NOV. 24 - DEC. 14, 2017
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Community | 15
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Anita Pandey DMD Michael Press DDS
Knitter spins political yarns Continued from page 1
think,” she said. Other colorful and one-of-a-kind politihigh against the wall. cal sweaters include one with Hillary ClinSince the election of Donald Trump, Voton slogans created from about $100 worth gin estimates she has knitted about a dozen of yarn and weeks of work. A Lady Libersweaters that include some kind of political ty sweater with the word “Persist!” on the message meant to inspire hope. back was created as an ode to U.S. Sena“I’m heartbroken, but when I wear one tor Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) following of my sweaters, people around me say the infamous Senate confirmation hearsomething. It makes them feel good, which ing for U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions makes me feel good,” she said. in which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McVogin moved to Dunwoody from WashConnell silenced her with the phrase: “Sen. ington, D.C., in 2008, and learned fairly Warren was giving a quickly to keep her liberlengthy speech. She had al views to herself. appeared to violate the While campaigning rule. She was warned. for Barack Obama in She was given an ex2008 in Dunwoody, she planation. Nevertheless, said she stepped into she persisted.” the local REI to make a Vogin said her quick purchase. Instead, grandmother taught she said she was accosther to knit and crochet ed by a man talking to as a young girl and her a group of people in the love for the craft has store about how Obama evolved over the years was not an American from a simple hobby and was a terrorist. She to a hunger to create said she was escorted to meaningful art. her car by the store manDYANA BAGBY “When I knit the poJill Vogin stands in front a wall of ager because she did not litical ones or ones to boxed yarn at her home studio. feel safe. make a statement, there “I didn’t know what is always a sense of urgency,” she said. “My I was getting into before I moved down knitter friends would pick them apart ... but here,” she said. “That level of hatred and I’m not worried about being technically acsense of fear was new to me.” curate. Usually I have a deadline. And makIt took her until this year and the 6th ing these is more of an emotional experiCongressional District race that pitted Reence.” publican stalwart Karen Handel against The history of knitting has ties to politiDemocratic newcomer Jon Ossoff for her to cal movements, Vogin said. Before women step out again to voice her political views. could speak out politically, they could knit “I’d never put out a sign in my yard unand weave to express themselves. In recent til Trump got elected. The Ossoff race was years, young women have taken up knitthe first time I put out a sign in our yard,” ting, shattering the image of knitters being she said. only “old white women.” Handel eventually beat Ossoff for the Then, after Trump was elected, knitseat in the U.S. House of Representatives vating became a powerful movement with cated by Tom Price when he was appointthe renowned “pink pussy caps” worn by ed Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human hundreds of thousands of people who parServices. ticipated in the Women’s March on WashAs part of that campaign, Vogin knitted ington. her own “Vote Your Ossoff” sweater that she Knitting is not all political for Vogin, wore repeatedly when canvassing door-tohowever. She is the current president of the door. When some local politicians alleged Atlanta Knitting Guild that was formed in Ossoff supporters were paid protesters, she 1985 and currently meets at St. Luke’s Presknitted her own “Vocal Local” sweater bearbyterian Church in Dunwoody. The group ing Dunwoody’s 30360 ZIP code. has more than 150 members who travHer first major political sweater, and el from throughout metro Atlanta and the what she calls her masterpiece, is a porSoutheast for special events. When the trait of John Lennon on the front with some guild meets each month, between 50 and of the words of his song “Imagine” on the 100 members show up to knit together. back. Much of the knitting the group does is This sweater was created after several for charities, such as area hospitals that terrorist bombings in Europe several years need baby blankets. The group also holds ago, she said, leaving her feeling helpless special events and invites “knitting celebribut wanting to say something political, but ties” and authors from across the country not overtly political. “I tried to make people to give workshops and lectures.
ATLA N TA K N ITTI N G GUILD
DUN
Meets first Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church, 1978 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody, Ga., 30338. A social hour is held from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. atlantaknittingguild.org
Dr. Anita Pandey
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