Lesbian Knitting: From Self-Sufficiency to Self-Representation

“Lesbian” and “knitting” are two words which are not often placed together, and yet lesbian knitting has a rich history and an even richer present. This article is an exploration of knitting as a form of lesbian self-sufficiency and self-representation over the past 50 years. It is split into two sections: the first examines the symbol-laden knitwear created by lesbians in the 1980s, as well as knitting within lesbian communities and subcultures such as the landdyke movement and the recent online phenomenon of cottagecore. The second section is an analysis of the personal practice of lesbian knitting and how the craft can take on specific meanings when done by lesbian hands. This section focuses particular attention on how knitting is related to butch lesbian identity and considers where it fits within a lineage of butch lesbian meaning-making. This article aims to begin a dialogue about lesbian knitting practices and lesbian knitting history that does not currently exist, and hopes to prompt further discussion on the topic in the future.