There is something about knitting, crocheting and hand-work that seems to attract folks who are very vocal with a view that politics have no place in knitting. That one can and should leave politics at the door and simply share a love of knitting. But what if this is just a small but vocal group?
This was lovely. I have had a belly full, frankly, of the “CaN’t We JuSt GeT BaCk To KnItTiNg?” brigade for some time now. The world’s on fire, Susan, and some of don’t have the luxury of pretending everything’s ok.
I'm with you. I think the only people who can stand to not talk about politics are the ones who feel like they aren't really affected no matter who is in power. The personal is political and the political is personal, and I think we need to get more comfortable with talking about the way that the decisions of others (especially how they vote/who they give money to) can affect everyone.
Yes: I feel this deeply, too. I really like what you said about getting more comfortable navigating these topics. I sometimes don't know if I'm avoiding going into "the belly of the beast" by declaring this a no Tr*ump space, but I also feel deeply that we need spaces to breathe deeply and not have to carry that tension with us — that tension of polite conversation all the while the other person is voting or giving money to a system that is actively trying to hurt the people we love. It's not straightforward, and I love how everyone here is wrestling with this complex and nuanced world. 💙 to you, A.
I think that the reason that people want to keep politics out of crafting is because when politics discussions happen, the conversations quickly devolve into nastiness and unpleasantness. I have observed this many times. I find it difficult, myself, to listen to people repeat lies, but then on other hand, people think that what I believe are lies. So that is the reason why I think politics and crafting discussions need to be separate entities. I am an older person and my friends are on the other side of the political aisle. The ONLY way our friendships remain intact is to avoid talking politics all together. What good is accomplished by talking politics with people who have firmly entrenched opinions? I have pretty entrenched opinions myself. I have a hard time listening to people who do not believe our democracy is under attack from within. I’ve listened to enough politics to realize that both sids of political aisle, think that the other side is destroying our country. Our knitting and crocheting is a space away from all the turmoil, I think.
Elaine, as someone who is very concerned about the future of our beloved country and in my mid 70's I want you to know that I hear your perspective and situation. As briefly as I can tell it here is my experience with neighbors since the big cheese (you know who I mean) came on to our scene. I live in a rural community that is about 50/50 Rep/Dem. I had new neighbors across the way who I was getting to know by sharing garden extras and helping care for animals as needed. They were regular church goers which I am not, but we seemed to be enjoying a civil relationship. Things started to go awry when we put up yard signs for the coming 2020 election. I had a yard sign, they lined their whole fence with 10+ large hand made signs. This was facing my home and annoying, but I thought I could weather that storm till the election was over. But they left their signs up until they finally moved 2 years later when they went to Florida to be near The Cheese! In the meantime, I endured things like them sending their gun toting proud boy wanna-bes to my garage sale. And having people use my driveway to park their cars while they took pictures of their signs. Sadly, I became aware that there were some local deputies who were ... shall we say pretty red themselves, and of little help to me. SO, I stayed low and tense for about 2 years until they moved. It was only a few months after they were gone that I realized just how that whole time period had affected me. Still, I will not feel safe to put yard signs out this year. It is very hard to accept how much our country has already been changed for me to say that.
Sandy, I am not gonna sugarcoat this here: that is terrifying. And it sounds directly harassing. I mean, there's not really any other way to interpret it. Thank you for sharing your experience.
One thing I have felt very acutely is how in other liberal online communities (like Culture Study) it really really helps to know others are experiencing this, and to feel camaraderie and connection. To just know you're not alone. I would recommend both Culture Study and Men Yell At Me for this.
Thank you for your suggestions, Anne. It does help to find people who don't want any of this stuff to continue to go on. As it happens, this morning was the first time I had visited your substack. Right after I replied to Elaine the cable for our area went down for about several hours. So, I am playing catch-up on a few fronts right now. I hope to take some time tomorrow and get to know what else your site is about. In spite of what my experience was like, I can understand why some people need to turn politics off. And I had to do that too from time to time. It gets so that, that is all you are thinking about. And it can make one very anxious. You just need to get away from it to calm down. And knitting and other needlework and crafting can help with that. Maybe you need to have a 2 channel substack. With and without politics. ✨😅
Oof, that's a hard one. I know lots of folks in situations like yours: who hold very firmly liberal beliefs and who live in areas surrounded by far right/conspiracy folks. I appreciate you sharing your experiences. I'm haven't yet fully developed this piece of writing, or its core thought, and I appreciate how you and others are helping me to wrestle with it. I continue to be, well, gobsmacked, at how nastiness has become the hallmark of the hard right. (Not the R*publican of the old days, because there's still Mitt Romney and Liz Cheney, who I would never vote for because I disagree vehemently with their perspectives, but who see the crazy and name the crazy.) I wonder how much credibility we give something by tiptoeing around it. Anyhow: today is the anniversary of Watergate. An interesting coincidence!
Loved the short video, it was soothing and satisfying. I am right there with you about your political views. I have a tendency to keep my political views somewhat private as I have some friends that are republican and have different views about government and business. I myself don’t identify with any specific party because I think it’s foolish to vote the way someone else tells you to do just because you’ve placed a label on your beliefs. I vote my conscience and use my reasoning to dictate what my vote will be. I may be more liberal in my views, grew up Californian as it is, but I also think that this world belongs now to the younger generations and they need to speak up about what’s happening now. It’s their time. That being said, I still try to make my footprint smaller and live a slow life for the future as well as the present. Sorry I left such a big comment. My fingers ran away with my thoughts. 😊 I’m getting some old PomPom magazines, maybe there’s a sweater pattern in there to use with the sport. As if I don’t have enough knitting projects already…..
I see how many of y'all live in dominant-red areas, and it must be so hard to be an island of blue. I can understand keeping one's views private, and what I wrestle with is how many of us carry our perspectives on the outside because we're Black or brown, or because we are visibly gay or transgender, and the cost to ourselves and our humanity for having to "keep the peace." And yet we all, all of us, deserve a sweet, slow, simple life. I continue to wrestle with all of these ideas and I appreciate you sharing your experiences.
I really like how you said that the world belongs to the younger generations. (I fear we didn't do our part to hand them a better world, and I am so happy they are ready to take it on and make it better. The kids give me hope.)
I absolutely resonate with your words. I can understand some crafters' wish to "keep politics out of crafting", but I think that mindset misses the point, I think you know what I mean. I'm a third generation Californian who retired and moved to Montana in 2019, eventually found people I could relate to, and am now the Chair of our County Democrat Committee. I am way out of my comfort zone (tears of stress and discomfort come up as I write this), but somebody has to do it, right? Thank you for all you do.
Thank YOU for taking on that huge assignment. Chair of the Democrat Committee in the midst of Montana, whew. That's not a small thing. I love that you've found your people where you're at. THIS is a beacon of light.
Forgot to say I enjoyed the video of your work. That makes it so real, so personal—and we get to continue that process when we knit or crochet your yarn.
I can see how viewing handcrafts as apolitical works—these are mostly solitary, individual acts that don’t seem to go beyond our hands. And since in recent history, these are gendered activities mostly female, politics were viewed as a separate sphere.
And yet this ignores the bigger picture (which seems to be happening more and more)—our materials come from somewhere; they’re made by someone. Their production affects the animals and the environment.
Once I started seeing the larger economy of production and consumption, I had to change my thinking and my choices. My choices reflect my values, which are inextricably linked with my politics.
The reactions or the push back that handcrafts should be separate reminds me of the “shut up and play” that athletes like Kaepernick and James heard. (But not Butker-but we all know what’s behind that).
I do have little confidence that my acts of choosing sustainable yarn and doing my best not to buy fast fashion has any effect. But at least I’m more aware than I was even a few years ago.
I’m looking forward to your retreat. I’m intrigued by the concept and am excited about it. Thank you for doing what you do and for who you are.
Ooof, I feel this hard: the comparison between the public response and economic impact of Colin Kaepernick's action (he was never again able to play the game he loved and was so good at) and Harrison Butker's (blip, let's play). Some types of political speech are encouraged or tolerated. Other types of political speech get you blacklisted. I continue to wrestle with the idea that if we tolerate Tr*mpist talk, are we giving quiet validation to it and making it an acceptable norm. I just continue to be gobsmacked that everyone isn't horrified.
And, thank you for pointing out that the gendered activity of knitting and yarn craft has traditionally been seen as part of the private sphere: feminine, apolitical, "polite." You said it before: live by the patriarchy, die by the patriarchy. (YOU WIN NO. 1 MOST CLASSIC COMMENT!)
This was lovely. I have had a belly full, frankly, of the “CaN’t We JuSt GeT BaCk To KnItTiNg?” brigade for some time now. The world’s on fire, Susan, and some of don’t have the luxury of pretending everything’s ok.
I feel ya on this. 🔥
I'm with you. I think the only people who can stand to not talk about politics are the ones who feel like they aren't really affected no matter who is in power. The personal is political and the political is personal, and I think we need to get more comfortable with talking about the way that the decisions of others (especially how they vote/who they give money to) can affect everyone.
Yes: I feel this deeply, too. I really like what you said about getting more comfortable navigating these topics. I sometimes don't know if I'm avoiding going into "the belly of the beast" by declaring this a no Tr*ump space, but I also feel deeply that we need spaces to breathe deeply and not have to carry that tension with us — that tension of polite conversation all the while the other person is voting or giving money to a system that is actively trying to hurt the people we love. It's not straightforward, and I love how everyone here is wrestling with this complex and nuanced world. 💙 to you, A.
I love you!!! That is all.
You are the best! So happy you're my sis. That is all.
I think that the reason that people want to keep politics out of crafting is because when politics discussions happen, the conversations quickly devolve into nastiness and unpleasantness. I have observed this many times. I find it difficult, myself, to listen to people repeat lies, but then on other hand, people think that what I believe are lies. So that is the reason why I think politics and crafting discussions need to be separate entities. I am an older person and my friends are on the other side of the political aisle. The ONLY way our friendships remain intact is to avoid talking politics all together. What good is accomplished by talking politics with people who have firmly entrenched opinions? I have pretty entrenched opinions myself. I have a hard time listening to people who do not believe our democracy is under attack from within. I’ve listened to enough politics to realize that both sids of political aisle, think that the other side is destroying our country. Our knitting and crocheting is a space away from all the turmoil, I think.
Elaine, as someone who is very concerned about the future of our beloved country and in my mid 70's I want you to know that I hear your perspective and situation. As briefly as I can tell it here is my experience with neighbors since the big cheese (you know who I mean) came on to our scene. I live in a rural community that is about 50/50 Rep/Dem. I had new neighbors across the way who I was getting to know by sharing garden extras and helping care for animals as needed. They were regular church goers which I am not, but we seemed to be enjoying a civil relationship. Things started to go awry when we put up yard signs for the coming 2020 election. I had a yard sign, they lined their whole fence with 10+ large hand made signs. This was facing my home and annoying, but I thought I could weather that storm till the election was over. But they left their signs up until they finally moved 2 years later when they went to Florida to be near The Cheese! In the meantime, I endured things like them sending their gun toting proud boy wanna-bes to my garage sale. And having people use my driveway to park their cars while they took pictures of their signs. Sadly, I became aware that there were some local deputies who were ... shall we say pretty red themselves, and of little help to me. SO, I stayed low and tense for about 2 years until they moved. It was only a few months after they were gone that I realized just how that whole time period had affected me. Still, I will not feel safe to put yard signs out this year. It is very hard to accept how much our country has already been changed for me to say that.
Sandy, I am not gonna sugarcoat this here: that is terrifying. And it sounds directly harassing. I mean, there's not really any other way to interpret it. Thank you for sharing your experience.
One thing I have felt very acutely is how in other liberal online communities (like Culture Study) it really really helps to know others are experiencing this, and to feel camaraderie and connection. To just know you're not alone. I would recommend both Culture Study and Men Yell At Me for this.
Thank you for your suggestions, Anne. It does help to find people who don't want any of this stuff to continue to go on. As it happens, this morning was the first time I had visited your substack. Right after I replied to Elaine the cable for our area went down for about several hours. So, I am playing catch-up on a few fronts right now. I hope to take some time tomorrow and get to know what else your site is about. In spite of what my experience was like, I can understand why some people need to turn politics off. And I had to do that too from time to time. It gets so that, that is all you are thinking about. And it can make one very anxious. You just need to get away from it to calm down. And knitting and other needlework and crafting can help with that. Maybe you need to have a 2 channel substack. With and without politics. ✨😅
Oof, that's a hard one. I know lots of folks in situations like yours: who hold very firmly liberal beliefs and who live in areas surrounded by far right/conspiracy folks. I appreciate you sharing your experiences. I'm haven't yet fully developed this piece of writing, or its core thought, and I appreciate how you and others are helping me to wrestle with it. I continue to be, well, gobsmacked, at how nastiness has become the hallmark of the hard right. (Not the R*publican of the old days, because there's still Mitt Romney and Liz Cheney, who I would never vote for because I disagree vehemently with their perspectives, but who see the crazy and name the crazy.) I wonder how much credibility we give something by tiptoeing around it. Anyhow: today is the anniversary of Watergate. An interesting coincidence!
Loved the short video, it was soothing and satisfying. I am right there with you about your political views. I have a tendency to keep my political views somewhat private as I have some friends that are republican and have different views about government and business. I myself don’t identify with any specific party because I think it’s foolish to vote the way someone else tells you to do just because you’ve placed a label on your beliefs. I vote my conscience and use my reasoning to dictate what my vote will be. I may be more liberal in my views, grew up Californian as it is, but I also think that this world belongs now to the younger generations and they need to speak up about what’s happening now. It’s their time. That being said, I still try to make my footprint smaller and live a slow life for the future as well as the present. Sorry I left such a big comment. My fingers ran away with my thoughts. 😊 I’m getting some old PomPom magazines, maybe there’s a sweater pattern in there to use with the sport. As if I don’t have enough knitting projects already…..
I see how many of y'all live in dominant-red areas, and it must be so hard to be an island of blue. I can understand keeping one's views private, and what I wrestle with is how many of us carry our perspectives on the outside because we're Black or brown, or because we are visibly gay or transgender, and the cost to ourselves and our humanity for having to "keep the peace." And yet we all, all of us, deserve a sweet, slow, simple life. I continue to wrestle with all of these ideas and I appreciate you sharing your experiences.
I really like how you said that the world belongs to the younger generations. (I fear we didn't do our part to hand them a better world, and I am so happy they are ready to take it on and make it better. The kids give me hope.)
I absolutely resonate with your words. I can understand some crafters' wish to "keep politics out of crafting", but I think that mindset misses the point, I think you know what I mean. I'm a third generation Californian who retired and moved to Montana in 2019, eventually found people I could relate to, and am now the Chair of our County Democrat Committee. I am way out of my comfort zone (tears of stress and discomfort come up as I write this), but somebody has to do it, right? Thank you for all you do.
Thank YOU for taking on that huge assignment. Chair of the Democrat Committee in the midst of Montana, whew. That's not a small thing. I love that you've found your people where you're at. THIS is a beacon of light.
Forgot to say I enjoyed the video of your work. That makes it so real, so personal—and we get to continue that process when we knit or crochet your yarn.
Awwww thank you!!!
I can see how viewing handcrafts as apolitical works—these are mostly solitary, individual acts that don’t seem to go beyond our hands. And since in recent history, these are gendered activities mostly female, politics were viewed as a separate sphere.
And yet this ignores the bigger picture (which seems to be happening more and more)—our materials come from somewhere; they’re made by someone. Their production affects the animals and the environment.
Once I started seeing the larger economy of production and consumption, I had to change my thinking and my choices. My choices reflect my values, which are inextricably linked with my politics.
The reactions or the push back that handcrafts should be separate reminds me of the “shut up and play” that athletes like Kaepernick and James heard. (But not Butker-but we all know what’s behind that).
I do have little confidence that my acts of choosing sustainable yarn and doing my best not to buy fast fashion has any effect. But at least I’m more aware than I was even a few years ago.
I’m looking forward to your retreat. I’m intrigued by the concept and am excited about it. Thank you for doing what you do and for who you are.
Ooof, I feel this hard: the comparison between the public response and economic impact of Colin Kaepernick's action (he was never again able to play the game he loved and was so good at) and Harrison Butker's (blip, let's play). Some types of political speech are encouraged or tolerated. Other types of political speech get you blacklisted. I continue to wrestle with the idea that if we tolerate Tr*mpist talk, are we giving quiet validation to it and making it an acceptable norm. I just continue to be gobsmacked that everyone isn't horrified.
And, thank you for pointing out that the gendered activity of knitting and yarn craft has traditionally been seen as part of the private sphere: feminine, apolitical, "polite." You said it before: live by the patriarchy, die by the patriarchy. (YOU WIN NO. 1 MOST CLASSIC COMMENT!)
Thanks for wrestling with all of this with me.
I’m honored you remembered and liked it well enough to repeat!!