I missed out on the Haight-Ashbury experience. Alas, I wasn't yet a gleam in my mother's eye in the summer of love, 1968, but I've always been interested in the counter-culture movement and the art that it spawned (or vice versa). I'm a fan of Janis, The Doors, hell, even bell-bottoms to a point, and flower power rocks. But I didn't know that crochet - especially my grandma's penchant for loud, proud, acrylic afghans and lap throws - was also subversive back in the day.
In the latest issue of Interweave Crochet magazine, there is an interesting article discussing the history of crochet in the late 60s and early 70s and the kind of statement that making (and wearing) crochet had on the public. This idea of changing the world, one stitch at a time, intrigues me. Can the simple act of drawing loops together really be influential - then or now?
I'm thinking it can. Even now, how we choose to spend our leisure time (and money) has a big impact on our families, our community, even the economy. What of the grannies who crank out afghans and donate them to the shelters or the church groups that sew hats for the homeless? Are these people changing the world, one stitch at a time? Yep, I think they are. And it isn't just the crafty that can do this. What about the people who buy the homemade soaps, the handmade aprons, the quilted coverlets? Isn't the money spent on these things going to local crafters rather than Wal-Mart? Not only that, but those items can be given as gifts, spreading the revolutionary spirit, so to speak; a (quilting) Bee-In, if you will.
Handmade, whatever it might be, seems to me to be a powerful way to make a statement. For me, the statement is about independence, community, values and ingenuity. It says that I'm resourceful, thrifty, useful, connected and that I support my local artisans and neighbors. It says a heck of a lot more to me than things made in sweatshops and sold at rock-bottom prices at a box store that drove away the local merchants.
That's a lot of revolution in one little stitch.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
You say you want a revolution...
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4 comments:
oooh I didn't realise my crafty ways make me part of a revolution- how exciting :)
Tell ya what- whenever I think of the 60's and early 70's and crafting, I think of macrame. Macrame owls and plant hangers. And the colors they were made in were so earthy.
Thanks for visiting me again, and for the link! I love the colors on your page banner, btw.
What a fantastic post. Brings to mind visions of my great granny Fern making kitchen mats out of crochet plastic garbage bags. Don't know how she did it, but we always had one growing up.
I had a Great-Aunt who used to crochet vests, scarves, hats for us in the early '70s. She was nowhere near part of the counter-culture, though, ha! Boy do I wish I still had some of those things today, as it's back in fashion.
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