we're inviting our COMMUNITY to help create a special stitched artwork. Inspired by the dress's journey and its power to connect people across cultures, we'll produce a hanging made from fabric panels to be displayed in The Fold's window for all to enjoy. All you need is some thread, needles and time!! We can't wait to see what people create. Contact Nikki to get involved nikki@wearethefold.uk