THEA 13
Stitch Circle: Knitting as Social Practice Winter 2023

Do you knit? Have you ever wanted to learn how to knit? In this studio course, intended for both beginners and more advanced knitters, students will come together to experience the joy, fun, contemplative practice, and social activity of the stitch circle. Working with The Spin-Off yarn shop in North Adams, students will select an accomplishable project suited to their unique skill level (scarves, hats, blankets, mittens, socks, tea cozies, etc.). Establishing our class as a knitting circle, we will gain practice as knitters, working towards the completion of our individual projects. But we will also spend time in the circle discussing and learning about knitting as a social practice, one often involving women or historically marginalized social groups. During the term, students conduct independent research on a particular knitting practice, farm, or cultural/regional type of knitting, sharing their discoveries with the group in the form of a brief oral presentation and accompanying poster. Each student will also be responsible for curating a “play list” of music chosen for each circle. At the end of the term, we will share our knitting projects and research with the community by way of a class exhibition. Students should be prepared to spend time knitting outside of class. A field trip to The Spin-Off shop to select and obtain materials is mandatory. We may also take a field trip to a nearby fiber animals farm and fiber mill to learn about the process of raising animals for wool as well as spinning, carding, dying, and manufacturing wool.