http://www.cross-stitching.com The World of Cross Stitching 81Reader Story
PhD student Lauren Carruthers is raising awareness of parasites through cross stitch
Science in Stitches
Down the microscope: Here is Lauren
with a replica of the parasite that inspired
her – thankfully this is not a life-size model!With support from the Wellcome
Centre for Integrative Parasitology
(WCIP), Lauren was able to purchase
some computer software – “it helped
me to digitalise all my designs that I’d
made on graph paper and create a
lot more.” From paper and pencil, to
technical cross stitch software, Lauren
has now created a whole booklet
packed with information and a variety
of parasite patterns to stitch. Lauren
tells us, “We are always looking for
unique ways to engage people in
science and parasite research, and I
hope this will prove popular.”
The Science in Stitches: Parasite
Cross Stitch booklet includes basic
instructions on how to stitch, several
charts of parasites and lab equipment,
plus detailed information about
parasites themselves. Lauren explains,
“I hope that if people are exposed to
parasites through cross stitching it’ll
improve their awareness. They are
also really cool to look at and very
fascinating little critters in their own
way, too!”LOVE AT FIRST STITCH
Introduced to the craft through an
activity day at school, Lauren has been
cross stitching for 12 years. She enjoys
creating special gifts for her family and
friends, with decorated T-shirts and
towels being her speciality. “My Dad is
a fire fighter, so I wanted to stitch him
fire fighter-themed gifts. I decorated a
cushion and also a towel for him.”
Lauren is a big fan of nature and
animals, so as a birthday present for
her mum she stitched a blue tit design
as they have bird boxes in the back
garden where blue tits nest in the
spring. Another memorable project
from Lauren’s past includes a pretty
owl keyring. Lauren remembers: “the
owl keyring was the first time I’d
tried soluble aida so it was fun to try
something a bit different.”Now, Lauren is in her final year of
her PhD and is more excited than ever
to share what she’s learnt from
studying parasites through the
medium of cross stitch. “There is
potential that, once developed, we’d
run events or projects with local
sewing groups, WI, girl guiding
groups, craft groups, etc, to engage
people in art-science,” she says.Lauren’s already created a Twitter
page @ParasiteXStitch where people
are encouraged to post their stitching,
request new designs and ask any
parasite-related questions that they
may have. Plus, there you can
download the Science in Stitches:
Parasite Cross Stitch booklet for free- Lauren would love to see your
science stitching creations!
P
erhaps you’ve experienced an
unpleasant cold from a virus
or had an upset stomach due
to some bacteria in your dinner, but
you might not be as familiar with the
world of pesky parasites. By using the
art of cross stitch, Lauren Carruthers
aims to use needle and thread to
further our understanding of parasites.
“I am a PhD student at the
University of Glasgow researching
parasitic diseases and I am also a
keen cross stitcher and sewer,” says
Lauren. Combining her two loves –
science and stitching – Lauren began
designing parasite cross stitch patterns
on graph paper for herself and her
friends in the lab: “Whilst I don’t have
as much time as I used to to sew, due
to having to spend lots of time in the
lab and on fieldwork, I’ve thought of
a way to link my research with cross
stitching so I get to do a bit more.”Science into art:
Lauren’s cross stitch book
includes a number of
parasite patterns, such as
these adult schistosome
worms (schistosomiasis)
“If people are exposed to
parasites through cross
stitching it will improve
their awareness.”