Posted by pralala on 2006-01-12 23:49:28
Post Subject: Its a long shot, but...Omaha, NE?
Did a search for a thread on Omaha and came up nil. I've been here 9 months now and have yet to find a decent crafting and/or knitting group. If anyone knows of one and wants to point me in the right direction please let me know!
Posted by mrs.veghead on 2007-02-28 19:34:28
Post Subject: Benefit Auction Seeking Fine Arts and Crafts Submissions
I am organizing a fine arts and crafts auction to benefit Operation First Response. This is a 501(c)3 (ie. registered non-profit). The mission is to provide supportive services to family members of injured soldiers from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
The agency puts together backpacks that are given to injured soldiers which include some clothes (because soldier''s uniforms are often cut off when they sustain an injury) and toiletries. In addition, they also fly families to see their injured soldier after they are returned to the US, or provide car services and financial assistance for hotels so families can spend time with their loved one.
If you are interested in donating a piece of fine art or a craft please email me (ndilliplane AT gmail DOT com). Just an FYI: Things such as culinary arts, web design and graphic design are also considered fine arts. You can donate a website, the design of a company brochure or certificate for two dozen pieces of fine chocolate if these are your mediums.
This is an amazing organization and the chapter here in PA is experiencing serious financial strains due to the large number of injured troop being cared for at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. (The volunteers have even paid for fights with their own credit cards).
I am collecting donations over the next 60 days and plan to organize and ONLINE auction. You donations are tax deductible and I can arrange for you to receive the appropriate tax info if you request.
Also, please feel free to repost this any and everywhere.....Email it to friends, mention it while on a call to another crafter, organize your knitting group, post it on your blog, copy and paste it in all your listservs, craft a beautiful handmade card and send it to everyone in your black book....(you get the point). I''d be happy to answer any and all questions.
Thank you in advance for your support and interest.
For more info, submission guidelines, and updates please visit:
http://operationfirstresponsebenefitauction.blogspot.com/
Posted by Michelle Livanos on 2006-11-27 16:51:06
Post Subject: Westside Stitchers: a Knitting/Crochet Group, Middleton, WI
Hi there,
Just thought I'd plug my knitting group. Anybody who lives in the Madison/ Middleton, WI area and knits/crochets or just learning is invited to join our group. We meet every Monday night 7PM at Barriques Coffee Trader/Wine Market located at 1901 Cayuga Street in downtown Middleton, across the street from the post office. Come join us for some stitching fun and comaraderie. (Bring money for a beverage.)
Posted by Karen on 2004-04-29 11:27:31
Post Subject: new Stitch 'n Bitch book (Debbie Stoller, not me!)
This was posted to my S'nB Yahoo Group:
Show me your tips! & Take me to your leader!
I'm working on a follow up to my book, "Stitch n Bitch: The Knitter's
Handbook." This book will be called "Stitch n Bitch Nation" and will
include, along with a great assortment of patterns, a number of
tried-and-true tips from knitters from all over, as well as profiles
(and pictures) of a number of knitting groups.
If you have a great knitting tip you'd like to share, please send it
my way (don't hit reply or you may accidentally write to your whole
knitting group; just write me back at stitchnbitch@bust.com). If I
use your tip, it will be attributed to you in the book, and you will
also get a free copy of the book when it's done.
ALSO, I will be including photos and profiles of Stitch n Bitch
groups (and other knitting groups) in the book, and I'd love to
include as many groups as possible. Please ask your group leader
to write up about a 500-word description of your knitting group
(how you got started, where you meet, any interesting stories about
members, etc.), and email that to me, as well as emailing me a photo
of your group (please just send the highest resolution image you
can), by May 17th (if you need an extension, let me know). I already
have these from a number of groups, including Stitch n Bitch Austin
and Stitch n Bitch Los Angeles,but there are so many that I am still
hoping to include. So if your group leader (or some other group
volunteer) can get that to me, it would be awesome. And of course,
she (or he) will also get a free copy of the book.
Okay, thanks everyone, sorry for the intrusion.
knit on!
xxxoo deb
--
Debbie Stoller
Editor & Co-Publisher
BUST Magazine
78 Fifth Ave., 5th floor
New York, NY 10011
http://www.bust.com
http://www.knithappens.com
Posted by JeraAndJune on 2005-06-01 12:34:57
Post Subject: Madison, WI Cookout Party!
Calling all crafters in the Mad-Town area!
Stitch 'N' Bitch is holding a don't-feel-guilty-that-you're-not-attending-knitting-group-because-neither-is-anyone-else party!
It's just too goshdarn nice outside to knit stuff inside!
It will be held at James Madison Park on the 15th of June, a wednesday... join the S'N'B yahoo group at the link in my signature to find out more as the planning unfolds... cuz that's all we have so far!
Posted by Muddymay on 2007-11-13 08:54:46
Post Subject: Naked Lady Party NKY and Cincy area
I have read about this and am in love with the idea. Have a few friends who are just as excited. I am going to organize one, sometime in Dec. Thought I would toss the idea out on here and see if any one is local and interested in participating. Send me a PM if so.
Here is the getcrafty link explaining it.
http://www.getcrafty.com/home_nakedlady.php
Also don't forget (if you're local) Sat the 17th is the next meeting for the knitting group at Sitwells!!
Posted by jaimers on 2005-12-04 20:41:29
Post Subject: knittin' in KCMO
I've been knitting for just over a year, and was wondering if there were any KC metro knitters here who might be interested in starting a knitting group of some sort, or if anyone knows where i could jump into one?? the yarn shop in overland park has classes, but i'm too poor to afford 25 bucks a class PLUS the cost of supplies
Posted by boheme-anne on 2006-01-01 10:10:49
Post Subject: Come join me in my PA knitting group!!!! please!!
In grueling attempts for getting together a knitting group for my area, I actually have to advertise a begining knitting class at the store I work in. It is Boscov's department Store in Hazleton, PA. If you are close, please, please, please come! I am charging for the actual teaching, but my main purpose is to round up a stitch n' bitch. If you already know how to knit...good!!! I'm not looking for you to pay me! I just couldn't come up with a better solution. First session is in 2 weeks...If you are interested, drop me a line!
Posted by viggie on 2005-01-18 15:43:57
Post Subject: San Antonio knitting?
i want to meet some local knitters that i can get together with and have a knitting group, but i would especially like it to be people with similar, ahem, political leanings (left, no, more left). from what i've heard the local SnB isn't so much like that.
anyone here from san antonio or anyone in general have pointers for starting one?
Posted by singa on 2004-09-24 15:34:32
Post Subject: knitting groups in Los Angeles?
Hey everyone,
I "rediscovered" this site and am really loving it! I was just curious to find out if anyone knows of a knitting group in the LA area...or if any of you are interested in starting one? I live in the Valley, which would be preferable for me, but am flexible to other parts of the city.
Posted by creatingbug on 2007-11-11 09:39:12
Post Subject: Is there anyone in Lompoc?
I''d love to meet up with other people here in Lompoc, CA. I''m teaching myself to knit and think it would be great to start a knitting group here. : )
Posted by meexie on 2006-06-03 22:02:51
Post Subject: WWKIP Day June 10
Worldwide Knit in Public Day, anyone? My local knitting group (Aloha Knitters) is meeting in Kapiolani Park from 2 - 6 pm and having a light potluck along with the crocheting, spinning, and knitting.
Posted by culinarymartyr on 2005-06-01 23:08:24
Post Subject:
I'm in Charleston, WV. I know of one knitting group in Charleston, the Appalachian Knitters Guild, and the contact is Geane Helfrich, Cross Lanes, WV, tuba@newwave.net. Also, if you head north the first few days of July, the Mountain State Art & Craft Fair at Cedar Lakes in Ripley is amazing! www.msacf.com Definitely worth a day trip! There's a pretty thriving art & craft scene in WV, you just have to meet a couple of people and they'll introduce you to a couple of people, and so on, and so on...(sorry channeling a Breck?? commercial?).
Posted by geek_chick on 2004-07-13 12:08:25
Post Subject: Any Knitters in Central NH?
I am trying to find a knitting group that isn't entirely comprised of women over the age of 50. I have nothing against them, I am sure they are cool ladies, but I'd prefer getting together with people closer to my own age, say in their 20's.
Posted by glitter_bug on 2004-11-21 11:55:45
Post Subject: Galveston Knitting Group
I've started a knitting group in Galveston Texas!!
Please join us!! Bring crochet or sewing or whatever your crafty heart throbs for!
We meet on Wednesday nights at 7pm at the Mod coffeeshop at 22nd and Postoffice Streets.
My name is Amy and if you show up and I'm not there yet, please ask one of their lovely employees about it, they can inform you. I hope to see you there!!!
Posted by melissabee on 2004-11-29 21:46:13
Post Subject:
i'd be interested in finding a knitting group as well...though i'm getting married in two weeks, so i have no time in the near future! but if there's a seattle group, i'd love to join in the new year. :)
Posted by baltica on 2004-11-01 12:26:31
Post Subject:
Hi boheme anne - I second trying http://knitting.meetup.com to locate a knitting group. There might be one in the Wilkes-Barre or Allentown/Bethlehem area, or you could start your own. I am a member of the Philly one (I live in Delaware Co.), though I am ashamed to admit I've never gone to a meetup.
I am a lefty knitter (also a red head....hmm...weird!). I learned from one of those "how to knit" leaflets they have at AC Moore and Michaels which had diagrams for both left and right handers. I also have a much more extensive book that breaks everything down for both left and right hands....but I'm blanking on the title right now. When I'm home and can peruse my bookshelves I'll post the title.
Posted by boheme-anne on 2004-10-27 20:03:43
Post Subject: Knitter's in Pennsylvania?
Hi there craftolians!!! I am a very artsy fartsy person and just resently learned how to knit (not very well, but I'm getting there!). I am very proud that I taught myself out of a few books (one being Stich'n Bitch which I think many of us know about, two thumbs up!) However I am very interested in joining a knitting group to help me with trouble shooting and to exchange ideas. One of my biggest peeves is that I am left handed and don't know any lefty knitters. Also, I am a visual person (literally, I am a visual merchandiser) so I have to learn by seeing someone doing it in front of me. You can only imagine how long it took for me to begin to make stitches that weren't all loose and lumpy. If there are any PA ladies out there that are in the same boat as I, please reply. I can't wait to meet you!
Posted by researchasaurus on 2005-09-07 13:03:12
Post Subject:
This is a little off topic, but...
Last night at my knitting group a girl had cut old jeans into long thin strips and knitted with a furry novelty yarn to make a scarf. It isn't the kind of thing I would wear but it was a great re-use project. She hadn't even liked the yarn (it was a gift) but mixed with the denim it was pretty cute.
Posted by researchasaurus on 2005-07-06 14:09:49
Post Subject:
I thought it was kind of cute that they have a "man" issue, but then I read on at least one blog (not GetCrafty blogs) that people thought it was kind of cheesy.
Anybody have thoughts on this?
There is a woman in my knitting group who is 60+ yrs old and she also felt that the constant presence of lines like "not your grandma's knitting" are getting really tiresome.
Generally I really like what knitty has been trying to do.
Posted by athena on 2004-07-12 14:08:38
Post Subject:
don't be nervous! it should be fun. i'm a hostess for a knitting group and we love to meet new people. if you are shy about starting conversations a good starter is asking someone what they are working on. you've accomplished a lot already in three weeks. feel proud of yourself!
Posted by thriftstore_diva on 2005-02-24 11:46:48
Post Subject:
Yes, there are some crafty girls in Tacoma. There is a knitting group that meet every Tuesday at Cutter's Point Coffee on Pacific near the college there at 7:00 until 9:00. I have only gone once as I work Tuesday nights and well....I am not really a knitting gal....just a crafty sort with a obsessive love of vintage clothes and collecting weird crap! I'd also love to make more crafty friends!
Posted by eight on 2004-07-12 12:54:49
Post Subject: Knitting group at B n' N
There's a knitting group that meets at my local barnes and noble and I'm going to go tonight but i'm a little nervous.
I only started teaching myself to knit about 3 weeks ago, but i've already made 2 bags and i started a sweater this weekend. ( i'd be much farther along but i had to rip it out twice, argh)
I've always been really outgoing, but I don't really have too many friends anymore. I guess I'm just nervous about meeting new people.
sorry to ramble on, but I just am hoping for some advice on being more confident or at least some comiseration.
Posted by alva98101 on 2005-01-22 18:43:09
Post Subject: stitch and bitch
i am interested in joining a knitting group. i am pretty open to any time or place to meet inside seattle. i know the basics and want to learn more and be introduced to other people that knit. please email me (alva98101@hotmail.com) with the subject line "knitting".
Posted by kindarana on 2005-08-05 17:28:05
Post Subject:
Just wanted to report back, I ended up going to the knitting group at the library (3-5, btw) and it was a very interesting vibe... lots of kids (including one of my students!) and experienced knitters too. The teacher does yarn-in-right-hand but there was a group off in the corner doing Continental...
Posted by kindarana on 2005-07-29 09:35:38
Post Subject:
There's also a knitting group at the Cupertino library on Tuesday afternoons, I think it's 3:30-5:30 but don't hold me to it. Of course I found out right before going out of town so I can't tell you what it's like.
sarabell, if it makes you feel better it's all overcast outside...
Posted by Muddymay on 2007-10-22 10:54:23
Post Subject: New Cincinnati Knitting group!
Good morning everyone! I''m new to getcrafty as well as knitting in general. I taught myself last fall, beginning with a scarf, and have been crazy about it since. I have 4 scarves, 4 hats (2 on double pointed needles!!), a Dr. Doom doll and a Domo Kun doll under my belt. I haven''t been around any other knitters so I still lack the terminology and certain skills and knowledge and I FINALLY just visited my first yarn/knit store this weekend!!!!! Anyway, long story short, I thought about joining a group, but when I realized I had a few friends and co-workers and such that wanted to join too, I decided to create a new knitting group in my area! I''m very VERY excited about it, I have the location set up, Sitwells Cafe on Ludlow Ave in Cincinnati, I''ve spoken to the owner and she is just as thrilled as me! So I wanted to get this all out so I can have an open invite to anyone who might want to join/stop by.
Time is up in the air right now, only because I want to get a feel for everyone’s schedules first. The plan is either late morning on Saturday or Sundays OR Mondays or Wednesdays after 5pm.
If anyone is interested, has suggestions, tips, help, welcomes, advice, wisdom ANYTHING!! Please contact me! If you live local, pretty please join us!! I really need more experienced knitters, since I''m so new to this!
Posted by h_pets360 on 2007-06-25 13:04:40
Post Subject: i live in portland
there's a lot to do here.
every other saturday, folks meet up on a coffee shop on SE division and 35-ish. it's *this* saturday, which is June 30th, then every other saturday after that.
in north portland, a block from my house, there's a knitting group that meets at naked sheep every thursday.
i *love* the knitt'n kitten (http://www.knittnkitten.com/) and recommend you check it out. craft + thrift = a very happy H Pets.
if you like short hikes with pretty views, go to Mount Tabor Park or Rocky Butte Park. If you like slightly longer hikes, check out Multnomah Falls (you can walk to a great spot to see the falls in like 60 seconds, and you can hike up the mountain for as long/far as you want, basically).
those are just a few random things. i'll pm ya my number and you can gimme a call if you want for more info/hanging out.
you can also check out this board on craftster: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?board=292.0
Posted by felt on 2004-08-24 11:03:31
Post Subject:
There's a knitting group(?) who makes this kind of stuff--penises (complete with veins..!), cigarettes, skulls, etc. They sell DIY knitting kits for them, I saw some at the 90 Square Meter gallery here in Amsterdam. Very cool stuff. Wish I remembered the name.. And I wish I knew how to knit..
Posted by little my on 2005-09-14 04:43:41
Post Subject:
knitting in public does make you more approachable. I had a guy on the tube asking me to teach him how to knit and telling me how fabulous handiwork skills were (he was a bit scary though); also a group of very hip-looking teenagers who asked me what I was making and said they'd like to be able to make stuff like that, and a lovely conversation with a woman on the train who was very excited to find out there were knitting groups in London and took loads of web links off me. it's cool, I like random conversations on public transport...
Our knitting group tends to get a lot of comments as well; sometimes people just want to come and say about how they knit, or used to knit or see what you're doing, sometimes people laugh, like ' "look, they're a knitting group!", like that's the most hilarious thing in the world...
Posted by boheme-anne on 2004-11-21 10:36:37
Post Subject:
Your todally right Kindarana, but I'd like to have some other "pink hats" with me so I'm not the only one! How do you get someone who is in there 20s-40s to join a group with you? I was reading an article in my new subscription of "organic style" and it was actually giving you instructions on how to make friends. Sad today that we need instructions to do that. But the writer of the article is right...people do need to get involved in more social relasionships. I feel like a hermit sometimes! I'm really not! I consider myself really outgoing but I think I scare people sometimes! Therefore I never invite anyone to have lunch with me, or go have a drink because I'm afraid they'll think I'm a stooge! Hence the knitting group. I'm just looking to find like-minded people to accociate with. Maybe I should spend more time at the craft store just to meet people!
Posted by boheme-anne on 2004-11-15 19:21:07
Post Subject: Need suggestions for where to have knitting meetings.
So I'm starting my own knitting group after Christmas...permitting I get enough people interested. Closest Stitch 'n Bitch group is in Philly and that's about 40 miles from me...that's a big negative. I want to know if anyone has suggestions on where to have meetings. There's not too much around where I live but I keep thinking I'm missing something right under my nose. My ideas so far:
-Craft room at the craft store in the mall (but I don't know if they'll let me first off, secondly we probalby have to pay)
-Library (it's free, but we would have to be quiet...and I don't know if they allow it anyway)
-Boscov's auditorium (which is where I work, it's a department store. But we have classes in this "auditoruim" and charge money for it after the holidays. I did talk to personel breifly about it but she's always busy!)
-Cafe (but there really isn't one anymore, a few artsy resturants in Jim Thorpe but I don't know what they are like)
Posted by marvy on 2005-03-23 10:12:58
Post Subject:
I think it's really important for someone who has been in several long-term relationships to learn how to be alone. I have friends who are serial monogamists and I worry that they won't ever be happy with anyone, because they don't know how to be happy alone. Take this time to rediscover what you like about you! Pick up a new craft- one of my friends learned knitting while going through her divorce, and it helped her alot, especially the new social circle of our knitting group. Or take up photography, or painting, or writing, anything new to help you get through this time.
I have a friend who decided after several failed relationships, that she wanted to be alone for one year before she dated anyone else. She got to the end of the year and decided that she liked being alone so much, she would do it for another year!
Posted by athena on 2007-01-31 10:38:33
Post Subject:
i am, too.
i started a dance class -- salsa/merengue -- once a week (and will continue taking other dance classes, maybe adding one in the next round of classes), and i've started doing yoga on the wednesdays i don't have my knitting group.
i'm thinking of joining curves, or if i'm lucky actually making registration for the intermediate tennis class at my local adult school (i think i actually have to stay up until midnight and try and be the first one. those classes fill up almost instantly.)
i really hate gyms and am waiting for spring so i can go walking outside again. dancing is really fun and great cardio.
as far as food, i just eat what i want and try to pay attention to when i'm actually full and stop.
amaryllis, i've read french women don't get fat, and i think it's a great book. it should be named european women don't get fat, though. this is pretty much how continental europe eats. it reminded me of the way my mom fed us when we were children. growing up and working the corporate world makes you forget, especially when your coworkers want to go to pizzeria uno's every other day. ;-)
a great book i read along the lines of FWDGF is the slow down diet, by marc david. he explains the science behind FWDGF and adds a lot more very interesting information about metabolism and nutrient absorption and maintaining a healthy weight. it's helped me tremendously, sort of.
by sort of, i mean that after i started reading it for the second time last spring (to start implementing the processes), something happened in my brain/mind/whatever, and i freaked out and did exactly the opposite. so, i gained 11 pounds. i was NOT happy. i started stressing about every little thing i ate, and then making bad choices. it was also around this time that my tennis class ended. one of the things marc david writes about is "eating to the point of energy" -- eating until you feel full, but also feel like you can get up and do what you need to do afterwards. you don't feel like you want to sit in front of the tv or nap. this concept is what i've finally grasped, and it's awesome!
so, gather those things along with the fact that i'm insulin-resistent, and... weight gain.
i'm finally back on track, and i'm so happy! it's slow, but i don't feel stressed, and that's very imporant to me. and actually, i don't feel bad about my weight or body shape right now. i think that helps. i just want to lose weight to wear the clothes i want to wear and also start running. carrying 50 extra pounds is not fun for my ankles and knees.
Posted by grrlygrrl on 2006-02-27 15:08:08
Post Subject:
YAY! I knew there had to be someone out there! i actually just started going to a knitting group at the hamilton barnes and noble. the one on route 130. i'm just learning how to knit myself, and it's fun! what's kind of crafty stuff do you like to do? i'll check out your website in a minute, that may probably answer my question...
Posted by Katrin on 2005-02-14 19:54:47
Post Subject:
How do women define 'feminist?'
I'll use the dictionary definition of "feminism": The theory fact of political, economic and social equality of the sexes.
What role does knitting play in a woman's life? What does it do for her?
Where "a woman" = "me", it plays the role of a creative outlet, one of many. I enjoy designing and making artistic objects that challenge my skills, express my personality, and are also practical.
Do most girls and women who take up knitting today do it with a "Stitch & Bitch" mentality (meaning associate it with girl power and feminism)?
No idea. Most of the people I know who have recently taken up knitting have done so because it's a creative pursuit that interests them. Its current resurgence in popularity has made it accessible to people who would enjoy and excel at it, but might never have thought to take it up otherwise.
Why does knitting suddenly have the cult following that it does? Or has it always been like this and I just didnt realize it until the past few years?
It goes in and out of fashion. I think it was out of style for an unusually long time (more than a generation) until recently, so fewer people remember the last time it was popular.
If you knit, why did you start?
My mother tried teaching me as a child, but I was too young - I grew up believing I was incapable of learning to knit. Still I wanted to do something like knitting and was searching for some substitute technique to produce similar results. Finally someone asked me, "Why don't you just learn to knit?" and so I asked my mother to teach me again.
Do you identify as a feminist?
Of course.
What does knitting do for you? Why do you like it?
See above - it's yet another creative outlet, a way to keep learning new skills and making unique objects that are both artistic and functional. I also like that it's portable and can be done almost anywhere
How do you communicate with other knitters (knitting group, online forums like this, etc)?
I've recently joined a knitting group. I've tried to start another group with some neighbors; we talk about it, but it's never gotten off the ground. I read knitting and craft forums regularly but am not as involved in them as some members are. Friends and coworkers have expressed interest in learning to knit also, and I look forward to the opportunity to help them.
Why do you choose to connect in this way?
Those are the ways I would connect with people for any activity or subject.
Do you think knitting today is different than it was several generations ago? Does it serve a different function?
The biggest difference is that now we don't need to knit. It's easier, faster and often cheaper to buy clothing than make our own, and so that makes knitting (and sewing, etc.) something of a status symbol. Knitters have not only a special skill, but also the time and money necessary to engage in it. It's fortunate that we have the choice to create our own clothing; if it were still a necessity, it would (paradoxically) probably be devalued as unimportant work, and the emphasis would be on producing more volume (drudgery) rather than on innovation and creativity.
Posted by grrlygrrl on 2006-03-02 10:40:19
Post Subject: howdy!
hey, i work in the princeton market fair too! part time at least... at anthropologie. nice to meet you girls! hmmm, we should think up some sort of crafty group for something other than knitting... not sure what, but i need inspiration to get moving a lot of times. getting together and seeing what other people are doing helps me out a lot. what do you guys think? ratti, have you found anyone on your thread?
cutyourheartout: the knitting group at b&n is small... there are 3 girls who regularly get together and i just joined them. they are all pretty good and i'm am just learning to knit myself but they are fun to knit with for a couple hours a week! you can join at www.stichnbitch.org i believe.
Posted by manukenkun on 2004-12-16 17:04:18
Post Subject:
OOh I feel terrible- we have a 12 year old boy come each SnB and his mum called in one day to check he wasn't being a pain to us, she told me that he just tells her he's heading off to Stitch and Bitch, he loves the name! But when i'm talking to people who might be a little less receptive I just call it 'knitting group' which is dull but...non offensive. Although we knit we also crochet, embroider and cross stitch- no-one seems to mind the name thing once they get sucked into our little world!
Posted by researchasaurus on 2005-02-07 13:10:30
Post Subject:
I formed a local knitting group a little while ago with someone. So far the turnout has been good so we decided to have a knitting potluck for superbowl day.
Sadly nobody showed up. We decided it's because we've only been meeting for three weeks (in a cafe) and perhaps it was too soon for people to go to someone's house that they don't know that well.
Anyway the two of us knit like hell for three hours, drank wine, and ate snacks. It was awesome.
Then I went home and made new curtains for my bedroom.
Posted by nitewyngs on 2007-10-30 17:15:12
Post Subject: Knitting Group?
I am a knitting beginner. Actually most beginners know more than I do! I just joined this site and am looking for a supportive knitting group somewhere in the North Newark/Belleville/Nutley/Clifton/Montclair/Verona and or West Orange area.
Posted by athena on 2006-08-17 11:17:00
Post Subject:
i don't know why people see purling as this big scary challenge. it's the exact same thing as knitting, you just poke the needle through the stitch at a different angle. whoop de doo.
anyways, i don't think this person is going to be back... hopefully she will get help somewhere.
yes! i've always been confused as to why people think purling is so difficult. i still don't get it. there is a woman in my knitting group that still can't stand purling and complains about how she doesn't get it, even though she has had a professional knitting teacher and designer help her out (and she is the most understanding and motivating and clear teacher).
i think it's a mindset they get into and can't get out of--some kind of weird mental block.
Posted by athena on 2006-02-02 10:15:01
Post Subject:
hi! i live in essex county and host a knitting group in livingtson and west orange. if anyone would like to join us, pm me. it's ok with me if you crochet or do any other type of portable craft (beading, needlepoint, cross-stich, etc). we meet at the borders cafe on route 10 in livingston, cosi across route 10 from borders and panera bread in west orange.
besides, knitting, i know basic sewing and am taking a patternmaking/design class at hudson county community college in jersey city.
belindasuperstarr, my friend just incorporated herself (she is a redesigner/organizer/ feng shui consultant), and she received a lot of help from the small business administration and from SCORE:
Posted by meexie on 2005-06-08 03:37:47
Post Subject: What should a Crazy Old Lady Neighborhood have?
Offshoot of the Red Hat Society thread.
When I get old, I want to have a Crazy Old Lady Neighborhood with my friends (Batty Old Coots welcome as well). I would like the neighborhood to have:
*cat sanctuary (with lots of couches to shred)
*goats
*chickens roaming free
*ice cream parlor with lots of booze (when I say "make up for the sobriety of my youth, I'm going to mean it literally)
*tobacco shop with full line of Nat Shermans (I figure I can take up smoking again when I'm 70)
*yarn shop (for the knitting group that meets at the ice cream parlor and gets sloshed)
*coffee shop with powerful espresso and Turkish coffee (see booze and cigarettes)
*library with naughty books and DVDs
*bookstore
*theater that runs movies from our youth, including naughty ones
*Toys in Babeland (it's good for arthritis!)
*rec center (geriatric kickboxing anyone?) that also hosts activist meetings and community potlucks
*parks - dog park, walking park, jogging park, massive gardens park
*community garden
Posted by athena on 2006-11-29 16:05:35
Post Subject:
I'm Athena and I live in lovely New Jersey (and no, that is not an oxymoron). I'm 37 and work as an Executive Assistant for a retirement consulting firm.
I love to knit, and I host my own knitting group. I also dabble in beading and bookmaking and would like to learn to make real jewelry. I am trained in basic patternmaking in pursuit of a fashion design degree, which I bagged for various reasons. So far, I've only made a lace cocktail dress (which nearly killed me) and knocked off an $800 corduroy skirt. They both fit me perfectly. I also love to cook and would consider myself somewhat of a foodie.
Posted by illybang on 2005-02-10 11:07:40
Post Subject:
If you knit, why did you start?
i started around age 4, my grandmother was an avid knitter and i asked her to teach me so i could make blankets for my stuffed animals
Do you identify as a feminist?
yes, very much so
What does knitting do for you?
it's relaxing and gives me a sense of accomplishment when i finish a project
Why do you like it?
see answer above
How do you communicate with other knitters (knitting group, online forums like this, etc)?
i don't, this is the first "craft" forum i have ever registered/posted on/visited
Why do you choose to connect in this way?
i spend a third of my day at a computer
Do you think knitting today is different than it was several generations ago? Does it serve a different function?
today, textile items are more often mass produced making knitting less necessary
i think knitting still serves the same function, but it carries with it a stronger sense of "love," the fact that a person would take that much time out of their (more than likely) busy schedule to make a hand-made garment says a lot of the recipient
Posted by MlleEmily on 2005-02-15 00:08:19
Post Subject:
*If you knit, why did you start?
My mum taught me when I was about 9 or so. I thought it looked like fun. She didn't really like knitting but I took to it.
*Do you identify as a feminist?
Yep. Though I have to tell you, what people think feminism has to do with knitting I don't understand. Plenty of non-feminists knit. Plenty of ANTI-feminists knit *shrug*. I love Debbie Stoller's books but I think her equating the re-emergence of knitting as a hobby for young women with some sort of underlying feminist ethos is wishful thinking.
*What does knitting do for you?
Relaxes me. It's the only time I can stop fidgeting, 'cos it kinda IS fidgeting. Fidgeting with an end-product.
*Why do you like it?
I've always liked the look of knitwear. And I love the sensuality of it. I love yarn.
*How do you communicate with other knitters (knitting group, online forums like this, etc)?
Mainly online, though I did join a group- I haven't attended it much though.
Why do you choose to connect in this way?
Online is very immediate- like if I have a question I can post it and someone will have replied within a day or so.
*Do you think knitting today is different than it was several generations ago? Does it serve a different function?
Hell yeah. It's a HOBBY now, that you do with your leisure time. Women used to HAVE to do it or noone in their family had sweaters/socks/underwear. I doubt they liked it as much then. Prolly liked it as much as we like doing laundry or washing dishes.
Posted by Snufkin on 2005-05-21 19:39:01
Post Subject:
I actually had to draw up a list the other week because the ladies in my knitting group were gushing over Orlando Bloom and I made the mistake of saying "Eh, he's not so hot. I just don't see what I'm supposed to find attractive about him." Which turned into their demanding the I list celebs who I think are more attractive:
+ Jon Stewart (duh)
+ Murilo Benecio
+ Clive Owen
+ Eduardo Noreiga
+ Josh Bernstein
+ Rhett Miller (Old 97s)
+ Joey Burns (Calexico)
+ John Doe (X)
Christopher Ecclestone my third.
While he was quite hot in movies like Jude and Elizabeth, he's kind of turned into a junior version of Christopher Walken in playing some really creepy characters. Seriously, the moment he showed up on screen in 28 Days Later, I immediately knew that his role was to play the creepy bad guy!
Posted by laurenbevin on 2005-01-31 17:52:41
Post Subject: Feminist knitters
As a woman who identifies as both a knitter and a feminist, I've been really excited with the growing popularity of Stitch & Bitch and the revival of knitting among young women. Because of this, and because I love to knit and be girly, I'm writing my thesis on knitting as a feminist activity. Does anybody else identify with this combination? I'd be interested to hear any thoughts on the topic. Some questions I've been considering:
How do women define 'feminist?'
What role does knitting play in a woman's life? What does it do for her?
Do most girls and women who take up knitting today do it with a "Stitch & Bitch" mentality (meaning associate it with girl power and feminism)?
Why does knitting suddenly have the cult following that it does? Or has it always been like this and I just didnt realize it until the past few years?
Some more questions I'd like answers to:
If you knit, why did you start?
Do you identify as a feminist?
What does knitting do for you? Why do you like it?
How do you communicate with other knitters (knitting group, online forums like this, etc)?
Why do you choose to connect in this way?
Do you think knitting today is different than it was several generations ago? Does it serve a different function?
If you feel like answering these questions, please please do! I'm really interested in this topic and I really need some honest feedback so I can take my thesis in the right direction. Also, if you don't identify as feminist but you knit, I really want to hear what you think of this idea I've posted. I feel like it's a trend that's catching on or something.
Posted by arwensage on 2004-09-06 22:03:14
Post Subject:
Hi! I just found this forum tonight. Its great to see so many of us here. I'm in the South KC area.
Rubyseedless-did you know that there is a knitting group at Urban Arts and Crafts (city market) I don't knit but I have a friend in midtown who also knits. Maybe I should learn.
Posted by h_pets360 on 2005-02-14 11:41:55
Post Subject:
How do women define 'feminist?'
I guess I've developed into an extreme distaste of ALL gender roles, stereotypes, etc. I still consider myself a feminist.
What role does knitting play in a woman's life? What does it do for her?
Depends on the woman.
Do most girls and women who take up knitting today do it with a "Stitch & Bitch" mentality (meaning associate it with girl power and feminism)?
Most girls, I don't know. Me, yes - pretty much everything I do I try to do with positive politics in mind.
Why does knitting suddenly have the cult following that it does?
A lot of mainstream fashion lately looks homemade-ish. I think that has something to do with it.
Or has it always been like this and I just didnt realize it until the past few years?
I don't know really ;)
If you knit, why did you start?
I've been crocheting pretty much forever. My grandma taught me: my mom and grandma are both pretty crafty. I learned how to knit about a year ago: my brother (i'm mentioning that he's bisexual because it's sort of related to politics and gender).
Do you identify as a feminist?
hell yes.
What does knitting do for you? Why do you like it?
knitting does the same thing that any other craft does - the finished object gives me so much joy to keep/share/donate. Plus it's therapeutic and gives me a creative outlet.
How do you communicate with other knitters (knitting group, online forums like this, etc)?
online, in real life. mostly i'm a solitaire though ;)
Why do you choose to connect in this way?
ease
Do you think knitting today is different than it was several generations ago? Does it serve a different function?
yes, it is different. i think - i don't know if people once viewed it as feminist. i'll be back to answer this better. i gotta run.
Posted by siouxsie_homemaker on 2004-08-20 18:52:04
Post Subject:
1. how did you learn to knit? how old were you then and old are you now?
I learned to knit about 9 months ago. I am 24, and neither my mother or my grandmother are knitters or even into any kinds of crafts.
2. knitting = nesting? is your knitting a way of getting back to simpler times?
Sort of. I am really into learning how to do basic things for myself instead of having to depend on our consumer culture to feed and clothe me. I also think that because of this heavy consumerism, traditional women's crafts are dying out. I think this is terrible, and that women need to reclaim them and keep them going for future generations.
I also think knitting is a wonderful outlet for artistic expression, for rejecting cookie-cutter pre-made clothes, and as a fun way to pass the time.
It's sad that unless you're very resourceful, that it can actually be more expensive to make things for yourself than it is to buy all your clothes at chain stores. The fact that these companies employ children and adults for pennies an hour to make their clothing and products is sickening, and our finacial dependence on it is put upon us and is also self-created. I would rather scrape-up some yarn and needles to make myself my own blankets and sweaters and hats so I don't have to buy sweat-shop made products.
3. in regards to the current resurgence in knitting, when do you think it started and why?
I think part of it is the idealic "new domesticity", and part of it is sort of the post-riot grrrl DIY movement. Third wave feminism sort of open the gates for girls to get into makeing things for themselves and let them do "girlie" things and let them know that it was okay.
4. do you have a crafty group that you meet with? how often? why do you dig it?
I go to a knitting group at a local bar twice a month, and I helped organize a ladies social group that meets once a motnh and we do crafts and have a feminist book club. I love love love it. Not only is it fun, but it gives me a great feeling of community and a wonderful place to teach others and learn new skills.
5. where do you go online to discuss/learn/share your craftiness? how do these sites inspire you in ways that real life conversations don't?
I go on this site, and the craftster site. I find that there's a bigger world wide community that's on the net. it's neat. I love real life groups and on-line groups.
6. is there a subversive element to knitting? a punk rock element? or simply a DIY smugness?
For me, doing crafts felt very subversive in a way. My mother is a total tomboy, and growing up I never learned to sew or cook. I had to teach myself everything when I got older. I feel like I kind of missed out a bit because of this.
I also feel that durring the heyday of 2nd wave feminism (60's-80's) that women were focused on breaking out of traditional women's gender roles in order to assert their idependence and gain more civil rights for themselves. They did wonders for women, and I don't want to trash on them in the least, ebcause I highly repect those women, but I don't totally agree with how they went about things. Unfortunately, in this quest of breaking out of their bonds, I think it went a bit too far in rejecting everything classically "feminine".
I am all for re-claiming femininity and finding power in it, not just opression. Make-up, heels, knitting, sewing, baking, can all be wonderfully empowering and fun for women.
I think there's been more of a focus in modern feminism is accepting a variety of women and lifestyles.
In rejecting baking and sewing and going for ready made items, we've becomes horribly dependent on consumerism to take care of us. It's in no way liberating to me.
7. why do you knit?
It's sort of meditative, it gets my creative juices flowing, and it's wonderfully useful.
8. what other crafty things do you do besides knitting?
I make rugs and quilts out of recycled and new fabric.
I want to learn to make toys, improve my knitting and sewing skills, and learn to spin yarn.
I also can't wait to have some land in order to grow my own produce.
9. the future of knitting- is there one or are we just kidding ourselves?
I think their absolutely is a furture to knitting. We can't rely on our country to forever be the rich super power that it is. Once day Americans will need to be more self-sufficient and rescourceful.
Also, I think that knitting is univerally appealing to all generations.
10. do you prefer to knit alone or with other people? why?
Either is wonderful.
11. true or false: can craft save us all? (elaboration here would be nice, but not necessary.)
Certainly. Because crafts aren't just silly instructions on how to decoupage everything, or make decorative items alone. Crafts are making things that our the foundations of our daily lives.
Posted by baltica on 2005-02-01 12:32:05
Post Subject:
Here's answers to some of your questions. I'd like to answer the others, but don't have time at the moment...
If you knit, why did you start?
I just wanted to figure out how to do it, to see if I could. I had an aunt who crocheted for me, and a cousin who knitted; they were my influences. Once I figured out I could knit, I realized I really liked doing it
and kept on.
Do you identify as a feminist?
Yes.
What does knitting do for you? Why do you like it? Lots of things. The main thing is, I just like to create, whether it's a knitted scarf, a loaf of bread, a painting, whatever. I find the physical process of knitting to be extremely soothing. I like the tactile/visual quality of knitting -- trying various textures and colors of yarn, different patterns, etc. I also like the challenge -- generally each knitting project I do somehow builds on the one preceding it, in terms of difficulty, trying a new technique, altering a pattern etc.
How do you communicate with other knitters (knitting group, online forums like this, etc)?
I have one friend with whom I occasionally get together and knit. We end up chatting more than we knit, though. I don't do a whole lot of "communicating" in general, as knitting is a pretty personal, private thing for me. I do visit lots of knitting websites for ideas, though.
Why do you choose to connect in this way?
I guess I just don't gravitate to the social groups, e.g. knitting clubs as I'm pretty introverted.
Do you think knitting today is different than it was several generations ago? Does it serve a different function?
Sure, in that it's not an essential function anymore. We knit things for others to present them with a unique, one of a kind gift (or do so for ourselves), rather than doing so out of necessity.
Posted by quixotic on 2005-02-01 10:50:03
Post Subject:
i just wrote my master's thesis on knitting, diy and community development. check out anne macdonald's no idle hands: the social history of american knitting.
How do women define 'feminist?'
i don't know about all women, but i define it as realising that i can do anything i want to do regardless of gender stereotypes.
What role does knitting play in a woman's life? What does it do for her?
it wears myriad hats. from the subversive to the soothing. although it's seen as 'women's work,' it hasn't always been.
Do most girls and women who take up knitting today do it with a "Stitch & Bitch" mentality?
i don't know, i started knitting before the book was out and before the term was widely used.
Why does knitting suddenly have the cult following that it does? Or has it always been like this and I just didnt realize it until the past few years?
there's been a slow rise of popularity since i was living in nyc in 2000 and there were whispers to it being 'the new yoga,' whispers that continue today.
If you knit, why did you start?
because i wanted to reconnect with a craft that was done by the elder women in my family. i wanted to learn from them.
Do you identify as a feminist?
yes.
What does knitting do for you? Why do you like it?
it depends on the day as to why i like it. sometimes it calms me down, sometimes it energizes me. i like that it is a medium that allows for all of my different moods.
How do you communicate with other knitters (knitting group, online forums like this, etc)?
online, in person, teaching knitting
Why do you choose to connect in this way?
because it's another form of communication. and there are some really cool people out there that i would have not met otherwise.
Do you think knitting today is different than it was several generations ago? Does it serve a different function?
we don't need to knit to clothe ourselves. but we knit because there is a different sort of warmth that emanates from something made with love versus something store-bought and mass-produced.
sorry. i go on about this. feel free to email me if you have any more questions.
Posted by stella on 2005-01-31 22:58:05
Post Subject:
Stitch & Bitch isn't really my style, but i like that it's getting more people into knitting. i'm not a fan of all the size-35-needle-novelty-yarn stuff out there, but it's just not "me". if it makes people happy, that's great. i wish there were more men out there knitting. my dad is a knitter (he learned recently) but he's the only male knitter i know.
for me, knitting isn't any more about feminism than anything else i do. i knit because i love to, not because i think it's making a statement or it's trendy. in a sense, because i AM a feminist, everything i do is about feminism, but i guess that's a little philosophical.
here are your questions, answered:
If you knit, why did you start?
my grandma taught me to knit when i was 8, but i started again when i was 14 because i started spinning and i wanted to do something with the yarn.
Do you identify as a feminist?
yes.
What does knitting do for you? Why do you like it?
knitting is intuitive and meditative for me. i like knitted objects and i like knitting them. i like to connection to the women (and men) in the past who have knitted, and the connection to women's history.
How do you communicate with other knitters (knitting group, online forums like this, etc)?
my mom, dad, and sister knit. we have some knitting friends, but none are near my age. knitting isn't a social activity for me.
Why do you choose to connect in this way?
because i like to talk about knitting, but like i said, the act of knitting is not something i do socially.
Do you think knitting today is different than it was several generations ago? Does it serve a different function?
yes, it is different. mechanically, most of today's knitting is done at a larger gauge with thicker yarns. most people learn to knit because they want to, not because they have to to keep warm or make money. most people (at least in mainstream america) knit as a hobby. in the past, people *had* to knit sweaters and stockings, because they needed them to wear or it was part of their local economy. most knitters i see these days are more into making fun scarves than socks for daily wear.
Posted by thebossofyou on 2005-02-14 10:48:28
Post Subject:
i definitely identify as a feminist and a knitter. i am still pondering the first group of questions you asked but i figured i would go ahead and work on the ones below! hope this helps!!
If you knit, why did you start?
my grandmother always knit/crocheted/etc and i was always amazed at it. she taught me when i was very young but it took a friend refreshing my memory around 6 or 7 years ago to get me going again. the women's university i went to (hollins university) had a large population of knitters and you could pretty much guarantee to see someone doing it while you were walking around the campus.
Do you identify as a feminist?
absolutely. of course, i am of the mentality that there are more feminists out there than are willing to admit. i mean, by the loosest of definitions, if you are woman and wearing pants to work, you are a feminist (or at least should realize that you have a feminist to thank for that option). i wish people (men and women) owned this label more.
What does knitting do for you? Why do you like it?
knitting gives me a sense of tradition. i like it because it gives me a connection back to my grandmother and a greater appreciation of her skill. and a simple reason is because it is portable. i have knitting with me at all times - i never feel like my time is wasted when i have to wait in the doctor's office or i'm riding in the car. kitting has saved my sanity more than once!
How do you communicate with other knitters (knitting group, online forums like this, etc)?
i use online forums like this, but i would like to be more connected to other feminist knitters. it is an interesting combination. the knitters that i am closest to are my friends that knit or the ones that are learning. it tends to spread...
Do you think knitting today is different than it was several generations ago? Does it serve a different function? i think that, much like the roles that women play, the boundaries have loosened a bit. there are so many artists out there that are looking towards crafts like knitting as means to create their work. there are still purists out there (and a lot of them reside in my town's LYS) that seem threatened by this new resurgence in the popularity of knitting among young people. it’s too bad because there is so much knowledge to be gained from these women. not to say that there aren't women that are excited - a friend's grandmother thinks that it is awesome! despite all the differences and changes over the generations, i think that the foundation is still the same though - the simple satisfaction in producing something with your hands.
Posted by kateartichoke on 2005-02-14 00:53:47
Post Subject:
How do women define 'feminist?'
i think defining 'feminist' is almost impossible because the word can have different meanings to everyone. i guess in short i would define a feminist as someone who works to achieve equality between the sexes.
What role does knitting play in a woman's life?
anymore, the role knitting plays in a woman's life is completely up to the woman. it can be non-existant to some women, a hobby to others, and a symbol of opression to others.
What does it do for her?
some i'm sure take it up for relaxation, others becaus they're crafty and like to make things with their hands, others have to take it up because they're forced to. the answers could go on and on.
Do most girls and women who take up knitting today do it with a "Stitch & Bitch" mentality (meaning associate it with girl power and feminism)?
it seems like the groups that knitting is currently taking off with do identify themselves as feminists.
Why does knitting suddenly have the cult following that it does? Or has it always been like this and I just didnt realize it until the past few years?
it's been in the last 3-4 years that knitting has really taken off.
Some more questions I'd like answers to:
If you knit, why did you start?
i love working with my hands, and it seemed like a wonderful, crafy way to make myself clothing. i have very crafty parents, started doing cross stitch and sewing in elementary school, and knitting seemed like a natural progression.
Do you identify as a feminist?
yes
What does knitting do for you? Why do you like it?
it is a productive way to let out my nervous energy while being creative. knitting is something i do every day, and knowing that i am being crafty and making something makes me happy. i try to have as much of a diy lifestyle as i can, and all those things, plus making myself and the people i love scarfs and sweaters and all good knitty things, gives me a sense of satisfactiona and pride.
How do you communicate with other knitters (knitting group, online forums like this, etc)?
mainly online.
Why do you choose to connect in this way?
i live in a small north idaho town, and the other people my age have not caught on to knitting. so i either communicate with knitters who have my interests online, or not at all
Do you think knitting today is different than it was several generations ago? Does it serve a different function?
knitting today is all about fun. most of us don't have to knit, we aren't expected to knit or to even have a clue how. so yes, it is very different. fifty or 60 years ago women were expected not to have a career and stay home and take care of the family. a lot of the time knitting was another sign of the oppression women felt - it was part of the housework. when we knit today, we should remember that, and not forget that what we consider fun women not so long ago considered work.
Posted by mrs_stroozi on 2006-01-03 13:52:55
Post Subject:
anthrogirl, I do hear you when you say you feel like a fish out of water, with your age at odds with your interests to the world in general. Me, too. I remember back in my mid 20's I sewed most of my own clothes and was a monster baker. I experimented with quilting, applique and t -shirt art. This was in the 80s when everyone else on the planet was interested in making a corporate buck, and I felt I was the only one of my species. I remember a friend of mine teasing me for being so domestic, and I honestly looked at her with a blank stare -- for me it wasn't about being domestic, but being CREATIVE. But try to tell a corporate diva that...
And now the (40s-50s YOs) knitting group I sometimes visit thinks I'm nuts for wanting to crochet a heart with sneakers on a leash, or a pregnant doll, even though one of them gave me the idea. It's too out of the box for them.
One of my most cherished memories was having a midnight meal in an LA downtown bohemian cafe about 20 odd years ago, and my friends, who co-owned and ran a non-equity theater, raved to the waiter that the cake they were eating was almost as good as mine. The waiter was impressed, and said that most of the young women in his circle could argue politics but didn't know how to bake a cake. My friend replied, "Oh, she can do that, too." Made my day.
I raise my cup of lapsang souchong to you, anthro/birthday girl, and wish I could pour you one in person myself. I wish we could be realtime friends, since I think we have a bunch of stuff in common with some interesting clashes for spice, even though I suspect you are WAY over and out of my league. (Hope that comes out as a compliment.)
Posted by slowgraffiti220 on 2005-02-02 13:51:34
Post Subject: Re: Feminist knitters
I like these kinds of survey-for-my-possible-thesis topics that keep popping up...
How do women define 'feminist?'
I'm guessing that by this you mean you want to gather a variety of definitions from different women, so I will give you mine...I define femenism both by that all too familar and oft-quoted dictionary definition of "the beleif in the equailty of genders" and as a historically significant and ever-changing theoretical/philosophical lens, if you will, through which one can view the world around them.
Do most girls and women who take up knitting today do it with a "Stitch & Bitch" mentality (meaning associate it with girl power and feminism)?
I think that a lot of women do take up knitting with a sort of snb mentality, but I'm not sure how feminist that whole catchphrase-laden schpiel is. i don't feel like "celebrating women's culture" or "reconnecting with grandma" or whatever is particularly feminist. i do feel that the idea of asserting the value of all types of production is a very feminist notion, and that by knitting because you like it, refusing to be teased about it, doing it in public, teaching others to do it, and insisting that others recognize it as a complex and worthwhile activity worthy of some respect as such one commits a feminist act...i think however that when you start knitting ::because:: you are a woman and you feel like you should reconnect with women and share some kind of spiritual wah-wah with them -- well, that's all fine and dandy but not very feminist nor particularly historically aware. (disclaimer: i own both snb's and find them very useful!)
Why does knitting suddenly have the cult following that it does?
I really have no idea. Maybe because it's "the new yoga"?
Or has it always been like this and I just didnt realize it until the past few years?
I think it has increased in popularity and the people who are doing it because it's trendy certainly are making the whole community more visable. All this media and commercial notice has also had the effect of getting a bunch of people who once knit only casually or had not done it in a while to jump back into it, and so i think definately the number of serious knitters has kind of swollen compared to past years. However, I am constantly amazed at how many of my friends knit and I never knew...I always get really pissed at them when they tell me because it's sort of like if I find out they read some super cool book five years ago and never told me about it! The knitters who have been with it all along are very non-chalant about it, even when they're obsessed.
If you knit, why did you start?
I learned when I was 10 or so, knit a "baby scarf" (re: failed scarf for self) for my soon-to-be-born brother, and them kind of forgot how to knit soon after. I started again when the whole SnB thing got going because I wanted to learn it again and realized that it wasn't and old lady hobby, it was a cool and useful skill.
Do you identify as a feminist?
Yep, but not particularly first and foremost. I sort of consider that perspective to be subsumed by my more socialist leanings.
What does knitting do for you? Why do you like it?
It's interesting. I'm a product knitter primarily....never during the course of knitting something do I forget how close (or far) I am from the finished product. At the same time, as I get better at the technical stuff, i.e. knitting, purling, the one bazzilion cast-on methods, and other sundry needle moves, I am becoming a bit more process oriented. I like reading a pattern, imagining how it will look, and then seeing how it turns out with little unexpected textural things or weird problems like giant yarn strands or loops or whatever. It's sort of like sight-reading music -- at first it's daunting and you just will do whatever to play the song...then the challenge of reading it a few times and then trying to play it straight through and seeing how it goes is fun and exciting.
How do you communicate with other knitters (knitting group, online forums like this, etc)?
I'm on a listserv for the local SnB, which I sometimes read for hints and info about area yarns shoppes and whatnot. As for other knitters, I keep finding out more and more of my friends can knit, and so we just make time together for knitting and chetting and whatnot.
Why do you choose to connect in this way?
Well, knitting's a good excuse to get together and getting together is a good excuse to knit. In college, any form of multitasking is preferrable...it just happens to be knitting and hanging out go really well together.
Do you think knitting today is different than it was several generations ago? Does it serve a different function?
Yes and no...most people nowadays don't have to knit, at least in the "West." In other places, the various textile arts like knitting, weaving, embroidery, etc... are still vital and completely necessary work. They've undergone a lot of changes, which have been different depending on location, but I'd say a primary trend has been that products of these activities are now more a part of the market economy rather than the subsistence economy of a given area...I'd say overall, that has a been a negative shift. In the US and the rest of the "West" knitting has become a leisure activity and a creative outlet for people...I think that part of it is a drive in a lot of people to make something, physically -- not just type up reports and go to meetings and whatnot. I was raised in a tradition of make-it-because-I-have-to -- my mom made a lot of my clothes when I was younger and taught me to make little cotton items (like elastic-band pants and simple tank tops) for myself. Now I feel odd never making anything. I think that homes need to be producers and consumers for the world to work properly, and so I knit. Also, frankly, my knitted items are waaaayyyy better quality than store-bought machine-knit crap, so I prefer it anyhow.
Posted by athena on 2007-08-09 11:09:29
Post Subject:
i used to feel the same way about the smell of library books, but i got over it. :-) the amount of money i have saved has been totally worth it. and if i want to read it again, i can just "visit" it at the library. however, i have never and will never break the binding on a book. that is my biggest pet peeve about readers and why i won't lend books to certain people. all the books i own and have read still look new. i just like my books that way.
for books i don't want anymore, either i give them to a friend or donate them someplace. i've donated to the salvation army, housingworks in nyc, and to a member of my knitting group for her church's weekly book sale to raise money for the soup kitchen and other programs. you could also give your books away on freecycle.
Posted by kindarana on 2005-08-22 00:23:38
Post Subject:
I guess I've only mentioned it on another thread, but there's a knitting group at the Cupertino library on Tuesday afternoons from 3-5. All kinds of ages and experience are there, very friendly people.
Posted by brdgt on 2005-06-07 08:00:10
Post Subject:
I doubt I'll have a need for a Red Hat Society when I'm old. For starters, I plan to create a Crazy Old Lady Neighborhood with my friends (Batty Old Coots welcome). You know, with a cat sanctuary, goat farm, candy shop, ice cream parlor (that uses a lot of rum and brandy), knitting group that meets at the ice cream parlor (and uses up a lot of rum and brandy)...that sort of thing.
And don't forget the "get off my lawn!" thrown in there once in a while.
Posted by meexie on 2005-06-07 01:55:24
Post Subject:
I like the *idea* of a Red Hat society, sometimes not so fond of the reality, as other posts here have noted. I think there's a bit of "LOOK I'M HAVING FUN" when I'd rather just see them having fun, if that makes any sense.
My mother is unlikely to join. First, she's too busy with other stuff, like organizing charity fundraisers for World Wings International, and second because she sure as heck doesn't need to "make up for the sobriety of her youth" - momma left home at 17 without a backward glance and has been all over the world.
I doubt I'll have a need for a Red Hat Society when I'm old. For starters, I plan to create a Crazy Old Lady Neighborhood with my friends (Batty Old Coots welcome). You know, with a cat sanctuary, goat farm, candy shop, ice cream parlor (that uses a lot of rum and brandy), knitting group that meets at the ice cream parlor (and uses up a lot of rum and brandy)...that sort of thing.
Posted by John Sutton on 2005-11-23 00:58:20
Post Subject: This is all a bit overwrought, no?
Come on people! "appropriation of the craftivist sentiment?". Please!
Someone posts a men-centric history of knitting on a men's knitting website and women are up in arms?! What the hell is going on?! That history lesson, as I understand it, was a response (some would say over-reaction) to Debbie Stoller's Stitch 'n Bitch wherein she gives the guys short shrift before launching into a celebration of women's continuing contributions to the craft of knitting. But then it's a feminist book, so who can blame her? That being said, who can blame a men's knitting website for posting what appears to be an accurate summary (that's a key word, summary) of men's on-going contribution to the craft. This isn't about protecting our fragile masculinity or appropriating anything. It's about celebrating men's contribution to the history of knitting.
I find it astounding and a bit disheartening that knitting is losing it's appeal for someone simply because it's becoming more acceptable. That seems to me a childish reaction. And I'm pretty certain it's not the men who are responsible for knitting's new polished appeal; it's the hip young urban women and the Hollywood movie stars and the feminists! Blame Debbie Stoller! She says in Stitch 'n Bitch that she made it her mission to "raise knitting's visibility and value in the culture." Her MISSION. And of course I'm being facetious when I say blame her. It's a brilliant book that has done more to increase the popularity and perceived value of knitting than any other. Hell, probably more than any book or person ever! I say mission accomplished. And to her credit, SHE doesn't shy away from inviting men to the needles! Thank you, Debbie.
I don't believe we (men) have come under fire for knitting (at least I didn't until I found this website). Not once in 13 years of knitting have I had a negative experience, and that includes the first 3 years when I did my knitting on a US Navy aircraft carrier. I am, however, frequently surprised by the number of women who expect that I get ridiculed. I've heard on more than one occassion, "it's great that you are knitting! Don't people make fun of you?" Well, no, they don't. And even if they did, I would continue to knit. And I'm sorry if my knitting feels like appropriation to you or if my masculinity somehow makes knitting okay and therefor limits your ability to enjoy the craft (?), but I promise you that's not why I knit. I'm not trying to rob you of your heritage as a woman or as a "craftivist" and I'm not looking for applause or validation. I don't need it to justify my knitting. I knit because I enjoy the process and the results and, usually, the community.
As far as Dicks with Sticks goes...yeah, I don't like it, either, but that's just because I don't think it's clever (sorry Evan). It makes me think of "jerk". Now Denver Men with Balls...that makes me chuckle. On that note, isn't BUST a reductionist name for a magazine that emphasizes the feminine? And isn't that the point? If you're starting a men's knitting group and you want to attract men, you emphasize the masculinity. When you advertise, you aim at your target audience. I'm also willing to bet that the "bitch" in the Stitch 'n Bitch book title isn't that limited in it's context. At least I hope not, because it was a pretty clever title for a feminist's knitting book when I thought it meant more than just talk.
Finally, delcq started this discussion with an invitation to "discuss" and ends it by yelling troll at a guy who knits because he got a little annoyed by all the negativity aimed at male knitters. Go back and read through these posts. It's REALLY negative and kind of sad. Now, I urge you to find Jean's Crafty Manifesto on this very website and reread it. If you can't bring yourself to reread the whole thing (a shame, because it's pretty good), at the very least find the paragraph where she talks about what being crafty means. She says, "it means always trying to be nice." Troll is a little harsh. It's not at all nice, or crafty.
My mom invited herself over but ended up straining herself and couldn't come. (Did I mention she had open heart surgery in early Jan?) I did clean for hours on that Sat anyways tho. I sold bags and bags of clothes, shoes, purses, etc. then what they didn't want - I donated since I told myself I already said g'bye to it!
I also separated all of my clothes to alter, dry clean or give to someone. I donated extra yarn to the knitting group I am an advisor to so they can make neonatal hats & ped oncology hats :)
So she came this past weekend. It was down to the wire but we cleaned up an amazing amount. Now when my husband and I walk through the door, we are still amazed at the amount of floor space. I had to be ruthless. It was soo hard! But a lot of the rooms are cleaned up in my house! :)
We also bought a new vacuum that I love! And now we can think about the furniture we want to replace, etc.
Posted by Muddymay on 2007-10-22 14:24:42
Post Subject: M=Miya
Oi!
I'm new to getcrafty so I thought this would be a great place to introduce myself! My name is Miya, I live in the Cincinnati area (actually Covington Ky).
Lets see, my life so far has consisted of; reading as much vampire nonsense as possible, writing as much of anything I dream up as possible, trying not to be a wimp about bees (allergic), eating as much – sushi, Thai, Korean, or Indian food as I can get my hands on, also eating as many lemon bars, or various other sweet I can get my hands on, sharing, loving, watching, consuming art and literature and politics and language and people, wishing I had the time/energy to breed the snakes and various reptiles I’ve kept, enjoying great films, taking pictures, drinking wine, talking to my nieces, and as of last year knitting has become a huge huge HUGE part of the web that is me. I just love it. I’m still trying to work out the kinks, still don’t know as much as I’d like, but I have been working on as much as I can. So now I am forming a knitting group in the Cincinnati area, so if you are nearby and are interested or have advice please contact me!
