Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Why is knitting sexy?

If you've been reading my blog at all, you know I did my first "swap" ever this past month. I was spoiled very well by the moderator of the Stitch and Kvetch group but I will have another post regarding the swap (with pictures) at a later date. I just wanted to talk a little about a mini article of sorts in the first issue of knit 1 magazine that Mindy sent to me.

The article was written by Ian Kerner, Ph.D. He's a sex therapist and an author--as if there was any other combination of the two. Sex therapists always seem to be authors. But that's not the point. His article is titled (entitled?) "Why knitting is sexy" and in it he says,

"In an age of extreme makeovers, cosmetic surgery and Hollywood romance, the sight of a woman knitting is simultaneously reassuring and alluring. The "Knitting Woman" is a potent reminder of all the sexiness of everyday life. She's real and complex, at once sexual, caring, creative and intelligent. Her mittens, scarves and sweaters are palpable reminders of the sensuality and eroticism that's interwoven into the fabric of life. Each click of her needles is elusive and fleeting, a tiny poem, an ephemeral moment that leaves a man longing."

I find that so interesting. I'm not sure if I find knitting to be sexy or any of those things Ian describes. Does a scarf truly remind you of all the eroticism there is in the world? It doesn't for me. The only time I think of knitting as being sexy is when I see patterns for bikinis, pasties, thongs and other overtly sexual items, like the knit penis. I think his name is Mr. Peen or something like that.

He has such an interesting perspective on the female knitting community that he does say is in part to being present at his mother's knitting group at their house where her friends would undress to try their wares on with him there. They were mostly single mothers, like his own, and he had the hots for one of them big time.

Is it that people see knitting as an age old craft and think back to when sexual things were repressed and not spoken about? Maybe it's the form-fitting sweaters of the 50's that people associate with knitting? They were, and still are, awfully sexy for covering so much skin.

It also seems that Ian thinks a woman who knits is not into the "Hollywood scene" of plastic surgery and botox. Almost like you cannot be one and the other at the same time, as if a non-knitting woman isn't sentimental and romantic, but extremely vain and ready to "hit it and quit it." Am I the only one getting that vibe?

I think I really keep going back to the idea that Ian puts it out there as knitters to be neurotic, repressed housewives that just need to get some, but he doesn't say it in a negative way. It's kind of like how people think the stereotypical librarian is sexy in her pencil skirt, hair pulled back in a bun, with her glasses on, nose stuck in a book.

Don't get me wrong, I liked reading his article and thought it was neat that some people see knitting as being sexy and as a way to show your sexual side without being in your face, but I just don't get it. Maybe knitters give off additional pheromones when "in the act" and he's the only one to pick up on it? Case study, anyone?

What do you think?

2 comments:

AnnSutton said...

Deep stuff Beth. Just stick to the knitting and forget about the sex!!

Octopus Knits said...

Hmmm... interesting. It sounds like Ian has some unusual sex/knitting associations that I'm guessing most people don't share (I know I don't). His very specific childhood experiences are leading him to draw some general conclusions that I would agree with you aren't good generalizations. I also agree that its interesting to hear such a different perspective on knitting :)