Why "performative" is actually the point | Red hats, suffragettes, and joyful resistance

From a sunny balcony in Naples, I'm thinking about protest - what it looks like, what it sounds like, and why making things with your hands has always been part of it. Last year I sat here listening to a community marching band play an anti-war song from 1980 as a quiet act of resistance. That moment connects to the Melt the Ice hat - a knitting pattern rooted in Norwegian opposition to Nazi occupation, now raising funds for immigrant communities in Minneapolis - and to the Edwardian walking suit in my collection, embroidered in suffragette purple and green. I'm also talking about The Crooked Cross by Sally Carson, a novel written in 1933 about the rise of fascism in Bavaria, and why silence is the most dangerous response of all. This film is about why showing your beliefs matters. Why "performative" is actually the whole point. And why traditionally female crafts have always been at the heart of resistance. I know that not everyone is in a position to be visible, and that being seen carries real risk for some people. This film is for those of us who can, and perhaps should, create a halo of safety for others. Links mentioned in this film: Christina's video on the Melt the Ice hat and its history:    • Desert Agave Fiber Arts: Episode 12-- The ...   Melt the Ice hat pattern on Ravelry ($5, all proceeds to immigrant aid): https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr... The Crooked Cross by Sally Carson (Persephone Books): https://persephonebooks.co.uk/product... About me: I'm Jane, and every Friday I make a short film about making, history, nature, and why these things matter. I run The Studio — a small online membership for women who want to slow down, work with the seasons, and create with intention through natural dyeing, hand-stitching, and story-led courses. The Studio is currently full with a waiting list. To join the waiting list or find out more: https://snapdragonlife.myflodesk.com/... My Friday Letter lands weekly — sign up here: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6187e9...