Sexual Revolution
Becka Rahn
2008

“In so many ages and so many places, a young girl is considered the
property of her father, brothers, or husband. She is not given the
opportunity to study and pursue a dream, but is expected to marry and
have children or become a commodity to trade for family status and
prestige. My experience has been very different. This piece is a wish
for all young girls to experience the freedom that I have enjoyed by
growing up in the time and place that I did.

In this piece, I used the idea of fertility to represent that freedom,
because it is used as a symbol in many cultures. Acorns, snakes,
elephants, lotus blossoms, rice, pine cones, frogs and pomegranates
are all motifs embroidered and woven in to textiles used to wish
fertility to a new bride. In the style of “Space Invaders”, a video
game representing my place and time in history, the girl in the
picture is shooting down these symbols. The number 1960 is the date
that the birth control pill was approved. The letters RSR are my
initials.

Hand embroidered with hand-stitched appliqué. Cotton threads and
fabric.”

You can see this piece in person as part of the “Freedom: The Fiber of our Nation” show at the Textile Center Joan Mondale Gallery, now through October 18.

This is a little playsuit that I embroidered for my new niece. It cme from lands end and has little ruffles on the cuffs and on the butt. Too cute. I decided it needed this little cupcake with sprinkles. I hate making french knots with a passion. They are tricksy and uncooperative. These sprinkles are not french knots! They are a new stitch I learned, called a chinese knot! Let me show you how they are done…

1. Start with your thread coming up from the back (at the little dot). Make a loop that goes around clockwise.

2. Flip that little loop up.

3. Put your needle down through the fabric again right at that same space you came up (the little dot) and making sure your needle is inside the loop you just made. Before you pull the needle through…

4. Pull on the loose end of your thread to make that loop snug around your needle. Then finish pulling the needle through the fabric.

A pretty little knot that can be used just like a french knot! I need to practice some more, but I think this will become my new favorite.

This mini quilt is called “Sewing Room”. It is 8×10 inches. Made from new and vintage cotton fabrics. Yes, there are pieces in that tiny sewing machine that are 1/4″ square. It has been accepted as a finalist in…. stay tuned for more!