Revolutionary Knitting

We've probably all heard of revolutionary women furthering their causes through handcraft, but those examples seem so distant. Quilting Bees where the progressive women planned their fight for suffrage, Madame DeFarge who worked a record of the revolution into her knitting (and some say passed secret messages), the (now believed fictitious) account of Betsy Ross calmly rocking and sewing the first American flag, uniting symbol of a revolution for freedom.

But what does it mean nowadays to be a Revolutionary Knitter (or Quilter, or Seamstress...)? In the US, we do not have guillotines in the street, and women have the right to vote. Can we be revolutionary in our own ways? Is our collective response to tragedy revolutionary (just look at that total!)? Can we be revolutionary by uniting women all over the world in one global community of knitters that transcends borders and races? Can our revolution be a quiet, small-scale and nevertheless important one? Is it revolutionary for a young girl to feel she is capable and in control by giving her some sticks and some string? Some things to think about.

How are you revolutionary in your knitting? Do you help third world countries? Do you knit provocative feminist items? Do you challenge assumptions of what is proper by knitting in strange places? Give me everyday examples, friends, because I'm feeling very lacking in revolution. Have you had your own revolution today?

Discuss.

and if you would, post a link to this post in your own blog. I'd like more opinions and thoughts than just my regular readers.