Details of the Unfree MAL
“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own. And I am not free as long as one person of Color remains chained. Nor is any one of you.” - Audre Lorde, “Sister Outsider”
“We knew that there could be no real sisterhood between white women and women of color if white women were not able to divest of white supremacy, if feminist movements were not fundamentally anti-racist.” - bell hooks, “Feminism is for Everybody”
In honor of Women's History Month, Stitches and String Theory is hosting a Craftivism MAL to benefit the National Women's Law Center (NWLC). The MAL features the “Unfree Shawl,” knit version designed by Rachel of Stitches and String Theory and crochet version designed by Liv Scott of NeuroStitches. Starting on March 8th, join fellow knitters and crocheters while we make the Unfree Shawl, and learn and engage in meaningful discussions about "white feminism." For five weeks, I (Rachel) will be posting discussions and case studies illustrating “white feminism” and the ways in which it fails to understand the shackles holding back women who don't fit its particular perspective.
You can follow along and participate in the #UnfreeMAL through the Unraveling Privilege Blog, Instagram, BlueSky, or Ravelry. 100% of the proceeds from all sales will be donated at the end of the MAL to the NWLC, with receipts posted to Instagram and Bluesky.
Want to join? Here’s the process:
1. Obtain the Unfree Shawl pattern (there is a knit and crochet version):
A. Knit version: Purchase the pattern from Stitches and String Theory’s Payhip, or send proof of a donation of $5 or more to the NWLC, dated between March 1, 2025 and April 5, 2025, to info@unravelingprivilege.com and you will be sent the pattern PDFs.
B. Crochet version: Purchase the pattern from NeuroStitches’ Ravelry or Etsy shops.
2. Post a photo of your WiP (Work in Progress) and/or FO (Finished Object) on either BlueSky or Instagram and make sure to tag me so I see it:
BlueSky, tagging @stitch-theory
Instagram, tagging @stitchesandstringtheory
That’s it! On April 6, at the end of the MAL, 8 winners will be chosen from everybody who posted a WiP or FO on social media to receive a free pattern from a BIPOC or queer knitting designer. One grand prize winner will be chosen from everybody who posted a FO to win a skein of yarn from Laverne Benton (BzyPeach). Please note that while discussions and information will be available on the Unraveling Privilege Blog and in the Unfree MAL Ravelry Event page, in order to be entered to win a pattern or the skein of yarn, you must post a photo of your WiP or FO on either BlueSky or Instagram and tag Stitches and String Theory.
If you’re on BlueSky, there’s a feed for the MAL so you can see everybody’s beautiful projects in one place!
A huge thank you to the wonderful designers who agreed to let me showcase their patterns as prizes: Lola Johnson (Third Vault Yarns), Françoise Danoy (The Practice of Fibre), Tian Connaughton (Knit Designs by Tian), Aimee Sher (Aimee Sher Makes), Noriko (Norichan Knits), Fatimah Hinds (Disturbing the Fleece), Harper Bee (Disyarning), and Saysha Greene (Insayshable Knits) and to Liv Scott (Neurostitches) for collaborating with me and designing the crochet version of the pattern!