The Cultivated Thread
Hilary Crowell
Wiscasset, Maine
For over a decade Hilary Crowell raised organic produce and livestock at a handful of diversified New England farms. The rhythm of farming – cultivating vegetables, tending livestock, and cutting firewood – defined her life’s pace and meaning. During the colder, darker months weaving was a treasured meditation for Hilary and gave her an opportunity to create. In 2020, she hung up her overalls, traded her chainsaw for a weaving shuttle, and launched The Cultivated Thread.
“In the studio, I design with the goal of bridging the gap between art and everyday use. Everything that comes off the loom sits squarely at the intersection of beauty and functionality. I create with daily use in mind and select weave structures and fibers that will translate into items that stand the test of time. In a phrase, I make functional art.
In tandem with production, there are a host of conversations related to identity and ethics that I continue to uncover and explore as a small business owner. Knowing that there will always be more to learn and mistakes will be made along the way, I seek to understand the impact, privileges, and responsibilities I have as a white, cis-gendered female business owner and human.”