Past Events
Knit-In for Darfur
In April 2008, students gathered in front of Penn State's library to participate in a Knit-In that spread awareness about the genocide in Darfur.
For hours, students, faculty and community members knit and taught others to knit. The Knit-In provided literature and resources for people that wanted to learn more about the human rights violations occurring in Darfur.
The event raised more than $200, which was all used to fund solar cookers for the women in Darfur. The solar cookers are sent to women who have to search for fire wood away from the safety of camp and risk extreme violence and rape. This Knit-In was the beginning of Penn State's knitivism club.
Knit-In Against Sexual Violence
Many Knitivism members have ties to the Centre County Women's Resource Center and helped coordinate an event in which knitters, students, and community members knitted purple scarves for women to wear during the winter. This activism intrigued Knitivism because many of the women utilizing the resource center have limited clothing because they often leave their homes in a hurry.
Posted in a central campus location, dozens of knitters produced many scarves, helped passersby learn to knit, and passed out literature about domestic violence. Each pamphlet was attached to a small purple knit flower, an everlasting symbols of women's rights that hundreds of people now possess.
This Knit-In also collected items such as old cell phones, used clothing and monetary donations for the local women.
Appreciation Bouquet
Knitivism members made a bouquet as part of an award that the group established to thank community members and campus members for random and unconditional acts of kindness.
This bouquet will thanked Kimberly Stogdill, a Centre Area Transportation Authority bus driver, for saving the life of a Penn State student.
To read local coverage of the event, click here.
Knit-a-Thon
This semester Penn State Knitivism had a 24-hour Knit-a-Thon to support and spread awareness about the genocide in Darfur. Knitters and non-knitters alike spent a whole day knitting to raise awareness about human rights.
To read local coverage of the event, click here.
Future Plans
Peace Quilt
Begin knitting pieces for our Peace Quilt!
In conjunction with Students for Justice in Palestine, Knitivism is creating a quilt made of pieces any shape, size, color or texture which will be knit together after spring break.
Find a pattern for the quilt: click here.
