ABOVE Susan Briscoe — Scotland’s leading sashiko expert.
By Patricia Belyea
BRIDGE OF ALLAN UK Blue hair. Traditional Japanese stitching. The two go together perfectly in the world of Susan Briscoe — Scotland’s well-known author, stitcher, and teacher.
For a woman living with one of the rarest progressive autoimmune diseases, Susan continues to move forward as a beloved leader of Japanese textiles and design in the UK.
(Susan’s secret weapon is her husband Glyn, who helps with everything from long-distance driving to setting up shows.)
I first met Susan at the Tokyo Quilt Festival. This time I caught up with her at SashikoFest in Bridge of Allan, near Stirling.BELOW An afternoon crowd at Susan Briscoe’s tables
A homegrown affair, SashikoFest travels to different locations around the UK thanks to a dedicated band of organizers. On Saturday, June 20, 2026, the next event will pop up in Meppershall Village Hall in Bedfordshire.
By the time I arrived in mid-afternoon, the crowds had thinned. That suited me perfectly because I had time to talk with everyone. I chatted with Janice Gunner, whom I’d visited at her home last summer. Earlier in the day she had presented a talk titled Beautiful Rags — Boro and Beyond.
BELOW Janice Gunner, Japanese textiles and shibori expert
A new face for me was Sean Gaffney of Textile Traders. Sean’s parents, Diane and Jim, founded Textile Traders from their love of travel and traditional textiles. They started World Textile Day in 2009, the ‘sister event’ to SashikoFest.
BELOW Sean Gaffney of Textile Traders with a great selection of arty indigo clothing and really fun embellishments 
The Fest occupied two halls. One end of the first hall was lined with vendor displays. The busiest set-up belonged to Susan because of her extensive selection of sashiko supplies and Japanese textiles.
BELOW Meeting hall of Bridge of Allan Parish Church
At the other end of the hall, Lorraine McCafferty and others displayed their brilliant stitching work.
BELOW Detail of quilt by Lorraine McCafferty made as a student of Susan Briscoe
Harvey Gamble from Inverness sat happily stitching a pair of pajamas. Harvey told me he likes to stitch every day.
BELOW Harvey Gamble came to SashikoFest with his sister. They both displayed their stitching work
The second hall had been transformed into a classroom. Rosemary Muntus, an expert in sashiko and boro, taught a mug rug mini-workshop. Seated at round tables, participants bent over their work, stitching diligently.
BELOW Teacher Rosemary Muntus at her sold-out sashiko class
Along one wall hung an impressive collection of sashiko projects, including one stunning boro kimono. Rhona Thomson, one of Susan’s students, proudly showed me her Sakura Blossoms quilt.
BELOW A display wall with a boro kimono, an antique furoshiki, and student projects including one by Rhona Thomson
I left SashikoFest in a hurry because I wanted to see Stirling Castle before it closed for the day. At the local train station, I met another keen stitcher.
Jamie Stevenson had repaired a ripped T-shirt by stitching sashiko-style spirals over a patch. He also showed me his rucksack, full of SashikoFest treasures.
BELOW Jamie Stevenson, a sashiko aficionado, with his patched t-shirt
SashikoFest was created by the people, for the people — all with a spirit of generosity. People gathered not simply to buy fabric or learn stitches, but to encourage one another, exchange ideas, and celebrate the joy of making things by hand!
To visit the Sashiko Fest website +click here
To visit World Textile Day website +click here
To visit Susan Briscoe’s website +click here
To visit Textile Traders’ website +click here
To visit Rosemary Muntus’ website +click here
To find Janice Gunner on Instagram +click here
BONUS CONTENT
I DID make it to Stirling Castle in time to see the magnificent Hunt of the Unicorn tapestries displayed in the Throne Room.
I also visited the Tapestry Studio at the far end of the castle grounds, where an interpretive exhibit detailed the two-year process behind the creation of these contemporary woven hangings.
MORE
Susan sent me photos of the crowds in the morning at SashikoFest: in the hall, at Janice’s talk, and in Glyn’s queue. 
Patricia and Victoria are currently in the UK scouting exciting people and places for their inaugural Great UK Quilt & Textile Journey. To be on the Interested List for this Summer 2027 tour, email Victoria +here.
