I recently started learning to embroider. My main reason for taking up embroidering was wanting to be stitch swear words radical sayings using a traditional feminine craft. I loved the idea of juxtaposing feminist praxis with a domestic art. In today’s episode I talk about the history of embroidery and textile arts as a form of protest and activism.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the intersection of history, fiber arts, and activism. Leave a comment or send me a message on Twitter.
Mentioned in this episode:
–Elizabeth Parker’s Life Story Embroidery Sampler
-Katherine Brooks, “Feminist Embroidery Artist Heather Marie Scholl Explains Why It’s Hard To Be A Woman”
-Rozskia Parker, “The Subversive Stitch”
Download or listen now.
Hi Krista,
I really enjoyed your podcast, thank you! I am currently working on a research project exploring perceptions of hijab wearing in the UK by drawing on the historical feminist use of embroidery as voice. Through workshops and a dedicated blog the aim is to bring women together across Britain to create a collaborative embroidery which encourages discussion and expression. I’d love to hear your thoughts… https://veiledvoices2020.wordpress.com/
I became interested in embroidery, not because it was shoved down my throat but because of a fascination with the thousands of different stitches. I wanted to learn them all. It was a way to enduring the bullying I was subjected to due to a gradual loss of one area of my hearing.