Still from The Last Knit

At one time I thought knitting was an outdated and probably dying craft.  Sure, I could learn how to knit a scarf but how many does one girl need? This was until I stumbled across the Knitta’s and realized that Gen X has reclaimed this art of knotting for their own.

Example of the Knitta's handi-work

The Knitta’s are a group of guerilla knitters…perhaps a bit like graffiti artists, but without the paint.  Instead, they’re wrapping up anything they can get their hands on, from light-posts wrapped in bright colors to full out sweaters that appear mysteriously, clothing statues in public areas, truly amazing stuff. And a lot of cities have been hit by the Guerilla Knitters, from major U.S. cities to European metropolises as well. You can check out their handiwork in numerous videos at their website, knittaplease.com.

I don't think so

And this group isn’t the only example of a pop-culture yen for knitting.  As you can see by this video by Laura Neuvonen called  The Last Knit, it’s a skill that for some gets quite obsessive.  What I really like about the whole knitting renaissance is how edgy it’s gotten, like the Stitch ‘n Bitch books from Knit Happens.  You should hear what they say about crochet-ers!

If you’ve got the know-how to knit already, or if you’re looking to learn, you can check out a number of fan sites and videos that provide tips on how to knit or even free patterns.  Knitty has some pretty cool designs and Knitting for Charity provides you with tips on how to lend your skills for more altruistic purposes. Even the University of Michigan has a knitting club: MichKnit!

There are a lot of people doing really cool and crazy things with knitting so don’t consider this article to be comprehensive in any way.  I find it really interesting what people are doing with the textile for non-clothing items… perhaps a topic for a future post.  If you hear of something cool you’d like to share, leave a link in the comments section!

Until next time,

-B.C.Bodnar