Stitch, Don't Shoot: #NeverAgain

In Parkland, Florida, teen funerals continue. In Tallahassee, courageous survivors share their story with a reluctant state government.  As a mother of students; as the daughter of a high school teacher; as a human being; I can hardly bear it. Stitching works out some of of the despair.

I started Stitched, don't Shoot in 2013 after the Sandy Hook murders. I finished it this year. Materials: Cigar box, acrylic yarn. Elements are crocheted.

Closed. (It says "Stitch").

Open.

That's a hollow gun. It's loaded pregnant.

Extra bullets. Camouflage-colored acrylic yarn mat lines the bottom. 

(The pattern for the crocheted letters is from Handy Kitty, here.)

Maybe this time I should make signs for marches. Or crochet hats? Or shrouds? As as we figure out how to support the courageous student survivors, in the movement they have so hopefully dubbed #neveragain.

I also worked through my feelings with some Artist Trading Cards on this theme, described in my last post.