Lacy and Rhonda came by last night and we had a good knit-in. Lacy went to Rumpelstilstkin’s this week and got a bunch of new yarn, and she also had a few new scarves to show off. She is quickly becoming the Queen of the Garter Stitch scarf! And yes, she did take her knitting to court this past week with no ill-effects.
I’ll post some pictures of her latest creations tomorrow, but today I wanted to pass along a link to an article in The Guardian. Esther Addley has written a piece titled, “Hollywood Gets the Needle,” in which she states “Knitting is the new cocaine.” (Scroll down past the first tidbit – the one I’m talking about is in the middle of the page.) Read at your own risk – I’m not sure I’m any happier knowing that I have anything in common with Madonna. However, I’m sure the types of projects she is compelled to knit are very different than the things I like to make. I’ll just cling to that desperate hope.
Just like all addictive things, some people get caught up in them and others don’t. It’s interesting that in our knitting group, Lacy is quickly approaching my level of obesession with all things knitting. Rhonda, on the other hand, can take it or leave it. She brought her pillow cover over and asked if I thought it needed to be longer, and I said yes, she needs to do a few more inches. She actually looked disappointed – Gasp! Disappointed that she would have to knit more?? I don’t get it! I’m disappointed when I have to bind off. Not to mention I asked her this weekend if she wanted to go to the yarn store with me, and she said no!! Can you imagine??
I guess we’ll just have to file this mystery under “to each his own.”
I am less alarmed about Madonna’s knitting than I am outraged at this line:
“The emergence of knitting as an activity as attractive to men as to women may mark its final transition from a soporific time-killer favoured by elderly ladies to a respectable hobby like any other.”
The assertion that having men taking up knitting is a benchmark of respectability is insulting enough. Once I looked up soporific, I just got pissed off.
Knitting used to be enjoyed by men as well as women. My fire chief great grandpa and his crew of firefighters did a great deal of knitting for charity and ‘the war effort’ back in the day. Perhaps knitting was relegated to ‘womens work’ in the same way women were pushed out of the work force after WWII.
From the quote above, I take it that the author is not a knitter and/or has not known any knitters. As someone who has knit virtually her entire life, I have a tough time understanding the perception of knitting as boring and for old ladies.
While I am very happy for the ‘revival’ of knitting, I really was never aware that it was out of style.
I have been knitting all of my life and I hate that Hollywood “has made knitting trend” All of these women who have taken up knitting just for the look really need to find a new hobby. I love knitting and hate to see it disgraced.
Men, women, who cares?! Men started the knitting thing anyway for those who know their history. Men in Arabia started making the fabrics that would keep them cool during the days and at the same time, warm during those desert nights! It was only later that women were ALLOWED to learn. After the GUILDS were ended and men had to make WAR and not FABRICS!
Sharon
oh my god, im not alone! i too suffer from knitting disorders! i just can’t help myself! i fully agree with Janes statement! knitting needs our utmost respect and care! it is not some new fandangled trend but only for true lovers of the art. melanie
I think its nice that knitting is becoming more popular and disagree that it should be only for those who are good at it. After all we all had to learn at some point.