Radical craft in Get Creative
Do you read Get Creative? It’s the craft mag from Spotlight and it’s got some pretty cool stuff in it. While the magazine is very much targetted around promoting Spotlight products it does have a fantastic local focus and it’s a great way to learn about some of the incredible designers and artists working in Australia and elsewhere.
Each month Get Creative has a special theme and last month the theme was Yarn. And in a moment of awesomeness, they decided to do an article on political craft! You can download a copy of the article here, which includes Lisa Anne Auerbach, me!, Betsy Greer, Cat Mazza and Magda Sayeg.
I also contributed a review of Betsy’s book, ‘Knitting for Good’. The final copy they printed was a bit cut down, but here’s the original review:
Knitting for Good!
By Betsy Greer
Reviewed by Rayna FaheyOne of the wonderful consequences of the resurgence of craft, particularly amongst young people is the rapidly expanding craft sections in our local bookshops. What’s particularly refreshing is the wide range of contemporary pattern books; utilising interesting new materials and genuinely innovative spins on traditional techniques. But while there is plenty of discussion in our craft groups about the benefits of craft, there hasn’t been too many books written on the subject.
Until now.
Knitting for Good is a beautifully written tale of the personal, local an global benefits of craft. While this book still contains patterns, the focus is definitely on the story. And as a non-knitter I can definitely say this book is for anyone who crafts, not just the fans of the clicking needles..
Divided into three sections: “Knitting for Yourself” “Knitting for Your Community” and “Knitting for The World”, Greer takes the reader on a personal journey as a knitter and as an activist. Starting from her own background in the Riot Grrl DiY scene we read how a staunch young feminist embraces a traditional domestic craft in a way that doesn’t betray her political beliefs but rather, enhances it.
A major highlight of the book is the sidebar sections written by various people who have inspired Betsy’s book. The sidebars compliment the text beautifully and truly demonstrate the importance of community within the craft movement. As a last minute addition to the book, the sidebars definitely complete the story.
Next time someone scoffs your crafting, you can proudly raise your chin and declare “I’m saving the world”.
Finally one of the best aspects of the book is the production. With a gorgeous handmade cover the book is filled with lovely illustrations and a nice cottage feel. This book is a perfect read for an overcast Sunday afternoon, with a lovely cup of tea and your latest craft project within arms reach.
G’arn, go buy a copy!
Craftivism in Italy
Cat Mazza from MicroRevolt has these lovely pics up from a craftivism workshop she facilitated? was in? not sure. But the pics are cool. Looks like they had an ace time expanding the imaginations of the people of Milan. And I ALWAYS give props to craftivism that involves finger knitting!
More here.
It’s awesome how much the craftivism movement is spreading. Thanks especially to the wonderful writing of Betsy Greer in her new book. We’ll be interviewing Betsy for the Craft Cartel podcast real soon. I’m looking forward to talking to her about her perspectives on the mainstreaming of the term.
Stitch For Senate
I thought I’d already written about this but turns out I only thought about writing about it. Confused?
The Stitch For Senate Project is an antiwar craft collaboration underway to coincide with the upcoming US election. Participants will be drawing on the long history of war knitting projects to knit a helmet liner for every US Senator.
Building on the tradition of wartime knitting, a practice as old as the American Revolution, Stitch for Senate revives this cultural trend by engaging with public officials about the war in Iraq. The Stitch for Senate website will compile testimonies from contributing knitters, that express everything from charity, allegiance, patriotism, resistance, and radicalism; using the tradition of political organizing within knitting circles as a space for storytelling, discussion, exchange and protest. Hobbyists knit in solidarity to persuade elected officials to support the troops by bringing them home. All the senators will receive their own helmet liner before the 2008 Senate election, after being displayed in the seating chart of the US Senate at gallery venue. Once they are received, senators can opt to send helmets to a soldier.
And they’re still looking for contributors so if you can knit and you aren’t too fond of the whole war thing, get on board.
The Stitch For Senate project is the brainchild of Cat Mazza who is one of my absolute favourite craftivists. You can check out more of her work and her blog here.