8 Reasons Why Knitters Are Actually Badass
Knitting has been historically viewed as an idle hobby that keeps women busy (and you can learn more about the history of knitting in this post.). But the reality is that knitters are extremely badass. Keep reading to learn 8 reasons why knitters are artists who should not be messed with.
1. Knitters make art out of string
Whenever I take a step back and look at the art of knitting, my mind is always blown. We knitters take string, which is essentially a one-dimensional object, make strategic knots and loops, and create two- and three-dimensional pieces of art. And often, we are able to incorporate that art into our wardrobes so that when we get compliments, we can say, “Thanks, I made it,” and blow everyone's damn mind. (Okay, that might not be the main reason why we wear our art, but it's a super great perk.)
2. You can literally make whatever the hell you want
I recently picked up the book Knitting for Anarchists by Anna Zilboorg. The book itself is great and includes a guide for making your own, customizable sweaters, and there were a lot of insightful thoughts throughout the book. One passage I really enjoyed was this one:
“We do not need to be ruled by fashion in deciding what to make. We do not need to be cowed by professional decrees of the right and wrong way to do things. We do not need to be fearful of trying out ideas, of making mistakes and thereby learning, of creating something new and wonderful, or of just pleasing our own selves and nobody else.”
If you are not getting what you want from modern fashion, or if you have a garment in mind that you can’t find anywhere, then as a knitter, you can fickin’ create it. While the design process inevitably involves mistakes, you can ultimately conjure the shape, silhouette, color, texture, and style of your dream garment. You can make something so authentically you, it’s almost scary. And all with just a goddamn piece of string. In a world that is increasingly manufactured, being able to assert your individuality is incredibly badass.
3. Make clothes that fit YOU
In addition to making whatever the hell you want, you can also make clothes that fit your body and say goodbye to weird fashion-sizing rules. There are so many stores that don’t offer size-inclusive fashion, and that is truly a shame. While there are many designers out there that are not size-inclusive, there are many who are or are becoming size-inclusive, and I am so here for it. There are also many resources and courses that can help guide knitters into altering patterns to make the garment fit our unique bodies. (For example, Customize Your Knitting: Adjust to fit; embelish to taste is a book by Margaret Huber that helps you adjust standard patterns to fit your specific measurements! And it's going for $1.25 USD on Amazon right now?!) We don’t have to listen to some lame corporation telling us what size we are (or what size we should be), and make clothes that just fit… us. Amazing!
4. Knitters take a stand in the slow fashion movement
Fast fashion is an industry system of textile manufacturing that quickly churns out batches of cheap but trendy garments. Fast fashion relies on the overconsumption and overproduction of clothing, large amounts of waste and pollution, and violations of human rights in order to be sustained. Fashion brands like Zara are involved in fast fashion. But knitters are proudly rooted in the slow fashion movement.
Knitters understand the labor that goes into making a garment. Some knitters even began knitting as a way to opt out of fast fashion, while others began to appreciate the value of slow fashion as knitting became a regular hobby for them. Either way, knitters resist the unethical practices of fast fashion by making their own clothes one stitch at a time.
Learn more about the basics of fast versus slow fashion here!
5. Knitters have their own economy
Within the knitting community, we have our own little economy where we are able to support one another. From herders to spinners, from dyers to local yarn shop owners and workers, from designers to test knitters, we all work to help and support the different players in the knitting game. When you purchase knitting supplies or designs, you can back small creators, allowing them to continue doing what they love while also paying their bills. And shopping small is so badass.
6. Knitters hack capitalistic productivity ideology
In many capitalist societies, productivity is considered to be the holy grail of life. Everyone is always trying to be productive, even though it isn’t always necessarily realistic or healthy. One amazing productivity hack: knitting. Because you can sit on the couch bingeing a trashy TV show while knitting up a cute sweater and still feel like you’re getting something done. Take that capitalistic ideologies.
7. Knitters are tapped into good vibes
Did you know that knitting is scientifically proven to help lower stress levels and anxiety? A study conducted by Harvard Medical School found that knitting lowers your heart rate by 11 beats per minute on average, which causes the relaxed and calm feeling you may experience when knitting. According to this same study, when a knitter’s heart rate is lowered, it can cause a state of calm and flow that is comparable to when athletes get in the zone. How incredibly badass is that?
Learn more about the amazing impact that knitting has on anxiety!
8. Knitting is a craft of our ancestors
The way knitting and other fiber arts have been passed down generationally, historically by women through word of mouth and in-person demonstration, is arguably the most badass thing yet. Today, many new knitters rely on YouTube to learn how to knit. I can’t even imagine what it was like to learn to knit before the internet. Yet evidence shows that knitting has been around at least since around 500 to 1200 A.D.! I am so grateful for the rich history that has been stitched into this craft through both time and place. I love how there is always more to learn within the art of knitting and how knitters today are still able to create unique designs from the knowledge passed down from our knitting ancestors. It is incredibly humbling, exciting, and, of course, badass.
Learn more about the rich history of knitting.
So brandish your needles and hold your yarn high because we knitters are badass. Next time someone rubs you the wrong way by lamely calling your knitting “cute” or labeling you a “grandma” because you knit, feel free to send this their way. Or you can just sit back, know how badass you really are, and keep knitting your own goddamn wardrobe.