Diversity is defined this way “the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : variety; especially : the inclusion of different types of people (such as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization. programs intended to promote diversity in school’ according to Webster. The moment I upgraded my Logo the issue of black people knitting became a topic. The love for the logo was totally based on race, well not totally because it’s hot! LOL If I heard it once I heard it a million times. “you don’t see images of us knitting” and now I am getting “you don’t see images of us in embroidery”
On one hand I’m like yea I am starting something and on the other I’m like, I know a lot of folks that look like me that knit. So my question is why does diversity make a difference? Why does my race matter more than my skill? I mean me being black doesn’t make me knit differently. Fast forward to the here and now, and the fact that I am learning to embroider. Embroider using my logo or the recent self-portrait, and here comes the diversity issue again.
I have had more folks mention race and how happy they are that I am stitching. This has been on my mind big time, which is why we are here. I searched for Diversity in crafting and a very popular crafter (that looks like me) said she fit an image and she made a point to do that.(25K + followers on IG) Is that it? we (my fellow knitters) What does a knitter look like? (not black) The quote went on to imply that a style of hair can and will turn folks away. Wait..what? Nope I don’t believe that.
I don’t necessarily think it’s about race as it is exposure. Because I don’t see us in press as much as the next, so folks are left to assume that we don’t do a thing. A thing that we do quite well I might add. Therefore, this topic always leaves me a little confused.
As a result of all of this, can we talk? First, how did you find me? Why do you come back? and finally, does it have anything to do with me being black?
knit on my fiber friends….knit on
GG
I first noticed through Knit & Chat group on Facebook. There was a photo of you with a project in the boldest orange colour and a look of joy on your face like nothing I’d seen on that group or any other. Not sure if you had posted it or if someone had shared a blog post of yours. It wasn’t long after anything orange that popped off the page, whether it was something you posted or not, made me think of you so I followed your FB page. I love the structure of your 10 questions every week and you keep bringing the joy with every project you post about 🙂
Hey Merlene! I am happy you enjoy the questions on Saturdays. I love that you come and read and respond. Thanks for being a part of the conversation
… and just realized I didn’t speak on diversity in crafting, just about how I first started following you.
I’m middle aged, white and the majority (can we say 99.99%?) of popular crafters, designers, etc. I’m aware of look like me. I was touring around Blueprint (Craftsy Unlimited) and unless you count a chef or two with Italian accents as diverse there is not diversity there either.
A good friend of mine once told me that she and other people of colour either don’t knit or craft much in general or they keep it private. She quoted her Gran as once saying “only poor people make their own clothes and we’re not poor any more” and with that in the back of her mind, while she did love to knit, it was something she kept private about herself.
I discovered you via Periscope. I come back, not because you are a Black woman but because you are an amazingly down to earth woman and fiber artist who happens to be Black. I was captured by your artistry before I was captured by the fact that you are a Black woman, like me, with natural hair, also like me.
Coletta, you know we family! Love you!
I found you through others…you have talent, make me think and have given me a greater appreciation for all sorts of orange….
LOL yeah for the orange!! Thank you for being here
I found you at Four Purls during your work time in FL. Everyone was talking about you and I was so excited to finally meet you! I started to read your blog and follow you on social media. Fortunately, I was raised by parents that taught me that people are people and colors are for crayons in a box. I grew up during the beginning of integration in my elementary school and never saw any difference in my classmates. I think as knitters we all have a passion for our craft regardless of what level of skill we have accomplished. It has been 50 years since I started elementary school, and a lot has changed. I still carry the values of people are people and at 56 years old I can decide who I spend my time with. We have become friends because of our mutual interests and journey in life. You are a beautiful soul wrapped in amazing humor and wit with a side of sarcasm that I love! Your skin color never entered into our relationship! Love your insight on knitting, your craft journey and your spirit and that will always bring me back!
I am so happy I came back and got to meet you in person! You have been such a joy to know! Thank you for being my friend!
Gayle, I love listening and reading your posts. You excitement about knitting is what has held my interest. Your fascination with Orange is amazing but it matches your skin tone so well that it understandable. I continue to follow you because you are interesting, knowledgeable, have great excitement for knitting and have great adventures! I want to be your friend. Oh, did I notice your color? NO! Keep it up.
Gayle, I love listening and reading your posts. You excitement about knitting is what has held my interest. Your fascination with Orange is amazing but it matches your skin tone so well that it understandable. I continue to follow you because you are interesting, knowledgeable, have great excitement for knitting and have great adventures! I want to be your friend. Oh, did I notice your color? NO! Keep it up.
Gayle I will keep it up! My mommy’s name was Gale. Thanks for being a part of the conversation.
GG, I was drawn to you based on an something you posted on Ravelry. I liked the item and looked at more of what you did. This led me to your site and the “make me smile because I understand EXACTLY what you are saying” posts have kept me reading and following. Race never entered my mind. Why should it? Yarn has no race. I don’t go into a yarn store and look at yarn saying, “Oh, that is not for me because it is for “X” race, better stick to the “Y” yarn. Same for patterns and blogs/sites. Honestly I would be slightly put off is someone said they looked at my work because I was a white woman, or a 50yr old, or an Italian, or because of my hairstyle, or because I “fill in the blank”……if it is my craft I am promoting then it is the craft that should be the draw (and in your case that and the wonderful way with words you have), not the hair or skin color.
You are so right, yarn doesn’t have a race. I wrote a blog post once that said I wished the world was more like a yarn store. Thanks for being a part of the conversation
I don’t remember how I found you. I’ve been reading you for a couple of years. It wasn’t long after you started posting. I just enjoyed your posts. I rarely comment though, either here or on Facebook…..I love your logo. I teach in a very diverse district. My class makeup last year: 2 Bangledeshi, 13 Latinos (various cultures, mainly Puerto Rican) 3 African-American, 3 Caucasian…..so I do try to read voices other than Caucasian in my daily reading….I’ll be honest. This year there were a lot of hair issues with my two African American girls. I asked for advice from the African-American staff members. It was the first time I’d had this issue in 18 years.
thank you for reading and responding, this conversation is needed.
GG, I found you through a friend who follows you. Neither of us look like you, being middle-aged white ladies, but what keeps me coming back is a shared love of All Things fiber, and the fact that you are so enthusiasticc about…well…everything! You are a ray of sunshine in a world full of ugly. I agree with your comment that this is more a question of exposure than it is about whether or not black people actually knit. I know lots of super talented women of color, all colors, who are fantastic knitters, crocheters , embroiderers, weaver’s, etc. I believe that ethnicity informs how we experience and express our craft, but not how we do it, whether we love it, or how talented we may or may not be at it. I hope you continue to shine your beautiful orange light on the fiber world!
Hey Marybeth,
your comment made me smile! Thank you for being here, for reading and responding.
I saw Kristi Glass’s interview with you, and followed you from there, for your down to earth openness and humor. Your unwavering love of orange also caught my attention, not because I share that particular devotion, but because I feel a connection with you for going your own way and doing what damn well pleases you. If you’re ever on the Oregon Coast, I’d love to knit with you!
It’s a date Kim!! Thank you for responding!
Let me finish my tequila, sigh. Exposure limited. Parents were not diverse on a broad scale. Not culturally curious adventurous. South American coworker taught me to purl. Black woman taught knit stitch and dc stitch to me. End of lessons until internet. I started in 1968. Learned to purl 1980s. Life got in the way. Unfortunately too proud folks think only intelligence for knitting belongs to them perhaps. I prefer not to label the art as a movement. Knitting appeals globally exposure limited by lack of interest or media?. Vogue knitting did article long ago on Africa knitting for it may have originated there. Don’t matter. Just do it enjoy the results. Now this black woman returns to knitting and salsa music.😴😴😴❤
Love you MamaRease!
I stumbled upon you, enjoyed your style of discussion (very open and unashamed), LOVE that you are young! I think the issue of diversity (black people knitting or crafting) is probably the same as the ageism that occurs when someone in their 20’s is seen knitting (only old ladies knit, don’t you know.) I have never thought of knitting or crafting in terms of racial lines; I guess, now that I think about it. In my mind, historically knitting is something for colder climates, which would have been predominantly Caucasian/European. More of a geography situation, than a racial situation. And, I am sure that is how many caucasians think of knitting, specifically. I never knew many people of color growing up (not one person that was a different color than me until 8th grade) So, I have had no preconceived notions of anyone. I never really even thought of someone with a different color of skin as different than me (other than they had a great tan and I didn’t!!)
I stick around because I love your excitement over all the yarnie goodness that you encounter. You have such joy in it, and seem to use yarn like most of us do…as therapy. It has nothing to do with you being black…everything to do with that fabulous hair, that I wished I had!!!! Keep spreading the yarnie love, with all the races!!!
I love everything you do, because it’s you.
Awww shucks!! Thank you Angela!!
Absolutely!! I too am a YarnHo, I feel like that makes us sisters…..sistahs from different mistahs!!!
LOL Sister’s indeed! Thanks for reading!
Hey GG,
I started looking for people like me, knitters, to follow on social media and that’s when I found your IG. I wanted inspiration and to see what everyone was doing.
I continued following you because you have an infectious personality, you are real (you share your struggles and how knitting gets you through), then there is all the yarn and knitting 😍 and we share a favorite color 🍊
The fact that you are a black woman was not in my list above and, in my world, color, race, religion and sexual preference are not factors in my decision-making regarding people. I am only concerned about whether someone is a good, decent human.
I love your logo because she looks like she is in her happy place. I think that her hair is 😍.
Thank you for the joy you bring all of us! 💖 Keep knitting, embroidering and loving all things 🍊🍊🍊
Thank you so much for reading and always being around.
Hmmm… I think I found you first on IG. I started following you because of your positive exuberance about your knitting and all of your big orange. Your smile is such a day brightener. I love that you are share your crafting journey and that your knitting and patterns are so accessible and yet look so fabulous. I also really love how you support other crafters. I do notice that you don’t look like 90% of the other public crafters out there, but mostly because you look marvelous in orange! My hope for myself is to be as bold and positive and supportive of knitters as you are. You are a blessing. Though, reading back through this, I don’t know if it addresses the question very well.
that was the perfect response..thank you!
I found you on Knit & Chat a while ago. I love your posts…funny, informative, poignant. As for your race, it never came into my mind. As far as I am concerned, you are a fellow knitter. Enough said:)
Hey Rosemary! thank you for sticking with me even after I left the group! You rock!
I stumbled on GGMadeit a couple of years ago. Yes, I took a second look because you were black. But I kept coming back because you imparted valuable info in a casual, humorous setting. Then, you took us along with you on your journeys. Whatever you didn’t know, you weren’t afraid to say so. Some days it wasn’t about the crafting, but I didn’t mind. With that being said, crafting and people of color? We did it all because we were doing it for other people. Who do you think helped Betsy Ross sew up that flag? All of my grandmothers and great-grandmothers knitted, crocheted, quilted, embroidered, sewed, etc. I learned it all but don’t have the time to do it all. So YES! We, too, craft!!
Say it louder for those in the back row!! Yes we do and thank you so much for being here friend!
This is an awesome topic GG. I found you on Kristy Glass Knit YouTube channel. After watching you on her episode how could I not follow you on all your social media pages😁 Ps I’m not a stalker 😅😂 I continue to follow you because I want to learn from you, your personality is super, your crafty talents, your humbleness, your perseverance, you make people feel like family, your love for your child💜, your support for others, the love you have for gunner💙. Their are so many reasons to share why I still follow you but I’d be writing for days, Lol I do agree with you it is exposer and I believe that is lacking a great deal. In my opinion black people do far more than what is shown on media around the world. Question why isn’t real complete diversity not shown in all branches of media,film,writing, education etc. I could go on but this is already way to long. Keep sharing all shades of melanin people gifts, we have them. It only takes one person to share and so on…. and so on(that’s how I met you GG🧡)☺️ Because of that I’m meeting so many more crafty talented people ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shanda I can’t wait to meet you at Rhinebeck! I have a big ole hug for you! Thank you for reading!
Hi GG! I came across one of your You Tube videos from when you were in the Phillipines looking for wool yarn in a tropical country LOL! Your openness and honesty really caught my heart. I’m not going to say I didn’t notice that you’re Black (I’m retired, white, USA) because it made me SO HAPPY to see that our black sisters and brothers are enjoying something that has brought so much happiness to me. I hunger for diversity; when I was growing up my home town was definitely segregated (still is to a large extent due to economics and the power structure here) there was not one single black person in my grade school or junior high; there were exact FOUR in my high school of 2400 students. I love meeting people of all descriptions and I yearn for the day when all people have equal opportunities in education, jobs, housing, and yes – hobbies and arts! Your smile lights up my day. Thanks for all you do. You’re a candle in a darkening world.
AWW yes I remember being so upset because I couldn’t find wool on a tropical island. YUP that was me! hahahahahaaa! Thank you for reading and responding
I think I found you in beanstalk page! I keep coming back because I love to see what you are working on. The color orange is becoming one of my favorites. I like that you ask us questions on Saturdays and you show us how you start your day during the week. You have a positive attitude and always have a smile. So it has nothing to do with you being black!
#teamORANGE for the win! LOL thank you for being here and responding!
I just found you this week through the diverseknitty hashtag on Instagram. I chose to follow–a.k.a. come back–because of your obvious joy in creating and your diversity of craft (I tend to gravitate toward feeds that have variety in their content rather than being super curated and only focused on one thing).
Did it have to do with you being black? Hm. I don’t really think so? I do try to be intentional about filling my feed with content by people of all races, sexualities, sizes, and genders because I value learning about the stories of people who are not all like me. BUT I won’t follow people just because they tick a diversity box if I don’t enjoy the content they offer. I may have to think about that a little more.
As far as lack of exposure for people of color? Yes. This is a huge problem. When I get an issue of, say, Knitscene, the designers & models featured are mostly white. I don’t understand this choice, and I think it’s unfortunate. I don’t care what your hair looks like if you’ve created an amazing lace chart that makes my fingers itch to cast on. You know?
(In closing, please tell me if there’s anything I can do better in my conversation about race. I tend to do a lot more listening and observing than talking about this, and I want to make sure I handle myself with respect to those I’m interacting with.)
I think you were quite respectful. Have you had situations where you felt you were not. I feel like if you can voice your opinion without demeaning or being angry, your voice will be heard.
Thank you for taking the time to read and respond. I appreciate you.
Hm. No, I don’t think I have been disrespectful in other situations, but I also feel like it’s not necessarily my place to come in and have a bunch of loud, white opinions about things that I observe but don’t experience. I want to make sure I’m contributing tactfully and productively to any conversation I’m part of. Does that makes sense?
Hm. No, I don’t think I have been disrespectful in other situations, but I also feel like it’s not necessarily my place to come in and have a bunch of loud, white opinions about things that I observe but don’t experience. I want to make sure I’m contributing tactfully and productively to any conversation I’m part of. Does that makes sense?
Also I want to have an open mind and a teachable spirit.
hey! it sounds like you are on the right track to me friend!
Hi Gi Gi,
I first saw you when you started your blog and shared your brand. I also saw how you documented your fiber festival trips. You have a magical way of making everyone feel at ease. A bonus is that you look like me and we share similar enthusiasm for yarn/knitting. Diversity is a sensitive topic for me in crafting because I am a black queer woman who has heard and seen some deplorable behavior from other knitting establishments that I refuse to go back to. Personally for me I’ve always had an open mind and I am accepting of all people. The biggest criteria for me is that I will only attend a knitting group as long as I am not the only person of color represented. I was raised in the South and I know how to read coded behaviors. I live in the Mid-atlantic region and there are times I experience someone being uncomfortable with me. I am lucky that there are few situations that occur. I am so blessed to be among a wide range of women from other ethnic groups and different life experiences in my knitting circle. Knitting for me is therapeutic and I have a weekly LYS knit group that I attend. I enjoy your blog and what you share and I probably would still hang around to see what you are doing next. I celebrate your blackness as another #blackgirlmagic moment to show other women of color that they too can shine regardless of their race/ethnicity.
Hi Genevia!
I am so very happy you have a great cirle. I am even more happy that you took the time to read and share your thoughts! Thank you for that!
GG, I learned about you from IG and am so glad to know you in real life now.
I love our visits because so many different ethnicities are often represented. I have found though, that sometimes people will be surprised if you don’t fit entirely into the category that they envisioned for people who look like you. I have not encountered that type of reaction in the knitting community so far due to my ethnicity (I certainly have in other areas of my life), but I certainly have felt weird earlier on when explaining to others that I love knitting. There is certainly a perception still that knitting is for older people.
I was happy to know that you existed because the vast majority of images I see (on IG, in pattern books, magazines, my local yarn shop, etc.) related to knitting and other crafting feature people who are not people of color. There is an immediate reaction of familiarity when I see you, an unspoken idea of “you are welcomed here”. This can be, of course, a dangerous assumption! But you bring a smile to my face every time – your genuine and living attitude is truly special 🤗
Also, a big part of my love of knitting relates to how welcomed I have felt by everyone I have encountered so far, which is really how it should be. I dread the day when this changes.
Oh my super talented Maria! I pray you know what an inspiration you are to others. Thank you for being my friend!
Your loving spirit is what makes me look forward to your posts, and I love your logo because it is a great logo! The cozy knitter-in-a-chair image brings up all the contented feelings that I associate with knitting, and your exuberant hair is just great! (Oh, and I’m not sure how I found you, but I’m very happy that I did. Maybe it was a Facebook “suggested page?’)
she does look cozy doesn’t she!? Thank you very much for being here, it matters.
I found you on IG because another friend followed you. I loved seeing your videos and the fun things (in orange) you were knitting. Then a saw a story about you (I think on Knitty City’s website). You were talking about how knitting brought you through some dark tunes and I connected with that. I lost my son when he was 6 and since have had many medical issues that keep me from living the life I would like to be living. I appreciate your honesty and your skills and your love for all things fiber. So I guess I don’t think about our diversity, but feel connected by our similarities. I appreciate you!
Yarn the string the binds! I am happy you found me and thank you for taking the time to read and respond!
I found you on Instagram searching knitting related posts. I’m a white, middle-aged, middle-class woman in Australia. If I’m honest part of the appeal of following knitters like yourself online is that you do have a diffferent cultural background to me and I get a little glimpse into someone else’s world. That for me is as true of following a Danish knitter with completely different cultural (& geographical/environmental life) experiences to me, as an African-American knitter in the States, or a young male knitter with far more flamboyant fashion style than myself. I like seeing different peoples’ worlds, the influences on their knitting, as well as the common things about knitting that bring us together as a community. So in a way I’m saying yes, part of the appeal is that you are black (and therefore may have had different experiences to me), but in a way I’m saying no, it’s all about the knitting.
Cathy I totally get what you are saying and I thank you for taking the time to say it! You Rock!
I found you through it’s all about the curls many years ago. I was so happy to finally meet another person like me who knitted Though I was just in the beginning stages. I stuck around because your personality is contagious
Hey Curlfriend!! LOL I am happy you stick around! Thanks for reading
I found you on YouTube back when you were travelling for work and did videos with your knitting and hauls. I am a white middle aged woman who just wanted to watch videos of knitting and hauls. Who doesn’t love a good haul? I always enjoy reading your blog and get excited to see any video you put out. To me I just like to see what talented intelligent and positive people are creating.
Thank you!! I miss traveling and visiting all the yarn shops! Thanks for reading!
Hello, GG
You captured me on Instagram and are one of the few blogs I listen to. Your post are relevant to me and the craft I have done for over 40 years. I can say that I have seen things come and go. But meeting you and all of our fellow knit family was a great joy. So I come back to remember where we are headed. As we all should.
Love to you and all my craft family no matter what you look like!
Craft On ✊✊✊
Hi Gwen,
thanks for being here! It was an absolute joy to meet you earlier this year! So very happy I had that opportunity.
Hi Gigi!
I got to know you through malabrigos blog and facebook page, a few years ago. Your fascination for orange fascinates me, since its a colour I’ve never been able to assimilate in my crafting, although I intend that to change because I do love many of its varieties. (Specially malabrigos Glazed Carrot! Gorgeous!)
I have never thought about ethnicity related to crafting until today. A lot of bubbles around me broke today, let me tell you! I have always followed knitters from different cultures and ethnicities i realized today, but not as many as “white” ( between quotes because who is white!? More pink than anything else). In my case i dont pay attention to race, country, not even the language a person write in. If you knit interesting things and work with materials I’m interested in, I will follow. But i realized today that I think you’re right. Exposure is a big issue in this sense, because if I don’t know that someone exists Icant get to know them…. and so Im thankful for the #diversknitty tag, realizing its needed today, and hoping it wont be in the future, because this will not be an issue. I hope. ❤ Thank you for today.
isn’t that Glazed Carrot amazing!! I need to get some more thanks for the reminder!
BTW I love your Logo! I first was introduced to you by ways of Nicole. Your story was so inspiring. I watched from the sidelines. Then started following you for my new love of Knitting. (Newbie) Your personality, tea lover and a Jersey Girl. That was extra.
The Knitting Community is different and fun all at the same time. I am so glad that Social Media is giving us a platform to say; I am Black and I do Craft too!
We were taught in Home Economics, can you guess my age? LOL I remember learning how to sew and knit in Junior High. Enough to pass the class, and left it behind.
Then at a previous Job, it was reintroduced to me by a fellow co-worker whom happened to be Black. About six of us started Crocheting Lap Blankets for the Seniors and Veterans homes.
People perceive things about other Cultures because we’re not on the covers of magazines on the regular “BUT” our presence is now known on Social Media and we are showing up in droves.
We do a lot of things that others would be surprised. It’s just not broadcast.
Amen Wendy!! Amen!! Thanks for taking the time to read and share that wonderful response. Home Economics took me out!! Yes I remember and they need to have it for the kids now!
have a great day!
I found you via ravelry feature spotlight. And afterwards it was tbe magazine spotlight on your blog. I had recently taken to IG, so i was thrilled to follow you.RACE had not occurred me. I follow you cause of you being YOU. I loved your projects and we had so many similarities. Yes I am a child of the 1960s deep South by any definition I am a Colored, a Negro, a Black, an African American and whatever definition the future will label me. LOL I am me. I learned to knit cause i wanted to make my dog a sweater. Thats How i got hooked. Knitting has been an adventure. And thru you, yes I discovered there are people LIKE Me who knit!! I didnt have to feel like an odd ball. Yep going into yRn shops where ypu can feel the stares,etc. I can honstly truly say to you GG, i have seen not just more of US but more cultures at Rhinebeck. I stsrted going to Rhinebeck in 2003 when my husband anmou ced out of the blue he was leaving and wanted a divorce. My friend Rose(white) and a spinner/knitter/crafty girl ,thiugt it would be goid for me to go out to the Sheel and wool fest. My first trip.LOL I didnt know anything. I bought a louet drop spindle the big heavy one cause it was cute and had sheep on it. I bought teeny bag of blue and purple roving cause it was cute and i loved the colors. Each year i would go to Rhinebeck if my RN weekend work schedule allowed. I was drawn in to the fiber world. Some years I went and brought my own lunch if it was a tough year financially (divorce can be brutual) and bougjt nothing. But just to look and and see what people did, wearing their hand crafted fiber wear, wss inspiring thst msybe someday I could do that,etc. In 2008 i took up the courage to apply to Ravelry and waited to get my acceptance norice and via email I got it. Back then it was Ravelry and Knitty. Anyway as the years go by , yes thru you and so many others I discovered that We are not Closet knitters, We are not invisible and We really do EXIST. THANK you. LOL I must add, as a 1960s southern child, i had Great grandmother and cousins who crocheted. I didnt learn as i was too busy being a tomboy and wanting to support women’s lib, i felt I had to be equal and anything girly would be a sign of weakness. LOL I wish I had learened more of things like crochet from tne retrospectively but that is life.
I so enjoyed your response and yes last year I went to Rhinebeck and didn’t really shop, so I get it! Thank you so much for sharing your story
My Jackie!! It has truly been a pleasure having you in my virtual life on a daily basis! Your user pops in my notifications and I instantly smile! Thank you for being YOU!!
I have (somewhat questionable, I am well aware) strong opinions about ‘Race’ – and wish that we could stop dividing and distinguishing ourselves into groups and just accept that we are each a unique soup of DNA, experiences (including upbringing) and feelings. I have no idea what it is like to be anything but ‘me’ – and some days, I even wonder about that! I love your posts, your crafts, your sunny smile, and you inspire me daily on Facebook. Ethnicity really has nothing to do with it (I think? See above) Thanks for poking me into thinking deeper.
I first saw you on tumblr (I believe it was a post about Knit in Public day). Being a middle-aged white woman who had only seen white people represented in crafting circles, I was definitely intrigued and checked into you social media some more. You and I are different in a lot of ways (I’m Canadian and never wear orange) but our love of knitting and yarn is much stronger than the little differences and I really appreciate the joy you bring to what you do.
Aww thanks for sharing your thoughts and for being here
I started knitting last September 2017. And I discovered I love it. On my Instagram account I found the hashtag #blackgirlsknit and I started following because I am a black woman. And I recognized that I don’t see a lot of us showcasing our love for making handmade items. The only person I have are a few friends back home and my mom. Who introduced me to crafting at a very young age. And I have learned to craft to cope with life. Staying home with a small child is challenging and to be able to make something that doesn’t interfere with motherhood started first with crocheting then knitting. I’m still hoping to continue to make dolls of color bc I embrace who I am and support all who look like me.
Oh are you familiar with Yolonda of My PrettyBrownDoll or Aniqua of My_kinda_thing? They make amazing dolls! Check them out if you haven’t already. Thanks for being here and for reading.
I found you at VKL and you are presence and you love orange and you love knitting and knitters. My image of knitters isn’t based on race, my goodness that’s good news- the craft as I know it, isn’t a race, or ethnic based craft and it is ageless. What I despise is that media portrayal has us all as boring, shapeless and unattractive old women of every ethnicity and color. The beauty of this craft is that it defies those stereotypes and brings together women ( yeah, primarily women, but that’s another story) of every walk of life. Isn’t that wonderful?
It is wonderful!! Thanks for reading and responding!
I found you in IG started following you because I was curious of how you survived a year of tragedy and continued to lose people dear to you. Then I saw you in VogueKnitting Live saw how nice and warm you are. Your obsession with orange how you made it your trademark, everyone who has orange yarn in their hands mention your name.
I came back because I saw how you started your logo you went from knitting to creating a real space for yourself in the knitting community starting with your logo. You are an inspiration to me, you lose your job your family and you still have the strength to remain positive and create. For me it was about your experience your story that got to me.
Now diversity is important because we get to taste and learn all the beauty in this world through Diversity. Diversity is a teacher and it teaches us about things and people we have yet to experience.
Yes our differences should be used as a source of knowledge vs a fence to divide. Thanks for being here and taking the time read and comment!
I first came across you back in the day in the Knit & Chat group on Facebook. I keep following you because of your passion and enthusiasm for our craft. From the start, you have been able to bring a smile to my face and race has never been a consideration. I believe very strongly that embracing our diversity only makes us stronger. I absolutely love meeting other people and learning about their knitting journey because there is no question that, most things in life, each of us have a unique journey to experience and share. No one should ever feel that they have to be someone else in order to enjoy something they love and find important. Cheers to you for allowing the rest of us to share your love for fiber arts with us.
thank you Robin for being here and for the lovely comment!
Hiya, GG. I was first introduced to our logo and love it. Then I saw you on KristyGlassKnits and completely knew I wanted to follow your fiber journey. Your joy in the making is so contagious; it brings joy to my day. And your ability to be open and transparent in the rougher seas of life, leads me to hope through the hard. I must admit your race played a part in my following you; as a black female, I wanted more voices in my fiber world. However, it is your love for the fiber arts (knit, crochet, now embroidery) that keeps me following on IG.
Thank you for being here and for taking the time to comment! Have a wonderful day!
I discovered you via Facebook. I have to be honest never even thought about this. I’m a fifty something white gal & the knitting groups I belong to do have diversity. I never assumed one race would have more knitters/crafters than others. As I think of books, blogs, youtube etc. a lot of them do picture white woman. To be perfectly honest I don’t even notice the person so much as the item being knitted/made or how they are doing it. I would assume it is a media choice on what pictures are chosen. I love that it is no longer considered an older person thing to be crafty. Thanks for making me think about it😊
Yes that is the thing the exposure and thank you for taking the time to think about it! Have a great day!
Hi GMa!
I found you via Tumblr. I was looking for inspiration for knitting. I liked your style and colors and your enthusiasm. As a woman of color, I like that you reflect my age and hair and involvement in multiple crafts. You’re a much more skilled version for certain—but those similarities do appeal. I wince when I hear people (people of all colors) express surprise when seeing black women involved with fiber arts and other crafts. To that I say, just because you’ve never seen it, doesn’t make it a new concept. And to be fair, I try not to react too much when people have that reaction, because it’s just a new idea for some. I recall years ago learning that the ex NFL player Rosie Greer was an avid knitter. That was surprising and just opened my mind a little and dispelled that stereotype.
Yes I remember Rosie Greer knitting too! I am happy you found me. Have a great day!
I don’t really remember how I found you, but probably all that orange AND you’re black!? How could I not follow? 🙂
For me, as a black person, it was very important to follow other black knitters, so a little bit after I got on IG, I ended up doing a search for black podcasters/bloggers/knitters and then started following followers of followers. Somewhere in that journey I had come across you, GG.
Personally, I live in an area where there are very few black families, and my own family doesn’t really live close, so connecting with black knitters is really cool for me. It’s like family that are into what I’m into.
Also, a fellow black knitter is not about someone who just looks like me or my family members. They have similar family histories and life experiences that don’t need to be explained. BLM and the Black Panther phenomenon are not an optional philosophy but everyday living. That’s the best way I can explain it.
Also important is visibility, as you mentioned, and elaborating, the need to normalize crafters of color. That’s also why it’s important to me to support and follow knitters of color. It’s part of the process of validating everyone’s colors and genders.
We live in a world that since the advent of screens, we have been fed images of “normal life” for generations that have hurt POC. We live in an age now that is trying to circumvent and fix that.
Yes we need to be seen as normal and not “oh you knit?” Yes, I do, thanks! Thanks for your contribution to the conversation.
I found you via your blog originally and I loved your voice. Your posts were so funny I found myself laughing inappropriately on public transportation reading them. I love that you have taken the knitting world by storm and continue to be honest and vulnerable on your platforms. Your physical self does not matter to me, however, I do love that your logo looks like me. I am a lovely lady, with an Afro, that loves knitting. Diversity matters in the sense that so many people feel knitting is just for “older women.” Images on social media should represent all knitters, despite their race. So maybe things like #diversknitty will bring to light more creative voices that weren’t being spotlighted before. I appreciate that your uniqueness has lead me feel connected to you as a Knitter first and foremost. Please keep doing what you do because it is awesome!
I began looking for knitters and crocheters of color on the internet because I was seeing everyone else but black women being represented. Then I came across one of your videos talking about yarn and your love for the color orange. I met you later I think at VKL. It was happiness at first sight because you were all about the orange as much as I am about the color purple. I have always thought it was hilarious that there are people out there who actually believe that black people don’t craft. Many of the women in my family worked as domestics and as field hands. So the ones that were working as domestics, part of their job besides cleaning and cooking, was the sewing, knitting and crocheting for the people they worked for. Folks were either wearing or displaying my family’s crafted FOs in their homes. Maybe some folks don’t think that Black folks do (fill in the blank) is because they are not exposed to seeing us do it or it just never crossed their minds that we do it.
I’m a knitter. You are a knitter. If we start to knit our color of skin in with the yarn and it somehow magically changes the color of the finished project, only then does it matters what color my skin is. Until That Happens, I don’t care. You and I are humans who make magic with string and sticks and air.
I was interested in your logo that you are knitting without pants on. Bottom Naked knitting. Is that a thing?
Listennyou have me in the airport cracking up! I have never ever looked at my logo and thought she didn’t have on pants! Never and now I can’t NOT see it! She sexy not naked! Hahahahahahaahahahaaa! Sexy is a mood, an essence not tangible like pants! Hahahahahahahaaaaaa
I follow you because I love your knitting and find your posts witty and engaging. I would follow you even if you were purple or orange. Race should not be an issue in crafting. We all do it the same way.
Thank you Cindy! I am happy you are here!
I dove down a Mason-Dixon Knitting rabbit hole to this: https://www.juliafarwellclay.com/blog/2018/11/4/listen-for-the-voices-you-cant-hear and thought.. seriously? Knitting is ALL about color! And then I found you – here – and sighed with relief. Love the questions and resolutions found here. (Clearly what REALLY matters is whether one is a thrower or a picker or an exotic!) We are knitters! We knit with delight. We frog in frustration and hope. I am weary of skin obsession. I was an 1980’s anomaly – a college jock who couldn’t study on away-game bus trips, so I summoned up mother’s lessons and knitted down the miles. My teammates – tall, short and multi-hued, teased me for my grandma attitude and cherished the beanies, socks and scarves that raveled off my sticks. Since then I’ve traveled the world with sticks & strings in tow. You know how people are drawn to the hypnotic miracle of knitting. I have taught and taught and left yarn & needles behind where the spark seemed ignited. It even led to this – Godfrey Khanye, a Hwange National Park ranger knits beanies to supplement his meager Zimbabwe salary. I send him stuff. See him here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/zimvine/permalink/1563574133761970/ All this rambling to say – I love the rich tradition of knitting, and I love the community of knitters. Yay! Us!
Thank you for going down that rabbit hole
I specifically have been seeking poc crafters because I seek community that I can relate to. If I could just search for knitting or journaling and be met with diversity, this wouldnt be an issue. But instead it often feels like Im the token, even when scrolling through feeds online.
Ethnicity holds no bearing on a persons capability or talent, I don’t exclusively follow people of color, but I do believe that there is some subconscious effect to being able to see yourself (in physicality, as well as in character) in the people that you admire and follow.
Thanks for sharing
It has been so long ago, I am not sure how I found you. I love everything yarn related. I never thought about you as being different, but rather talented and kind… with the best energy. I wanted more of that in my life, so I started following you. Then FB stopped showing me your posts, and I lost track. Then about 2 weeks ago, I started seeing you again, to my wonderful joy! I am happy to have your presence back in my life!
Hi Valorie!!
Just found you when my LYS posted the interview from stitchandhustle! Thrilled to find another awesome blog! And I *love* your logo and the way the edges of your hair look like mathematical fractals <3. Imho, there can never be too many fiber blogs;-)) (I also firmly believe that members of Congress should be required to be able to knit or crochet. Or both. They would get along so much better, and maybe get something done to boot;-)) Off to dive into your blog– looking forward to getting to know you!
Hello. I am new to the world of crafting.
( cards, stamping, mixed media, journaling)
One of the first things I noticed about the segment of the craft industry that I enjoy is that most of the popular faces out there are white. (Tim Holtz, Simon Hurley to name a few) . Tim Holtz has a line of vintage old photos as cutouts used is mixed media, card making etc. I ve purchased two different packages with approx 107 pieces and there are only 2-3 African Americans represented in those packages. The lack of representation is very unfortunate. Black people craft also and would like products that are reflective of our diverse communities. And that doesn’t mean animals from Africa and leopard print.
Amen!
Hi GG!
I found you on IG a few months ago. A Black yarn-dyer mentioned you in her post. I checked out your IG page, found your blog, and have been following you on social media ever since.
I keep following you because you are a role model and inspiration to me. You are a Black, female knitter – like me. I don’t see many representations of strong, Black women on social media in the knitting community. I feel a deeper sense of connection when I see people who look like me knitting, dying, and crafting. You show your strength through your vulnerability on social media. And you give me hope that I can be me – and have social media presence – by doing the same. Lastly, you have the courage to keep it real by talking about race, discrimination, and racial injustice on social media. Seeing you speak your truth – and shining light on the Black knitting community – gives me hope that we will be seen and the courage to use my voice to do the same.
Thank you for all you do, GG!
Warm regards,
Black Girls Knit Purl
Thank you for being here with me. I truly appreciate you
I’ve only just found you based on this post but I just bought a Sizzix big shot machine and it is plastered in photos of middle aged and older, white women crafting. I was sharing snaps of it being delivered with my boyfriend who wanted to have a go at using it and it suddenly dawned on me that none of the people were men and none of them had skin darker than a porcelain shade. Definitely made me think twice about diversity in the crafting world and that’s how I got here!