Where My Stitches At?: Meet the Memphis Knit Mafia

Share This:

Where My Stitches At?: Meet the Memphis Knit Mafia

Memphis isn't really known for its mob ties, but there's one group in town that you should be aware of.

Maybe you've seen them out, huddled in a corner of a restaurant, heads bowed, looking hard at their hands. You may have noticed their distinctive, colorful tags on buildings all over town. They look something like this:

Memphis Knit Mafia tag at Cafe Eclcetic

The tags are the work of the Memphis Knit Mafia, the cutest familia in Memphis.

Forget your assumptions about a group of public knitters. The women of the Memphis Knit Mafia are young professionals, mothers, and students. They love barbecue tofu nachos, foul language and Malabrigo yarn. And, they meet weekly to work on socks, scarves, sweaters, shawls and hats in bars and coffee shops.

April Blankenship, hard at work on a sock.

The group was founded in the spring of 2008. Like any good gang, the women of the Memphis Knit Mafia are super close. They rarely invite outsiders to their meet ups, and new members are added based on personality, not skill. (Their online community, however, is open to all.)

If you'd like to check out the Memphis Knit Mafia's work, there are tags at Cafe Eclectic and Republic Coffee.

Comments Make Us Happy

15
Leave a Comment
The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
About text formats
A
They don't allow anyone new to join their group even if they have knitting experience and their online community seems to just be a lot of them discussing when and where they are going to meet up. Could you recommend a similiar group that's a little more community oriented and a little less stuck on themselves?
July 28, 2010 12:05pm
Christiana
I hear there is a group at Cafe Eclectic on Tuesdays. They'll take ANYbody.
July 28, 2010 1:09pm
Christy
They volunteered to help MGLCC decorate at Prom and support a lot of other non profits (donating knitting projects for auction, attending events, etc). They heavily support and promote local businesses too. Does not get more "community oriented" than that.
July 28, 2010 1:15pm
Papatya
There is a OPEN group that meets at Cafe Eclectic on every Tuesday night, starting at 6:30. We do not discriminate on basis of pregnancy, breast-feeding, race, or creed. We are experts as well as novices. The Cafe welcomes us with a reserved table and our own special wait-person. Please email me at [email protected] if you are interested in receiving weekly reminders. We look forward to meeting you!
July 28, 2010 1:58pm
Christiana
The only thing the Memphis Knit Mafia discriminates against is crappy attitudes. We are thrilled to be surrounded by wonderful friends. We are also excited that there are multiple knitting groups in town so that there is a place for every personality. Now get out there and knit!
July 28, 2010 2:55pm
Rocky Balboa
I was once in a knit group that discriminated against Apollo Creed. That man and I may have had differences in the ring, but no one was going to discriminate against him at a knit group and keep me as a member!
July 28, 2010 3:22pm
Jenny
Be on the look out. I see a future North MS Knitting group!!! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Southaven-MS/BeanieMaster/132585820110110?ref=search
July 28, 2010 3:58pm
Sarah
Muddy's Bake Shop is also tagged. It's on the floor lamp.
July 28, 2010 4:26pm
HMD
Hope saying so doesn't mean I have a "crappy attitude," but IMO I kind of agree with A.. I checked out their online community and it's just them asking each other where they will meet this week, or one or two people posting stuff. I don't see a bunch of tags or any cool projects going on.. not sure why they even set it up like that. They should just set up a private group thing. Seems like just a group of friends who get together to knit every week more than a real knit mafia. When you check out the links they have, it seems to be just two or three people and their outside projects. Check out knittaplease for the real deal- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQQoAaY0yRo
July 28, 2010 4:40pm
Christiana
@Sarah And Pearls, Minglewood, Gus's, there are a few others hidden around town too! Thanks for noticing! Knitta, Please is a huge influence! Love them! Come on Jenny and the North Ms Allstars! Bring it!
July 28, 2010 11:10pm
Lynsey
Excuse me for saying so but we do not discriminate against mothers or whatever that statement said. We do however want a child free environment for lots of reasons. Some of us have tried for years to have kids and don't really want a baby propped up on a table like a damn Christmas tree while we knit. We tried to delicately say that but apparently that makes us bad people. I'll continue to be a bad person if that means protecting the tender heart of friends over the whim of someone I had just met. We are a closed group because we are just big enough to try new places. This city is big enough for all groups. It's not a war or turf battle from our perspective and we surely don't sit around and discuss the other groups. Best of luck to everyone even if they can't or won't understand our personal decisions. And yes our facebook page looks boring but it's not about you seeing our stuff. Go to ravelry for that. We never claimed to be graffiti artists.
July 29, 2010 9:13am
Papatya
You just contradicted yourself Lynsey. Also, see Quote #5 above. It seems the group does not share the philosophy. I'm glad there is still free thought out there. With the utmost respect and warmth for you, Papatya
July 29, 2010 3:20pm
Rocky Balboa
Knit group censorship is the worst.
July 30, 2010 9:48am
Brenda
Are there any groups that meet in or near the Cordova or Collierville area?
May 14, 2014 5:51pm
BOGO Shrek Tic…
[...] Christiana is the development director at Opera Memphis, so she chose to have me take her picture in the costume shop with this fabulous hat (complete with fake bird). She’s also one of the founders of the city’s coziest mob, the Memphis Knit Mafia. [...]
January 13, 2011 12:06pm

You Might Also Like