Join us for Common Threads closing performance as we spin wool into yarn and tell stories of transformation from around the world

Since the ancient times of mermaids and snake princes, we have always told tales about transformation - in lands far away, and close to home.

Join us to card and comb the wool and swap songs and stories from Somaliland, Hong Kong, England, Scotland and India, translated across 3 languages (Cantonese, Somali & English) and underscored with live music.

Created in collaboration with Manor Weavers, SuNrit Culture, Higsad Alool Weavers, Re:Water & Craft Social

This event is part of Common Threads Festival, a weaving and arts festival happening in Sheffield city centre from 9 - 12 September 2026 and produced by The Bare Project.

Arrive early and join us for a Pay What You Can home cooked meal served from 1- 2pm.

Ticket Info: Common Threads Festival activities are offered for free to ensure everyone can access this project. However, if you are able, please book a £5 ticket so that the free tickets are allocated to those who need them.

If you would like to add a donation to The Bare Project, please add a 'donation' to your order. This allows us to provide free tickets for our community partners and those who otherwise would not be able to access our events.

About the Collaborators

The Higsad Alool Weavers, are a group of Somali women living in Darnall who practise and teach traditional Somali weaving as part of the Common Threads Festival.

The Manor Weavers are a Sheffield based group of weavers and spinners who meet weekly on a Wednesday morning.

SuNrit Culture is the project of Charu Asthana, a producer, performer and educator specialising in Indian dance, cultural heritage and community arts.

Re: Water founded in 2021, is an arts and community platform, where Hong Kong culture keeps flowing through cultural diversity, freedom of expression, and the philosophy of fluidity, like water.

Craft Social at GutLevel is a collaboration with Peek Queer Adventures that invites members to bring along their craft, art and mending projects to get creative in good company.

Access

This is a relaxed event with some seating provided, where you can try out some weaving techniques and listen to stories shared by different facilitators. You do not need to speak, you can just sit and listen.

Common Threads Festival happens at the bottom of The Moor, near the Moorfoot building in Sheffield city centre.

The festival happens outside so please dress for the weather. In severe weather conditions we will move inside the Aafly building at 108 The Moor.

The street has paving and step free access.

The installation has a small raised stage with ramp access surrounded by tall looms to weave onto.

There will be some seating available at all workshops and performances.

The nearest public toilets are in The Moor Market (approx 300 meters away).

There will be a prayer space available on site.

For further information about Access or How to Find Us see our Access Page on The Bare Project website.

About Common Threads

Common Threads is an international weaving project which invites women and marginalised genders to take up space in Sheffield city centre. It has been created by The Bare Project in collaboration with the Higsad Alool Weavers, Re-Water; SunRit Culture Group; the Manor Weavers & other textile groups from across Sheffield.

The Bare Project is a theatre and interactive arts organisation based in Sheffield who work both locally and internationally. The Bare Project create ambitious and galvanising artistic experiences for audiences, rooted in big ideas and in-depth research. They often co-create these experiences with communities of place or shared characteristics.

Common Threads Festival has been made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players we are able to offer all activities with no or low cost. The festival is also supported with by Heritage Crafts, the Radcliffe Trust and Sheffield City Council.

Description supplied by the event organiser.