10th June Worldwide Knit in Public Day

Worldwide Knit in Public Day is celebrated on the second Saturday of June every year. The objective of the holiday is to showcase knitting as an enjoyable activity to partake in — for all ages, not just doting grandparents looking to make a sweater for their darling grandchildren. The day brings with it a sense of community for knitters, who often celebrate together by knitting in public spaces to make their hobby more visible and accessible to the public. It’s also a day for experienced knitters to teach others how to knit. Worldwide Knit in Public Day was founded in 2005 by knitting enthusiast Danielle Landes whose goal was to get all the closeted knitters out into the fresh air. It remains the world’s largest knitting event. Coincidently it is also Yarn Bombing Day on this day or the 11th June depending where you read.Yarn bombing is simply the practice of knitted works of art being added to public places. For example, a yarn bomber may design some sort of colourful knitted pattern and wrap it around a tree. The aim of this practice is to try and take knitting from something that is viewed as merely for creating clothes and hats to something that could add meaning and colour to urban locations.

Knitting happens to be one of the oldest ways of making clothes. The earliest known accounts of knitting date it back to — at least — fifth-century Egypt. Egyptians used to knit cotton fibers, not wool.

Knitted weatherproof sweaters for sailors became relatively common in the 14th century. The advent of the Industrial Revolution brought with it the automation of tasks — knitting was no different. Knitting machines began being used to knit hosiery for the elite. A local knitting industry slowly emerged in Scotland, which began the production of knitted stockings for circulation across Europe. The first knitting loom was built in 1816, and the first ever woolen textile factory was opened in 1856 by Eugene Rodier.

How to celebrate these days? Knit! In public! If not, read about knitting. You will be surprised by how many picture books for children feature knitting. Even when the book is not overtly about knitting, a character will be knitting, showing readers that lots of people knit for a hobby.

As a person who can knit, I always notice the knitters in books, but I must say since I read Betsy Bird's article about knitters in books, I am looking at those knitters anew. She says that this book, Knitting For Dogs shows that the writer illustrator, Laurel Molk is definitely a knitter because she has the needles positioned correctly and we see the fingers and the wool clearly. Not all of the books featured here will do that, but that doesn't mean they're not worth reading.

There are nonfiction books designed to teach children to knit, but they are no replacement for a patient adult or older child,  a pair of thick needles and some thickish wool. A person can show you how to hold the needles and get your hands working together with the wool. Start with a scarf. It happens fast! Be inspired by Little Owl's Orange Scarf. We suggest a toy owl in the library needs an orange scarf. What a challenge?

Others to look for:

Now I'm off to knit in public! I'll sit in a park, gets some fresh air and see who joins me.