What I mean by this rather strange phrase is – has hand knitting finally shaken off its image of an old-fashioned activity done by elderly women and become permanently acceptable as the amazing, all-encompassing art that we in our community know it to be?
I suspect the answer is no – not quite, but it’s getting there. What do you all think? Are we secure enough yet to feel that knitting won’t slip back into the doldrums? What evidence is there that knitting is still seen as old-fashioned? What evidence that it has REALLY arrived and become mainstream?
Obviously if you are reading this blog you are probably part of the Artisan community which already knows the true modern meaning of hand knitting but I’d be grateful if you could take a step back and look at perceptions of knitting among your wider community of friends/colleagues who don’t share your passions. That’s where we will see if there is really a change.
How much of the community at large do we need to convert before knitting is finally home and dry and does it matter ? Well yes, it does. A large number of people have built businesses and lives around supplying the greatly increased demand for all things “knit”, from yarn to sundries to patterns to the social interactions surrounding it and of course tuition. We are talking about job and business security and stability here. How secure is the future for hand knit related business and activities? Is it a flash in the pan revival or a long-term genuine change?
My own view is that hand knitting is here to stay. Quite apart from any other issues, knitting is bound up with all the “good” things we are trying to push in our society at the moment. It’s image is by and large GREEN – whatever colour palette you are knitting with! It ticks all the right boxes for eco, ethical, sustainable credentials etc. BUT, green is still the colour of ham-fisted, poor quality, home spun and down-right dowdy in some quarters so this is not necessarily a good thing. High fashion is our saviour here and having seen the stunning offers from some of our top designers at the Wool Modern exhibition last September it’s clear that wool/hand knitting has really arrived on the catwalk. It’s keeping the balance here that is essential I feel.
Anyway – just a few random thoughts on the topic. Please do join in with your own. I always find you come up with some incredibly useful and interesting views when I ask you to comment so please do it again!
Hand knitting has always featured in on the Catwalk, I remember some beautiful garments featured by the like of Vivianne Westwood, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, etc. over the years. It’s been steadily climbing up the radar of the general public and must be gaining ground judging by the number of young people seen at the likes of Wonderwool Wales and Woolfest.
For me, it’s cool when my youngest daughter comes home from a trip to New Zealand with two balls of Merino, Possum and silk yarn! She wouldn’t have been seen dead in a “wool shop” a couple of years ago! Oh, and she’s asked for a new pair of hand knitted wool socks!
By: AlisonYuleTextiles on January 14, 2012
at 9:13 am
Yes indeed – very satisfying! But in a sense, you would expect your daughter to “see the light” at some point – sooner or later. But what about those who have no exposure to knitting/textiles at home. Or who are put off because Granny knits? Any sign that this group are coming round?
By: devonfinefibres on January 14, 2012
at 9:25 am
Three words: Vogue Knitting Live! It’s a huge three-day event held at a Hilton hotel in New York and features edgy modern designers like Franklin Habit as well as famous ones llike Debbie Bliss.
It also features ridiculously expensive high-end yarns, but it’s fashion…
By: sgt majorette on January 14, 2012
at 2:43 pm
Come and visit WOW — the Wonder of Wool exhibition at Rheged in Penrith! It’s a whole new look at knitting — http://www.rheged.com/wow-wonder-wool-and-art-knit-and-stitch
At the other extreme I was knitting last night, sitting under a blanket (one of mine!!) to keep warm in our sudden cold snap, when my daughter (14) pronounced: “You look cool mum!” I haven’t managed to persuade her to take it up yet although I did teach her once and I’m not much good at knitting myself but I’ve decided to see what I can do with some of my left over weaving wool and a large pair of wooden needles so it grows fast enough for me not to lose interest!
By: Laura on January 16, 2012
at 8:49 am
Fully intending to come up and see this. Was mentioned at our last Council Meeting of the CFW because of the WB’s lending of the WOOL installation.
Glad that your daughter is seeing you in a new light. Mine likes me “boringly predictable” but every now and again I surprise her! I suspect yours will pick up those needles at some point in the future. Mine is getting there – in a round about way!
By: devonfinefibres on January 16, 2012
at 9:45 am
I remember at school there was a fashion for knitting in the lunch hour – we turned out men’s sweaters mainly, and all claimed they were for a boyfriend but were mostly, I suspect, for Dads, uncles, grandfathers and brothers! It took over from skipping and lasted till we were too busy with GCEs (or got too fed up!) to continue.
Compared with then, very few grannies knit nowadays! They are too busy going to work, enjoying sport, travel, etc.
Catwalk knits are spectacular and initiatives like the knitted (or was it crocheted) coral reef are attracting people who aren’t interested in knitting the bog-standard raglan jumper with crew neck, but are very up for knitting a teapot! I think knitting is gaining credibility as a fun thing to do and as the pressure to think green builds up, I think it will have a lasting future
By: Jane on January 16, 2012
at 6:49 pm
“Very few grannies knit these days… too busy!” This is so true Jane. The image in popular culture and the reality are FAR apart. I cursed the day that TV advert for a breakfast cereal with “Knittin Nanas” came out. It just reinforced a stereotype that was common in the 60s but unrecognisable today.
By: devonfinefibres on January 17, 2012
at 6:53 am
Ah, but have you seen the new Sudafed advert? http://youtu.be/I5BEAxOdA0c
By: Alison Daykin on January 17, 2012
at 11:50 am