STITCH AND BITCH

Imagine women sitting around on a Saturday night, during the 15^th and 16^th century, by candle light, with their sisters and girlfriends, kitting. Crazy fun times!

Then there were the women of the 1930-40’s ‘knitting for their country’. Little booklets entitled ‘Make Do and Mend’ were distributed to homes in the UK, encouraging women to pull apart old woollen clothes to re-knit garments for men away at war... And they sure did.

In the highlands of Guatemala women have practiced backstrap loom weaving for hundreds of years, even after its banning during civil war, women held onto their weaving culture, and have continued with their tradition to this day.

"Many of our male comrades recognise this wealth of knowledge that we women have. Our women have known how to struggle for our culture. It's women who preserve the art of weaving; we are the weavers. Our knowledge concerning weaving, our art is very advanced. That's why many people everywhere consider the Guatemalan woman to be an artist. And weaving is an art."
- Rigoberta Menchú

Help Us Grow is a non for profit organisation that connects Australia to Uganda helping to create sustainable difference. HUG has an ongoing craft project called The Suubi Craft Ladies, HUG supplies materials and workshops, teaching and sharing skills in beading and weaving, skills the women of Uganda can use to help support their community and families.

We are far from the days of crocheting by candle light with nothing better to do, but still women (and men) are crocheting today. We can't forget the good old ‘stitch and bitch’ social knitting groups, essentially getting together to stitch and chat, are still very much alive. There are plenty of official ‘stitch and bitch’ groups around Australia and the world. Find your nearest stitch and bitch group on this website. Its a great way to connect with the women in your community.
Australian - Stitch and Bitch

                                             'The Suubi Craft Ladies' - Help Us Grow

AM