Hayley Parent
BIO
Hayley is a textile artist based in Burlington, Ontario, currently completing her studies in Textiles at Sheridan College. Growing up in a family where making, crafts, and textiles were always present, she developed an early appreciation for working with her hands and creating through material. Her practice is centred on natural processes, with a particular focus on plant-based dyes, especially indigo. She is drawn to the indigo plant for both its rich history and its ability to produce deep, layered blues through a transformative dye process. The calming, natural tones achieved through indigo continue to influence her work, reflecting a sense of stillness and connection to the environment. Through knitting and other textile techniques, Hayley explores themes of comfort, simplicity, and material connection.
CAPSTONE PROJECT
BETWEEN BLUE LINES
At the beginning of my capstone, I was drawn to the idea of creating a quilt, though I felt uncertain about the exact direction I wanted the project to take. What remained constant, however, was my connection to indigo. Since first working with it in my second year, I have been deeply drawn to the process of indigo dyeing and the emotional depth within its range of blues. I knew from the outset that indigo would be central to my work.
My initial concept explored a quilt composed of stripe and dot patterns, intended to reflect themes of comfort, meditation, and calmness. For me, shades of blue naturally evoke a sense of stillness and emotional grounding. The repetition of stripes became especially important, symbolizing rhythm, continuity, and quiet persistence. This repetition mirrors the meditative qualities I associate with both making and material, while visually echoing gentle patterns found in nature, like ripples in water. Stripes can also represent balance and duality through the contrast of light and dark, something I was drawn to both conceptually and visually. I have always been naturally drawn to stripes in my personal style; their clean, minimal structure resonates with me, even in ways that feel intuitive rather than fully explainable. The high contrast between lighter and darker indigo tones enhances this clarity, reinforcing a sense of calm through simplicity and order.
As the project progressed, I realized I was not feeling as connected to the quilt format as I had hoped. This led me to shift my approach toward knitting, a practice I had taught myself during my time at Sheridan College and one that has consistently been a source of comfort and mental grounding for me. Knitting also holds a deeper personal significance, as it connects me to my grandmother, who taught me. Because of this, the act of knitting carries a strong sense of memory, care, and emotional connection.
This sense of memory is further reinforced through colour. The shades of indigo blue in my work remind me of a special pendant my grandmother gave me, which once belonged to her own mother. These tones hold a quiet emotional weight, evoking feelings of comfort, nostalgia, and continuity.
By combining hand knitting with indigo-dyed yarns that I produced myself, the work became more aligned with both my intentions and my personal experiences. Using materials such as mohair paired with merino wool in closely matched indigo tones allowed me to maintain the visual language of soft contrast and cohesion, while also enhancing the tactile qualities of the piece. This pairing reinforces a sense of warmth and comfort, both physically and emotionally.
Ultimately, this project became an exploration of process, material, and personal connection. Through indigo dyeing and knitting, I was able to create work that reflects not only my aesthetic values but also my relationship to making as a form of calm, repetition, memory, and care.
FEATURED Work
Title: Between Blue Lines
Dimensions: 90 x 58 cm
Year: 2026
Materials: Indigo dyeing, knitting, merino wool, silk, mohair and indigo pigments
Title: Between Blue Lines
Dimensions: 90 x 58 cm
Year: 2026
Materials: Indigo dyeing, knitting, merino wool, silk, mohair and indigo pigments
Title: Between Blue Lines
Dimensions: 90 x 58 cm
Year: 2026
Materials: Indigo dyeing, knitting, merino wool, silk, mohair and indigo pigments
Title: Between Blue Lines
Dimensions: 90 x 58 cm
Year: 2026
Materials: Indigo dyeing, knitting, merino wool, silk, mohair and indigo pigments