As queer neurodiverse people, particularly for those of us who are autistic and/or have ADHD, we often have less voice and visibility in spaces like Pride and in the broader queer community. Spaces in which we’re typically not welcomed or actively excluded. Stitching queer neurodiversity is a textile-based project that hopes to provide a space to creatively express what it means to be queer and neurodiverse. To be a space to celebrate the joy of being ourselves and also recognise these challenges, and create connections as a community.

The project began with a workshop held in September at the Ledward Centre as part of the Fruit Loops exhibition. We worked on squares of fabric with embroidery, collage, applique, patching, and other techniques to create individual textile pieces.

The hope is these squares can come together as a collective record of our experiences (for instance as a community quilt or protest banner). The result could be something to ‘lay it all out’ and build visibility for what it means to be queer and neurodiverse in community spaces and events. This could be an act of claiming space, or simply celebrating us. It might aim to transform others’ attitudes towards us and to help other queer neurodiverse people to feel seen.

This follows a long queer tradition of community quilting and using craft techniques to explore what it means to be marginal or ‘other’. Quilting has been used for storytelling, protest, and to archive our histories. But historically there hasn’t been much queer quilting because it wasn’t safe to record these experiences. There are now many projects which use textiles to focus on queer themes: Queer Threads, the AIDS Memorial Quilt, this London-based pride flag collaborative project with artist Al Hill, and a transition quilt passed from person to person.

But there is a gap for works like these focused specifically on queer neurodiversity. This project would be a first to my knowledge. The hope is to co-create the project with other queer neurodiverse people, and steer its direction together as it develops.

The project is just beginning and is open to anyone who identifies as queer and neurodiverse, and would like to get involved. No sewing experience is necessary! Contact Seb if you are interested, want more information, or would like to have a chat.