Revolutionary Knitting Circle

This article has multiple issues. Please help or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. Please help by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view. (June 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help by introducing citations to additional sources. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (June 2013) This article possibly contains original research. Please by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (June 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. Please remove or replace such wording and instead of making proclamations about a subject's importance, use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance. (June 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

A Revolutionary Knitting Circle is an activist group that uses craftivism (specifically knitting and other textile handicrafts) in its efforts to bring about social change.

The first Revolutionary Knitting Circle group was founded in Calgary, Canada, by Grant Neufeld in 2000. Since then, groups have formed across Canada, in the United States, and various parts of Europe.

Purpose[]

The groups claim three main goals:

Promoting community independence[]

They hold that communities and nations are currently subject to the corporate rule and that a goal of the Revolutionary Knitting Circles is to return them to independence from that rule.^[1]

While not advocating an end to trade (be it local or international), the groups are working to build the capacity for all necessary subsistence production at the community level. The theory being that, with the ability to take care of all essential needs, communities will be in a position to say no to trade deals they do not want.

Breaking down social divisions[]

The Revolutionary Knitting Circles oppose various social divisions, including age, gender, race and class. The groups actively seek to include a diverse range of people, from across those divisions, in cooperative efforts.

This goal is also served by having the groups often publicly represented by youthful males (such as the founder). Given the common view of knitting as work associated with middle- and lower-class women - typically older women - the groups hope that this representation will help to counter stereotypes.

Changing how activism is done[]

The groups hope to increase participation in activism by offering a different approach from the often intense, and sometimes hostile, modes of activism most commonly associated with social justice movements.

History of actions[]

The first major action initiated by the Revolutionary Knitting Circle was the Global Knit-In held during the 2002 G8 Summit. Groups in a number of cities and towns hosted protest rallies featuring knitting outside of major corporate sites, especially bank office towers. Notable among these was the mass rally held in Ottawa, Canada - where protesters set up a 'social safety net' made of knitted squares.

In 2003 the group produced a pattern for white knitted arm-bands with a peace symbol. Members of the Knitting Circles and other interested knitters produced numerous arm-bands from the pattern which were worn in the mass peace marches and rallies held that year.

In 2004 the group produced a pattern for a banner displaying the words "Peace Knits". The pattern called for individual 6 inch squares to be stitched together - allowing for many knitters to contribute to a single banner.

See also[]

• Sewing circle
• Tricoteuse

References[]

External links[]

• Revolutionary Knitting Circle
• The Revolutionary Knitting Circle Proclamation of Constructive Revolution (manifesto)
• Revolutionary Knitting in the news