Not my grandmother’s knitting? crocheting? Lately this is all we hear. An article was printed recently in my local newspaper. These terms make me grit me teeth. They make me angry. They belittle the craft that I so love and the traditions that have been passed down through all the generations. You don’t hear First Nation’s people saying, “This is not your ancestors’ <fill in the blank>” No, they are proud of their heritage, traditions and rituals and respect them. It is with great pride that these traditions are passed down.
So why it is so negative, distasteful and abhorrent to some for me to want to carry on a tradition of working with my hands, of creating a gift of love, of creating a treasured family heirloom? Honestly, I feel that “this is not your grandmother’s crochet” is disrespectful. You might as well say, “Grandma, all those things you worked and created with your own hands out of love for me… suck. But hey, look what I can do!”
The things that I value, that are important to me and speak of who I am as an individual are that I value traditions and family traditions more specifically. I value heritage and history. When I knit or crochet I think about the many women before me over a hundred years ago crocheting collars for chemises and making their own clothes. I think of beautifully handworked purses and gloves and knitted lace. I would love to be able to travel in time and learn more about these crafts. When I cross stitch, I think of my great great great great great Grandmother (yes, 5 greats) Sarah Musgrave who at the age of 7 worked a cross stitch sampler in 1775 (which is professionally framed and hangs in my Grandmother’s bedroom). I am the only one in our family to carry on that particular craft and I feel connected in a way. My grandmother does needlepoint and she has made some really beautiful pieces that are framed and on display.
This post has been building within me for a long time. Over the Christmas holidays, I was sick and spent a lot of time on the couch knitting my sweater and working the cables. Miami Ink was on – I think there was a marathon on that day. The guys travelled to Hawaii and met with Keone Nunes a tattoo artist who returned to his Hawaiian roots and learned the ancient Hawaiian traditions: Kakau. And this quote from Frank Kawiakapuokalani Hewett is so beautiful and true and it resonates with me and how I feel about and connect with my knitting, my crochet, my cross stitch:
“I had this yearning, this desire, to be like my ancestors — to connect. But I wanted to kind of do it in the traditional style. Not one exactly as my ancestors but one that I thought was close enough because in truth I don't know. So I created.”
It was this episode of Miami Ink that I watched as I sat and knitted and cabled and carried on another ancient tradition - another ancient art. Unfortunately, the guarded secrets of kakau died along with the kahuna who applied the designs. Isn’t that sad? Something so beautiful and meaningful - lost. Wouldn’t it be sad if we lost the traditions of our own ancentors? If we let go of the traditions and they are lost and forgotten, aren’t we losing a piece of ourselves? Aren’t we losing touch with where we came from? Please don’t forget all those women who came before us and helped create this new, diverse, free culture that we live in where we can sit on a streetcar and knit in public without an escort!
I understand that we are trying to tap into new generations and get them knitting and crocheting, but I don’t believe it is necessary to belittle and simplify the craft by having them do garter stitch scarves. It is so much more fulfilling to work 10 or so cables in a row and continue them without flaw for 20 inches or so! lol I am nowhere near grandmotherhood at the age of 35 and I am comfortable and confident enough in myself and my craft to be ok with doing some grandmotherly knitting. Have some self-esteem and confidence people. We all do age :) It’s how you handle it - With grace? Or by belittling those that do?
Let these historical links inspire and move you..
Knitted Stocking Pattern (inspired from a pair of black knit silk stockings received by Queen Elizabeth in 1560 as a new year’s gift) This is really well written with great historical facts.
The Vintage Connection’s Guide to Victorian Knitting
“Home Work” 1891 from Sarah Bradberry
Painting: The Little Knitters (warning: this is a potential tear-jerker)
Painting: A Little Girl Knitting