On Feminist Knitting

 

Feminism, Activism, and Knitting: Are the Fibre Arts a Viable Mode for Feminist Political Action?

(Read the article here)

Beth Ann Pentney

Abstract

This article examines the resurgence of knitting as a popular hobby for women in North America and the UK, and explores the associations made between third-wave feminism and knitting as a mode of political activism, in order to determine how effective reclamation and celebration of the fibre arts can be for feminist goals. The concept of a feminist knitting practice is developed, with the purpose of reimagining feminism as a process or practice which anyone can take up at strategic cultural moments. Several examples of art exhibits and activist projects featuring knitting are discussed in detail, as well as an analysis of the use of the internet as a networking tool for knitters (through weblogs, netrings, and podcasts).

(Thanks to M.M. for the link!)

Contest: Name This Pattern and Win It!

This sweater design has taken forever to finish, and I’m finally ready to write up the pattern. But it needs a name!

It’s knit in the round out of Cascade Sierra (a cotton wool blend), and is meant to be along the same lines as Plath (which is my best selling pattern).

The stitch pattern is a cable-design that reminds me of butterfiles.

So, I’m inviting name suggestions. The best suggestions gets the pattern for free.

Goodbye W. Jefferson

Tonight is our last night in your hills and we will miss you. We will miss a town whose LYS had to close this afternoon because of weather blowing in and the owner had to go and take care of her sheep.

Knitty Prof Productivity

In total, we have written, thus far:

Three book chapters and two half chapters
One journal article and one half journal article
One book proposal
One knitting pattern and proposal

That's a lot in four days. Jordynn thinks that we used to work this much all the time, before we were homeowners, with significant others, and children.

Sigh. But really, we wouldn't trade those things for the world. We just need to take time periodically to go up on the mountaintop.

Here we are at the LYS, Spin A Yarn, dropping some Benjamins.



Sorry the pics aren't up to our usual quality--I'm using my iPhone.

Our Two Favorite Things

We really can't say enough about the LYS here in West Jefferson, Spin a Yarn. For example, it is located in the emminently walkable downtown, right next to a coffeeshop with free wifi. Seriously. That's knitty professor heaven.

Our Haul

We just visited the local yarn shop in West Jefferson, NC, the town down the hill from our cabin. The store, Spin A Yarn, is AWEsome, and the owner a total dream. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. The store had a huge variety of yarns and spinning supplies, and on the back, a large collection of looms.

We bought three skeins of Miss Babs yarn and a skein of Trekking sock yarn. There are some Louet wool combs, a copy of Spin-off, and two pairs of size one needles because Katie is going to knit Jordynn's to-come sock pattern as a test knitter.

Yes. We are actually working. But that doesn't mean we neglect our knitting!

Knitty Mountaineers

Jordynn and I are staying in a cabin on the side of a mountain. This morning we decided to follow the narrow road to the top as part of our holistic working retreat.

Holistic means:
writing
exercise
healthy food
hot tub
wine

In that order.

Here's Jordynn looking down at the valley below from the top of the ridge.

We both brought shawl projects with us, and we'll post progress pics soon.

Knitty Professors in the hills...

The hills are alive with the sound of neeeeeedlessss.

This is the view from the porch of our cabin. We--Jordynn and I--headed up to the NC mountains for a writing retreat.

F.O. Desdemona

I finished Desdemona a week or two ago. It was a quick and fun project, thanks to Katie’s great pattern!

I used a combination of Valley Yarns 2/14 Alpaca Silk and JaggerSpun Superfine Merino, held together.

Mods: I cast on 10 extra stitches to make it a bid wider, and I just went until it was long enough to wrap around.

More details on my Ravelry projects page.