hoot creative arts’ Tuesday visual arts group visited The Red Dress at Oakwell Hall as part of the Woven Festival in June 2025 – a textile project embroidered by participants from 51 countries. Captivated by the stories, skill and artistry of the different pieces on the dress, the group worked with hoot visual artist, Sally Barker to make The Big Blue Denim Jacket in response.
“Denim jackets are timeless, appeal to people from all cultures, and to both men and women. Our theme was celebrating peace, community and coming together. Each participant chose words and symbols to represent the things they love such as home, food, pets, clothing, landscape. We used sewing, drawing using fabric markers, bead work, sequins, ribbons and fabric that people have brought in from home, which has a personal meaning. Everybody's work is unique and beautiful.” - Sally, hoot visual artist
Alongside hoot musician Rob Crisp, hoot’s Dewsbury music group wrote, performed and recorded two songs inspired by the Denim Jacket and the Red Dress.
Programming Manager for the project, Kath joined the group during their creation of the jacket.
“I have recently started working with hoot as a project manager, but I helped out with the group last term as a creative support worker. It’s been lovely getting to know the group and seeing how they have all progressed and developed their ideas. I started sewing my patches just to join in a little, but I so enjoyed myself – I may have got a little carried away! I made a happy bee to represent generosity, kindness and good energy and quite a few love hearts and a furry star.
I’ve loved experiencing for myself how being creative really does make you feel good. I look at what I’ve made and what the rest of the group have achieved and I feel ever so proud!”
A tribute to a friend
Sadly, during the project a group member passed away before the jacket was completed. In tribute the group decided to create a patch dedicated to them and affixed it to the inside of the jacket.
Tilly said: "On the inside of the jacket, a couple of us made something to remember a lovely friend, a member of the group who recently passed away. We miss her very much."
See the jacket at the Shared Threads exhibition
Visit The Big Blue Denim Jacket and other embroidered textile works inspired by The Red Dress at Oakwell Hall's Shared Threas exhibition this winter. The free exhibition is open weekends 12 noon to 4:00pm from Saturday 22nd November 2025 - Sunday 4th January 2026.
Oakwell Hall, Nutter Lane, Birstall, West Yorkshire, WF17 9LG
Visit Oakwell Hall's website for more information
Take a closer look at the patches below
Linda
“Looking after nature is really important to me, so I embroidered a message on one of my patches “nature is in crisis and together we can save it.” and I also made a Yorkshire Rose. At one time I couldn’t speak in a room with more than one person. My confidence has really grown coming to hoot. I get motivated to try different things and I’ve really developed my skills as an artist.”
Darren
“I sewed a Vulcan bomber based on my interest in classic military aircraft. I've made little cats on parachutes coming out instead of bombs, on the theme of peace (I thought it would be nicer to have cats falling on you than bombs!) I also made a colourful green VW beetle with peace symbols. Coming to hoot on a Tuesday is probably one of the best things in my week, I really enjoy coming.”
Boo
“I like coming to hoot, it gives me a space to de-stress and look after myself. On my piece I show some of the ways that I look after my mental health. I made a raindrop shaped piece, to represent how water and wild swimming help me. There’s also a waterlily and 2 snowdrops, symbolising mine and my two brothers’ birth month flowers. I also made a lily with the names of my dogs on each petal. I also made a rainbow on the top and embroidered the Arabic word ‘Salaam’ سَلَام which means peace.”
Storm
“I love coming to hoot, it gives me a break from my home life. We're all like a family here and what we say in the group stays in the group. For the jacket, I love how everyone in the group has put their heart and soul into everything they have made. I’ve made love hearts on beads, a pattern with beads on felt, a necklace with beads around it and a little love heart and I’ve sewed it onto the pocket. I’ve also made a purse that folds over. Thankyou to Sally at hoot for inspiring us. We are all so proud of what we have made.”
Tilly
“I made a cat on a piece of material and a big heart. I made one to remember my much loved cat that passed away. I drew my cat on fabric, cut it out, coloured it and put beads and ribbons on it. I’ve been coming to hoot for about 5 years. I love meeting nice people, all the creative ideas from Sally and all of the different ways of making and doing things.”
Aneesa
“I've recycled embroidery from my Mum’s old dress. I made a circular piece with a positive message “Kindness to Others” and edged it with pearls for contrast. I like coming to hoot because it makes me feel calm and gives me focus. For the whole week I'll be thinking, “how shall I improve my project?” and I think up new ideas. When you start doing something creative you never know exactly how it’s going to turn out, but I love how the denim jacket has all come together so well.”
M
“The Red Dress was absolutely stunning. For the denim jacket, I have made three pieces with words on as well as patterns. I got the idea to put “love”, “life”, and “peace” on. I enjoyed sewing all the work on as well, and at one point there were four of us sewing all different pieces of work just like the people did in The Red Dress.”
Alyas
“I’ve been coming to hoot for a long time. I enjoy how all the projects are very different. I learn a lot each time. For the jacket I made a pirate flag, inspired by a treasure chest. I feel proud when I finish a project.”
David
“The blue circular pattern is a printout of my drawing, and I transferred it onto fabric using special paint. The buttons symbolise family unity, and the cord is around them is love, which binds humanity into a coherent whole. I like hoot because it gives access to both old friends and new friends yet to be made, and a relaxing experience with nice folks.”
