# Badass Knits Madame Defarge's Art Aint Exactly Your Grandmother's Yarn Work By Krystofer Dixon | Published 2009-02-25 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/subversive-knitting References: [en.wikipedia.org](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madame_Defarge) I am rarely seen without my knitting in my hand. Even as I type this out, I’m taking breaks to knit this scarf/stole/shawl, and I can even say I have knit with everything from cotton to wool and even audio film from broken audio tapes… and that’s why I have a love affair with subversive knitting. I know what you are thinking: subversive knitting?! Yes, just that. I have long thought that *all* DIY crafts were subversive, but now I’ve seen Lead Teddy Bears, a knit “Craft Kills” body suit and my favorite, Skull Doilies. These artists have really turned the craft of knitting on its ear. I have made a few crazy things in my day, but nothing like this. I love the idea of taking a thousand year old craft and making it new and exciting and, might I even say, political again. I might be sitting here knitting this shawl, but in my heart, I’m thinking of all the ways my knitting can start a revolution. So don’t just sit there people, grab your pointy sticks, it’s time to cast on! ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.7/10 - Popularity: 49% | Activity: 54% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Subversive Knitting:** Opportunities to create disruptive knitting products that challenge conventional knitting norms and values and inspire DIY enthusiasts. - **Craftivism:** Opportunities to create a new market for activism-related knitting products and services that promote social and political change while leveraging traditional knitting techniques. - **Artisanal Textile Crafts:** Opportunities to create niche textile crafting products and services that add value and a unique aesthetic to the textile industry, using a variety of unconventional materials. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Textile Industry:** Knitting innovations and new product designs that cater to the shifting tastes and preferences of customers and drive demand for more artisanal-like textile products and services. - **Craft Industry:** Product innovations and DIY crafting workshops for subversive knitting and textiles that appeal to younger, edgier audiences seeking counter-cultural creative outlets. - **Activism Industry:** Activism-focused knitting and textile products for craft-centered political and social movements and advocacy groups, potentially leading to a new category of activism-oriented commodities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Playful Crochet Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crochet-collection.md) - [Gen Z Crafting Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crafternoon.md) - [Politically Artful Textile Shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unravel-the-power-and-politics-of-textiles-in-art.md) - [Intricate Fiber Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/threadwork-women-redefining-fiber-arts.md) - [Arty Knitwear Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/arty-knitwear.md) - [Collaborative Hand-Knit Streetwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/macmahon-knitting-mills-and-beams.md) - [Hand-Knit Sci-Fi Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/handknit-scifi-sculpture.md) - [Wearable Sculptural Jewelry](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3dtcable-collection.md) - [Knitting Screening Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/knitting-screenings.md)