Stitch 'n Bitch

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In February 2007 Stitch and Bitch London presented the London Lion Scarf around the necks of the Trafalgar Square Lions in central London. They raised over PS2500 for cancer research. Lion scarf wiki.jpg
In February 2007 Stitch and Bitch London presented the London Lion Scarf around the necks of the Trafalgar Square Lions in central London. They raised over £2500 for cancer research.

Stitch 'n Bitch is a name that has been used to refer to social knitting groups since at least World War II. [1] Before the slang term "Stitch 'n Bitch" was used, groups of women in the 1940s would join to knit and talk in organized Stitch and Bitch clubs. The term was further used in the 1980s as part of the book Social History of American Knitting by Anne Macdonald. [2] It is partly due to the book's success that the modern day Stitch 'n Bitch knitting groups have emerged in cities around the world. The groups, mainly women, meet to knit, stitch and talk. Typically, attendees knit, though others crochet (they are called 'Happy Hookers'), and still others engage in cross-stitching, embroidery, and other needlecraft. Nowadays, the groups have been analyzed by scholars as expressions of resistance to major political, social and technological change in Western societies. However, political discussion is not unusual at these events, and at least some participants are proponents of progressive, liberal, and/or leftist social and political change. Furthermore, the term Stitch 'n Bitch is now used by women from across the globe to connect with others in the virtual space seeing as the term has re-emerged in a world where the public sphere is the cyberspace.

Contents

With over 1460 registered Stitch 'n Bitch groups in 289 cities worldwide, the social knitting movement has demarked itself as a popular social gathering for avid knitters. [3]

Knitting groups

Stitch 'n Bitch is a name used by knitting groups that meet on a weekly or monthly basis at locations throughout the world. This use of the term originates as early as the Second World War. [1] [4] In 1999, Debbie Stoller started a Stitch 'n Bitch group in NYC's East Village, which was open to anyone who wanted to come to knit along or learn to knit.[ citation needed ] In 2000, she wrote about her groups in BUST magazine, of which she is the editor-in-chief. Brenda Janish read the article and started the Chicago Stitch 'n Bitch group.[ citation needed ] That article inspired Vickie Howell to start the Los Angeles Stitch 'n Bitch group and later the Austin Stitch 'n Bitch group. [5] Like Stoller's original group, today's Stitch 'n Bitch clubs are generally casual groups of knitters who meet in public spaces such as bars or cafes for socializing and sharing knitting advice. These groups are free or small fee required memberships and open to the public, and are listed in a directory of worldwide knitting groups that was started by Janish and today is maintained by Stoller: Official Home of Stitch 'n Bitch. As of 2010, the site lists over 700 such groups.

The cover of the first book in the series of knitting books by Debbie Stoller, Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook. Stitch 'n Bitch Book Cover.jpg
The cover of the first book in the series of knitting books by Debbie Stoller, Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook.

A book series by Debbie Stoller includes Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook, Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker, and other titles. [6]

From 2005 to 2008, Stitch 'n Bitch was the focus of a trademark dispute. In June 2005, the company Sew Fast Sew Easy filed a trademark application for Stitch & Bitch to designate a line of knitting and sewing supplies. As of 2007 this application was suspended. [7] In fall 2005, due to letters claiming trademark infringement from Sew Fast/Sew Easy's lawyers, knitting groups that had accounts with CafePress were forced to remove all items featuring the phrase "Stitch 'n Bitch". Local groups that communicated with each other through Yahoo! Groups were similarly forced to remove "Stitch 'n Bitch" from the name and description of their group. [8] Some groups were deleted, but most groups were able to change their name on Yahoo! to SNB. [9] In 2008, Sew Fast Sew Easy and Debbie Stoller reached a settlement in which Debbie Stoller retained the use of the mark in knitting while Sew Fast Sew Easy retained the use for sewing. Since then all four of Stoller's trademarks have now been registered. The Sew Fast Sew Easy store closed in 2012.

Social implications

In recent years, the Stitch 'n Bitch movement has been considered as a means of reclaiming women's domestic work in feminist circles. Not only have groups officially been formed through website use, but groups of women on university campuses have also followed the trends in order to resist the taboo representation of the traditional woman.

Dr. Beth Ann Pentney, writing in Thirdspace journal, credited Stoller's publications with the rise of feminist knitting. Stoller introduced this approach to feminism to merge political involvement with a women's community-building activity set in a Do-It-Yourself culture. [10] As a response to Stoller, much scrutiny on the effectiveness of the reclamation of domestic arts as a political feminist act has been done. Some say that the reason of the reintroduction of knitting in modern social gatherings is mainly due to the increase in the search for individualism and the anti-consumerism attitude of our generation. [10] With this said, it is important to denote the implication of technologies in the emergence of a "fabriculture" based on the reclamation of domestic arts and crafts. [11] With the internet accessibility of online information and tips and tricks for knitters and crocheters, the traditionally personal practice of knitting can now be shared easily among strangers, and is open to public discussion and new ideas. These webs of knitters worldwide find affinities via a very modern technology opposing the traditional DIY nature of knitting.

Further reading

Related Research Articles

Knitting Method of forming fabric from yarn

Knitting is a method by which yarn is manipulated to create a textile, or fabric. It is used to create many types of garments. Knitting may be done by hand or by machine.

Debbie Stoller American author and publisher

Debbie Stoller is a New York Times best-selling American author, publisher and feminist commentator whose work includes magazines as well as books. She lives in Brooklyn, New York City. Stoller is the co-founder, co-owner and editor-in-chief of the culture magazine BUST, which she and Marcelle Karp launched in 1993.

Sweater curse Knitting superstition

The "sweater curse" or "curse of the love sweater" is a term used by knitters to describe the belief that if a knitter gives a hand-knit sweater to a significant other, it will lead to the recipient breaking up with the knitter. In an alternative formulation, the relationship will end before the sweater is even completed. The belief is widely discussed in knitting publications, and some knitters claim to have experienced it. In a 2005 poll, 15% of active knitters said that they had experienced the sweater curse firsthand, and 41% considered it a possibility that should be taken seriously.

Basic knitted fabrics include stocking stitch, reverse stocking stitch, garter stitch, seed stitch, faggoting, and tricot. In some cases, these fabrics appear differently on the right side than on the wrong side.

Blocking (textile arts)

In knitting, crochet and other textile arts, blocking is a final stage of handmade textile production that adjusts the shape of the finished piece. Not all pieces need blocking; however, blocking is standard for lace work and is not uncommon in sweaters, socks, and other solid projects. Through heat and moisture, blocking sets the stitches and standardizes the final dimensions, and may enhance the drape. Hand manufacture places natural stresses on fabrics that may result in deviations from its intended shape and size. Blocking is only effective on natural fibres but a technique called "killing" may be used on synthetic fibres to achieve an effect similar to blocking.

In knitting, steeking is a shortcut used to knit garments such as sweaters in the round without interruption for openings or sleeves until the end. After completing a tube, a straight line is cut along the center of a column of stitches, in order to make room for an opening or place to attach another piece. The steek itself is a bridge of extra stitches, in which the cut is made, and is usually 6-10 stitches wide. This technique was developed by the knitters of the Shetland archipelago and is particularly associated with Fair Isle sweaters, although it can be used for solid colors as well.

Stitch London

Stitch London is a knitting group in London, England, who meet weekly in various venues across central London to knit in public. It is also a virtual knitting group whose members join via newsletter, Facebook, Ravelry, and Twitter. Its members number in their thousands and it has a global membership despite being based in London.

Sew Fast Sew Easy

Sew Fast Sew Easy was a corporation based in the Garment District in New York City, that is best known for sewing classes, sewing patterns and sewing books. It was founded in 1991 by Elissa K. Meyrich, a designer in New York City's garment district for over 26 years, an instructor at Parsons School of Design, and an author and contributing writer to sewing publications. Sew Fast Sew Easy classes were part of a resurgence in traditional home economics enabled by networked technologies including Internet chat groups and digitally-adjustable patterns. The company created NYC's first Stitch and Bitch group in 1997. The company started an Internet guestbook, the Stitch and Bitch Cafe, in 1998.

Knitting clubs are a feature of the 21st-century revival of hand knitting which began in America and has spread to most of Europe. Despite the name, knitting clubs are not limited to knitting; both crochet-centered and knit-centered clubs are collectively called "knitting clubs." While knitting has never gone away completely, this latest reincarnation is less about the make-do and mend of the 1940s and 1950s, and more about making a statement about individuality and developing a sense of community.

Granny square


A granny square is a piece of square fabric produced in crochet by working in rounds from the center outward. Granny squares are traditionally handmade. They resemble coarse lace. Although there is no theoretical limit to the maximum size of a granny square, crocheters usually create multiple small squares and assemble the pieces to make clothing, purses, Afghan blankets, and other household textiles.

Dye lot

A dye lot is a record taken during the dyeing of yarn to identify yarn that received its coloration in the same vat at the same time. Yarn manufacturers assign each lot a unique identification number and stamp it on the label before shipping. Slight differences in temperature, dyeing time, and other factors can result in different shades of the same color between different dye lots of otherwise identical production. Although the component elements of a dye lot number are of interest only for internal business recordkeeping, retail yarn consumers have an interest in ensuring that they purchase a given color of yarn from identical dye lots.

Stitch marker (crochet) Mnemonic device used to distinguish important locations on a crochet work in progress

In crochet, a stitch marker is a mnemonic device used to distinguish important locations on a work in progress. Crochet patterns have a mathematical basis, so stitch markers serve as a visual reference that takes the place of continuous stitch counting and reduces a crocheter's error rate.

Hook gauge

A hook gauge or needle gauge is a measuring device used by crocheters and knitters to test the sizes of particular crochet hooks and knitting needles. Hook gauges are usually made of plastic or aluminum and have sizing holes from 2mm to 11mm diameter. A hook gauge also functions as a ruler to test the size of a test swatch of handmade fabric.

Shell stitch

A shell stitch is a crochet motif often used as a border around other patterns or in staggered rows to create a distinctive fabric pattern. Shell stitches take the shape of arcs and semicircles, hence the name. Shell stitches are often used as edging for crocheted items such as Afghan blankets and sweaters.

Hand knitting is a form of knitting, in which the knitted fabric is produced by hand using needles.

I Knit London is a knitting organisation based in London, England, UK, comprising a knitting group, knitting shop and knitting events. I Knit London was formed in December 2005, and is run, by Gerard Allt and Craig Carruthers.

Yarn bombing Type of graffiti or street art

Yarn bombing is a type of graffiti or street art that employs colourful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn or fibre rather than paint or chalk. It is also called wool bombing, yarn storming, guerrilla knitting, kniffiti, urban knitting, or graffiti knitting.

Ponte (Fabric) Type of knit fabric pattern

Ponte is a thick, double knit fabric design produced on double jersey knitting machines. It is one of the firm, stable structures of knits with a subtle sheen. This fabric is heavier and thicker than a regular jersey. As with most of the other double knit designs, Ponte is reversible. The fabric is also known as ''Ponte di Roma.''

References

  1. 1 2 Macdonald, Anne L. (1988). No Idle Hands: The Social History of American Knitting. New York: Ballantine Books. p.  302. ISBN   978-0-345-33906-5.
  2. ↑ Brightman, Emilee (27 January 2009). "Crafty Ladies: Local knitting group not what you would expect". The Lakewood Observer. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  3. ↑ Stitch 'n Bitch. "Stitch 'n Bitch: Find a knitting group or start your own". Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  4. ↑ Elsworth, Catherine (11 February 2006). "It's getting bitchy in knitting circles". Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 February 2006. Retrieved 25 May 2007.
  5. ↑ Carpenter, Susan (20 November 2003). "Sisters of the Stitch". L.A. Times. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  6. ↑ Stoller, Debbie (2006). Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker. New York: Workman Publishing Company, Inc. pp. 1–283.
  7. ↑ "Serial Number: 78641350". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Inquiry System. 28 November 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2007.
  8. ↑ Petrovsky, Lesley (Fall 2006). "Tempest in a Tea Cozy". Vogue Knitting. Retrieved 26 May 2007.
  9. ↑ Krementz, Cheryl (Summer 2006). "Stitch & Bitch Slap". Knit.1. Retrieved 26 May 2007.
  10. 1 2 Pentney, Beth Ann (Summer 2008). "Feminism, Activism, and Knitting: Are the Fibre Arts a Viable Mode for Feminist Political Action?". Third Space: A Journal of Feminist Theory and Culture. 8 (1). Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  11. ↑ Bratich, Jack; Brush, Heidi M. (27 November 2011). "Fabricating activism: Craft-Work, Popular Culture, Gender". Utopian Studies. 22 (2): 233–260. doi:10.5325/utopianstudies.22.2.0233 . Retrieved 19 March 2013.
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