Weave Your Worry, Weave Your Wish

A Reflection on Community and Connection.

What began as an invitation for quiet reflection quickly became something far bigger — a communal act of connection and beauty. 

The concept was simple. We set out a 15ft long and 3ft wide woven net in a public space, alongside yarn of recycled sari silk. We asked people to pause, consider a worry or a wish they’d been carrying, and then cut a piece of yarn to tie or weave into the net. In doing so, each participant contributed to something larger than themselves: a living, evolving textile of shared hopes and burdens. 

What unfolded left us deeply moved. Day by day, the net grew more colorful, more textured, more alive. Some stopped for a moment of quiet solitude, while others lingered in conversation. The simple act of tying a thread became a ritual of release, of hope, of connection. 

We were touched not only by the number of people who participated, but also by the depth of their engagement. Several local institutions—schools, community centers, and cultural organizations—reached out to us, asking how they might recreate this installation in their own towns. That response affirmed something we have long believed: that beauty, reflection, and connection are universal needs, and that design has the power to meet them in humble yet profound ways. 

The materials for this project were chosen with intention. The net was made of jute, a textile often used to prevent erosion—an apt metaphor for what we hoped the installation could do. The yarn, recycled from sari silk, carried its own story of transformation—once part of vibrant garments, now reborn into something communal and new. 

We wanted the act of weaving to be not only symbolic but also deeply tied to cycles of resilience and renewal. As designers, we often think about spaces and objects, but at the heart of our work is always the same question: how can design foster connection? Weave Your Worry, Weave Your Wish reminded us that sometimes the simplest gestures—tying a knot, offering a moment of pause—can open the greatest pathways to belonging. 

We are profoundly grateful to everyone who participated and to those who want to carry this idea forward. It has shown us that design doesn’t need to be grand to be meaningful. Sometimes it just needs to be an open invitation, a place to rest your thoughts, and a thread to tie them to.

Here in Peterborough, our net still hangs, now vibrant with the layered stories of our community. It is, in every way, a woven tapestry of hope and release—proof that when we come together, our individual worries and wishes can create something unexpectedly beautiful.

Farm to Textile

Spotlight: Maria Davila & Eduardo Portillo

When it comes to weaving nature with function & beauty, Maria Davila & Eduardo Portillo are an inspiring representation. A couple dedicating their lives to the study and research of silk, natural fibers and textiles, they are undoubtedly the perfect start to our nidu Spotlight series. 

The couple

Since 1983, Maria & Eduardo have dedicated their lives to the process of creating silk pieces - from the breeding of silkworms to the weaving of silk threads - turning their practice into an art form that celebrates & respects each and every step of the process. 

Their journey began in the hilly region of La Pedrera, Merida in Venezuela - a quintessential mountain region with silhouetted backdrops & misty mornings - where they became inspired to travel across the world to China & India to study the art of silk. Upon their return to Venezuela, they founded 'Morera Textiles' - named after the 'Morera' tree - and 'Veneseda' (translating to Venesilk). 

Their work is recognized by UNESCO as a contribution to sustainable practices, and they are members of the Textile Society of America, a platform dedicated to the exchange and diffusion of textiles. The couple shares their vast knowledge by lecturing in conferences across the US, Central and South America, and Europe - where they tell their story and inspire hundreds.

Silk & moriche

Silk & moriche.

The process

As with most wild & wonderful things, it all began with nature - specifically, with larvae from the Canary Islands, and a seed. The silkworm larvae, gifted to Maria & Eduardo by their family and delicately transported to Venezuela in a handkerchief, led to the planting of a seed - specifically, a 'Morera' tree seed. Morera trees lend their leaves as food for the silkworms, which in turn, grow to produce the threads that are transformed into textiles.

Staying true to the organic nature of the process, once the silk is extracted, it is brought to life in vibrant colors using spices, fruits and leaves from Merida's rich land - including indigo, turmeric, avocado and woodlouse, among many others. 

The result

Not only does the couple weave nature into their practice, they also embrace and incorporate different cultures into their pieces.

Most recently, Maria & Eduardo drew inspiration from the Yekuana Tribe - an indigenous group who inhabit the Orinoco Basin in the southern region of Venezuela. The tribe are most renowned for their basket weaving - using shredded & sun dried palm leaves and vegetable dyes found in their region - to create striking yet functional pieces used in their everyday lives.

By weaving together delicate silk threads from the region of Merida with the hardy fibers of the rainforest, Maria & Eduardo have merged together nature, beauty, culture and sustainability - all within one piece. These textiles are currently part of an exhibit in Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas in Madrid, Spain.

Silk, moriche, alpaca, threads, copper.

The nidu factor

Through textiles, the couple transmits values - in their words: "good sensations, humanity, the a-temporal, rhythm, landscape, people, culture and history."

The couple continues: "Venezuelans usually bring a particular textile mix of silk & moriche towards their face and take a deep breath. As they do, they connect with the feeling of rest, protection and belonging. It gets them in touch with something primal: shelter."

There is an unmistakable similarity between the way they understand their textiles and the way we design spaces at nidu - we strive to weave the threads of the clients life into their own personal fabric. 

Interested in hearing Maria & Eduardo's story? Join them for their next lecture at ETC (European Textile Network) in March. Details to come. You can also learn more about them by visiting their website or Instagram @moreratextiles / @mariadavilayeduardoportillo.