One of the many interesting consequences of Sarah Palin’s nomination to the GOP ticket and her acceptance speech is the way in which she’s stimulated grassroots action and organizing in Democratic circles, and more than a bit of creative action.
Those of us who have made committed ourselves to public interest professions, or made community service and volunteering an integral part of our lives, or taught stewardship to our children, or actively supported political candidates, or acted in support of public issues … well, many of us smarted at Gov. Palin’s dismissal of Barack Obama’s lifetime of work in the service of his community. Like so many of our Republican colleagues, we’ve lived our lives with the understanding that community service, even community organizing, put us in pretty good company.
(Community Organizer icons courtesy of Rainne, include (from top left): George Washington, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Robert Kennedy, Mother Theresa, Aung San Suu Kyi, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Barack Obama) (more available here).
Lately, I’ve added politi-knitting (and crochet) to my repertoire of more conventional campaign-related community organizing … pigs in lipstick have been flowing from hooks and needles.
If the prospect of having your own 3″ pig in lipstick badge (similar to the one at left) organizes you to make a contribution to the campaign (($25 or more, please!), contact me (at: tikkunknits(at)yahoo(dot)com) and I’ll send one along – at least until my bag of 50 badges is empty.
(Pigs in Lipstick Collection, left to right: Cell Phone Cozy, Lipstick Case, Toilet Topper, Condom Amulet, Badge, Keychain)
Go ahead … organize your community!
ETA: In response to a creeping tide of requests – here are the instructions for the Pig in Lipstick Badge:
To make a 3″ badge
Materials: some pink yarn, a size F or G crochet hook, scraps of red and black yarn (for the mouth and eyes), a tapestry needle, a large safety pin.
Stitches: ch (chain), st (stitch), sc (single crochet), hdc (half double crochet), dc (double crochet), sl st (slip stitch)
New and improved pattern! (9.17.08)
Here’s a no-sew version –
Begin with the snout …
- Round 1: Work 12 dc in a “magic ring” (or, ch 4, join with a slip stitch to close, ch 3, then make another 11 dc). Close this round with a sl st in the second ch at the beginning.
- Round 2: ch 1, sl st in each st; close round with a sl st in the initial ch st
- Round 3: ch 1, sc in the back loop/s of each st; close round with a sl st in the initial ch st
Make face …
- Round 4: ch 3, and work 2 dc in the back loop of each st around; close round with a sl st in the 2nd ch st
- Round 5: ch 2, [ 2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next st ] 4 times, then [2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st ] until the end of the round; close with a sl st in the 2nd ch st
- Round 6: ch 1, then make first ear: 1 sc, 1 hdc in next st, 1 dc and 1 trc, ch 4, and sl st in next st;, sl st in next 6-8 sts, then make second ear: ch 4, 1 trc and 1 dc in same st, then 1 hdc, 1 sc and 1 sl st in next st, then sl st around entire head.
- Break yarn, tie off and weave in end.
Embroder eyes (two large french knots will do) and mouth (I use 8 chain sts for the lower lip, two pairs of sts for the upper lip).
To make a small pouch, pocket keychain or condom amulet (more information here and here about the Condom Amulet Project for women’s health): simply make a plain face piece first without a snout, then the face piece with snout. After adding the second ear, sl st the two pieces together (right sides facing out), break yarn, tie off and weave in the end. Add a keychain or chain stitch a handle at the end of the row.
© TikkunArts 2008
This pattern has been made available for personal use only, and for fundraising for the 2008 campaign to elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and for no other commercial or financial use. All other rights are reserved.
The Original Pattern (9.16.08)
To make the head:
- Round 1: Work 12 dc in a “magic ring” (or, ch 4, join with a slip stitch to close, ch 3, then make another 11 dc). Close this round with a sl st in the second ch at the beginning.
- Round 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around. Close the round as before.
- Round 3: Ch 3, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st*, repeat ** around. Close the round as before.
- Add 1st ear: Ch 1, sc in same st as sl st join, hdc and dc in next st, ch 4, sl st in same st, sl st in next 8 or 9 sts
- Add 2nd ear: Ch 4, 1 dc and 1 hdc in same st, 1 sc and 1 sl st in next st, then
- sl st around to first ear. Sl st to close the round, break yarn, tie off and weave in end.
To make the snout: Work 12 dc in a “magic ring” (or, ch 4, join with a slip stitch to close, ch 3, then make another 11 dc). Close this round with a sl st in the second ch at the beginning. Break yarn, leaving a long tail and sew the snout to the face.
To finish: sew the snout to the face, embroider the eyes (some large French knots work fine) and luscious mouth (8 chain sts for the lower lip, two pairs of sts for the upper lip).
Grab a safety pin and wear proudly beside your Obama button. Add a keychain instead, or stitch to a barrette blank.
© TikkunArts 2008
This pattern has been made available for personal use only, and for fundraising for the 2008 campaign to elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and for no other commercial or financial use. All other rights are reserved.
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