Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/22/knit_one_heil_one/
Who do you think you are, knitting Mr Hitler?
Crocheted Fuhrer bothers woolly thinkers
Posted in Bootnotes, 22nd July 2008 11:45 GMT
There's no easy way to lead into this so we'll just come right out with it - according to The Sun one can now obtain knitting patterns to create one's very own cuddly Hitler.
Everyone's favourite inflammatory informo-rag has a lovely picture of the "grotesque" yarn-based Fuhrer (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1448685.ece), who looks snug and stylish in his army-green cardi. In fact, the 20th century's most hated figure looks a little on the camp side in this incarnation, with distinctly curvy hips and a slightly floppy Nazi salute. (We find him kind of adorable, actually. Is that so wrong?)
The Sun insists that the dictator pattern, together with instructions for making a snuggly Saddam and a plush Pol Pot, is included in the new book of guerrilla-knitstress Rachael Matthews. Sadly there's no mention of 'Knitler' on her Cast Off (http://www.castoff.info/) knitting group site, nor on her Prick Your Finger (http://prickyourfinger.blogspot.com/) blog or main site (http://prickyourfinger.com) for her shop in London's Bethnal Green. However, there are plenty other naughty knitty kits to be found in her shop (http://www.castoff.info/shop.asp) including cigarettes, a grenade and um, woolly willies.
A spokesman for the Jewish Network is quoted in The Sun as saying, rather mildly: “You would hope people would have more sense than to take a cuddly Hitler into work.” Well, you would.
Matthews' existing book Hookerama (step away from the quip, please) includes patterns for flip-top mittens and a daisy fascinator as well as a fig-leaf bikini, but no historical hate figures. We'll keep you posted.
Knitlergate is the latest controversy to hit knitting, following the shocking Doctor Who Adipose scandal (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/uk_knitted_aliens_spark_doctor_who_row/html/2.stm). ®
Bootnote
If you're thinking about invoking the tedious IT-angle quibble, you can put a sock in it (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/digitalcontent/2007/11/at_last_the_iphone_youve_been.html).