The Department of Human-Centered Design (HCD) at IIIT-Delhi invites you to a unique, hands-on workshop that blends creativity, well-being, and emerging technology.

“Dancing Threads: EmbroidARy Workshop – Where Threads Meet Augmented Reality” is an experimental session where traditional craft meets digital innovation. Organized in collaboration with Threaded by Ma and supported by the Creative Interfaces Lab (CI Lab), this workshop is part of the Art, Craft & Computation series—an initiative exploring the poetic and experimental intersections of craft, design, and computation.

At its core, the workshop embraces embroidery as a slow, mindful practice—one that encourages calmness, focus, and emotional balance. In today’s fast-paced academic environment, this tactile craft offers a meditative pause, helping participants reconnect with rhythm, material, and self-expression.

Participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of hand embroidery and will create their own stitched motifs through guided exercises. Moving beyond the physical medium, the workshop will also explore how these handcrafted pieces can be extended into interactive Augmented Reality (AR) experiences, where threads come alive—animating, responding, and communicating beyond the fabric.

By bringing together the slowness of handcraft and the speed of computation, the workshop opens up new possibilities for storytelling, interaction design, and creative exploration.

The session is beginner-friendly, and no prior experience in embroidery or coding is required. It is ideal for anyone interested in craft, mindfulness, hands-on making, or exploring the intersection of art, design, and technology.

Workshop Objectives

» Introduce embroidery as a mindful, therapeutic, and reflective practice

» Build focus, patience, and emotional resilience through slow, rhythmic making

» Encourage creative experimentation by combining physical artifacts with digital interaction

» Create a safe, non-competitive space for self-expression, storytelling, and exploration

» Enable participants to understand craft as both an expressive and computational medium

Session Flow

» Introduction: Ice-breaker + overview of craft, mindfulness, and AR integration

» Demonstration: Basics of embroidery stitches and techniques

» Guided Practice: Creation of a small handcrafted piece

» AR Exploration: Introduction to extending embroidery into simple AR experiences

» Reflection & Sharing: Discussion on emotional experience, creativity, and takeaways

Expected Outcomes

Participants will:

» Experience a sense of calm, improved focus, and mindful engagement

» Develop an understanding of embroidery as both a creative and reflective practice

» Gain exposure to AR as a tool for extending physical craft into interactive media

» Take home a handcrafted piece that blends personal expression with creative exploration

» Discover new perspectives on combining art, craft, and computation

About the Facilitator

Sonam Srivastava is an educator and creative practitioner with over seven years of experience in teaching and academia. She discovered embroidery as a meditative and expressive art form during a transformative phase of her life, where she sought a slower, more intentional way of living and creating.
She is the founder of Threaded by Ma, a creative initiative focused on handcrafted embroidery products including wearable art, home decor, and personalized pieces. Her work reflects patience, emotion, and storytelling through threads.
Her workshops blend her background in education with her passion for mindful making, offering participants a nurturing, reflective, and hands-on creative experience.

Event Details

Date: 8 April 2026
Venue: IIIT-Delhi Campus
Organizers: Department of Human-Centered Design (HCD), IIIT-Delhi
Event Type: Open to all
Fee: Rs. 350/- (IIITD participants), Rs. 500/- (Non-IIITD participants)

Registration & Payment

The workshop is open to all; however, prior registration is mandatory. Participants are required to complete the registration form, make the payment, and upload the payment receipt/screenshot in the form to confirm their participation.

No refund requests will be accepted.

Contact & Coordination

For queries or participation details, please contact:
Faculty - Anoop Ratn - anoopratn@iiitd.ac.in
Student - Shubhi Jain- 8574379226 - shubhi23517@iiitd.ac.in