Tightly Knit

Short Synopsis

This award-winning documentary explores the story of three passionate and quirky characters obsessed with knitting. It defies the stereotype that knitting is just for grandmothers and introduces the contemporary art of yarn bombing--a form of knit graffiti.

Medium Synopsis

“Sock knitters are the first people to rip their shoes off and throw their feet in your face to show you the amazing sock that they just knit; they don’t want their pieces hidden.” "Tightly Knit" is a 16mm black and white documentary that brings to life the sub-culture of the knitting community. Three characters introduce us to this quirky world, sharing their obsession for knitting. Jasmin reveals inside lingo and the genesis of her knitting group, “The Minions with Pointy Sticks.” Laura, a knitting newbie, fully immerses herself in processing wool after loosing her job. Finally, Wonder Mike expresses his passion as an artist by setting his work free “out in the wild” through knit graffiti or “yarn bombs.” Stop-motion animation whimsically brings this practice to life as yarn wiggles its way around urban objects resulting in the ultimate “knit tag.” "Tightly Knit" defies the stereotype that knitting is just for grandmothers and brings the art into a public arena while tenderly showing the human need for a sense of belonging and community.

Screenings & Awards

Runner-up winner, Best of Student Docs, Telegraph 21, 2010

Los Angeles Film Festival, 2010
www.lafilmfest.com/2010/
Sunday, June 20, 9:45pm, Regal Cinemas #10/LA Live
Sunday, June 27, 1:30pm, Regal Cinemas #10/LA Live
1000 West Olympic Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90015 (map it)

Newport Beach Film Festival, 2011

Finalist, Urban TV Festival, Spain, 2010

Lunafest, 2010
World Premiere Season Launch of National Tour
Thursday, September 30, 2010
6pm Reception, 7:30 Screening - San Francisco, CA
Herbst Theater (map it)
Buy tickets here.
See when it is screening in your area.

San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, 2011
Exhibition June-September 2011
http://www.sjquiltmuseum.org/exhibitions.html

Usurp Art Gallery, London, 2010
November 26, 2010
More here.

Big Screen Project - New York City - 2010
October 1-3, 2010, Eventi Hotel

Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
7:30 Screening
El Rio, 3158 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA
More here.

San Francisco Film Society - Cinema By the Bay, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010, 2:00pm screening
Roxie Theater, 3117 16th St, San Francisco
Buy tickets here.

Art + Invention Student Works Festival, Stanford Institute for Creativity and the Arts (SiCa), Stanford University, 2010

"Party on the Edge" Cantor Arts Center Screening, Stanford University, 2010

Featured on Telegraph 21
Watch a two minute preview of the film
and read an interview with the director. More here.

Film Credits

Producer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor:
Jenni Nelson

Featuring:
Jasmin Canty
Laura Ogilvie
Michael Wade

Associate Producer:
Briar March

Music composed by:
Mark Smythe

Faculty Advisors:
Jamie Meltzer
Jan Krawitz

Technical Assistance:
Mark Urbanek
Christian Gainsley

Thanks to:
The Knitmore Girls Podcast
Purlescence Yarns
A Verb for Keeping Warm

Special thanks to:
Gigi Karimzadeh
Andrew Canty
Gregory McKenna
Erin Balabanian
Lisa Lowery
Rachel Debasitis
Ursula Ferrara Le Tuan
Janice Lambert
Sandi Luck
Nathania Apple
Kristine Vejar
Adrienne Rodriguez
Nam Pham
Katrina Bicknell
Carol Kramer

Produced in the Documentary Film and Video M.F.A. Program
Department of Art & Art History
Stanford University

This film was made possible by a product grant from
Kodak Motion Picture Film

© 2010 Jenni Nelson