January 2025: Sophy & White Update

Celebrating One Year! 

The Sophy and White: The Dunollie Collections Unboxed Project has officially been underway for a full year. We are thrilled to share the progress and developments from the past few months! 

We have been planning and implementing the next phase of the project, Wear it or Sleep in it. This exciting chapter focuses on deepening our engagement with Scottish textile heritage and fostering creativity in the community. 

Wear it or Sleep in it 

The first aim of Wear it or Sleep in it was to create a textile group where people could come together to learn new skills and be part of a supportive, creative community. This has been a great success, with Stitch and Spin running since October and welcoming many new faces to Dunollie. The project also seeks to strengthen our textile collections team and deepen our understanding of Dunollie’s collection of blankets, plaids, shawls, and sashes while exploring the history, origins, and production methods of Scottish textiles. This phase of the project will culminate in a pop-up exhibition showcasing the group’s newly acquired skills and insights gained from the collections and research. To document and celebrate this journey, we will also produce a behind-the-scenes documentary capturing the learning, collaboration, and creativity involved, which we can share internationally.

Stitch and Spin 

Our textile arts group, Stitch and Spin, has flourished into a vibrant and welcoming community! We meet every Wednesday at Dunollie from 2pm to 4pm on the Terrace, and everyone is welcome, regardless of age or skill level. Whether you want to learn a new craft, share your expertise, or simply enjoy some friendly company over tea, coffee, and a scone, we’d love to have you join us. 

Exciting News

We’re thrilled to share that we’ve been collaborating with videographer Beth Chalmers and have just completed the first filming sessions for our Stitch and Spin documentary! This film will show the group’s journey, highlighting their progress in learning new skills and showcasing the lovely community that has been built. 

Collections Update 

Our dedicated volunteers have accomplished so much over the past year. The Hope MacDougall Collection has been thoroughly reviewed, audited, and recorded. Our collections volunteers are more than confident in in handling and packing objects, as well as identifying items requiring special care and treatment. 

For the first time, work has begun on reviewing the textile collection at Dunollie. This is an exciting milestone, and we’ve already uncovered some fascinating treasures, including this gorgeous, beaded dinner jacket and embellished bolero. 

If you’re passionate about history, textiles, or museum work, we are always looking for collections volunteers to join our team. If you’re interested, please email Anna at anna@dunollie.org to learn more. 

Looking Ahead 

The coming months promise even more progress and creativity at Dunollie. Here’s what’s next: 

• Completing the Stitch and Spin documentary filming. 

• Planning our pop-up exhibition for the spring. 

• Stitch & Spin will begin to work on a new retail product for the Drapers Shop. 

• Continuing our vital work within the collections department. 

We’re incredibly grateful for the hard work of our volunteers and the enthusiasm of everyone involved. Here’s to another year of discovery, learning, and community at Dunollie!

This event was made possible thanks to the generosity of National Lottery Players through funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. If you have any questions or wish to get involved in Sophy & White: The Dunollie Collections Unboxed Project, please email anna@dunollie.org