Busy Hands, Recorded Resistance: Conni Whittaker
There is a quiet kind of courage in stitching your story into fabric for all to see. For Conni Whittaker, textile art is both resistance and revelation—a way to process, protest, and persevere through the weight of personal and collective experience.
Conni is one of 21 talented makers featured in our current fiber arts exhibition, Threaded Together: A Stitch Social Experiment. Their work embodies the spirit of connection, sustainability, and emotional storytelling through stitch. Blending reclaimed materials, handwork, and deep personal reflection, Conni explores how textiles can hold—and heal—our experiences.
When Conni first attended a Stitch Social gathering last November—just after moving to Belfast—it felt like a true homecoming. “I love the camaraderie, the depth of knowledge, and the mix of young and not-so-young people,” they shared. “Missing a Stitch Social means missing the chance to admire and celebrate completed projects, to share in the progress of works in motion, to exchange feedback, and to hear the backstories behind our creative processes. Most of all, it means missing the supportive and energizing synergy that comes from being part of this group.” Many of the textiles and fibers used in the top and batting of their latest piece were, in fact, gifted from new friends made through Stitch Social.
When asked to describe themselves as an artist, Conni shared. “I’m not sure I have the words,” they admitted. “Polymath, lifelong learner, multidisciplinary and multimedia artist—they all fit, but they also feel a little constrictive.” Laughing, they added, “My husband would probably call me a hobby collector and a hoarder, but I strongly disagree! I’m curating a rich and abundant collection of materials, skills, and techniques, all while maintaining a zero-waste studio that pushes my creativity to new places.”
Their current project, This Weight That I Carry, began as a long-term stitch meditation—an act of grounding and healing. “It started as a way to keep my hands busy while stitching through anxiety, fear, and anger—a space where I could process and resist the chaos of 2025,” they explained. “Technically, the piece is a quilt. The batting is made from orts* and thrums**, the backing from two worn sweatshirts, and the temporary top from tulle to hold everything in place. Originally, I planned to embroider directly through the layers, but then pieces from my collection—unfinished objects, or UFOs***—seemed to whisper, ‘Pick me.’ Inspired by Diana Weymar’s Tiny Pricks Project***,* I began stitching those pieces together to form an emerging crazy quilt patchwork top.”
The work, still in progress, now weighs about six pounds. “It’s heavy and weighty, just like the words and emotions sewn into it,” Conni reflected. “But it’s also warm and comforting—like a weighted blanket.” Embroidery over the bare tulle will eventually replace traditional sashing to secure the batting. The artist envisions a lining stitched with loving affirmations, creating a literal and emotional barrier of warmth and protection. “And it has to have an ‘honesty window,’” they added. “A small opening to reveal the messiness inside—because that’s part of the truth, too.”
Whether traditional or experimental, functional or sculptural, each artwork speaks to the strength of slow, intentional making—and the powerful stories that emerge when we come together in creative community.
Come experience Conni’s work in person, celebrate the artistry, intimacy, and connection found in fiber. Our current exhibition, Threaded Together: A Stitch Social Experiment, showcases the remarkable creativity of our Stitch Social community—an inspiring collection of works that weave together stories, textures, and shared experiences.
📅 Exhibition Dates: October 4 – November 21, 2025
More Info Here!
* Orts: small leftover bits of thread.
** Thrums: short lengths of yarn left over from weaving.
*** UFOs: unfinished fabric objects or projects.
**** Inspired by Diana Weymar’s Tiny Pricks Project, which documents words and phrases through embroidery as a form of social and political commentary.