Tag Archives: women’s rights

Smashing the Patriarchy, One Stitch at a Time

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You guys.

Last weekend.

Holy cow.

Last Friday was my birthday, so my husband and I had planned to visit friends in Los Angeles for the weekend.  (Mostly because I knew I’d get depressed when you-know-who was sworn into office, and you can’t really be depressed when it’s warm, sunny, and you get to eat lots of great food with your friends.)  When we made our plans, we didn’t know about the marches planned for Saturday.  But, when we did find out about them, we all immediately knew my birthday weekend wouldn’t be complete without a little bit of civil disobedience.

And knitting. (Natch.)

We talked about the Pussyhat Project last week, and it certainly seems like we weren’t the only ones.  Look at this picture I found on their website- Look at that sea of pink hats at the DC march!  Amazing!14851386614901In LA, there weren’t quite so many hats, what with the warmer weather, but there were still a bunch! (It was so hard to get a picture of the whole crowd- Downtown LA was so full of people, we spread out across blocks and blocks!)wp_20170121_12_30_06_proI brought a bunch of hats from Seattle (knitting two while we traveled on Friday).  I gave away one to my husband and one to our friend, Will.  (Jenny made her own, because she’s a badass knitter, too!).  And, I gave away five to people I met on the street!img_3413I even brought my yarn to the march with me (because I am a goody-two-shoes who likes to follow rules, so I get a lot of nervous energy at things like this).wp_20170121_11_26_41_pro(I actually finished this hat on the train back from the march, and gave away the one I was wearing as we left downtown!)

It was an amazing day, and I’ve really been enjoying all the coverage of the marches around the world- it makes me feel like maybe, just maybe, we’re going to be OK.

And, to keep the spirit of the Women’s March alive, I’ve been putting on my Pussyhat every morning and calling my Congresswomen (and trying to call the Whitehouse- though their phone system seems to be down most of the time).  I’m not great at talking to strangers, and talking on the phone gives me anxiety, but I’m doing it anyway.  If you want to join me- you can find your Congresspeople here.  (Or, email me your address, and I’ll find their numbers for you!) Call them!  Let you know what you’re thinking!  Wear your pink hats with pride!

Pattern Spotlight: Pussyhat Project

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You guys know I try not to get too political on this blog (though I seem to be less good at being apolitical lately).  But sometimes there’s something political that comes up that I simply can’t ignore.

And when that something political also happens to involve knitting, well… I can’t help myself.

So you all know what’s happening on Friday (Hint: someone new’s moving into the White House), but you might not know what’s happening on Saturday.

It’s the Women’s March on Washington (and, really, across the country-  take a look, I bet there’s going to be a March near you this weekend).  The March is in support of women’s rights, as well as inclusivity for all minorities- African Americans, Muslim Amerians, LGBTQ+ Americans and everyone else.  It’s going to be an amazing event, and I can’t wait to take part.

And, one of the grassroots symbols of this event is this goofy knit pink hat, the Pussyhat (like pussycat, get it?).  pussyhatprojectcoverIt’s a simple hat, but it means a lot.  First, it’s taking some very “feminine” things (the color pink, the act of hand-knitting) that have been underestimated and devalued, and turns them into a strong political statement.  Second, the hats are a visual marker of just how many women (and men) believe that women’s rights are important- I’ve already seen people around town wearing their Pussyhats.  More than 100,000 people have pledged to make hats already, and yarn stores across the country are running out of pink yarn!  And third, these hats are all handmade, all worked with care, thought, and love, by people who believe in the power of women and that we all (women, men, people of color, etc.) have an important role to play in this country.  And, in my mind, at least, that’s a powerful statement.86c0bfde-6956-4e87-957e-63787f2444d4I’ve already made three hats, but I plan to work up as many as I can in the time before Saturday.  I’ll keep one for myself, but I’ll give away the others to anyone who wants them.  They’re a small gesture, but they’re a great reminder of what we’re all fighting for- equality, respect, and the right to live our lives the way that is best for us.

If you’re interested in making a hat (or two or three), you can find the official instructions here.  Or, if you prefer to knit in the round (like me), here’s what I did:

Pussyhat In The Round

One size fits most adults

Materials:

  • US8 12-16″ cable needle
  • about 50g worsted weight yarn (pink)
  • Yarn needle

CO 80, and prepare to work in the round.  (K2, P2) around for 2 to 3 inches.  Then, K all sts until the hat measures about 8.5 inches from the CO edge.  Cut the yarn, leaving a very generous tail, and use the tail to sew up the top of the hat with the Kitchener stitch.  Weave in ends and block if desired.