Crochet

The Visual Poetry Project aims to give life to the short stanza’s that live rent free in Dobson’s brain and notes app. Often going round in circles for months or even years on end without ever making it into one of their poems, these lines demand to be something different. Through the creation of an alphabet to be used with mosaic crochet, Dobson has breathed new life into these words that can now exist outside of their own echolalia.

A large filet crochet banner with decorative border. In the centre of the banner are the words 'trans crip love feels like home'. Below the text is a house with hearts coming out of the chimney, doves either side of it, and a flowered garden. Above the text are two hares jumping towards each other, and more hearts from the chimney. Throughout the work are stars and sparkles. — ^{Home (2025) Filet crochet, cotton crochet thread. W90xH90cm (NFS)}

An image of the crochet piece 'Home' against a salmon pink wall, hung at exhibition — *Home* at *Pride and Protest* exhibition © The Mill Gallery

An image of the crochet piece 'Home' against a salmon pink wall, hung at exhibition. To the right are 3 smaller art works. — *Home* at *Pride and Protest* exhibition © The Mill Gallery

Home (2025) is about the specific types of warmth and joy found in the love extended to Dobson by their trans crip* kin. Inspired by vintage filet crochet patterns and the 8-bit art of the late 20th Century, the work uses traditional techniques to evoke feelings of comfort and nostalgia in the viewer. This classic technique used in home-making, combined with progressive messaging, seeks to (re)affirm the place of trans and disabled bodies within home and family life, as well as celebrating the kinds of homes we make for ourselves with our chosen family.

*crip is a political and cultural disabled identity that makes use of a reclaimed slur.

A crochet tapestry of yellow writing against a lime green background, with a border of yellow frills. In the upper centre of the tapestry is the word "sorry" in a bubble font, with a face in the "o" made up of two dots for eyes and a dash for a neutrally expressed mouth. Beneath "sorry" is written "that's just my face". The tapestry is being held up by a dowel, with the hand holding it coming into frame on the right hand side. — ^{Mantra for Unmasking (2024) Tapestry & intarsia crochet, cotton and acrylic yarn, wooden dowel. W62 x H41cm. £225}

A detail view of the crochet piece 'Mantra for Unmasking'

^{Mantra for Unmasking (2024) (detail) Tapestry & intarsia crochet, cotton and acrylic yarn, wooden dowel. W62 x H41cm. £225}

As a late-diagnosed Autistic, this phrase has been a mantra for Dobson in unmasking and coming to accept their resting face. The bright sweetshop colours of the yarn contrast the neutral face within the first line, emphasising how their expression doesn’t always convey the emotions Dobson is feeling inside.