WE CAME OF AGE IN THE 1980S. THAT SHOULD EXPLAIN A LOT RIGHT THERE.
as teens in suburban new jersey, we were hit by the raw energy and subversive style of punk. we idolized everything from the u.k. we watched the young ones, listened to punk and new wave, and even adopted the occasional british accent. we read bogey’s and smash hits, receiving them by mail weeks after their publication. our hair colors changed monthly. our parents groaned accordingly. we spent all of our money on concerts, and in the true spirit of punk rock, we ripped our clothes, took apart our seams, affixed safety pins, and painted our leather and denim jackets. we tore runs in our stockings, wore combat boots with skirts, and created looks all our own.
we stood out among our peers, and not always in a good way. some people thought we were a little strange, two of the few teenage girls in our high school who didn’t have big perms or macy’s credit cards. we didn’t care. because we didn’t want to look like everyone else, like those who shopped at the local malls and followed cookie-cutter dictates.
on weekends we hopped the train to new york city and soaked in the brilliant sights and sounds. overwhelmed, with blisters on our feet, we always went home exhausted yet inspired. punk-rock style has always appealed to us because of its edgy, do-it-yourself nature. we could take styles we admired and change them, making them our own.
we began knitting together eleven years ago, long before needles and yarn became fashion accessories seen on movie sets and soho streets. sure, we began with the standard scarves and hats. we were novices. but soon we realized that our knitting skills didn’t have to limit our expression or creativity. we took an unorthodox approach and experimented with outrageous colors, materials, and yarn textures. our creations were often bold in design, unlike most things in the mainstream knitting world. they were sexy, different, and fun, and when we wore our works, we were inevitably asked where we’d bought them. there are few things as satisfying as saying, “i made it myself.”
that’s why we started our knitting venture, knit-head, and that’s how we came to write this book. in pretty in punk, we offer twenty-five original knit-head designs that even the most novice knitter can whip up—from hats that give you an instant mohawk hairdo to accessories that highlight your quirky side, from gothic-inspired styles to anglo-themed designs! you can make miniskirts, corsets, neckties, and more. we encourage you to follow our lead, duplicate us where you want, but remember to inject your own personality into everything you do. punk, in any art form, is about individuality.
SO HAVE A GO AT IT. RELEASE YOUR INNER ROCK STAR. ALL YOU NEED IS TWO STICKS AND A BALL OF YARN. ♥