Visual Rhetoric of Knitting

Jordynn and I talk a lot about "visual rhetoric"--a phrase in our field of research that essentially asks how images make and convey meaning.

I was thinking a lot about visual rhetoric when I picked up some vintage knitting needles and saw this packaging.

There are so many things going on in this image, I almost jumped with joy.

This pictures seems to be saying that knitting makes you beautiful, angelic, and gentle (and perhaps blond); that knitting is a meek, humble, and feminine thing to do; that good and pretty women knit.

Does anyone else think this packaging looks like a Summer's Eve label?

Overheard at University Coffee Shop Today

Female Student #1: I like Teen Vogue so much. It's the perfect mix of fashion and articles. I used to read Vogue, but the articles are just too dense.
Female Student #2: I just like to look at the pictures. And the ads.

Arg.