Blue & White—Call for Submissions, PieceWork Summer 2026

Blue and white have woven themselves into textiles around the world and across time. From Japanese boro to ikat textiles of Central Asia, from elaborate patterns of Middle Eastern and African textiles to nineteenth-century American homespun wool—blue and white have identified culture and place.

Dutch Whalers Cap, eighteenth century. Photo courtesy of the Rijks Museum

In the Summer 2026 issue, PieceWork invites you to share stories of needlework told in blue and white. What is the story of a family keepsake stitched in blue and white? What is your favorite example of blue and white in textile design? Whether it’s indigo and silk in Asia or woad and wool in Coventry, England, what can we learn from the age-old melding of blue and white? We’re looking for stories, techniques, and traditions—ancient or modern—that celebrate the artistry and symbolism of blue and white or stand-alone blue.

Scarf made by Nene Thiam, a member of the textile artist collective Groupe Bogolan Kasobane, Bamako, Mali, 2009. Photo by Joe Coca

As with each issue, in Summer 2026, we hope to tell personal stories as well as scholarly ones. We welcome submissions from experienced stitchers and authors, enthusiastic beginners, and all who are passionate about textiles.

We are looking for:

• Feature articles—tell us more about the history of blue and white needlework through family stories, profiles, and biographies.
  
• Historical and historically inspired projects—instructions using all forms of lace, tatting, embroidery, knitting, crochet, or other needlework techniques we’ve yet to explore, all made by hand.
  
• How-to articles—tell us how a historical needlework technique is done.
  

We are also always looking for content for our website. If you have an idea for a short piece, about 300 to 500 words, please submit your proposal to us.

Forms and information: 

Online Submissions Form PieceWork Summer 2026

PieceWork Contributor’s Guidelines

PieceWork Photo Guidelines

Questions? Contact us at piecework@longthreadmedia.com. 

Submissions due: July 7, 2025

We will notify you of our decision: July 14, 2025

If selected, finished articles and projects are due by October 6, 2025

Do you want to be added to the PieceWork Call for Submissions email list? Sign up here.