Craft Workshop: Stitching Our Queer Stories

Name: Craft Workshop: Stitching Our Queer Stories
Start: 2026-02-07T13:30:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-07T16:30:00+00:00
Location: Queer Britain

Unleash your creativity and express your voice through stitched text in this hands-on textile workshop inspired by the AIDS Quilt UK.

For generations, text has been woven into fabric as a form of resistance, identity, remembrance, and queer archiving — from protest banners to the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Stitching words into textiles is a powerful way to express what you value, reclaim craft traditions, and challenge dominant narratives.

In this workshop, drawing on the new AIDS Quilt UK display opening at Queer Britain in February, you’ll begin by exploring the quilt panel in the galleries for creative inspiration. Afterward, we begin with a short demo covering different approaches and techniques for incorporating text into fabric. We’ll work with scrap and reclaimed materials for sustainability, and you’ll be encouraged to explore any word, phrase, memory, or idea through stitching in a supportive, inclusive environment.

We’ll also be joined by Karina Thompson, AIDS Quilt UK volunteer, who will share insights on creating and donating a quilt panel to the official project—perfect for anyone interested in contributing.

Whether you're seeking a therapeutic creative outlet, a way to tell and preserve your story through craft, or simply want to experiment with text and textiles, this workshop offers space to play, make, and connect with others.

No experience required — beginners and seasoned makers are equally welcome.

Our sessions are fully inclusive of the whole queer community.

What’s Provided

All materials you need: thread, embroidery floss, needles, scissors (for workshop use), and scrap fabrics.

You’ll take home the unique textile artwork you create.

What You Can Bring

Optional: scrap fabric, old clothing, yarn, string, paper, or any materials you’d like to reuse.

But nothing is required — everything you need will be provided.

What You’ll Leave With

A hand-stitched textile artwork

New techniques for incorporating text into fabric

A mindful, creative experience

Connection with a queer-friendly crafting community

London Events Queer Britain Workshop Experience

The Lineup

Cristina Rago

Cristina Rago is a Filipino American multidisciplinary artist and workshop facilitator born in New York in 1993. Their artistic practice spans painting, textiles, and clay to explore identity integration, healing, and reparation from a trans non-binary perspective. Their textile pieces often utilise domestic materials including discarded clothes, cheesecloth, and doilies that are reworked through processes such as dyeing, destruction and mending. Throughout their work and process, they incorporate writing in a poetic, reflective, and diaristic approach. Cristina works out of their studio in Wandsworth, London. They host creative workshops for the queer community to create a sense of belonging, encourage playful exploration, and cultivate empowerment while engaging in the healing and meditative practices of stitch.

Website: https://www.cristinarago.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cristinaragoart

Karina Thompson

Karina Thompson is an internationally recognised Textile Artist and Art Quilter whose work is in public and private collections over the world. One of her quilts was commended in the Fine Art Textiles Award in 2019, whilst another was shown at Collect 2024. In the 1990s she trained as a buddy to work with HIV+ individuals and volunteered with an quilt making group for AIDSLINE West Midlands. Last year she ran a series of public workshops at Tate Modern when the UK AIDS Quilt was there.