Blackwork Embroidery with Heidi Henderson

Date and Time

• Sat, Mar 7, 2026 - Fri, Mar 13, 2026  

Location

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Details

Celebrate Women’s History Month with a drop-in embroidery program led by Folger Artist Fellow Heidi Henderson! Henderson will be demonstrating the technique of “blackwork embroidery,” which she uses to create art installation pieces and costuming for dance performances.

In Shakespeare’s time, embroidery was a mark of expected gender roles and upper-class status for women. As a Folger fellow, Henderson questions how these expectations were and were not encoded in early modern embroidery by crafting contemporary designs inspired by healing herbs, gardens, and “monstrous” animals.

Join us in the Great Hall to observe, learn, and even try your hand at this early modern craft!