(S)mother's love, or, baby knitting

Turney, J (2014) '(S)mother's love, or, baby knitting.' In: Moran, A and O'Brien, S, eds. Love objects : emotion, design, and material culture. Bloomsbury, London, pp. 21-30. ISBN 9780857858467

Abstract

This chapter considers the ways in which home knitted garments act as inter generational familial bonds, specifically discussing the impossibility of Mother’s love. Essentially, knitting becomes a metaphor for familial love; warmth, safety, nurturing and care. It’s symbolism we are all familiar with, yet a rather general and literal overview; when does ‘cosy’ become uncomfortable, ‘protection’, harmful and restrictive, and when does ‘mothering’ become smothering? Turney challenges the perceived benign emotion/love of the woman in a family unit, considering acts of love – of which knitting is one – as an exertion of symbolic power.

Item Type:	Book Chapter or Section
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman N Fine Arts > NK Decorative arts Applied arts Decoration and ornament
Divisions:	Bath School of Design
Related URLs:	Publisher Organisation
Date Deposited:	14 Oct 2014 12:53
Last Modified:	15 Aug 2021 09:38
URI / Page ID:	https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/5027

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