I’m Lisa Woolfork
Academic / Artist / Activist
Sewing and quilting are powerful tools for resistance, recreation, storytelling, and self making. As the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black Lives Matter, and the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing, I am committed to using my practice to foster greater understanding, freedom, joy and connection in our communities.
A Word From Lisa
My name is Lisa Woolfork and I am a sewist, podcaster, community organizer, and scholar. As a sixth-generation sewing enthusiast, I have long been drawn to the creative and meditative nature of needle arts. However, my passion for sewing and quilting goes beyond the personal satisfaction of creating something beautiful. For me, these practices are a way to honor the legacy of Black women who have used their skills to resist oppression, build vibrant communities, and extend the boundaries of freedom within their own lives.
Through my sewing and quilting practice, I aim to challenge traditional notions of craft and art and to explore the intersections between needle arts and Black liberation. I believe that these practices have the power to create meaningful works of art that can inspire and connect Black people across boundaries of space and time.
My work interrogates the divisions between art and craft, social justice and liberation, and seeks to amplify the voices of Black women, girls, and femmes in the world of sewing. I am interested in the structural elements of stitching as a form of meaning-making and archiving the ephemera of Black aliveness.
Sewing and quilting are powerful tools for rest, resistance and meaning making. As the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black Lives Matter, and the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing, I am committed to using my practice to foster greater understanding and deeper connection within and among our communities.
Lisa Woolfork
Professor, Speaker, and Writer
- Leisure Feature. “Stitch Please Podcast.” Podcast Magazine: Behind the Microphone. July 9, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://podcastmagazine.com/stitch-please-podcast/
- “Next Question with Katie Couric.” April 22, 2021.
- Davenport, Sarad. “Sewing and Stitching with Radical Self-Love.” Vinegar Hill Magazine. Spring 2021. [Online]. Available: https://vinegarhillmagazine.com/sewing-and-stitching-with-radical-self-love/
- “Stitching together: Local podcast sews up more than 100k downloads.” Cville Weekly. February 10, 2021.
- “Local podcast sews together COVID-19 pandemic, fight against racial injustice.” Charlottesville Tomorrow. January 20, 2021.
- “Podcast Brings Black Sewing Enthusiasts Together.” The Daily Progress (Charlottesville, VA). January 13, 2021.
- “Sewing Podcast For Black Women Surpasses 100K Downloads in 1 Year.” Podnews. January 5, 2021.
- “Kudos to the Stitch Please podcast.” Podcast Business Journal. December 28, 2020.
- “Blk Pod Collective’s 2020 Top 40 Black Podcasts.” 40 Top Black Podcasts of 2020. December 2020.
- Southern Poverty Law Center Weekend Read. “His Last Breath: A year after George Floyd’s murder, nation reckons with history of racism, police brutality.” May 2021. https://www.splcenter.org/news/2021/05/28/his-last-breath-year-after-george-floyds-murder-nation-reckons-history-racism-police/
- The Special Report with Areva Martin. “The Case for Reparations.” February 12, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/arevamartin/videos/the-special-report-the-case-for-reparations/268296248039157/
- The Special Report with Areva Martin. “Calls for Racial Healing.” January 29, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/arevamartin/videos/the-special-report-calls-for-racial-healing/3930386470334276/
- Huffington Post. “Trump’s Legacy Through The Eyes Of Those His Presidency Hurt.” January 15, 2021. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-legacy-presidency-hurt-americans_n_5ff5d01ec5b61a92a8be8480/
- Huffington Post. “Charlottesville Tried To Warn You This Would Happen.” January 12, 2021. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/charlottesville-capitol-siege-black-activist-warnings_n_5ffdf05cc5b691806c4d0bd8/
- BBC. “‘Harriet’ breaks open what we know about slavery.” October 13, 2020. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w172x2t0cld521j/
- CNN Opinion. “‘Harriet’ breaks open what we know about slavery.” November 5, 2019. https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/05/opinions/harriet-tubman-film-redefines-slavery-history-woolfork/index.html
- The Washington Post. Perspectives. Made in History. “Charlottesville is not a campaign prop. It’s a call for real anti-racist policies.” May 3, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/05/03/charlottesville-is-not-campaign-prop-its-call-real-anti-racist-policies/
- CNN Opinion. “Virginia’s basketball champs are heroes. But their victory isn’t Charlottesville’s ‘redemption’.” April 12, 2019. https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/12/opinions/university-of-virginia-mens-basketball-charlottesville-woolfork/index.html
- The Washington Post. Perspectives. Made in History. “Thomas Jefferson is the R. Kelly of the American Enlightenment.” February 15, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/02/15/thomas-jefferson-is-r-kelly-american-enlightenment/
- CNN Opinion. “Why Virginia’s Chaos Has Deep Roots.” February 7, 2019. https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/07/opinions/virginia-implosion-northam-herring-blackface-white-illiteracy-woolfork/index.html
- The Huffington Post. “White Supremacy Is Still Welcomed in Charlottesville.” October 9, 2018. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-charlottesville-arrests-white-supremacy_us_5bbcaf13e4b028e1fe41b345/
- Suarez, Chris. “NEH event focuses on Charlottesville’s presentation of history.” The Daily Progress, September 15, 2016.
- The Daily Progress. “Confronting Race and Memory” Human/Ties. A gallery of photos from the panel, September 15, 2016. http://www.dailyprogress.com/gallery/confronting-race-and-memory-human-ties/collection_6e40f96e-7b80-11e6-ab70-b3fcdfa2cc20.html
- UVA Today. “UVA Professor Says New Film Reveals A Conflicted Confederacy.” July 5, 2016. https://news.virginia.edu/content/uva-professor-says-new-film-reveals-conflicted-confederacy/
- CNN.com Opinion Section. “What The Free State of Jones Says about Whiteness.” June 29, 2016. http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/29/opinions/free-state-of-jones-lisa-woolfork/
- Los Angeles Review of Books. Dear Television. “Underground: Season 1, ‘War Chest:’ Preparing for War” with Sarah Mesle. March 16, 2016.
- National Public Radio. “New TV Drama Recounts Heroic Escapes On The Underground Railroad.” March 9, 2016. http://www.npr.org/2016/03/09/469670174/new-tv-drama-recounts-heroic-escapes-on-the-underground-railroad/
Stitching Together Artistry and Elegance
Explore a curated collection of Lisa’s creations, each meticulously crafted with passion, skill, and a touch of magic. Where exquisite quilting, captivating costumes, intricate intimates, and stunning garments come to life.
Unveiling Stories: Let’s Talk about Art, Inspiration, and Creativity
Join Lisa Woolfork in her engaging podcast as she delves into the world of art, exploring the intricate threads of inspiration and creativity. Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform, and let’s embark on a captivating journey of conversation and discovery. Click below to start listening and let’s talk!
