Betsy Greer is an asker of questions, a wrangler of words and always near a cup of coffee. Over the past 12 years, she's moved over 30 times, had over 50 housemates, and so many post codes her mother keeps her address on a Post-It. She got her M.A. in Sociology from Goldsmiths College in London in 2004. Her master's dissertation was on knitting, DIY culture and community development. This dissertation subject quickly earned her the title of "that girl who knits" in the department.
She loves small joys, big dreams, soy products, leg warmers, 80s nostalgia, bad television, Lionel Richie and making things. One day she wants to live in a cottage by the seaside filled with love, laughter, books, pets, books, yarn and cake.
In November 2008, her first book, Knitting For Good! was published by Shambhala. The book is a guide to how to use your knitting and creativity to improve your life, the lives of those in your community and the world at large. It's also about life and its surprises.
More information on Betsy and craftivism:
Press:
(Print/Online)
*Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti Leanne Prain, Mandy Moore, Arsenal. 2009.
*"Got sticks?", Appleton Post-Crescent. November 8, 2009.
*Young Women Re-Craft Feminism as DIY Project, Womensenews.org. July 2, 2009.
*"Radical Craft", Get Creative, May 2009.
*Armed with Needles, News & Observer. May 24, 2009.
*"New Orleans Craft Mafia takes its passion..." Nola.com. June 26, 2009.
*"Book & Film Spotlight Independent Crafters Across U.S.", Seattle PI.com. Jan. 8, 2009.
*"Best Craft Books of 2008", BlogHer.com. January 7, 2009.
*"Green Crafter Profile", Crafting A Green World.com. December 24, 2008.
*"Crafting + Activism with Betsy Greer", Etsy.com. December 19, 2008.
*Buying In, Rob Walker. Random House, 2008.
*Tiny Choices Survey. Tiny Choices.com. October 31, 2008.
*"Every Little Stitch Helps", Ode Magazine. November 2008.
*The Guardian's Rebel Knitting Supplement, The Guardian. July 26, 2008.
*Knitting for What you Believe In, Threadbanger.com. July 23, 2008.
*Knits for Soldiers..., About.com. May 28, 2008.
*"Knot in Our Name," Wendy Somerson, Bitch. Issue 34, 2007.
*"Craftivism: Is Crafting the New Activism?", Columbia Chronicle. Summer 2006.
*"Viva las craftivistas!", The Guardian, May 29, 2006.
*DIY: The Rise of Lo-Fi Culture Amy Spencer. Marion Boyars, 2005.
*"The Handmade Life," LA Times Magazine. November 6, 2005.
*Super Crafty by PDX Supercrafty. More here too! Beal, et al. Sasquatch, 2005.
*"Groundbreakers," Pistil Magazine, Issue 6, 2005.
*"The Cool and The Crafty", USAToday.com, 2005.
*Hip Home Ec by Jean Railla. Broadway, 2004.
(Podcasts)
*Craft Cartel podcast. February 15, 2009.
*Cast-on, "To Be of Use". June 12, 2009.
*WUNC, The State of Things. January 13, 2009.
*Open Mind with Cecilia Skidmore, Fall 2008. [WON A 2008 GRACIE AWARD!
*"Reconsidering Crafts,"NPR, To the Best of Our Knowledge. December 14, 2008. *Craftypod #18, Interview with Diane Gilleland. January 27, 2006.
(See also Craftypod #26)
*Audioactivism interview, 2004.
Essays/Articles/Book:
*Extra/Ordinary, Maria Elena Buszek, ed. Duke Press, 2010. (forthcoming)
*Craftivism column, Interweave Crochet. Fall 2009.
*Knitting for Good, Arts & Expressions. Summer 2009.
*Knitting for Good!, Shambhala. 2009.
*Craftivism: Reclaiming Craft and Creating Community. Catalog introduction, 2008.
*Handmade Nation by Cortney Heimerl & Faythe Levine. Fall 2008.
*"Shear Frustration," Vogue Knitting. Spring/Summer 2006 issue.
*The F-Word zine, 2005
Group shows:
*Domestic Artifacts: Art & Artifacts for the Home. Scrap Exchange. Durham, 2009.
*Craftivism: Reclaiming Craft and Creating Community. Lawton Gallery, Green Bay, WI, 2008.
*Little and Lots, Here Gallery. Bristol, England, 2006.
*Knitpro Needlecraft Art Show, (online & Richard F. Brush Art Gallery).
Canton, NY, 2006.
*Queen of Hearts, Paperboat Boutique & Gallery. Milwaukee, WI, 2005.
*Fiber Arts Show, Ooh La Latte. Durham, NC. 2003.
Panels/Workshops:
*Panelist, "Craft Perspectives." Museum of Contemporary Craft, Portland, OR, 2009.
*Panelist, "Real Life Networking," "Political Crafts," CraftCon.
San Francisco, CA, 2008.
*Panelist, "Art Meets Activism", Neither Model Nor Muse Symposium.
Duke University, 2007.
*Altered Book Workshop, West Regional Library. Cary, NC, 2007.
*Ms. Films, Winter 2006 workshop presenter. Durham, NC.
Definition:
*Encyclopedia of Activism and Social Justice, Sage Publications, 2007.
Patterns:
*Bead Simple, Susan Beal, 2007.
*Making Stuff, edited by Ziggy Hanaor, 2007.(plus quotes)
*The Crafter Culture Handbook, Amy Spencer, 2006.
Photographs:
*Flickr photos
*What You Make It, Issue #2, 2006. (plus essay)
*The Guardian's Rebel Knitting Supplement, July 26, 2008. Photograph. (plus knitting)
Collaborative Startup Projects:
*Contributor to Whipup
*Contributor to CROQ zine.Want to know more about CROQ? Check out this!
*Editor at SuperNaturale
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