The Thread Between Us
Chloé Clarke
The Thread Between Us explores quilting as a generational, cultural, and artistic practice, using fabric for storytelling, identity, and connection. This project examines quilting’s role in American and Australian contexts, reflecting my immigration from Australia to the U.S. and how quilters blend tradition with innovation to document history, express narratives, and engage in social or political discourse. Historically a women’s practice, quilting has been both a creative outlet and a means of connection, preserving stories that might otherwise be overlooked.
At the heart of this thesis is my relationship with my mother, who introduced me to quilting as mindfulness, stress relief, and creative expression. The quilt weaves together memories, techniques, and materials that reflect our evolving bond, where imperfection and harmony come together in a balance that mirrors our relationship.
This project includes a large sampler quilt with 25 blocks narrating my life, each with a name and meaning. A smaller appliqué quilt features symbolic cutouts of my mum, myself, and our journey. This piece also includes two books: The Thread Between Us, exploring quilting in Australia and the US through an interview with my mother, and Quilting as Storytelling, a key to my quilts’ graphic elements. Complementing these are pink and blue duotone photography posters, printed using laser, risograph and silkscreen, with text inviting reflection on quilting as craft and storytelling. Through this work, I honor quilting’s legacy as women’s culture while embracing its evolution as art, connection, and personal expression.