Revolutionary Knitting Circle

Revolutionary Knitting Circle (RKC) is an activist group that uses craftivism, specifically knitting and other textile handicrafts, in its efforts to bring about social change.[1]

Revolutionary Knitting Circle
Formation2000
FounderGrant Neufeld
TypeActivist organisation

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

Mission statement

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.[2]

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.

The groups promote the goal of breaking down barriers and countering stereotypes within their own organizations, too. Given that knitting is most commonly associated with older middle- and lower-class women, groups will often opt for youthful and male public representatives (such as the founder).

Changing how activism is done

The groups hope is 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

The first major action initiated by the Revolutionary Knitting Circle in Calgary was the Global Knit-In held during the 2002 G8 Summit. Groups in a number of cities and towns hosted peaceful protest rallies featuring knitting outside of major corporate sites, especially bank office towers.[3]: 22–23  Notable among these was the mass rally held in Ottawa, Canada, where protesters set up a 'social safety net' made of knitted squares.[4]

See also

References
  1. Neufield, Grant (4 February 2018). "The Revolutionary Knitting Circle Proclamation of Constructive Revolution". Medium. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  2. Adamson, Glenn (2010). The Craft Reader. Berg Publishers. p. 611. ISBN 978-1-84788-303-2.
  3. McGovern, Alyce (2019), "Unravelling the Threads: Contemporary Craftivism and Its Origins", Craftivism and Yarn Bombing, London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp. 11–57, doi:10.1057/978-1-137-57991-1, ISBN 978-1-137-57990-4, retrieved 2023-09-30
  4. Orme, William (27 June 2002). "Needling World Leaders". The LA Times. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
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