Lace and Labor: Lessons from the actual Luddites
2 days ago
- Fear of automation and movements like 'trad wives' and 'America First' are not new; they echo historical anxieties about machines replacing jobs.
- Knitting and crochet have deep labor histories: knitting began as a medieval male profession, and socks spurred the knitwear industry.
- The invention of the framework knitting machine by Reverend William Lee led to the gradual decline of handknitting as a livelihood.
- Hand knitting transitioned to a leisure activity for Victorian upper-class women, while crochet became popular for its machine-proof lace-making ability.
- Modern fast fashion uses machines to imitate crochet; tips to differentiate real crochet include examining stitch thickness and fabric inside out.
- Ethical brands like R. Swaider and Old Stone Trade support hand crocheters, preserving traditional craft.
- A listener criticizes the podcast's use of AI voices for satire, arguing it undermines the message about human-made work and echoes unchecked technology.