To bridge the gap between historical artifacts and the lived reality of modern makers, I designed a cultural probe called the “Textile treasure chest”. This was a carefully curated collection of historical darning and embroidery samplers. I brought this physical toolkit to a participatory research session at the WDKA international knitting and crochet club in Rotterdam, using the historical textiles as conversation starters.

I used these historical objects to trigger situated conversations about invisible labour and gendered expectations. The physical presence of the samplers prompted participants to share profound personal stories. One participant recalled how her grandmother used the repetitive rhythm of mending as her “distraction or meditation,” proving that textile repair functions as a vital tool for cognitive regulation. Other discussions revealed how modern makers still have to actively unlearn the internalized stigmas attached to “women’s work”.

Through this hands-on intervention, it became clear that for the current generation, simply choosing to engage in these historically dismissed crafts is a subversive act in itself. The “Textile treasure chest” helped prove that gathering to stitch is no longer just a forced domestic chore. It is an active reclamation of space, skill, and community care.