Umbilical

Umbilical, 2025
Ellie Shipman
Found hand-knitted acrylic baby hats, recycled poly-wadding, cotton thread
Dimensions variable 

Umbilical twists around itself, strings of found baby hats sewn together in lengths forming new arrangements. These hats were knitted by volunteers and donated to local hospitals, but were discarded and re-formed here, becoming unknown collaborators. The love, intention and unrecognised labour that each hat embodies gives power to this new gathering of objects. The pastel colours become data representing individual tastes and perceptions of baby-hood, and the expert knits and stitches provide texture and care to a now collective structure. 

Exhibited at:
Bosse & Baum, London, edition launch exhibition - December 2025
Holding Space at The Launderette, Bristol - January 2026

Final two images: Installation views at The Launderette, Jo Hounsome Photography, 2026