Sue Gross – I must make a woolly jumper for my daughter

Artist: Sue Gross

Title of Piece: I must make a woolly jumper for my daughter

About the Piece: Drawing of woolly jumper, edged with barbed wire. It is deliberately rough and scratchy, although it depicts something that is meant to be soft and beautiful.

I long to make my daughter’s life more comfortable, but sometimes the methods I choose don’t have the effect I anticipate or want. Something that, to me, feels soft and cuddly may feel unbearably abrasive to her. It is hard for me to imagine all the effects my actions may have on her, and hard for her to express when something I do goes wrong. I have to be understanding when she doesn’t want or use what I do – but she also has to be understanding when what I do causes her more pain and discomfort than it alleviates.

Thanks to Margaret for the barbed wire and to Bronson and Sarah for the muscle power!

Dedicated to Hannah, with love and admiration always.

Sue (Nix’s Mum).

About the Artist: My daughter has fibromyalgia: I don’t. My usual media are knitting and quilting.