Knitimals, Part 2
Thursday, May 6, 2010 
My favorite part of my job is watching the immediate bonds that form between children & the Knitimal they choose to adopt. They come into my booth at shows, with wide eyes and make a beeline toward a particular doll. In minutes they've already started developing a narrative about this new friend. The kids get it. They may not realize that the yarn I use is an ecologically responsible blend of soy, bamboo & wool blends or that whenever possible, I buy it directly from the spinner or the farm that harvested it, but they know the yarn is soft and the colors are fun. They might not realize that each one was hand knit without a pattern or that a single Knitimal can take any where from 8- 30 hours to make, but they know they are special and don't look like anything they've ever seen come out of a box from a chain store. I love talking about my process and watching a young person try to make sense of the fact that the thing they are holding in their hands was made by the person sitting right in front of them.
The last twelve years have been an amazing creative journey. I've met so many incredible families and have watched the retail landscape change in wonderful ways. I know 12 year olds who got their first Knitimal as a baby, and teens who are taking their old friends to college with them. I get the most wonderful emails from happy families & young fans from all over the world and I'm reminded that being a part of the indie movement is more than just a decision to keep money local or to support small business; its a way to support actual people. I'm kept motivated by the knowledge that my work is getting into young hands and fostering creativity... which is all I've ever wanted.
aMuse Toys is the biggest retailer of Kinitmals. Pay us a visit and adopt your own!
Reader Comments (1)
DanaMarie: Thank you so much for contributing! We love your work and are SO proud to carry it!