Knitting for a Better World

Discussions and projects about knitting as a hobby, craft, art practice and political statement.  Avatar Photo: Pink M.24 Chaffee by Mariana Jørgensen 2006

[fannishknits]

Is there a mythical creature whose fiber you would like to knit from?

[1atalante1]

Not mythical, but on the weekend I saw a documentry about cloning mammoths. And while they were talking about it’s fur all I could think about was ‘Mammoth yarn’.

[loracarol]

Might be stretching the term “mythical” a bit, but, giant spider webbing? 

Like, the size of webbing that a spider the size of Shelob could spin. :O Just the drag-lines, though, not the sticky stuff. :D 

[hubbabubbie]

Unicorn mane or mermaid hair!

[nadirmonkey]

Dragon’s beard

[ruthvsreality]

The Golden Fleece!!!!!

[transformativeworks]

#fantastic beasts and how to knit with them 

[playfulpanda]

by Rubeus Hagrid

[podkins]

Make this sweet fat crocheted pusheen cat with a free pattern from Tru Blue Me & You blog for creatives.

[cablesandpurls]

Sadness (Inside Out) Amigurumi Pattern (Free) by MiaHandCrafter

[politicalknitting]

"If all the angry people sat down to knit, it might not make a better world, but it would certainly be a warmer one."

Freddie Robins

Gschwandter, Sabrina Knitknit : profiles + projects from knitting's new wave (New York : Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2007) Page 163

[politicalknitting]

Frogging Old Patterns : Exploring the Multifaceted World of Knitting (Part 1)

Introduction

Knitting is an ancient craft that millions of people have enjoyed practicing, and many more have enjoyed a garment or other object made with the technique. Knitting is easily accessible; all that is necessary is two needles, a length of yarn and scissors. The method is used to make cloth, which is inexorably linked to human life: all human societies have had some sort of dress, and the human body cannot withstand cold weather that exists in much of the world without the protection of cloth. Knitting is among the major textile techniques, along with weaving, crochet, and other yarn crafts that create plains of cloth out of yarn.

 Despite its importance in our lives, there is a problem that knitting is devalued and dismissed in our culture because of its association with domesticity and older women. There is the too-often heard sentiment of “my grandmother does that” which apart from diminishing the importance of knitting with tone, most severely devalues grandmothers and the work that has been traditionally done by women. This work should be respected for its value, the hard work an time it takes, as well as the love and care that goes into it. The association of knitting with femininity comes from the way that knitting is often soft and comforting, which can be metaphorical for nurturing and caring for someone, which have been assigned as feminine roles. Much of this comes from the industrial revolution, during which time men took the role of producers while women took the role of consumers. However, the production role of men was heavily based in machine mass-production. The values of masculine culture and work are traditionally passed down through institutions, while the values of feminine culture and work are passed down through media and the teaching and learning of skills.[1] As knitting fits in the roles and values of women, and the majority of people in power and who are considered too be on the forefront of progress are men, knitting is not taken seriously and is instead seen as counterproductive to pursued human achievements as well as frivolous and insignificant. Exploring and understanding the way knitting occupies space in our world, the way it is made, and who makes it is at the core of shaking up the rigid stereotypes and will allow for freedom and respect for all knitters.

By changing the perception of knitting to include men who learn to knit in jail for its psychological benefits, charity knitting, wartime knitting, contemporary artists making statements, anarchist knitting, yarn graffiti and bold, collaborative political statements, we will render the dichotomy null, and thus create a situation in which women and their knitting will not be dismissed as the antithesis to masculine progress.

[1] Sparke, Penny As Long as its Pink: The Sexual Politics of Taste (Pandora: London, 1995) page 10