Stitchable Change-makers

13 May Stitchable Change-makers

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We know that changemakers aren’t super heroes; they’re just people who connect their values to their actions. Every single one of us has gifts and talents we can use to be the change we wish to see in the world. At key times we need to make time to slow down, keep a cool head & think critically about how we can be positive change makers. We hope this ‘inner activism’ project is a useful tool & physical reminder of your journey as a craftivist & brilliant global citizen.

What inspires us about Malala, Desmond Tutu, Abraham Lincoln, and Eleanor Roosevelt – the folk we’ve included in this new Craftivist Collective project – is how different they are. We purposely chose a range of ages, genders, nationalities, skills and backgrounds because we understand that changemakers don’t all look the same or act the same.

On each stitchable ‘dot-to-dot’ card, we’ve included a quote from each of them for you to reflect on, and on the back there’s a bit of information about the respective changemaker for those that might not know much about their background or that what they’ve done. On a separate card there are clear instructions plus some crafter-thought questions to reflect on whilst stitching.

A new craftivist stitching Malala at our Bristol workshop

Complete these stitchable dot-to-dots as a group or on your own and, as you reveal the face of your chosen changemaker, reflect on the values threaded through them and their lives, and challenge yourself to think about how you can connect the values threaded through you to your daily actions and decisions.

Made ethically by hand using a traditional letterpress printing technique on recycled card. Each dot-to-dot portrait is a one-of-a-kind creation, just like each and every change-maker.

See how the craftivism kits were made and used at a workshop in Bristol in The Letterpress Collective in this video below:

On a separate card there are clear instructions plus some crafter-thought questions to reflect on whilst stitching.

This super-ethically-made project is a chance to slow down and – in the safe environment that craft creates – reflect on what values are threaded through the changemakers we’re stitching, and challenge ourselves to decide how we can thread our own values into the choices we make every day in order to become awesome global citizens.

Once it’s finished, each card is also a tactile physical reminder to strive to put your values into practice in all you do. Keep it at home or display it at work, wherever is most helpful for you. It might even start some great conversations with others.

This is our first collaborative product, and we are so proud to be working alongside Nick Hand and Bristol’s The Letterpress Collective, who are doing such great work to keep the traditions of letterpress printing alive. The kits that they’ve helped us produce really embody what Craftivist Collective stands for – made slowly and carefully by hand, with thought and attention to detail, giving each kit an individual touch. They are made ethically by hand using a traditional letterpress system, from recycled card and wrapped in biodegradable sleeves & with recycled paper envelopes.

The letterpress Stitchable Change-makers team from right to left: Megan Krawielitzki, Sarah Corbett, Nick Hand, Ellen Bills, veteran letterpress practitioner Dave Thomlinson, plus honorary member Tom Herbert (of ‘The Fabulous Baker Brothers’ TV Show who came to pick up his business cards hehe)

The project was launched at an event at the Letterpress Collective’s base in Bristol, and we’ve got a great video from the evening that will hopefully inspire you. We’ve also got advice on how to arrange your own group stitch-in event if you prefer your craftivism to be a social occasion.

Bristol Stitchable Change-makers workshop in The Letterpress Collective studio

Whether you do it in a group, on your own, remember to take the time to reflect and to gently challenge yourself about those values threading through us and through the people who inspire us. You’ll be surprised how often changing the world begins with changing ourselves.

Jessica Bateman, production editor at Mollie Makes magazine:

“I’m going to be putting my stitched portrait of Malala, who is one of my heroines, on my inspiration wall at home. It’s a really unusual embroidery design, I haven’t seen many other embroidery kits like that out there.”

All profits go to help sustain and grow the collective’s activities to engage people in craftivism and support people to be the change they wish to see in the world. Win win!

So join in stitching these change-makers to help you reenergise, be inspired &  reflect on how you an become the best change-making version of yourself one stitch at a time… (oh & don’t forget to share your progress with us @craftivists & #CraftivistCollective to inspire others through your stitching too x)

Malala portrait 

Desmond Tutu portrait

Eleanor Roosevelt portrait

Abraham Lincoln portrait