mathbabe

I finally got around to knitting my first pussyhat yesterday, during the inauguration. It took less than two hours because I was using super bulky yarn and because I had lots of anxious energy to tap into.

I got the yarn last Saturday, when I went to a Black Lives Matter march in the morning (you can see my butt multiple times in the embedded video) and then afterwards to Vogue Knitting Live in the Times Square Marriott Marquis.

Pink for a reason.

Fancy elevators.

And here’s the thing, I thought I was going to enjoy the juxtaposition of activist-to-insane hobbiest, but I was wrong – knitters were activists too! Here’s what I saw:

Pink yarn everywhere.

Pussyhats everywhere

Not only women of course! Alex looks dashing with his ombre pussyhat.

Karida Collins doesn’t have a pussyhat on but she’s still killing it.

Since last weekend, I’ve been seeing pussyhats everywhere. You go into a yarn store and here’s what you see.

Or you happen upon an airplane full of women heading to D.C. and here’s what you see.

I’m pretty sure half those women have knitting needles in their laps.

My favorite way to measure this phenomenon is directly, at the source. I am of course referring to Ravelry, the online social media website for knitters and crafters. The pussyhat project has spawned all sorts of creative ideas, of course.

The original pattern has thousands of associated projects

Lots of variations have been invented of course

Here’s a great example

Not particularly cat-like but I like it

Now that it’s happened, it’s obvious that knitters are a perfect community for activism. We’re friendly, community-oriented, and desperate for an opportunity to make something and give it away. Because it gives us an excuse to buy more yarn.

Anyhoo, I’m going to the Women’s March NYC today with mine, and I’m going to try to knit at least one more before I leave at 11am. See you there!