Be Immersed in a Landscape of Soft Textures
My mother taught me how to knit. I remember as a child watching her knit. I was fascinated by how yarn could become something else. She cast on for me then taught me how to do a simple knit stitch. Texture and sense of touch have always had a profound bearing in my life. I seek comfort in the familiarity of soft, warm textures. Learning recently that I’m on the autism spectrum has brought clarity and meaning to this aspect of myself. I use yarn/crochet as a coping mechanism for sensory overload. The repetitive motion of the stitches calms my mind and helps me to find joy in what can otherwise be a cruel, loud and isolating world. I seek to bring this warm and inviting environment to other people through my practice. Fabrics and textiles have a way of imprinting memories on us. We cover ourselves in these fibres daily and they become part of each individual's identity and everyday life. There is comfort and confidence in experiencing your identity through textiles both in the clothes we wear and the art we surround ourselves with.
