Digital Exhibition

Threads of Protest: Human Rights in Childbirth

Setting Up the Exhibition

Over 1000 squares were included in the ‘Granny Square Yarnbomb.’ All of them needed to be stitched together in some way. As the exhibition was beginning in Southport and then later moving to London, they needed to be transportable and also in pieces that could be transferred to different gallery spaces. Panels seemed the best way of doing this. The wall in The Atkinson was also made from glass and so nothing could be pinned to it. The idea was therefore to use chicken wire.

  • A panel of granny squares

    A panel of granny squares

  • Crochet banner on chicken wire

    Threads of Protest banner on chicken wire

  • Attaching granny squares to chicken wire

    Sewing the granny square panels to the chicken wire

  • Covering a column in granny squares

    Covering the column

The ‘Granny Square Yarnbomb’ at The Atkinson, Southport, Summer 2025

A large colorful display of crocheted squares and blankets, featuring protest and rights messages such as "END OBESETRIC VIOLENCE," "NO MEANS NO," "THREATS ARE OF NO PROTEST," and "AUTONOMY."
Colorful patchwork quilt made of numerous crochet and knit squares with a central message: "I AM MORE THAN MY PERCENTAGE," surrounded by various small decorative squares and patterns.
Colorful crocheted patches with various patterns, including letters spelling 'CONSET,' rainbow, hearts, and animals.
Green crocheted square
Pink crochet flower on brown background
Crocheted white fist on red background
Granny square with 'PTSD is a birth scar too' embroidered on
Brown teddy bear face crocheted on yellow square
Crocheted square with choice embroidered on
Crocheted square with tabs stating 'Get off my cervix'
Yellow, pink and purple crocheted square
A colorful embroidered textile display with the words 'GENDER: UNEXPECTED' at the top, followed by 'JUST AN ORDINARY FAMILY', and a message about LGBT people not being the problem but systems that don't expect LGBT people to exist. The display features several embroidered sketches of diverse people, including families and individuals, some with rainbow Pride accessories.

Gender: Unexpected by Sophie Neville in conjunction with Dr Mari Greenfield.

A colorful art piece of a pregnant woman made from yarn, with her arms raised, in front of a large red and orange web-like background, displayed in a gallery setting.
Close-up of dreadlocks and a crocheted blue item with a pink and orange circular patch
Close-up view of colorful yarn or thread loops in orange, purple, and red hanging against a light background.
Close-up of a blue knitted item with colorful embroidered details, including yellow and orange accents, and a green embroidered element, blurred background.

Powerful Birthing Woman by Barbara Touati-Evans in conjunction with Anne Glover and Alex Smith of AIMS (Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services).

Framed textile art of a woman kneeling, created with purple, blue, and red thread on fabric. The accompanying plaque explains it is part of a piece called 'System of Silence' by artist Helen Davies, highlighting the silence and compliance issues faced by women and midwives in maternity systems.

System of Silence by Helen Davies in conjunction with Stevie McKenzie.

Crocheted dolls depicting medical staff and a patient in a hospital scene, all wearing face masks.

The Child Screams in Her Mother’s Lap by Madeleine Famurewa in conjunction with Mezkin Khalil and Refugee Women Connect.

Above is a looped presentation that accompanies the exhibition.