Craftivism: for when the world seems dark

Can a piece of knitting change the world?

This is something that has been occupying my thought recently. It seems to me that the world is a fragile and scary place at the moment, and I acknowledge that I'm here in a place of privilege and reactive safety. So, what can I do? A middle aged white cis woman in a sleepy English county, when I see destruction and totalitarian leaders making choices and speeches that harm.

My solace and my joy comes from fibre crafts, and I know that it supports my mental health, but can it be more? Betty Greer would say yes. They have been working on and writing about Craftism for many years. Their books Knitting for Good and Craftism: the Art of Craft and Activism (2014) documenting and supporting a movement of slow protest and creative voices.

Craftivism uses handmade items to raise awareness, protest or inspire change. There is an emphasis on gentle protest and slow mindful activism. It is accessible to those of us who can't join protests, building community one stitch at a time.

Whether it is large community pieces like the Grenfell Memorial Quilt, the Red Dress Project or something smaller and closer to home, we can all contribute through Craftivism.

I have been making my own Red Hat, inspired by the work of Needles & Skein, a Minnesota yarn store and the Red Hat Factory (you can get your own pattern here) To honour the values of the Norwegian WW2 resistance of Democracy, Unity & Menneskeverd (the intrinsic value of any and all humans) and will be wearing it on Thursday 26th February in solidarity for those around the world that are suffering the de-humanisation of totalitarian regimes and the politics of division.

So, if you are feeling a little lost right now, pick up your fibre, your paints or your glue, and spend a little time intentionally making, supporting others and sharing your work to amplify impact. Hopefully, your mental health will be a little better, you will find a deeper meaning in your work and you will find a quiet power in your actions.

What could your next project say to the world?