The Knitted Flower Project Thesis

Here is the thesis! Let me know what you think and thank you so much for participating in this project.

The Knitted Flower Project Thesis

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Knitted Flower Project Reception

Last night was the reception for the project! I was delighted that so many friends and knitters were able to attend see the art, fondle the yarn, and eat snacks, including some of the 75 cupcakes my mom and I baked the night before! I have set up a Flickr album of all the images from the project including the images from the installation and reception. Please check it out and feel free to use images. Also, I am in the midst of finishing up the written portion of the thesis. I defend on June 4th and it should be done done done about a week later. I will send around as soon as it's approved.

Last Round of Flowers

The office staff had to stack boxes on top of the mail box slots - only reiterating the fact that I have the COOLEST research project out of everyone in the department, thanks to all of you! The flower above is from Reneé. It has the most delicate little stamen's at the center.
The above set, is from Robin and they are beautiful. The green one in the center is my fave. The set below is from Andi who threw some purls bumps in there to create a cool spiral effect. Very nice.
Finally, these purple blooms are from Julia and came wrapped up like a gift. They are beaded and buttoned and...bodacious? Yep, I am going to say bodacious.
Again, again, again, thank you soooooooooo much! I feel like I cannot thank you enough. I am giving a presentation about this research tomorrow at the Urban Arts Space in Columbus (also where I work) and I feel like all of you are going to be there through your brilliant comments and gorgeous flowers. THANK YOU!

Discussion #12

This is it! The last discussion question. First thing first. I received a "valentine" from Debbie complete with confettiThe heart revealed these three gemsThanks Debbie! I also spent Saturday putting the flowers together with the "research assistant":I never get tired of playing with the hot glue gun!Now, for the final discussion:

What do you think? Did you enjoy participating in this project? If so, why? If not, why not? What was you favorite part? Your least favorite?

There will be a few more posts so please check back. I will keep you updated on the exhibition process, any new flowers that arrive, and the thesis process. One last reminder that the deadline to submit comments and flowers is March 31 (mail the flowers about five days before March 31). Finally, I have postcards for the exhibition! If you submitted some flowers or commented and would like a handful of postcards as a keep sake or to give to friends (or both) please send your snail mail address to knittedflowerproject@gmail.com and I will send some along! I hope all of you can attend the reception on April 24th at Wonderknit.

Discussion #11

Here we are, the second to last discussion question. This week we have flowers by Susan. They have amazing little felted and beaded centers.And these flowers are from Pam... ...yep, that is a fly! Gross, yet still charming.Thanks so much ladies! Now I have been at work all weekend trying to create a way to display these little artworks. I'll be honest, I am a little overwhelmed at the response - there are so many! A direct result of how amazing all of you are. I organized them by color and felt a little better about the situation. I have decided to exhibit them on birch panels supported on poplar stretchers. I haven't made panels since art school about five years ago.The learning curve was steep.But I got there. There are eight - one 3' x 3' panel and seven 1' by 1' panels.I am using a combination of wood stain, gesso (a canvas primer), and acrylic paint to create the base color scheme. The flowers and quotes from your comments will be on the panels and the panels will be on the wall!My hope is that the finished product will feel organic. We shall see. One of the goals of this project is to interweave your stories and words with my "formal" historical research. I put formal in quotes because I feel that your blog quotes and the flowers you have knit are just as formal and valid as the theory and history books and articles I read for the other chapters of my thesis. All of it consists of the stories and narratives of people - both the academic writing and this blog. Traditionally, research has not looked like this - anecdotal, personal, narrative, or in artwork form. Narrative research and arts-based research attempts to challenge the idea that research must take place in a laboratory or a library. Instead, research can involve individual stories, the process of artmaking, and can happen in an online forum. It can be a hard sell.

How do you feel about personal stories as forms of research? What about the use of a blog or artmaking?

Finally, I want to remind everyone about the March 31st deadline for posts and flowers. The artwork goes up on April 4th at Wonderknits! Looking forward to your posts.

Discussion #10

Here we go...just 2 more questions left after this week. Just a reminder to comment where you want to comment and knit the flowers you need to knit. It all has to be in by March 31st. Above are some images from a very glamorous knitted flower photo shoot. I spent the day designing the exhibition announcement and just sent it off to Hotcards for printing! To the left I have added the exhibition information. Wonderknit will be hosting The Knitted Flower Project April 5, 2009 - May 6, 2009 with a reception on April 24, 2009 from 6-9pm. Wonderknit is located at 3165 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43202. I hope to see all of you there so I can thank you personally for your beautiful flowers and wonderful stories.This week I have a flower from Lindsay (my only felted flower).
Two mondo bulky weight flowers from Cath.
Some little flowers with jewel centers from Ingrid (the one at the top is gigantic, truely).And some classy blue and neutral flowers from Linda. Today's question is:

Have you ever taught someone to knit? Do you have a particular story?

I have taught a few people to knit. I think my favorite story comes from teaching one of my former third grade students. I was working at an elementary school as an after school program teaching assistant. On laid back days I would knit while the kids played. A few of the students wanted to learn so I told their parents what they needed to buy - some simple acrylic yarn and shorter size 7 or 8 needles. This particular third grader really took to it. She was kind of a wild child but super creative - she wanted to be a fashion designer and was taking drawing classes at one of the local art schools. Knitting seemed to really mellow her out and help her focus. One day, a group of us were knitting and chatting. I happened to be watching this future fashion designer just as she reached the end of her row. Instead of flipping her needles and working back the other way, she started knitting backward along the same needle! Amazed, I asked her who taught her to knit backwards because it certainly wasn't me, I don't have those kinds of skills! She shrugged and said she had been experimenting at home and just figured it out. I was blown away. Future in fashion, working with textiles? Not a doubt in my mind. Do you have any knitting proteges out there?

Discussion #9

We are reaching the home stretch of the Knitted Flower Project and I am happy to tell all of you that we have a venue to display these gorgeous flowers! I am still ironing out the details but WonderKnit in here in Columbus, Ohio has agreed to host the exhibition! I will be posting all the details next week. In celebration I knit these outrageous flowers in some leftover super-bulky and many-strands-held-together yarn. I wanted something lush and tropical. They are as big as my face.I also received these little gems from The Book Faerie. Thanks!This weeks question draws on an experience many of us have had.

How do others respond to you when you knit in public? Do you have a particular story?

When I first started knitting while I was in college I was working as a bartender at a pool hall called Suzi Cue. Incidentally, this is where I met my dear, sweet, patient boyfriend. On slow nights I would knit behind the bar. This was before the smoking ban...and when I was still a smoker...and so my sad little knitting projects smelled like ash and booze, but aside from that, they made for great conversation starters. I heard many stories about grandmothers, mothers, and even a grandfather whose wife taught him to knit after he had a stroke to help him regain dexterity in his hands. Now that I'm writing about it, I guess that is where the early seeds for this project were planted. In addition to the bar I knit in other bars, all over the Ohio State University campus, in coffee shops, the doctor's office, at work (when I worked at an elementary school I ended up teaching a couple students), at the beach, on the bus, on the subway (when I was in Germany this summer), at lectures, in the airport, on the airplane, in the movie theatre, at parks...I've pretty much been known to plop down anywhere and whip out my knitting and just about every time, without fail, people want to know what I'm making, where I learned, is it difficult, how long does it take? And then they tell me their own stories about people they know that knit, how they used to knit, how they would like to learn. As all of you already know I LOVE stories. So please tell me your KIP (knitting in public) yarns.

Discussion #8

This post is a day late but I have a GOOD reason. I sat down to begin yesterday and then I got a phone call Brea. Apparently my campus mailbox (which is actually just a little cubby) was overflowing and taking over the whole copy room. Did I want her to fetch the mail for me? Yes, yes I did.Which brings me to this morning, having a little Christmas in February.These stunners are from Cyndi. She played with the pattern a little (some of them have lacy bits!) and added some vintage-y buttons. These are from Dianna and my research assistant Ronan (she's the grey one at the top of the photo) was completely fascinated with the brown one. She sniffed it all over and then rubbed her face on it. It didn't smell like cat nip...These came from Stephanie. The right one is Red Heart and the left is some left over merino blend. I think they make a funny pair. Finally, this last one was the most interesting to open.Followed by...for wrapping. Then...And when I pulled away the layer of tissue...Sweet cotton flowers from Maria! Thanks so much, ladies! You made my morning.

This weeks question might be another rough one. Hang in there! They get more fun next week.

Do you equate knitting with feminism? Femininity? Both? Why/not?

I do equate knitting with both feminism and femininity. I equate it with feminism because when I am knitting I feel incredibly capable, talented, intelligent, like a yarn rock star. I love to teach knitting, I love to read about other knitters, spend time with other knitters. In my experience, all of those things have brought me closer to women - really strong, talented, gifted women. That celebration of women's talent and ability is incredibly feminist. I equate knitting with femininity because knitting is a traditional women's craft. Yes, some men knit and we love them for it. But historically knitting, like sewing, like child rearing, has been for the women. I think that is wonderful! Why shouldn't we have a craft / art all our own that makes us feel capable and brings us together? Of course, I am able to say this because my fore mothers fought like hell for my right to vote, buy property, live independently, and knit for fun and pleasure. So every few stitches is a little shout out to them. This is MY opinion and I'll admit, I get a little riled up about it. You may not feel this way at all and I think that is awesome too. How do you feel about knitting, feminism, femininity, and the whole business? Please share. And thanks again for your words and thoughts.

Discussion #7

Alright. I am behind on life! Why is this such a common state these days? I guess when I really begin to contemplate the situation, it isn't a new state. My grandmothers and great-grand mothers were both hard working ladies - farming, raising babies, keeping house, cooking (in the case of Adeline for about 15 farmhands three meals a day), making clothes, volunteering time (Ginny did meals on wheels well into her eighties), and trying to maintain relationships with friends, family, and husbands. Wow! I actually feel better now! At least I don't have to cook for 15 seriously hungry guys and then mop up the cow poo they tracked through my kitchen. Kudos, Adeline, you are a champion among women! Now, onto the flowers, the highlight of my week. The gorgeous red flower at the beginning of this post is from Liela, who despite a broken arm managed a lovely flower complete with leaves.
This vibrant cluster is from Grace. The color palette is so dramatic and summery.
And this set is from Joanne. Each came pinned to a description of the yarn and the original project. They remind me of biological samples - like rather than knitting them she went foraging and discovered them. I love the idea of foraging for knitted flowers and plants.
Last week's question seemed to be a bit of a dud and I fear this week's might be too. But here we go!

Do you see knitting as activism or as political? Why/not?

I do and I don't. Knitting has participated in some political actions - war time knitting and charity knitting can both be seen as political. Suffragettes also packed their knitting on protests and embroidered their banners. But I think knitting may have just been along for the ride - a companion or medium through which protest occurred - but not inherently political. Currently, I think there are some artists and activists also using knitting, but is knitting political and activist or just the medium through which activism speaks? Here are some links:

• Ming Yi Sung
• Steal this Sweater
• Red Sweaters
• Hyperbolic crochet coral reef
• knitPro

What do you think? Are there other artists using knitting in this way? Please share them with us. As always I look forward to reading your brilliant comments.

Discussion #6

Happy Tuesday! We've had an honest thaw here in Ohio and it is glorious. I am trying not to get spring fever, but I rode my bike to campus today and the smell of fresh, damp earth...well, I think that did it. Too bad it is only February. Good thing I have some fresh flowers.These are from Heather.and these two are from Eli.Thanks, ladies!

This week's discussion is my favorite one to think about before I go to sleep at night. Yes, my dork is showing.

Do you feel knitting is a craft or an art form? Why?

I actually devote a whole section of my thesis to just this question and never really answer it. Richard Rutt (2003), the author of A History of Hand Knitting says,

“Knitting is best called a craft. It serves life and is relatively ephemeral. It gets worn and wears out. It can be expensive but is almost never precious. Its structure is more limiting than the structures of tapestry and embroidery. Therefore knitting is widely practiced by non-professionals and tends to be a peoples craft. There in lies much of its interest and the fascination of knitting history (p. 25)”

I agree with elements of this analysis of knitting as a craft but I find it limiting. I think knitting can straddle the (/) between art / craft, sometimes with both needles planted firmly on one side or the other. However, that is my contemporary assessment and it comes on the heels of a long history of knitting as a practical, social activity. There are also the sticky issues of gender, class, and culture.

“Etymologically ‘art’ has a Latin root and ‘craft’ an Old English root. Both words mean the same thing: skill. The distinction between ‘artist’ and ‘artesian’ is modern. It was not fixed till the end of the eighteenth century, during which the idea of ‘fine arts’ first emerged, and the cult of ‘artistic inspiration’ was developed” (Rutt, 2003, p. 25).

As the cult of artistic inspiration was on the rise there were forces of gender, class, ethnicity, and religion, at work driving a wedge deeper between art and craft. Art consisted of painting, sculpture, and drawing; was the realm of white, European, upper class, educated, Christian men; and became the dominant researched subject. Craft consisted of weaving, sewing, woodworking, and ceramics; was the realm of lower class, uneducated women and men who may or may not be of color or of different religions; and was unworthy of rigorous research. Rosika Parker (1989) underscores this separation:

“The art/craft hierarchy suggest that art made with thread and art made with paint are intrinsically unequal: That the former is artistically insignificant. But the real differences between the two are in terms of where they are made and who made them” (p. 5, emphasis is author’s).

Currently, there are multiple examples of artists taking up the needles and knitters tapping into the art scene. Even after all my research and reading I still don't have a definitive answer. What do you think? Art? Craft? Both? Neither?

Discussion #5

I am starting to feel like a precious oasis, a reminder and promise of spring, in a state blanketed with snow and ice.There arrived by hand delivery last week from Cath...This little guy came in the mail from Stefanie (I love the pipe-cleaner stamens)...
And I just received an email from Cyndi that these are in the mail! I wish all of you could see how excited I get when I get these brilliant little works of art. I jump up and down in the Art Ed department mail room, do a little happy dance, and show them to everyone in close proximity. They travel with me the rest of the day in my bag, get shown off some more, talked about, and then packed safely away at the end of the day - warm and snug with all the other flowers.


So this week I want to know:

Do you prefer to knit alone or in a group? Why?

I find both have their merits. Knitting alone - and for me this usually means with the TV on or while reading - is the bee's knees. I usually sort of zone out. This is so important to me because I have a mile a minute mind that can hold about four separate trains of thought at a time and none of them productively. Like right now I am thinking about this blog post; my iPod that is on the fritz because I got sweat in it; what I plan to talk about in the class I am co-teaching tonight; whether or not I should make more coffee; and my taxes. Ug. However, knitting seems to siphon away all those other random thoughts, compartmentalize them, and allow me time to work with each one and try to resolve it. There are so few other activities that put me in this state - artmaking, running, hiking. Knitting is by far the most portable and convenient.


Knitting in a group? Laughter also allows me to enter the mind clearing state. Knitting in a group ultimately leads to the kind of laughter that feels like a good ab work out and a good cry. Knitting is the group safe zone and constant from which all the pain and hilarity of life come pouring out. "What do you talk about in knitting group?" "Work, babies, womanhood, sex, movies, books, relationships, fears, goals, food, drugs, politics, religion, bodily functions, family...oh! and knitting, you know, yarn and stuff..."


How do you tap into your knitting mojo? I am so looking forward to more of your wonderful writing.

Discussion #4

How is everyone? I hope well. We are still cold and snowy here in Ohio. Midwestern winters, they do drag on. This week I'm curious to know:

Have you participated in knitalongs? Charity knitting? Art knitting? Gift knitting?

This is my second knitalong - first time hostessing. I love to charity knit. I make afghans for the YWCA family center where my sister works as a youth coordinator. Each one is given to a family who is setting up a new home after a period of homelessness. This is also my first art knitting adventure. I have added knitting elements to artworks but never made an artwork of knitting. As for gift knitting? LOVE IT! When I am working on a gift for someone I sort of meditate and think about our relationship and friendship. I try to imbue warm, happy feelings into each gift and I hope they can sense it when they put on the scarf, mittens, socks, hats, or sweaters. I am trying to do a similar thing with this knitalong - concentrating on my research, on the knitting stories I have read and heard, and what the final project could look like. It's exciting...and a little scary. What is your experience with knitalongs, charity knitting, art knitting, and gift knitting? Which is your favorite? Why?

Discussion #3

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! The blooms above are from Cath. She tried to make the flower before I was able to revise the pattern. The results were less than floral prompting her to send me an email titled "Bra Cup?" Apparently the old pattern produced something structurally similar to a Madonna-esque cone bra. Yeesh! This week's question was answered partially by some of you already but maybe you could elaborate a little.

When and from whom did you learn to knit? Do you have a particular story?

I am especially interested because my own story is not very exciting. I worked at a cafe in the main library at the Ohio State University for a year as an undergraduate. We were next to the computer lab and one of the computer lab assistants would knit to kill time. She made mainly scarves and she put the idea in my head. A portable activity with usable results to do during down time at a boring job. Then I saw Debbie Stoller on the Today Show promoting the first Stitch n' Bitch book. I was a budding feminist and I wanted to be her. I went to the Columbus Metropolitan Library and borrowed the book with the best pictures (they didn't have a copy of Stitch n' Bitch), bought some needles and a skein of Red Heart and spent a weekend cursing and fumbling. After many ugly hours, dropped stitches, and sticky needles it clicked! I was knitting! Everywhere! Class, work (by this time I was tending bar at a pool hall. Very Madame Defarge), outside, inside, I couldn't stop. The first project I finished was a wonky scarf for my gram. Of course she loved it. She was a defunked knitter herself who learned from her mother but never developed much love for the craft. She prefered to build doll house furniture. But my efforts reminded her of my great-gram and that made her proud. Who taught you to knit? What do you remember about learning?

Discussion #2

Wow. I have been reading all of your responses from the last post and all of you have told such wonderful stories! Thank you for sharing. I received the first flower today from Mary.Yep, those are adorable little bee buttons. Liela had asked if embellishment is allowed. I replied absolutely. Be creative with materials, buttons, beads, mixing yarns, etc. or you can keep it simple. Here are some I have made.
The brown ones aren't the prettiest but I don't love them any less.People have also asked how many flowers to knit. I will take as many as you care to knit! You can mail them a little at a time or all at once, I just need them by the end of March. Finally, my goal is finish editing the intro to the thesis this week so hopefully I can send it out next week with the announcement email. Now that the house keeping is out of the way, this week's discussion question is:

What is your favorite item to knit and why?

I love to knit afghans. I knit my first one three years ago as a gift to my mom and step dad. It was a very simple pattern with alternating squares of garter, reverse stockinette, stockinette, and seed stitch. I bought a bunch of wild, soft, textured and novelty yarns like Fun Fur, Patons Allure and Divine, Yarn Bee Luscious, and Bernat Bouclé. These are yarns I normally wouldn't knit with but because the afghan was so large, there was a lot of room to play with texture. Then I began really exploring my afghan options and discovered the beautiful Mason Dixon patterns like the log cabin and mitered square afghans. They reminded me of growing up in rural central Pennsylvania seeing all the quilts in Amish country and at the county fairs. In addition, they reminded me of the Gee's Bend quilters that I fell in love with while I was in art school. Over all, because afghans are so big, there is a lot of opportunity to play with pattern, color, and texture. I also usually make them with cheapy acrylic yarn so they aren't too expensive to create. I donate them most of the time, though I do have two I'm working on now that I plan to keep. Aside from afghans, I feel like I need to give a shout out to socks because I recently started knitting them and the variety of yarns and patterns is staggering! Each one is like a little sculpture. What about you guys? Hat's? Mittens? Socks? Sweaters? What's you passion?

Disscussion #1

Hello fellow knitters! I am so excited by the response I've received over the last few days. Thank you so much for participating - sharing your talents and thoughts. The first discussion question is one we've all been asked before:

Why do you knit?

I've answered this multiple ways depending on the circumstances: "I like to knit because it relaxes me", "I like making my own clothes", "It gives me something to do while I'm watching television". All of these are true but there is more to it for me.

• My grandmother and great-grand mother were knitters. Though I didn't learn from them when I knit I still feel closer to them.
  
• I am trained as an oil painter but did not really feel like an artist until I started working with crafts like knitting and sewing.
• Knitting has introduced me to so many wonderful people simply because they share the craft and discussing it never gets old.

These are some of the personal reasons why I knit. They are interesting to me and my fellow knitters, but generally when I start to talk about the art/craft conundrum at cocktail parties people's eyes glaze over a little. Why do you knit?

Pattern Changes

After some practice knits and a brief mathematics refresher I have updated the pattern. Edits are in red. Please let me know if you find mistakes or problems. This is my first pattern writing experience and I need all the help I can get! Thanks Cath, Lindy, and Ginny for the helpful notes.