All of my questions relate to knitting. It's the only one I do for pleasure at the moment. Sewing is for mending things.

How long have you been doing it for?
Only since last summer.

Who taught you?
My friend Stevie, a straight male. A childminder tried to teach me when I was 10 and I think it gave her a nervous breakdown. The internet helped with new stitches and stuff. Mrs Moscowitz Knits was the best one on YouTube for me.

Do you do it alone, or in a group?
Alone, while watching films or listening to the radio. With a friend only in the context of while a friend's watching films with me. I'd like to find a knitting circle...

Do you, in your hobby, see yourself as any part of movement, or are you influenced in doing it by other beliefs?
I wanted to find something to do with my hands when I quit smoking. That's the simplest explaination. I don't think it's a movement, per se, more that some people just enjoy knitting? It's a really relaxing thing to do.

How do you see yourself and your hobby in the context of female history? Were you influenced by your gender in choosing your hobby?
No. I also enjoy rock climbing and photography - not entirely feminine hobbies

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How long have you been doing it for? since i was wee
Who taught you? my mum, mainly self taught tho
Do you do it alone, or in a group? usually on my own
Do you, in your hobby, see yourself as any part of movement, or are you influenced in doing it by other beliefs? (For instance, beliefs about 'make do and mend'; the 1950s housewife mentality updated for the environmentally-conscious generation. I'm not seeking any kind of specific response to these questions btw. I don't have a theory axe to grind, though I will be framing my presentation in terms of general theories about performance.) um i do it cos baking is fun and you can eat it?
How do you see yourself and your hobby in the context of female history? outside of it being male
Were you influenced by your gender in choosing your hobby? nope.

your thing sounds all very judith butler

I fucking love Judith Butler.

I think that's what I'm looking to be arguing. 3rd wave is the most complex feminism yet, and the most interesting. We're creating a new collective memory of knitting and cooking as creative and empowering that we can pass on to our daughters. And sons too. Whilst 'forgetting' negative connotations our 2nd wave mothers remembered, we're engaging in a continuous process with female history by reclaiming hobbies that have been a bit marginalised as traditionally 'female' as valuable and fun in their own right.

I was interested to read people mentioning men, as teachers and in their knitting groups. Do you know anything about their history with knitting? I'm also happy to see mentions of self-sufficiency and independence creativity - one of the reasons I wanted to look into this was to explore the connections between the revival and our homogenous, 'use once and destroy' capitalist cuture. (Couldn't resist a Hole reference. After all, riot grrl was pretty important in DIY culture).

I love these:

YouTube - KNITTA PLEASE

YouTube - knittaplease

I hope I don't get done for plagiarising myself if my presentation text has to go through an internet search, and my own posts in this thread come up!!

Thanks loads to everyone who has responded so far, I've really enjoyed reading what you've written.

I have trouble understanding the rebuff that traditional female activities have been treated with b/c of feminism. Men continue to build things and fix things and think nothing of it. I understand that women wanted to be more than just housewives and I commend them for it. But I think that we should embrace all activities, not discard some b/c of the confinement that they were once associated with.
I enjoy participating in baking and knitting b/c I like how it makes me feel capable--look what I made, look at what I can do, I have a talent.

what she said +

How long have you been doing it for?
knitting - about 5 years obsessively but learned as a kid
crochet - 2years ish
just getting back into sewing recently

Who taught you?
my mum when i was little but i totally forgot it, since then books and internet

Do you do it alone, or in a group?
alone. too shy to meet up with a load of strangers even if they are knitters! i have 1 real-life friend who knits but she lives in denmark

Do you, in your hobby, see yourself as any part of movement, or are you influenced in doing it by other beliefs? (For instance, beliefs about 'make do and mend'; the 1950s housewife mentality updated for the environmentally-conscious generation. I'm not seeking any kind of specific response to these questions btw. I don't have a theory axe to grind, though I will be framing my presentation in terms of general theories about performance.)
not really, it's not a reason but i LIKE the fact that it can be seen as a reaction to consumerism, sweatshops etc. I also LOVE the fact that it makes me feel connected to my Grandma's generation. I inherited her sewing machine and I love the fact that am I using what she used for 50 years to make things with so much love.

How do you see yourself and your hobby in the context of female history? Were you influenced by your gender in choosing your hobby?
i like to think i'm not influenced by my gender in anything i do
i love that i am continuing such an ancient craft but i don't really think of it as female history specifically. textiles have played an important part of history for everyone.

you might like to listen to this interview with Debbie Stoller
CraftSanity » CraftSanity Episode 28 Stitch 'N Bitch with Debbie Stoller
(there is also a later interview with her on this same podcast but I'm pretty sure this one has the discussion in it that i'm thinking of)
i LOVE her. she has a phd in feminism and has written several knitting books.