A group project I began in response to an idea developed in my Textiles MA. I learned to knit while I was struggling with a project about luck. I made all sorts of printed pieces with images of items considered lucky: pickles, frogs, black-eyed peas, the number 7, eggs, and so on. But none of the finished pieces felt truly lucky to me. I realized that the luckiest thing I was making at the time was my first scarf, since it was such a labor of love to learn how to knit, and I could only ever make one first scarf. Until now.
Now I am teaching anyone who's never finished a knitting project how to knit in exchange for his or her first scarf. I believe each first scarf is a lucky object (beginner's luck?) because it the only first scarf the knitter can make.
This may seem a bit simple, but my project puts the emphasis not only on acquiring skill, but also on the unusual beauty and power of creating an object from scratch & for the very first time. Subsequently giving away that precious object allows the maker to consider the emotional and intellectual work s/he put into the piece.
In the next phase of the project, I will sell the scarves to raise money for charity, allowing the buyer a chance to participate in the project through acquiring a lucky object while considering themes such as:
What makes an object lucky?
What makes a garment attractive?
What is appealing about handmade items?
How do I value what something is actually worth?
You can see more knitters in action on Flickr.
Are you interested in learning how to knit? Email me at brella at nottene dot net !!