Celebrity Knitters

Celebrity Knitters...Look Who's Knitting!
by WorldKnit.com's editor, Trinity

MPLS - Knitting is HOT! And who would know better than the Hollywood crowd...our cultural icons and trendsetters! The list of celebrity knitters is staggering. From Julia Roberts to our Secretary of State Madeline Albright. And, NO, this hobby is not just for women! Just ask Russell Crowe, Bob Mackie or football great Rosie Grier. [For a list of celebrity knitters click here]

Celebrities, politicians and the 24 million active knitters and crocheters in the United States (not to mention the millions worldwide) are all partaking in fiber art! Why? Stress relief, creative outlet, tactile pleasure, sense of accomplishment, meditation...the list is endless! According to the Craft Yarn Council of America (CYCA), when women were asked what their hobby was, the second most frequently given answer was knitting (gardening was most frequent).

People in this decade are putting a new emphasis on the home and all thing domestic as can be evidenced in the domesticity movement headed by Martha Stewart. According to trend predictor Faith Popcorn, "Smooth, shiny and uniform is now equated with crude and cheap, especially when compared with the individuality of hand crafted products. We are very hungry for things that have touched human hands. Handmade things with all their wonderful, charming imperfections have a very rare value. Any craft as applicable and pragmatic as knitting has a great future."

There is also a major movement in the US towards simplicity. Best selling books such as Duane Elgin's "Voluntary Simplicity" and Sarah Breathnach's "Simple Abundance" have extolled the virtues of living simply. Knitting fits very well into this movement towards simplicity.

Knitting is also stimulating and beneficial for students. At private Waldorf Schools throughout the United States, instructors teach knitting to their first-grade students as part of the curriculum. School administrators state that knitting teaches mathematics, concentration and improves dexterity. Many educators have also found that students are more receptive to all types of learning after knitting for a period of time.

For myself, knitting is an exploration of self. It is a reflection of my state of mind. When I feel centered and relaxed, my knitting is smooth and effortless. When I am stressed or tense, my knitting is uneven and unfocused. We all know what that means...lots of mistakes and backtracking. But this is a great way to "wake up" and consciously relax. Knitting is a great litmus test for your psyche.

I have also discovered and learned so much more about the world through fiber arts. I have recognized how limited my "formal" education has been. Chemistry, mathematics, botany, animal husbandry...all of these subjects and more are part of the fiber artist's tools. I have started a dye and fiber garden filled with plants that impart color to a dye bath or provide fiber for projects. I have learned about fiber and fiber producing animals...micron counts and crimp! I have a new found respect for colors and textures both natural and man-made. I am continually amazed and delighted in the creativity of both people and nature! I have reveled in the magic of sudden inspiration and accidental beauty when I thought I had really "botched it up". In short, knitting and all fiber arts have expanded my world and my enjoyment of this beautiful, unbelievable experience of life. I think all 24 million of us would agree!

List of celebrity knitters (this list is by no means all inclusive): Julia Roberts, Madonna, Iman, Hilary Swank, Cameron Diaz, Daryl Hannah, Goldie Hawn, Eartha Kitt, Winona Ryder, Julianne Moore, Rose McGowan, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Kate Moss, Madeline Albright, Vanna White, Megan Mullaly, Sarah Jessica Parker, Joanne Woodward, Bob Mackie, Stu Bloomberg, Rosie Grier... Some celebrities are even trying their hand at designing knitwear.

Note: Russell Crowe does not knit, but we do love the picture of him knitting at the top of the page!