Uppity Women Unite: Knit Those Vaginas

MK Carroll @ Knitty

Recently I read about a proposed "panty raid" on Congress. Women were supposed to send a pair of panties to Boehner and other members of Congress who are waging war on women. I think I like this idea from a Colorado knitter even better.

In the midst of Women's History Month, a new knitting and crochet group was borne across social media networks yesterday to protest the attacks on women's health by the Republican Congress. Inflamed by the recent Rush Limbaugh lambasting of Sandra Fluke and the never-ending attempts by males to control women's choices, a politics-savvy knitter from Colorado hatched the idea on Twitter to send every interfering male government representative a knit or crochet vagina, cervix, or uterus, marked: "Get your prehistoric laws out of my V-JJ! Better yet, here’s one of your own!”

Twitter messages sent by @Druchunas announced the new group's effort on two million-member knit and crochet network site, Ravelry: "Rav group #govtfreevjj is live. Pls join & RT. Send a uterus to male gov't reps: 'Hands off my v-jj. Here's your own.' " Influential forces across the knitting community showed their support as fast as the iPhone tweets could beep. Donna Druchunas is a knitwear designer, author, and teacher. Yes, the empowerment of women is a beautiful thing. . . . 

To support this effort, join the Ravelry group, "Government Free V-JJ;" tweet, using the hashtag #govtfreevjj; send your knit and crochet feminine body parts to the congressional representatives of your choice. Links to knit and crochet patterns and congressional addresses can be found on Ravelry. Free pattern links are below as well.

Following are links to other free patterns. I kind of like "The Snatchel" myself.

Crochet uterus pattern on CraftFrog by Joy Koestner.

The felt cervix project pattern by Sonja Philip.

Tink Edward's uterus crochet pattern.


MK Carroll's womb on Knitty.

The Snatchel by Zabet Stewart, "It may not be pretty, but it's mine!"

Photographs are used with permission of owners and in accordance with federal law.

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Knit One, Purl Two for Occupy: Not for Women Only

Occupy Knitters - Sfgate

Okay, you guys - don't you dare sign off until you've heard what I have to say. You too can do "it" - or, at the very least, you can find a substitute for "it" while still making yourselves useful. Just hear me out, alright?

Most of the folks who stop by here are pretty smart, so it's no surprise that we support Occupy Wall Street and all the other Occupies around the country. For legitimate reasons, however, many of us can only  participate in spirit and not in body - even when our own community is being occupied. Sure, we can support the movement on our blogs and on social media, but preaching to the choir doesn't seem to be as meaningful as doing "it."

Here's a way to make a significant contribution, especially now that inclement weather is already making it pretty miserable for those out there in the trenches. Grab your knitting needles or crochet hooks and start making some neck scarves, hats, leg warmers and mittens. You too, fellows. Yeah, you can do it, or you can cheat. See below.

Don't worry about fancy designs or expensive yarns; this ain't a fashion show. UFOs (unfinished objects) and leftover yarns in whatever colors that have been stashed away at the back of closets for years will keep a lot of fingers and tootsies warm. So, you drop a stitch or two. So what? The protesters won't care - they'll be thrilled to have a warm hat or scarf and touched that someone made the effort to knit or crochet it.

Facebook has several pages up that are calling for knitters and crocheters: Knitting for Occupiers, Knitters for Occupy Boston, Knitters and Crocheters for Philadelphia, Knitters for the 99%. There's a page for LA, Denver, DC and Detroit. If you can't find one in your area, start one. You might not get a lot of followers  but you should give people the incentive to just do "it."

Okay guys, so you've never held a pair of knitting needles in your life or you eschew the very idea of big stud muffin like yourselves being seen knitting - despite the fact that men have always knitted and may even have invented it. There's even a book called Knitting with Balls.

Granted, if you have to learn how to keep your tension consistent before next spring, you'll just end up getting tense. So cheat. If you don't know someone who knits or crochets and is willing to help, just go buy the damn things. You'll feel warm and fuzzy on the inside while keeping others warm and toastie on the outside. Heck, cut off the label and pretend you made it. Who cares?

HINT Use wool or wool blends that can be washed and are warm.