During the summer of 2016 Knitche, Inc. ran an Art for Peace Initiative against gun violence. The goal was to raise funds for programs assisting people living in Chicago’s most violent neighborhoods and to raise awareness regarding the level of gun violence in our community at large.

We developed patterns for knitted and crocheted guns and donated all proceeds from pattern sales (a total of $1500) to Chicago’s Off The Street Club (www.offthestreetclub.com) OTSC, a long-standing organization that seeks to provide positive role models and make a difference in the lives of adolescents living in the Chicago neighborhoods most directly affected by gun violence. Guns crafted from these patterns (a total of 76) were then returned to the shop for inclusion in the public Art for Peace installation currently on display in our shop window.

FAQs
Why are you crafting guns? We are crafting these solely for inclusion in the art installation against gun violence. The knitted and crocheted guns are arranged in a collage in the formation of a peace symbol, for display in the Chicago area. The $10 pattern charge is a fundraiser for OTSC and is meant to deter any other use of the pattern.