Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about our call to stitch 2025.
How do I sign up?
We are asking everyone to register so that we make sure to stay in touch with all of you.
Contacts through different social media platforms and messaging apps are too much for us to keep track of. We’re asking everyone to provide at least one email address for important messages.
Everyone who registers through this list will receive invitations to meetings in English and to the English whatsapp group, as well as receiving – by email – general updates about the project.
There are already an awful lot of us and registering this way really helps us to stay on top of the logistics.
Of course, we would NEVER share your information with any third parties. We are conscientious objectors to all forms of commercial publicity.
I’m joining the Ecosystem of Hope!
What country is the collective in?
At this moment – April 2025 – the collective has active members stitching in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Brasil, Colombia, Ecuador, Sweden, Holland, Spain and the UK. This project is an open invitation to all countries on planet Earth.
We have launched the 2025 Call to Stitch in Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish and English but we are interested in opening this call to all languages.
There is no geographical limitation on participation. Wherever you are, if you can understand the call, you can be part of this collective art work full of hope.
Do you speak another language and could you help us to translate the Call to Stitch to make it more accessible to more people? Please contact us!!
Contact
What is the deadline for handing in my piece?
Since our first objective for installing the collective piece is COP30, planned for 10-21 November 2025 in Belem, Brazil, we are asking people to finish their pieces by August 2025.
Ideally we would ask you to try and install your local creations somewhere in your neighbourhoods BEFORE sending them – see below for how to send your creations – so that your neighbours can also be party to the power of hope and the great moment of opportunity that we are witness to if we manage to amplify collective action.
Where possible we really recommend a national installation, where possible, before sending all the creations from your country on their way to Brasil.
The detailed date limits will be determined by locality and country as groups get organised.
Are only “embroideries” accepted?
The textile techniques to be used are absolutely free as long as you use a needle and thread. We usually refer to them as embroideries, because many of the original trees were made with various embroidery techniques, but others are patchwork or appliqué, or whatever term you use to describe the way you put together reused fabrics in a piece.
We only ask for three key things:
- that you use needle and thread
- that you comply with the dimensions (and button and button holes) as explained in each guide so that we can easily join the pieces
- that you use reused fabric, old clothes, fabric that was going to be discarded. Avoid buying fabric and throwing it in the trash.
Read more about Why it’s important to reuse textiles.
What kind of collectives can participate?
We have prepared some lists to help you think about the wide variety of collectives that we think could contribute to this collective art work.
See the lists of envisioned collectives
What kind of groups can join in?
However, we also know that we have deeply internalized the normativity of the present. Possibly your collective is innovating in a way that we haven’t thought of. If our long and open list doesn’t seem to include you, please do write to us and tell us about the wonderful and futuristic way you are working.
If you are doing things related to regeneration, restoration or if you share actions of resistance and are learning new ways or carry out actions to awaken others, then you are surely the people we are looking for.
How do I send my embroidery?
Logistics may vary by area and country, but what has worked for us so far is to have a volunteer in each territory who offers to be a collection point.
This person will be the coordinator for their region. The stitchers-creators will deliver their pieces to them – in person or by local/national mail – with a financial contribution – where possible – to contribute to transport costs to get the art and some members of the collective to COP30.
Depending on the circumstances of each locality, some colleagues will travel to COP30 themselves; in other cases, we hope that the national or youth delegates of the climate conference can help us bring embroideries in their suitcases.
As dynamics are defined by locality, we will add data here to contact the person who can collect embroideries.
For now, we have collection points in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Sweden.
If you can volunteer to help with this activity in your country, please write to us at
Contact
Will the embroideries be returned to us?
So far, the pieces that make up the Forest of Hope have not been returned. The embroideries become part of the great collaborative work, interconnecting peoples and struggles from all over the world, which will continue to travel along different routes with the same objective after COP30.
A good story: in Jardines en la Montaña they made their piece for the Forest of Hope and when it had gone far away to be part of the Forest they decided that they had liked the experience so much that they were going to create another, even better one, to have in their neighbourhood and to continue raising awareness among the neighbours. So now there are 2 magnificent canvases of the Jardines en la Montaña oak woodland, one that travels and inspires the world and one that stays at home to inspire the neighbours.
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