There has been a lot of talk in the knitting community this year about diversity and the need to acknowledge, promote and support designers and knitters of color and others from traditionally marginalized communities.
All that talk is good, but it means very little without action.
Which is why I love the #RhineBIPOCSweater project. Rhinebeck is one of the biggest events of the knitting year, and the Rhinebeck sweater is an important garment for anyone attending the festival because it’s what you choose to show off to your fellow knitters.
So the dyer behind Lady Dye Yarns and Jasmin from Knitmore Girls came up with the idea to promote a Rhinebeck sweater knitalong and crochetalong that encourages people to make designs from BIPOC designers and using yarn from BIPOC makers. There’s a list of potential projects (not all sweaters) on Ravelry, curated by the Black Squirrel aided by the work Jeanette Sloan has done to highlight BIPOC makers.
Lady Dye has also posted about BIPOC indie dyers to make shopping for yarn easier. The colors in the above picture are the suggested colors for the project.
Even if you’re not going to Rhinebeck (I’ve never been; it’s a long way from here and it always falls around my husband’s birthday) this is a fantastic idea. We can say we support BIPOC makers all day long but until we are giving them our financial support it doesn’t mean anything. Check out the list; you’re sure to find something you want to make.
[Photo: Lady Dye Yarns via Instagram.]
