I have always wanted to be that person. The one who could just turn out beautiful scarves, hats, sweaters, etc., etc., just by sitting on the couch and magically and effortlessly twirling her needles. Alas, I am, instead, the perennial starter of knitting projects that I end up giving up on and never finishing.
Well, those days are over. I am inspired. I am empowered. I am in awe. And, most importantly, I now know that, like every other worthwhile endeavor, knitting can be a form of activism. Vegan knitting has arrived.
When Jasmin set out to make this video — Vegan Knitting 101 — for VegNews TV with vegan knitting authority Beth Begany, we never imagined just how many beautiful vegan yarns were out there ready to be turned into wearable art. Beth’s skills are truly extraordinary — she not only seems to know every stitch ever invented but she can turn out a scarf in the time it takes me to put on my socks (which she also made, of course) — but even if I never get to her level, I know I will never again leave a project unfinished, wasting away in a drawer, waiting sadly for me to pick it up again. I now know that by finishing my projects and proudly wearing (or gifting) them, I am spreading the word that the beauty and comfort and tradition of knitting, like everything else in our world, can not only be cruelty-free, but will be better than ever once we learn how to leave the sheep in peace.