It used to be that when characters where knitting onscreen, it was a sign of either their advanced maternal age or obligatory fulfillment of “women’s work”. That was then and this is now, though. True, yarn & sticks are sometimes placed in actors’ hands as a gag but I say, there’s no such thing as bad press…even for knitting! You see, every time needles go clickety-clack on TV or in movies, it’s another knitting awareness notch in the collective conscious belt. It’s what I like to call, progress via pop culture!
Here are a few shots from some of my favorite peaks into screen style stitching.
Gillian Jacobs as as “Britta” in NBC’s Community
Melora Walters as “Wanda” in HBO’s Big Love
John C. Reilly as “Gus” in the 1999 Film, Never Been Kissed
Jane Adams as “Tanya” in HBO’s Hung
Kristin Rudrud as “Jean” in the 1996 Film, Fargo
Comedian, Jim Gaffingan in HBO’s Flight of the Conchords
Most people can’t actually knit on primetime programming but we all can do it while watching it! Here are a few pattern links from the Caron archives paired with programming suggestion for the next time you’re ready to watch & swatch!
- “Shady” Beanie (Law & Order: Criminal Intent)
- Cat & Mouse Throw (Re-Runs of Laverne & Shirley–specifically any with “Boo Boo Kitty” in them.)
- Turtle Cove blanket (Man vs. Wild)
- Summer Flowers Shawl (Weeds)
Happy screen-side stitching!
Craft.Rock.Love,
Vickie
Don’t forget to check out Movie Mondays on my personal blog, for knitwear shots from your favorite flicks!
For Crochet check out The Letter with Bette Davis. She crochets a beautiful shawl.
You forgot Ellen Pompeo and Katherine Heigl on Grey’s Anatomy.
I saw someone knitting on Fringe the other night. It had been recorded so not sure which night it was but thought it was pretty cool.
Don’t forget Izzy knitting while visiting Denny on Gray’s Anatomy!
The main character in Paranormal Activity knits during a scene in the movie.I will try to find a pic of it.
I love that you posted this! When my knitting shop was open (1994-2008), we collected a list of knitting in the movies on our website. We’ve kept the list up – it got very big over 14 years and spilled over a bit into TV shows, anime, and books. Enjoy! Here’s the link:
http://www.angelhairyarn.com/movies.html
I just checked out the list and was happy to see Robin and the Seven Hoods listed. We just rented it from Blockbuster a week ago and I loved seeing one of the “tough guys” knitting and taking his knitting everywhere he went.
This past Friday night I was watching Private Chefs of Hollywood (Food Network). Two of the chefs were wearing crocheted hats.
Can’t forget the episode of Gilmore Girls where the whole town is knitting!
The latest episode of Smallville has an old lady knitting a cable sweater in a hospital corridor. You don’t see her face, but she’s waiting outside a hospital room. She puts the knitting away and enters the room after the patient is declared dead. Then the episode ends.
Another (older) TV show for you is M*A*S*H. Several characters knit, including Hawkeye and Margaret, and it occurs in maybe half a dozen episodes.
Oooh – Don’t forget about Pushing Daisies! PI Emerson Cod and his drawer of secret sock knitting used to de-stress/relax! What a great series that was!
I love your list! But you can’t forget probably the most awesome onscreen knitter–Morticia Addams from the Addams Family. She was always either knitting for her family members or was working on that ginormous scarf that never seemed to end!
On the Canadian series Corner Gas, one of the lead characters -Emma – knits all the time. There have been at least two story lines within episodes that feature her knitting. One story is about her knitting group trying to avoid her. Another is about a contest between her and her son. He gives up caffeine and she gives up her knitting. I won’t post the outcome.
You forgot that adorable chicken in Chicken Run. Because I always have knitting needles or a crochet hook in my hands ( I take after my Grandmother), when my daughter and granddaughters saw it and the knitting chicken came on the screen they all yelled “Look it’s Grandma”
Vicky I have to tell you about another character, in a show I watch. Penelope Garcia is the resident hacker on Criminal Minds. She works for the FBI’s BAU. I have seen her knitting when she flies on the plane. I am unable to view the videos on CBS as I am not in the US. I live in Canada. Just thought I would let you know about her 🙂
Cora Shaw
Wendy– M*A*S*H is actually my all time favorite show. I posted a pic I took of Hawkeye knitting on my blog last year:
http://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2009/07/i-love-to-create-10-signs-that-you-may.html
Pam– Here’s a little fun fact for you: several of the cast members of Smallville are knitters including the actors that play Martha Kent and Lionel Luther! I interviewed them both in 2007 for my celebrity column in Knit.1 Magazine. 🙂
Nancy- Good one! I’d forgotten about Morticia knitting.
I just started watching Weeds and it seems like every woman on that show has been shown knitting something! Its awesome!!!!!
Don’t forget about Miss Marpole that famous British busy body that solves mysteries but always has knitting in her hands when she is figuring out “who done it”
What about Meryl Streep in One True Thing?
Are you on T>V> anymore? If you are what channel and time. Let me know. Jan
And Tonye Patano in the HBO show Weeds was knitting at the kitchen table in the first season also! Always awesome to spot someone really knitting in a show!
Oh and never forget Wallace and Gromit!!! That little doggie knitting is just awesome!!!!
I love the cardigan worn in the movie FARGO! Would love to have that pattern.
Mitzi,
Last year I featured Fargo on Movie Mondays with some pattern recs. You can see the post here: http://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2009/05/movie-monday-fargo.html
🙂