the knitting revolution

the knitting revolution, by sue green, suggests that the resurgence of crafts is a direct result of the fast-paced techno-culture we live in, which makes sense to me. in a world where we are further and further removed from other people because technology can automate a lot of what people previously had to do, plus the fact that there's no need (or time) to hand-make anything anymore it makes sense that a craft-revolution would bubble up in response.

i've posted excerpts from sue's article below - of course, if you'd like to read the article in it's entirety click here.
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Says leading trend forecaster Faith Popcorn: ‘Smooth, shiny and uniform is now equated with crude and cheap, especially when compared with the individuality of hand crafted products.

'We are hungry for things that have touched human hands...any craft as applicable and pragmatic as knitting has a great future.'

Knitting's popularity has been growing for several years-a response to the pace of life and mass market consumerism. But with September 11 came not only reduced demand for air travel, but more time and enthusiasm for home-based activities. It heralded a renewed concern for home and family, translating into greater interest in crafts and unlocking creativity.

With a 400 per cent increase in the number of American knitters aged under 35 between 1998 and 2000, knitting groups with names like Yarn Divas and Stitchin’ Bitches are springing up on US university campuses. The popularity of handknitting has been boosted by celebrities who knit and extol the joys. Madonna and Julia Rogers are doing it, Harry Potter is wearing it and exponents range from former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright to model Kate Moss and singer Eartha Kitt. Actor knitters include Sandra Bullock, Cameron Diaz, Hilary Swank, Brooke Shields, Daryl Hannah, Goldie Hawn, Uma Thurman and Mary-Louise Parker (now knitting hats for boyfriend Billy Crudup). Even ‘our’ Russell Crowe has been pictured with needles and yarn.

stitch-n-bitchers unite

interested in starting or joining a subversive knitting group in your area - or going on holiday and want to stitch-n-bitch while your there? click the link below to find a stitch-n-bitch group by country, or city (us only) name.

http://www.stitchnbitch.org/snb_groups.htm

the Point has a group that meets every Tuesday night from 7-9pm. Currently we are meeting at The Point in the West Village: 37a Bedford Street Between Carmine and Downing. All are welcome!

craftivism

speaking of subversive knitting...i found craftivism, a site self-described as being "based on the idea that activism + craft = craftivism. That each time you participate in crafting you are making a difference, whether it's fighting against useless materialism or making items for charity or something betwixt and between. It's about the not-so-radical notion that activists can be crafters, and crafters can be activists."

craftivisim running an 'artist / crafter documentary project' & i'm interested in seeing the results. i've been thinking of starting a similar project because it's interesting that crafting is finding it's way back into popular culture. it used to be that people knit because they had to. now they knit because they want to, and also in some cases because they have something to say. crafting's a serious time investment - and these days time is hard to come by.

radical lace & subversive knitting

if you're interested in seeing what kind of work this exhibit featured, but were (like me) unable to attend, here's an hyperlinked list of the participating artists. it's interesting to see their work, and also how (or if) they present their work online.

Participating Artists

Bennett Battaile - Portland, Oregon
Dror Benshetrit - New York, New York
Hildur Bjarnadóttir - Reykjavik, Iceland
Dave Cole - Providence, Rhode Island
Liz Collins - Providence, Rhode Island
Annet Couwenberg - Baltimore, Maryland
Françoise Dupré - London, United Kingdom
Janet Echelman - Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Carson Fox - Trenton, New Jersey
Katja Gruijters - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Sabrina Gschwandtner - New York City, New York
Elana Herzog - Brooklyn, New York
Hilal Sami Hilal - São Paulo, Brazil
Yoshiki Hishinuma - Tokyo, Japan
Sheila Klein - Bow, Washington
Cal Lane - Putnam Valley, New York
Ruth Marshall - Bronx, New York
Edward Mayer - Delmar, New York
Cat Mazza - Troy, New York
Althea Merback - Bloomington, Indiana
Sheila Pepe - Brooklyn, New York
Freddie Robins - London, United Kingdom
Piper Shepard - Baltimore, Maryland
Niels van Eijk - Someren, Netherlands
Erna van Sambeek - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Eugène van Veldhoven - Den Haag, The Netherlands
Shane Waltener - London, United Kingdom
Anne Wilson - Evanston, Illinois
Henk Wolvers - Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
Barbara Zucker - Burlington, Vermont

knit art

was cruising the galleries this weekend & found a business card for an artist who makes dolls (creepy dolls). the doll on the business card was wearing what looked to be a crocheted dress & got me thinking of knitting as an art form.

there was a 'radical lace & subversive knitting' exhibit at the museum of art and design in new york January 25 - June 17, 2007. (this is the date on the website but my sister went a few days ago and it was still up-March 28th)

and a similar show in london in 2005: knit 2 together at the crafts council gallery

there is something interesting in juxtaposing a craft traditionally associated with stodgy old ladies & appropriating it for political or social expression...i'm also interested in why youth culture's recently glommed onto it as a hipster thing to do.

Knit your own purse grenade:

Abbreviations

k = knit, p = purl, st(s) = stitch(es), inc = increase, dec = decrease, rep = repeat, slp = slip onto needle without knitting, tog = together, nxt = next, yrn = yarn, fwd = forward, cont = continue, pat = pattern, ss = stocking stitch: one row k, one row p

Materials

Should be knitted in chunky army green and gunmetal grey on 4mm needles. Grenade is fastened with a kilt pin and keyring.

Grenade body

Cast on 40 sts and work in box stitch for 32 rows.

1st row. k4, p4, to end.

2nd row. k4, p4 to end.

3rd row. k4, p4 to end.

4th row. k4, p4 to end.

5th row. p4, k4 to end.

6th row. p4, k4 to end.

7th row. p4, k4 to end.

8th row. p4, k4 to end.

Rep rows 1-8, 4 times.

33rd row. k.

34th row. k1, *yrn fwd, k2tog. Rep from *to end.

35th row. k4 more rows.

Cast off.

The Top

Pick up 30 sts along the 32nd row of the grenade body. Do this by starting and finishing 5sts in.

Commence in gunmetal grey.

1st row k.

2nd row p.

Rep these rows 3 times, dec 1 st at each end of p row.

9th row k.

10th row p.

Rep these rows 3 times, inc 1 st at each end of p row.

Cast off.

Press, fold along shortest row, and hem into 32nd row of body.

The trigger

Cast on 4 sts.

1st row k, inc1st at each end of row.

2nd row p.

3rd row as 1st row.

4th row p.

Cont in ss for 16 rows.

Then dec 1st at each end of every p row until 2sts remain.

K2tog (1 st remains), now make pin loop as follows:

1st row. Cast on 1st.

2nd row. Cast off 1st.

3rd row. Cast on 1st.

4th row. Cast off 1st.

Rep this until loop measures 4cm.

Cast off, and st into a loop.

To finish

St up side of grenade body.

Gather the bottom of the grenade by running stitches through row 1 of body and pulling tight.

Fold trigger in half lengthwise, press, and st on to side seam of body, leaving loop at the top.

Gather opening of grenade by threading ribbon through holes made by row 34.

Put pin through top and loop, and then back through top.

You are now ready to throw your grenade.