'don't be complicit in our silencing' powerful call from Sonali Dev for taking action on library collections

This is a powerful speech by Sonali Dev - listen and take action for your collections

make sure your local studies collection is inclusive

There has been a lot of discussion about representation in knitting, on Instagram and twitter, following a presentation by Lorna Hamilton-Brown at the recent In the loop #intheloop10 conference.  Videos like the one below are an example of people sharing stories so that history is more accurate.  I am really enjoying these stories. I am hoping some libraries will collect them.

#blackknittersofinstagram it is so important that we capture our knitting histories as very little is written. Listen to my 86 year old mum talking about knitting in #jamaica and in #50s #britain. Ask your parents how they learnt to knit, what they made? Many of the men knitted to. Please share you finding with me do I can build on my research. Do not let these knitting stories go to the grave unheard. Do you have photos of items knitted my your parents. Please share these as well 💙 . #mothersanddaughters #blackgirlsknit #knittingwhileblack #diversknitty #blackpeopledoknit #caribbeanknitter #crocusbag #flourbag #oralhistory #hiddenhistory #blackdiaspora #nosubtitles #patois @jeanettesloan @ggmadeit @saharabriscoe #writinghistory #blackmenknit #blackgirlscrochet #knittersofinstagram #knittinghistory

A post shared by Lorna Hamilton-Brown (@lhamiltonbrown) on Aug 3, 2018 at 10:05am PDT

These stories may also be under represented in public libraries.  You may only be collecting local studies information about part of your community, and not, for example recent migrants, people with a disability, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  These are just some examples of people who may not be having their stories and histories included.

The talks from In the loop 10  will be available to watch online soon.

Also - are your library knitting groups inclusive?

How does your library acknowledge Indigenous people?

I am more frequently seeing signs like this outside banks, however, I am not consistently seeing acknowledgements at libraries. I was wondering how people are addressing this and how you are working with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to do so?

A few thoughts on The West Highland Way by Kate Davies

The West Highland Way by Kate Davies
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a lovely knitting and local studies book. It takes the West Highland Way in Scotland as the starting point for knitwear design. The book covers the entire West Highland Way, divided into walkable sections. Each of the beautifully photographed areas has a piece of knitwear which was inspired by that specific part of the West Highland Way. Each of these is also clearly photographed. This book is written by a knitter who has walked the West Highland Way, and regularly walks the sections closest to her home.

There are many local stories through this book, and it gives a lovely introduction to the section of Scotland. The patterns looks lovely, although I have yet to start knitting one of then.

The subtitle of this book is 'knit read walk'.

View all my reviews