I wanna Real Man

Since the guy who works opposite shifts from me will come into work and 90% of the time will find me knitting, he decided that he would treat me to a knitting video. He found Real Men Knit on DVD at the local library last weekend and brought it to work for me to watch on my next shift.

While I don't want to give this production two thumbs down, I felt that it lacked in a few places. Any topic that was discussed was only briefly mentioned. I was hoping for something with a bit more meat of the matter. The movie talked briefly about how, historically hand knitting was a male dominated occupation. That is, until the knitting machine made hand knitting no longer financial feasible so the task was handed off to women. (Sounds familiar!!!)


Kaffe Fassett, Brandon Mably and and host of average Joes were interviewed. It turns out that both men and myself knit for the same reasons: texture, colour, to alleviate boredom, stress relief, to make something for a loved one, because it's fun...... These are all reasons (plus several more) why I pick up the sticks and string.

From Jocks to stressed out tech geeks and everyone in between were featured on this video.

Now before I go any further, I want to make it perfectly clear that I know knitters come in all shapes and sizes and have a wide assortment of appearances from formal to very casual. A few of the knitting guys were visibly pierced and I don't have a problem with that, at all (honestly).

However...........watching a guy stick a cable needle through the piercing in his nose (because that's where you can keep it so it doesn't get lost) and then hold the tip of it in his mouth is something no one should have to see.

But I digress.....


Knitting is a craft that is so versatile that it can appeal to every different type of person. What I love about knitting could be different for someone else, but it doesn't matter. I get excited about cables and they might drive the person next to me to the frog pond. I can't stand knitting mittens and someone else could live for making them. It's all wonderful as there is room in this craft for everything and everyone.


So to use a South African saying from Brandon Mably.....when it comes to knitting "what lifts your skirts?"

Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic