I get a lot of knitting books. When I first started buying them, I told myself that I had to knit at least two projects out of a book before I could buy another. As you can imagine, that goal fell quickly to the wayside. Today I don't normally buy books (only) because I like the projects in them, but because I like the stories and information they provide. I don't have any rule about making even one project from each book. As long as I learn something and am entertained or inspired, I'm happy with my purchase.
A while back I tech edited the patterns in
Fiber Gathering: Knit, Crochet, Spin, and Dye More than 20 Projects Inspired by America's Festivals by Joanne Seiff. While Joanne was working on this book, we met up at several nearby fiber festivals and we've since become friends. This first book of Joanne's included projects by many different designers, which were wonderful, but I was happy to hear that for her second book,
Knit Green: 20 Projects and Ideas for Sustainability, Joanne was designing all of the projects herself. She has a simple and classic design sensibility, and her projects are fun as well as useful. The garments and accessories are classic designs that you will be able to wear for a long time, and the home dec items and other odds-and-ends will make great gifts for yourself and for others.
I've got to say that this is one of my favorite knitting books, and not because the author is my friend! This is exactly the type of knitting book that I love. It includes projects, stories, and useful information that can help me, not only with my knitting, but also with my personal goals. In this case, the book has given me some wonderful ideas about how I can use my knitting to promote sustainability in ways that match my own priorities about the environment. The table of contents itself is a springboard to many ideas, including several categories I would never have thought of on my own in a million years:
1. Supporting Biodiversity
2. Sustainable Farming Practice
3. Vegan Knitting
4. Maintaining Folk and Indigenous Traditions
5. Promoting Fair Trade and Fair Work
6. Organic and Natural Fibers and Labeling Use
7. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
8. Buy Local Goods
9. Changing Our Habits
Conclusion: Every Little Bit Makes a Difference
This book reminded me of Rick Steves's
Travel as a Political Act because it has practical suggestions for small, realistic things that we all can do to help protect our planet and make the world a better place. It sometimes seem so overwhelming and hopeless, that it can be tempting to just sit back and do nothing. But I do believe that small things can add up to large results. And so does Joanne.
I found interesting ideas in almost every chapter, but my favorite is chapter 4, which talks about about preserving folk traditions, because that's where my obsessions lead me. As the world becomes increasingly globalized, many folk traditions that involve textiles may disappear. While we know that small-scale, environmentally friendly co-ops and family businesses are likely the best way to purchase our fiber, sometimes it's hard to find or prioritize this. When it's easier to buy something mass produced, these highly individualized traditions can be lost. We've all faced this. When it is less expensive to buy something you need than it is to make it, we begin to lose the skills to spin and/or knit our own garments.
This is interesting to me. I don't think it's just because it's less expensive to buy finished goods that the traditional techniques fall away, but because it's easier and less time consuming. I don't believe anyone wants to spend all of their time spinning, knitting, weaving and sewing. Just imagine if you had to make every fiber item in your house from scratch -- including spinning thread to weave your bed sheets! But I do think that by supporting local artisans who create traditional textiles, either for fun or for profit, we can help these traditions survive at the same time that we become free of the requirement of constant labor. I feel like I'm rambling a little, but I think that's because I have mixed feelings on this topic. On the one hand I love the time-honored traditions and I believe in honoring women's work, on the other hand, I can't see that it is necessary for people to make everything they own by hand. I would like to find some kind of balance between producing and consuming. And I think Knit Green can help me in that search.
Sometimes it seems like we are constantly hammered with peer pressure to "live green" but when I've visited Europe, I've seen so much more action than I do here in the states. And I've had several European friends tell me that, after visiting America and seeing how wasteful we are here that they began to feel helpless about their own actions at home. How sad to think that my country and my fellow US citizens are examples of how not to care about our planet! Joanne's now living in Canada, but when she wrote this book she lived in the USA. I know that she walks the walk, she doesn't just talk the talk. She's an inspiration to me, and I hope her writing will inspire you, too.
So, if you knit and you care about the environment and you want to be a force for good in the world, not an example of waste and wanton consumerism, please read this book. You won't regret it. Plus, you will find some really nice things to make.
