Discover how Emma McKee stitched together a portrait of Chicago with the help of dozens of Chicagoans.
When Emma McKee picks up a needle and thread, she isn’t just creating art. She’s documenting culture, preserving stories and building community, one stitch at a time.
Known to many as Stitch Gawd (a nickname coined due to her being the only hip-hop cross stitcher), the Chicago-based artist has spent the last several months as Chicago Public Library’s Maker-in-Residence, a donor-funded program that introduces Chicagoans to new creative skills through free, hands-on workshops across the city’s regional libraries.
This summer, McKee welcomed Library users of all ages—even some of our youngest makers—to learn the art of hand stitching while contributing to something much larger than themselves: a collaborative textile map celebrating Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Stitching the Truth
Although McKee was born in Kansas City, raised in St. Louis and attended school in Canada, she credits Chicago with shaping her as both an artist and a person.
“Because I live in Chicago, so much of what I make centers around this city. It’s how I’m processing the world around me. Living in this city taught me that if we’re going to tell Chicago stories, we have a responsibility to reinvest in the communities we’re serving.”
That philosophy has guided projects ranging from portraits of Chairman Fred Hampton to jackets celebrating the WNBA’s 25th anniversary and collaborations with Chance the Rapper. No matter the project, Mckee believes artists have a responsibility to tell the truth and bring people together.
That same belief inspired her residency at Chicago Public Library.
Throughout the summer, workshop participants learned decorative stitching techniques before embroidering an image that represented their neighborhood. Their individual pieces will become part of McKee’s final project: one large denim map of Chicago that serves as a portrait of the city created by the people who call it home.
“People who have never stitched before are making these incredible pieces,” McKee said. “They’re creating things I never would’ve come up with.”
Creating Community
For McKee, these workshops weren’t just about learning a craft. They were about creating community.
“It’s really beautiful to see people just in community with one another,” she said. “Everyone is surprised by how quickly they’re able to pick up stitching and make something meaningful.”
One of her favorite contributions came from a young participant who insisted on adding a stitched Chicago Bulls logo to the map.
“It’s so wholesome,” McKee laughed. “We’re having a very wholesome, good time at Chicago Public Library.”
Why Libraries and Creative Spaces Matter
In addition to producing art, McKee spends much of her time mentoring young people across Chicago. Until she’s able to launch the nonprofit she dreams of one day leading, she sees teaching as one of the most meaningful ways to give back.
“You can give a whole lot to a kid just by being there,” she said. “I hope they leave believing they should go for the thing they want, and that they already have so much of what they need inside themselves.”
Long before becoming Maker-in-Residence, McKee had already become a regular at the West Town branch. Looking for a break from the constant pull of social media, she rediscovered reading and found something even more valuable.
“I’ve made friends with the librarians, and it’s become such an important community space to me,” she said. “I love being known at my library. It makes me feel tied into my community in this really special way.”
Her residency only deepened that appreciation. She was inspired by how each branch responds to the unique needs of its neighborhood, offering everything from practical sewing classes to access to tools like Cricut machines, 3D printers, and sewing equipment through the Maker Lab.
As her residency comes to a close and she leaves with a deeper love of libraries, she encourages Chicagoans to go to their local branch.
“Engage with your local library,” she said. “Engage with your librarians. They really are amazing, hardworking people—and they’re helping hold our communities together.”
McKee’s project will be on display on the windows facing State Street outside the Harold Washington Library Center this August. You can follow her on social media here.
The Maker Lab is a donor-powered program where Library users of all ages and experience levels can experiment with a variety of creative media, from 3D printing and laser cutting to quilting and sewing, take part in workshops led by our Makers-in-Residence and other experts, learn about entrepreneurship, and connect with the community through creating.
This program is made possible thanks to Comcast, Exelon, Peoples Gas, and generous donors to the Library Foundation.
