So, today, while I was walking home from the auto repair shop after dropping off my sick car, I began to think about this coming Monday being the last day of my daughter’s winter break. The break was extended a single day because January 21 is Martin Luther King Day.
When I was actively involved with the Learning Centers I started for teens in substance abuse recovery, we always had class on Martin Luther King Day. The kids always complained and I told them we held class TO HONOR Dr. King. Why? They always protested. Because, I told them, if he was here for us to ask him – video games or school work, sleeping in or school work, drugs and alcohol or school work – he would definitely have responded SCHOOL WORK!
I’m just a white, middle aged mom, but I loved the things Dr. King had to say. His overriding message, at least to me, was one of peace. So, in my two mile stroll home (all uphill, no kidding!), I began to see an image of a peace sign crocheted in colors to represent all the races in the US (well, in the world, I guess). I ‘saw’ the black, white, brown, yellow, and red (copper) crocheted peace sign that I thought would be a great way to honor Dr. King day – to honor all of us.
So, here’s my first attempt to crochet my vision. It’s not very pretty. I figured I needed to have a peace sign to crochet over – it would work better that way. A simple rigid plastic or metal peace sign would have been a perfect place to start, but, alas, I didn’t have one at home – and no car to go find one. Next best thing that I could find at home was some wire. The wire I used was like floral wire and I used a double strand. I made a circle, using a water glass to make the first part of the peace sign. Then I bent the wire around to create the center bar and finally another piece to make the angled ‘wings’.
I then scoured my stash for the right colors. Didn’t want to use a bright white, so I used scraps of RH soft white, some elderly and pretty thin acrylic ‘no name’ black, and scraps of the other colors from partial skeins lacking their wrappers. I used an F hook and just single crocheted around, covering most ends with my stitches. The wire shape deforms somewhat during the crochet process, but it bends back just fine. I’ll use a simple safety pin to affix the peace sign to my sweater Monday. I’m hoping to find a metal or plastic peace sign to create a neater finished product before Monday.
Pattern:
Way simple. With the worsted weight yarn (white) it took 15 single crochets to cover the first half of the circle. The thinner black yarn took 30 stitches. I worked both sides of the center post with the brown worsted weight yarn, hooking into one stitch at the top and bottom of the round. the copper and yellow are worsted weight, each about 5 stitches on both sides of the ‘post’.
The whole thing took me less than an hour from first concept to finished product – humble and imperfect though it may be. It helps to have a huge stash. Now, I just have to get a car so I can get to Hobby Lobby to find a ‘real’ peace sign to crochet over.
I offer this idea to all of you for your personal use. If you can sell some for pin money – go for it! Give the money to charity and please credit me with the idea if you post this pattern or idea anywhere else.
I would LOVE to see photos of everyone’s MLK Peace Sign. I’m sure many of you will make cleaner, stronger versions than mine. Please share!
WELL, SHARON, I CAN’T DISPUTE YOUR HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE I HAVEN’T RESEARCHED IT. I’M NOT CHRISTIAN EITHER, BUT I HAVE RESPECT FOR CHRISTIANITY AS WELL AS OTHER RELIGIONS. I WILL ADD THAT I KNOW THAT THE MEANING OF SYMBOLS CHANGES OVER TIME – OR ARE CHANGED. THE MUCH HATED SWASTIKA WAS, AT ONE TIME, A SYMBOL OF PEACE IN ANCIENT HINDU PRACTICE. THE BUDDHA USED IT TOO – AS HE WAS A HINDU. I CERTAINLY DO NOT WISH TO OFFEND CHRISTIANS OR ANY FOLLOWERS OF DR. KING, OF WHOM I CONSIDER MYSELF ONE. BUT, I STAND BEHIND MY CHOICE OF THE USE OF THE PEACE SYMBOL. I WAS A YOUNGSTER DURING THE 1960’S WHEN THIS PEACE SYMBOL WAS A WELL RECOGNIZED SYMBOL OF JUST THAT – PEACE. THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT.
jd
I’m very uncomfortable with any use of this symbol, especially relating to Martin Luther King, Jr. who was a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Perhaps you aren’t aware of the origin of this “peace” symbol. Here’s a brief synopsis:
The “peace symbol” has occult or anti-Christian associations and was used for a symbol of death. A fifth century illustration depicts St. Peter crucified upside down in this shape. The inverted crucifix was known for centuries as the “Nero cross,” from the Roman reign of Emperor Nero (54-68 A.D.) who persecuted, tortured, and murdered Christians throughout his reign. In the middle ages the “Nero cross”: was adapted by Satanists for use in rituals.
As a pastor, I don’t believe Dr. King would approve of such a symbol used in the celebration of his life.
Some “food for thought” as they say.
KEN,
AS USUAL, YOU BRING A PLEASING PERSPECTIVE. YOU’RE ALWAYS SO POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE. THANKS FOR YOUR KIND WORDS.
jd
JD,
I like the fact that you were inspired enough to actually try to think up something as a sign of respect for the man and what he stood for.
Too many people just offer lip service, few actually try to do something.
If we just share’s one’s own thoughts towards what he stood for, that’s half the battle.
I applaud you….
ALAS, I went to Hobby Lobby and could find no metal or plastic peace sign charms. I’ll have to look farther afield and won’t have time to do that before this Monday – Martin Luther King Day. However, if and when I find one, I’ll crochet around it and post it here – so please check back.
jd