Ravelry

Since the inception of Ravelry, a social network for knitters and crochets, in 2007, craftivists have gained access to the global knitting community. This has allowed for many of the movements and groups included in this curation to exponentially increase their exposure, since Ravelry has over 1 million members from all over the globe. 

The tradition that is embodied by craftwork is vital to the success of these craftivist movements. Through network society, we can expand our visions and utilize those related to us in thought and activity. Craftwork and network culture combine to create a "low"-tech, high-tech rapport to spread causes globally. The 2000's saw an increase of this ideology due to network society. Hopefully the two cultures can continue to work together to spread the peace that is inherent in the making of an object, whether low or high-tech...

Non-Sign II

Non-Sign II. Image courtesy of Flavorwire

Lead Pencil Studio is a firm based in Seattle, Washington, created by Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo. They constantly blur the line between architecture and art and Non-Sign II is yet another manifestation of this blending. 

Non-Sign II is a billboard, or a non-billboard, really. It is located near the border of the United States and Canada and was commissioned by the US Government. "The billboard-shaped void contrasts with the omnipresent advertising hoardings of the surrounding area, inviting viewers to concentrate instead on the natural beauty of the landscape." 

Non-Sign II. Image courtesy of Flavorwire

Although the Non-Sign II would not traditionally be considered a work of craft, it embodies craft through its' technique of woven strands of steel. It is interesting how the purpose of the project was to focus the viewers' eye on the natural landscape, rather than a sign selling a product or service. The act of using the woven texture, which historically is linked to folk art and an "earthy" art form with natural fibers, evokes an appreciation of the landscape. Yet with the introduction of man-made steel as the fiber that serves as the lens to view the landscape provides a contradictory yet visually stunning approach. Perhaps Lead Point Studio was aware of this ironic juxtaposition, or perhaps they just wanted to create a shocking commentary on our attention spans and consumerism.

Knit Your Bit

In contrast to the M.24 Chaffee, a different type of wartime knitting was organized by the Red Cross. Knit Your Bit was an effort to gather handknit garments for soldiers. Volunteers were part of a "Production Corps"and would knit everything from socks to sweaters. This was meant to support American Troops with warm clothing. The tradition is still alive today with knitters making helmet liners for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The Production Corps represents social networking and network theory in that at the national level, there were many women and children knitting for the cause. Together they formed the Production Corps, yet they were not necessarily ever in the same locale. They were joined together through this invisible network of knitters who were all working towards the support of soldiers. Thus the knitters were all contributing in their own way to the war efforts.

Posters (Screenshots of Redcross website): Left, L.N. Britton, 1918. Right, Wladyslaw Teodor Benda, 1918. 

Craftivist Collective

Sarah Corbett was blogging as A Lonely Craftivist when fellow knitters started asking her about a potential collaboration. She then started the Craftivist Collective to join knittivists to create projects "to expose the scandal of global poverty, and human rights injustices though the power of craft and public art. This will be done through provocative, non-violent creative actions." There are two groups who meet in England, but they present their work and have collaborators all over the world. You can also get kits from them to perform the same type of work, no matter your location. They use the global network that the internet provides to expand their physical network and they invite any level of crafters to join their efforts. And when they meet, they sometimes get guest artists to come and present their works.

To the left is a collage of the Craftivist Collective's latest project (courtesy of their website), which was a Bed-In in conjunction with John Lennon's 70th birthday in October. The Bed-In was a peaceful protest to promote awareness of issues local and global with a Beatles perspective (ie All you Need is Love), by "sewing and stitching their way to peace... to show how inequality in all forms causes conflict." Below is the progress on the quilt, from craftivists all over the world portraying their peace patches.