a few questions on knitting, from a knitting nerd. *UPDATE*

[quixotic]

it's good to exercise your creativity.

i'm currently writing (not to mention fretting over) my dissertation, which is about knitting and its current resurgence. now that knitting is no longer something we have to do (in order to clothe ourselves and loved ones), why are we doing it?

if you have a minute, please consider the questions below. it would help me in my research a great deal and is relatively painless, i promise. and yes, despite what it may seem, i am way over 12 years old.


1. how did you learn to knit? how old were you then and old are you now?

2. knitting = nesting? is your knitting a way of getting back to simpler times?

3. in regards to the current resurgence in knitting, when do you think it started and why?

4. do you have a crafty group that you meet with? how often? why do you dig it?

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?

6. is there a subversive element to knitting? a punk rock element? or simply a DIY smugness?

7. why do you knit?

8. what other crafty things do you do besides knitting?

9. the future of knitting- is there one or are we just kidding ourselves?

10. do you prefer to knit alone or with other people? why?

11. true or false: can craft save us all? (elaboration here would be nice, but not necessary.)




if there's anything else you would like to add on this topic, feel free. if you could send your answers to betsy@craftivism.com , i would be grateful.

thanks again for helping me with this research. and for making craft rock.

x
betsy


p.s. i'm sorry if you see this more than once. it's my intention to get a wide variety of answers, not to annoy your every step on the web. feel free to pass this on to anyone else you think might be interested.
_________________
http://www.craftivism.com: wee, yet mighty!

[CraftinFool]

Hi Betsy: Very cool project. I love that you found a way to merge academic work and crafting. Nice!!

Here's my answers:

1. how did you learn to knit? how old were you then and old are you now?

I learned to knit this year. at age 31. I have been crocheting since about 15 but couldn't get the hang of knitting and finally successfully taught myself.

2. knitting = nesting? is your knitting a way of getting back to simpler times?

It could be, although I don't think I consciously chose it for that reason. But now that I think of it, I didn't learn to knit until after we bought our house.

3. in regards to the current resurgence in knitting, when do you think it started and why?

I think the pace of many of our lives has gotten too frantic, and many find knitting to be soothing and/or meditative. I believe it is often in reaction to info overload.

4. do you have a crafty group that you meet with? how often? why do you dig it?

I don't have a crafty group I meet with in person, although there are 2 stitch -n- bitches in my area I may look into.

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 am a big participant on this site, for crafty inspiration as well as general advice and venting. I have also grown to love craftster, which has a lot of specific instructions and pictures of projects. There are tons of other crafty sites I have bookmarked, but those are the only 2 I go to regularly.

6. is there a subversive element to knitting? a punk rock element? or simply a DIY smugness?

I couldn't say about the subservice element, since I am a beginner. But it does seem that with the resurgence of knitting, some of the younger knitters want to knit in their own way, and make hipper things than toilet paper cozies. Like, the Stitch -n- Bitch projects have a lot of punk rock-type projects. I have to be honest, in terms of the smugness, I did sense that some of the pattern contributors in the Stitch -n- Bitch book had somewhat of a smug attitude. Like, they'd say things like, "I'd never knitted before and one night I was bored and I created this fabulous intarsia pattern using needles I made out of tuna cans, and knitted it up in one evening, and the rest is history!" Whatever!

7. why do you knit?

It's fun. It's portable. It's relaxing. It's cooler looking than crocheting. I needed a new challenge. I wanted to make my husband a Harry Potter scarf.

8. what other crafty things do you do besides knitting?

I crochet and cross-stitch and embroider and do origami and other paper crafts. I like to make marble magnets and paint stuff. I also create web sites.

9. the future of knitting- is there one or are we just kidding ourselves?

I definitely think there is. People love it to the point of obsession and I'm starting to see why! It's been around so long; I don't see it fading.

10. do you prefer to knit alone or with other people? why?

So far I have knitted mostly while other people around but not with other knitters, because I don't know any. But I like to knit while visiting, I even knit at the movies and concerts.

11. true or false: can craft save us all? (elaboration here would be nice, but not necessary.)

false. I want to think so, but it could only be a small part. Beyond crafting and creativity, what will save us is more tolerance, more social programs, democrats back in the white house, and true equality for women in the workplace. But it's a great part of the picture!

Good luck - Jen

[Katrin]

1. how did you learn to knit? how old were you then and old are you now?
My mom tried to teach me when I was way too young to get the hang of it, and I spent the next several decades convinced I was incapable of learning the skill. I finally asked her to teach me again at age 37, and it finally stuck. It'll be two years in December.

2. knitting = nesting? is your knitting a way of getting back to simpler times?
"Simpler times," I'm not sure. It's more my way of getting in touch with the productive part of my creative side, as opposed to the imaginative part that comes up with ideas but never executes them.

3. in regards to the current resurgence in knitting, when do you think it started and why?
I'd have to do lots of thinking about sociopolitical trends and theories to come up with an answer to that, and it's just a little too late at night right now. Short answer: I like Debbie Stoller's explanation.

4. do you have a crafty group that you meet with? how often? why do you dig it?
I've been saying for years that I'd like to have a craft group, but all attempts at starting or joining one have failed. I'm still hoping to find a group that's a good fit.

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?
Mostly just Getcrafty nowadays, and I occasionally read Craftster but don't post there. I have less time to participate in craft discussions now that I have a job. Most of the craft-related conversation I encounter in real life consists of "Oh, you're so CREATIVE! I could never do that!" or "You should sell those!" (with no idea what that entails) - one of the reasons I'd like to find a group of like-minded people.

6. is there a subversive element to knitting? a punk rock element? or simply a DIY smugness?
I'm sure there are people who approach it from all of those viewpoints. Maybe I do sometimes feel a bit smug about making things myself. But also I like to show that hey, this is just something that ordinary people can do if they want to.

7. why do you knit?
Because it's fun, a way to relax while still doing something productive. Wearing something I know I've put a lot of work into gives me a sense of accomplishment.

8. what other crafty things do you do besides knitting?
Drawing (cartooning, illustration), sewing, bead (loom) work, designing & making accessories from recycled materials

9. the future of knitting- is there one or are we just kidding ourselves?
There will always be some people who like to knit, and some who just aren't interested. I think the more we keep knitting in the mainstream and public eye, the more people will be aware of it and consider learning when they wouldn't have otherwise.

10. do you prefer to knit alone or with other people? why?
I've mostly just knitted alone, so I can't really say. I like the idea of knitting among people of various experience levels, to share knowledge with one another.

11. can craft save us all?
Sure.

[purple_glitter]

1. how did you learn to knit? how old were you then and old are you now?
I started knitting just over a year ago at age 19 (I'm 20 now) because a couple of my friends started to knit. My mom taught me how to cast on, but I taught myself the rest - first from and old-school 'Learn to Knit' booklet my mom had floating in her collection of knitting needles, then from Stitch 'n Bitch.

2. knitting = nesting? is your knitting a way of getting back to simpler times?
Not really. Maybe on some level, but I knit for the creative process. Knitting is very relaxing. I love making things with my own hands that I can wear, so I suppose knitting is my way of fighting the corporations.

3. in regards to the current resurgence in knitting, when do you think it started and why?
I agree with Debbie Stoller's explaination as well, though I would extended at least a portion of knitting's revival beyond just feminism to activist groups in general. Environmentalism, human rights, and fair trade all figure into the knitting equation, in my opinion - but maybe I'm thinking too much ;) I know people who knit as an anti-corporation movement, but I also know people who knit because they saw other people doing it and they thought it looked cool. Knitting also has the benefit of being fairly inexpensive compared to other crafts.

4. do you have a crafty group that you meet with? how often? why do you dig it?
Not so much a crafty group, but i sometimes sit around and knit with a few of the people I work with. It's pretty cool.

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?
Truth be told, this is the first crafty site that I've ever visited.

6. is there a subversive element to knitting? a punk rock element? or simply a DIY smugness?
I think knitting has all of those elements and more.

7. why do you knit?
I knit because I enjoy the creativity, I enjoy making things, and because it's so gosh darn relaxing.

8. what other crafty things do you do besides knitting?
Beadwork, origami, sewing, calligraphy.

9. the future of knitting- is there one or are we just kidding ourselves?
Knitting has survived this long, I can't see people just abandoning it.

10. do you prefer to knit alone or with other people? why?
I usually end up knitting alone because I knit quite a bit on the bus, between my university classes, and at work, but I like knitting with other people if only for the conversation. I've taught people new knitting techniques while knitting with other people, and that was pretty cool.

11. true or false: can craft save us all? (elaboration here would be nice, but not necessary.)
True. It leads to self-fulfillment.

[ada]

1. how did you learn to knit? how old were you then and old are you now?

I was taught the basics (casting on, knit stitch, casting off) by an aunt, I think I was around 7-8 years old. I'm 27 now. I started knitting again, re-teaching myself from books and websites, when I was 23.

2. knitting = nesting? is your knitting a way of getting back to simpler times?

Not so much. Well, most crafting is fairly home-bound (although knitting is one of the more portable ones) so it often does seem to be linked to nesting and to people who like hanging round in craft-friendly environments which are often homes. For me, knitting was not about simpler times but more about learning to do something that seemed a bit magical, in the way that things you half-recall from your childhood can be. It was the joy of mastering something rather esoteric. I suppose there is also an element of nesting in another sense of the word - I was attracted to the soft, tactile, playing-with-yarn side of knitting - sort of like an adult version of playing with soft toys.

3. in regards to the current resurgence in knitting, when do you think it started and why?

For me it seemed to start in the late 1990s. Why, I don't know. I think one element is that aspect of learning a somewhat mystical craft - I know for my mother knitting was utterly boring, partly because it was so expected that you knew how to do it - but for me, since she (and most women of her generation that I knew) did not knit, it was a special and unusual craft to learn.

Maybe also there's something about learning a hands-on craft that appealed to people; our society is heavily based in information and text and brain-based activity, something like knitting - using your hands, taking your time - is a good antidote. A bit like all those professionals (lawyers, financial workers) who, according to the popular press in the UK, want to retrain to become plumbers, carpenters, etc.

Also I think there was a (more mundane) element, of fashion tastes swinging back to finding hand-made-looking, 'rustic', items attractive - so if you made your own scarf, you would feel comfortable wearing it.

4. do you have a crafty group that you meet with? how often? why do you dig it?

Nothing regular. I have been to a few different groups in my town, but it is not very satisfying, it's difficult to arrange meeting times and the fact that you all knit doesn't mean you will all 'click'.

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 do most of my knitting chat and communication on-line, I guess, though a lot of it is vicarious, reading other people's writings. I go to a few discussion boards, this one and crafster sometimes and also supernaturale, I read some of the livejournal knitting groups, I belong to some Yahoo knitting groups. But mostly I read blogs of crafty people, usually knitters - loads of them, I have a list of about 30 that I read regularly (once a week or so).

I mostly prefer this to real-life conversations about knitting, because you can just dip in and out for those things that you find interesting - I'm someone who likes to learn by reading, so I find it easier to post questions on-line, and I find it a bit frustrating to talk about my knitting with people who are at different technical skill levels because either I feel out of my depth or I get tired of people being amazed that I know how to fix a dropped stitch.

6. is there a subversive element to knitting? a punk rock element? or simply a DIY smugness?

Hmm. I often feel like I am not subversive enough for other knitters of my age, because I like to follow patterns and don't like to design my own, and because I mostly make fairly functional and traditional things - clothing etc. - I get the feeling from some knitters I meet that it just isn't very hip to follow the traditional knitting 'rules', as it were.

Putting that to one side, there is definitely a subversive element to knitting in relation to consumer culture - why spend so much time on something you could buy for less? On the other hand, it's not like most knitters I know are outside of consumer culture - given the stashes of wool from various well-known knitting brands, and piles of paraphanalia (needles, magazines, etc.). (And yes, I certainly include myself in this description.)

7. why do you knit?

Mostly for the meditative aspect of knitting. Knitting takes up just enough of my brain's attention that it stops worrying about the rest of life. Also, I like the tactile, hands-on nature of it, I don't do much else in my life that uses that side of me.

8. what other crafty things do you do besides knitting?

Some sewing and embroidering.

9. the future of knitting- is there one or are we just kidding ourselves?

Not sure how to answer this - what do you mean by 'the future' of knitting? I'm sure it will always be around as a craft, I guess there will be more or less people interested in it at different times, because life goes in cycles.

10. do you prefer to knit alone or with other people? why?

Alone. Or with other people when doing someting non-communicative, like watching TV. Because people often behave as if it is rude for you to knit while they talk, a bit like texting on a phone.

11. true or false: can craft save us all? (elaboration here would be nice, but not necessary.)

False. People craft for all sorts of reasons; it is the motivations and attitudes that determine how our world will be, not the activities attached to those.

[siouxsie_homemaker]

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.

[neato pirates]

1. how did you learn to knit? how old were you then and old are you now?
i took a class at my middle school... i think i was about 12 and im 16 now.

2. knitting = nesting? is your knitting a way of getting back to simpler times?
its relaxing and isnt stressful, so yes i guess.

3. in regards to the current resurgence in knitting, when do you think it started and why?
probably somewhere in 2000 or 2001 becuase everything was so predictable, and diy was just so much neater.

4. do you have a crafty group that you meet with? how often? why do you dig it?
my highschool has a knitting club... ithink it sort of died, but the school year has just begun again, so i think i might start it up again.

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?
here and on lj communities becuase you can ask questions and people who are just like you answer you and tell you how to improve your skills.

6. is there a subversive element to knitting? a punk rock element? or simply a DIY smugness?
its deff. hardcore to knit now... i think the girls who actually stick to knitting are hardcore if they make really neat and complicated things... my friend katie made a kitty ear hat and a little matching purse and shes totally rad.

7. why do you knit?
its simple and relaxing and people always wonder how i ever made something so cool out of a piece of yarn... it feeds my ego.

8. what other crafty things do you do besides knitting?
i sew purses alot, but i like making dresses and skirts.... tutus are my favorite. i stencil shirts too.

9. the future of knitting- is there one or are we just kidding ourselves?
yes! i like to think maybe im part of that, as a younger generation of knitter.

10. do you prefer to knit alone or with other people? why?
both... knitting alone is good for those times when your stressed out of your mind, but social knitting is warm and cozy; it gives you alot of time to talk.

11. true or false: can craft save us all? (elaboration here would be nice, but not necessary.)
TRUE! people today like to think that their these crazy cool individual people, but really their wearing the same thing as the next joe someone behind them, and they think that the only way to be them selves and be cool is to keep on buying mainstream stuff... craft, diy, its a mindset... your making something that no one else in the world has, no one elses is exactly like it. your wearing something that has come from you, made by you, and it gives that garment meaning, and makes you truely neat and indivual. no, i didnt buy my top at hottopic, i made it, and that means im cool!
_________________
he looked like a pirate...with a face!

[MlleEmily]

1. how did you learn to knit? how old were you then and old are you now?

My mother taught me when I was about ten years old.

2. knitting = nesting? is your knitting a way of getting back to simpler times?

It's very relaxing, I'll say that much... I'm not one for thinking that the so-called 'simpler times' were actually much simpler, or better in a lot of ways. I think that's a pretty romantic view, a myth that politicians are always keen on trotting out when they want to et more conservative.


3. in regards to the current resurgence in knitting, when do you think it started and why?

I was going to say this current world conflict thing making everyone want to stay indoors and do homey, crafty stuff... but the knitting resurgence occured before all that. People do seem to want the satisfaction of making something unique, in a kind of backlash to mass-produced consumer goods. Nothing you can buy seems really all that special when you see someone else wearing it on the bus... and the fact that something can be bought by anyone with the money makes it consequently less exclusive and appealing... the very thing a lot of mass-produced goods claim to be (ie labels, brands). It's like all the stores push this idea of exclusivity and how wonderful it is to have unique items... and then these very stores can't deliver on that promise, so people perhaps are trying to get the uniqueness that's been so exalted the only way they can... by creating something new themselves.


4. do you have a crafty group that you meet with? how often? why do you dig it?

I have been to a Meetup for knitting three times, and really like it. I go because I'm a knitting obsessive and talk about it with a vehemence that's very dificult for non-knitters to tolerate.


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 to supernaturale.com, crafster.org, and this site. I think being able to view a lot of different patterns and finished projects from people from very disparate geographical locations is cool-- it makes me feel connected to a larger knitting community, however illusory this may actually be.


6. is there a subversive element to knitting? a punk rock element? or simply a DIY smugness?

No. Are you kidding? This sort of talk's actually been pissing me off lately. The political status quo ain't changing 'cos you knitted something. That requires just a little more effort. There are those who'll tell you knitting is some sort of feminist act too, which is ludicrous. It's not feminist or anti-feminist- it's just bloody knitting!

There's a lot of talk among third wavers about the misguided second-wave feminists who bashed stay-at-home moms and homemakers, and I really just do not think that was ever the case. If anything, Betty Freidan at al were more about telling people to appreciate what women did and NOT dismiss it as mere 'women's (ie worthless) work'. They were never about the denigration of housework per se, just that it shouldn't just fall to women to take care of what is really very hard work and that women ought to be allowed to have equal say in political life and economic outside the domestic realm. The third-wavers attack on second-wavers on this particular point is completely unfounded.

But I digress...

Maybe knitting can be personally transforming, in that you learn to appreciate things in a more non-commercial way... although even that's suspect, given most people have to buy their wool at a store and there's a whole element of fibre snobbery. I'd go with the DIY smugness theory before I'd
say the other two.

7. why do you knit?

It's super fun! I love having made something myself! People tell me I'm clever (or tell me I must have too much time on my hands, nasties!). It's also a good way to watch a lot of television without feeling guilty- hey, as long as I'm knitting something, that's DOING something, so the guilt of spending six hours straight watching the Six Feet Under DVD set is assuaged. And it's just so relaxing and zen.

8. what other crafty things do you do besides knitting?

I love to sew my own clothes, fabric collage, decoupage, basically anything creative. I a bit of crochet too.

9. the future of knitting- is there one or are we just kidding ourselves?

Well, I don't think anyone will stop knitting... as far as craft fads go it will ebb and flow with the mainstream but people will always knit I think. I think it's relative simplicity augurs well for it's continuing practise, whereas some trraditional hand crafts have disappeared almost completely (I'm thinking of certain types of lacemaking, and embroideruie and passementerie) because they really require some pretty hard-core learning to be done well.

10. do you prefer to knit alone or with other people? why?

I can do either. Knitting in a group is fun more for the chatting about knitting and getting tips and seeing averyone elses project than actually getting much done!

11. true or false: can craft save us all? (elaboration here would be nice, but not necessary.)

Only Jesus can save us all... just kidding. But a critical look at consumerism and mass-production wouldn't do anybody any harm... although as I've said, hand-made stuff can be a source of just more competitiveness and snobbery, if you're that kinda person.

[quixotic]

thank you wholeheartedly for your responses.

they are helping me delve a bit deeper into the whole knitting resurgence thing....

i just wish i had started earlier. so much to do, so little time....

x
q.
_________________
http://www.craftivism.com: wee, yet mighty!

[CraftinFool]

Best of luck! It sounds like a great project.

[MlleEmily]

I'm really really interested to hear about your results/conclusions... keep us posted- I'm gonna go check out your site now, actually :)

[xuli]

1. how did you learn to knit? how old were you then and old are you now?

My best friend taught me how my senior year in college. I was 21. I'm 27 now.

2. knitting = nesting? is your knitting a way of getting back to simpler times?

No. I like MlleEmily's answer about not romanticizing the simpler times -- I was going to say the same thing.

3. in regards to the current resurgence in knitting, when do you think it started and why?

I have no idea.

4. do you have a crafty group that you meet with? how often? why do you dig it?

Yeah, every couple of weeks. I dig it because going somewhere where people bring their projects to show off motivates me to finish mine.

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?

Um, getcrafty.com. These sites inspire me in a way that real life doesn't because there's just such a wealth of knowledge out there that isn't possible in real life. Among my real life friends I'm pretty much the craftiest one, the one people go to in order to find out how to do stuff, but I consider myself pretty non-knowledgable about most crafts, and online there are so many people who know so much more than I do, so when I have questions I have a base of people who much more knowledgable than I am about something to help me out.

6. is there a subversive element to knitting? a punk rock element? or simply a DIY smugness?

It depends. Knitting for me has definitely helped me to shop less, which is sort of subversive, but knitting also attracts a lot of yarn snobs.

7. why do you knit?

It's a creative outlet and it makes me feel self-sufficient. Plus, I can make things that are nicer and cuter than most of the stuff in stores. (Like the poncho I made myself -- it cost me $10 in yarn and it looks way better than any of the supertrendy ponchos that my friends have bought at Macy's. Ha! Listen to my DIY smugness. This should be filed under the answer to question #6.)

8. what other crafty things do you do besides knitting?

I'm learning to quilt. I crochet. I used to sew when I was a kid, and am trying to get back into that. I also cook a lot more (and better) than a lot of people; does cooking count? I've done lots of random crafts from time to time, like making candles from remnants of old candles, but I wouldn't say I "do" them in the sense of doing them regularly.

9. the future of knitting- is there one or are we just kidding ourselves?

Of course there's one. It's fun. Anything fun has a future.

10. do you prefer to knit alone or with other people? why?

Both. I like hanging out with friends and talking and knitting, but I also like zoning out in front of the TV and knitting alone.

11. true or false: can craft save us all? (elaboration here would be nice, but not necessary.)

Save us from what?
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I'll be postfeminist in the postpatriarchy.

[quixotic]

just wanted to say that there are some preliminary results of this survey here.

hurrah for finished dissertations!

x
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http://www.craftivism.com: wee, yet mighty!

[susan*s]

Thanks for sharing some of your results, Ms. Q.! And CONGRATULATIONS on finishing your dissertation!

I'm looking forward to hearing what you're up to next with your travel and research, too. It sounds fascinating and very cool.

xoxo
susan
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** http://www.susanstars.com/ **

[jean]

oh, i can't wait to read the whole dissertation. congratulations and thanks for including us in so much of this!
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Jean Railla
my blog: http://mealbymeal.blogspot.com/