Knit A Condom Amulet, the Blogzine

Today the sister blog, chicklet to A Little Red Hen, debuts.  Its life began as a zine, small paper giveaway announcing what was coming online in Knit A Condom Amulet. (Reaons for invented word "blogzine" on the new site.)

There are seven (7) free patterns for Condom Amulets by five (5) knitters you may know--Lisa Daehlin, Michelle Edwards, Amanda Gale, Kay Gardiner and me.

Why? We need new ways to start conversations about Safe Sex.   I wear a Condom Amulet to fiber festivals, meetings, and parties.  "That's pretty!" a woman comments as she peers to look closer.   "It's an amulet...a condom amulet," my reply, and another chance to explain.  Yes, I began knitting them when I learned about the crisis in HIV for women over 50.  The 50-plus women are always surprised, ask questions.

Becoming HIV-positive was Jane Fowler's wake-up call.  Hearing her in 2005 sparked my idea for the Condom Amulet Project.  Jane, whose diagnosis led to an active life as poster-woman on the issue, points out in an LA Times article this week reports that when she first knew something was wrong, her doctor

... dismissed her questions about getting tested for HIV as unnecessary for someone her age... early symptoms were [only]routine ailments of aging.

Once we accept that sexual experiences occur at all ages, the need for universal Safe Sex awareness is obvious.  Someone you know would appreciate a handknit or crocheted Condom Amulet.  Designs-- 6 in yarn, one in wire--

The ManThong Condom Amulet

Ballband Key Chain Condom Amulet

Bra and Breast Pouch Condom Amulets

100% Corn Silk from Iowa Condom Amulet

Knit Wire Bracelet (pictured above) Condom Amulet

The Princetonian Condom Amulet, from the college series

The new blogzine invites your Condom Amulet creations.  Write about it at your own site-- details HERE.  Without knowing about the new site, Samantha at the blog, Kith and Kin,  started making them, even has a category for "condom amulets." 

December One is WORLD AIDS DAY.   The global AIDS numbers are lower than had been thought, and yet, in the words of a New York Times editorial, "...stabilizing at an unacceptably high level."  The U.S. needs to do far more, to shift away providing major funding to abstinence-only programs.   WomensEnews on positions of presidental candidates is revealing.

What's happening with sex education in your community?  At subway stations this week, front page of the free paper, am New York, asked "How Young Is Too Young?" Inside, an article on a campaign by local students to convince the NYC City Council to make sex ed mandatory in all public middle and high schools.

Many thanks to my knitting friends for their patience, to Annette Segars who loaned her glamorous hand to model the Knit Wire Bracelet, to Suzi @RGENerationX, and always to ACT UP, longtime model for consciousness-raising through direct action.

Newsflash 12/7/07  Commentary by Dr. Pat at WVFC (see blogroll) on Reuters' recent article, "Older White Women Join Kenya's Sex Tourists."

Comments

[Kay]

Congrats Naomi! Best of luck with the blogzine!

xo Kay

[vuee]

This is great! all the pertinent info in one location so I can keep sending folks to you. Hooray!!

Don't forget to turn comments and trackbacks on for it, although doing spam patrol might be difficult.

I'll update my plug for you
http://theelderlies.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/love-and-respect-never-grow-old/

[MotherPie]

Way to go to be active and make a difference in a significant area. Silence is not the answer.

[marianne]

I tagged you naomi! I hope you don't mind. xoxoxo

[M.E.]

whoa! great stuff. congratulations on the blogzine!!
DC's aids statistics are skyrocketing among young, straight folks. maybe the huge expense of birth control pills will drive college age women back to condoms. when will the youngest women ever learn that pills don't prevent STDs?? I've heard all
the feeble "the guys don't like them" arguments. gee.

[Kay Dennison]

I told my teens "an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure." They listened I think. Actually, I'm not sure what they did but we had no problems so I guess they paid attention. You're doing a good thing, Naomi!!!!!!

[Joseph Negra]

Your work is wonderful. Safe sex is a great concern for us as we deal with many younger people into various scenes. I wish you well on your blogzine and love the knit condom amulet!!
RGENerationX and myself are also excited to see your work displayed. The pix look great. RGENerationX is very proud of Suzi Kim's work. She has been a valuable asset to the company as an in-house artist.

Ciao!
Joseph Negra
Founder/ Owner, RGENerationX