Knitting in the News: Knitting Keeps You Young, and Knit Dictators Cause a Stir
Tuesday July 22, 2008
I like to believe that I'm going to get to live a very long life, and if I do, I want to be like Ann Burkott when I grow up. The 96-year-old is still knitting, and is working on her 99th sweater for the Guideposts for Kids campaign, which sends sweaters to kids around the world. She learned to knit by watching her mother and her first medium was butcher's twine. She also knits hats for soldiers serving in Afghanistan.
Another knitter who's helping others with her stitches is Austin resident Barbara Johnson. Though the paper doesn't know the difference between knitting and crochet, Johnson is keeping herself busy at age 75 by knitting red, white and blue afghans for injured veterans.
Mark Williams of Wales usually is done with the process before his sheep's hair turns into yarn, but he's taking up knitting to support a good cause. He and others are helping the Wales Federation of Young Farmers Clubs raise money for children's hospices by knitting squares that will be fashioned into blankets. He says knitting "isn't rocket science, but it's more complicated than it looks."
Finally, Brit knitter Rachael Matthews is taking a bit of heat for designing knitting patterns of dictators. The knitting guru who's said to have sparked the celebrity knitting craze across the pond is known for knitting strange things -- including a hand grenade and a pint of beer -- but some say she's gone too far with her collection of a dozen dictator dolls, from Hitler to Pol Pot, Idi Amin to Saddam Hussein. They are strangely cute, in a very disturbing way. What do you think about turning evil men into fuzzy works of art?
Another knitter who's helping others with her stitches is Austin resident Barbara Johnson. Though the paper doesn't know the difference between knitting and crochet, Johnson is keeping herself busy at age 75 by knitting red, white and blue afghans for injured veterans.
Mark Williams of Wales usually is done with the process before his sheep's hair turns into yarn, but he's taking up knitting to support a good cause. He and others are helping the Wales Federation of Young Farmers Clubs raise money for children's hospices by knitting squares that will be fashioned into blankets. He says knitting "isn't rocket science, but it's more complicated than it looks."
Finally, Brit knitter Rachael Matthews is taking a bit of heat for designing knitting patterns of dictators. The knitting guru who's said to have sparked the celebrity knitting craze across the pond is known for knitting strange things -- including a hand grenade and a pint of beer -- but some say she's gone too far with her collection of a dozen dictator dolls, from Hitler to Pol Pot, Idi Amin to Saddam Hussein. They are strangely cute, in a very disturbing way. What do you think about turning evil men into fuzzy works of art?
Comments
I think knitting the dictators is the only way of getting any joy (at least for the knitter). I wonder how many times she had to frog them?? LOL
VooDoo dolls of the evil-ist(is that a word?-never mind, works for me) of the evil?!! How cool is THAT?!!!
Wow! I’m in awe of these senior ladies. Their kindness and skills are most admirable. There’s hope for me, that maybe I will use up my stash before I die.
Rachel Matthews’ dictator project looks like another of her “knittivist” (political) fiberarts works … this time, a pointed comment on the fad for knitted toys — like the “cute” Celebrity Doll collection that was reviewed so enthusiastically on this blog just recently
(here: http://knitting.about.com/b/2007/12/11/knit-celebrities.htm)
I think Matthews’ point is very well taken.
So now we knitters have another stereotype to overcome …. not only are we not old ladies sitting in rocking chairs knitting, we’re also not hate mongers who have nothing better to do than knit dictator dolls.
Why can’t the press focus on all the wonderful charity projects that people do worldwide at their own time and expense?