Knitting in the News: A harlot, some men, and a big bully
Tuesday May 13, 2008
Minnesota Public Radio has a fun interview/story about Stephanie Pearl-McPhee a.k.a. "The Yarn Harlot," who recently visited the twin cities on her book tour. The story explains how she got her name (you'll just have to read it; she tells it better than I ever could), why knitters need to get out in public and the epiphany of learning to knit.
The folks at Columbia News Service have picked up on the trend of male knitters, and report that men now make up 5 percent of the knitting population. Some come to knitting to make custom scarves and hats to wear snowboarding, others do it to meet women (really). But like women, all stick with the craft for the sense of calm it can bring to your day. That, and you get to make stuff out of string.
Finally, I know there are a lot of knitters who are also science fiction fans, but even if you're not this is sure to peeve you. British knitter Mazzmatazz has been ordered by the BBC to take down patterns showing knitters how to make knit versions of "Dr. Who" creatures such as the Ood, the Dalecks and the Andipose (they're little blobs of fat, for those who don't watch the show, and they're completely adorable). The BBC says the knit designs are a violation of copyright, Mazz says the BBC should be fair and either go after all knitters who have posted Who-related designs or leave them all alone, and many others say the BBC is overreacting, especially since part of its charter says it is supposed to "stimulate creativity." You can put me in that last camp.
The folks at Columbia News Service have picked up on the trend of male knitters, and report that men now make up 5 percent of the knitting population. Some come to knitting to make custom scarves and hats to wear snowboarding, others do it to meet women (really). But like women, all stick with the craft for the sense of calm it can bring to your day. That, and you get to make stuff out of string.
Finally, I know there are a lot of knitters who are also science fiction fans, but even if you're not this is sure to peeve you. British knitter Mazzmatazz has been ordered by the BBC to take down patterns showing knitters how to make knit versions of "Dr. Who" creatures such as the Ood, the Dalecks and the Andipose (they're little blobs of fat, for those who don't watch the show, and they're completely adorable). The BBC says the knit designs are a violation of copyright, Mazz says the BBC should be fair and either go after all knitters who have posted Who-related designs or leave them all alone, and many others say the BBC is overreacting, especially since part of its charter says it is supposed to "stimulate creativity." You can put me in that last camp.
Comments
This is crazy and reminds me of the ridiculous J.K. Rowling/Warner Bros. versus RDR Books case. In Mazzmatazz’s case, sie was distributing patterns for non-profit enjoyment of the show and I don’t think these knits are anything other than fan art.