Knitting Activist Sophie Frank on Community, Creativity, and Crime Films
Sophie Frank, a Vienna-based influencer and founder of BITTE MACH DAS, is fostering a growing knitting community in Austria through workshops, events, and a unique blend of craft and culture. What began as a personal pursuit during a period of change has evolved into a creative and unifying activity for hundreds.
From Lockdown Hobby to Collective Movement
Frank discovered knitting during the first lockdown, coinciding with the arrival of her child and her partner’s frequent travel for work. Seeking a personal outlet, she rekindled a skill first learned in her teens, largely self-taught. Today, while still knitting for herself, Frank focuses on the collective aspect of the craft. She launched an open knitting event four years ago, held every third Tuesday of the month at the “Food Without Borders” restaurant near the Yppenmarkt.
Needles & Crime: Knitting with a Dark Twist
Expanding on her community-building efforts, Frank introduced the “Needles & Crime” series in March 2025, hosting collective knitting sessions at the Admiral Kino cinema. These events, held on the last Monday of each month, combine the meditative practice of knitting with screenings of crime films – a deliberate departure from the typical romantic comedies often shown at knitted cinema evenings. “From Agatha Christie to Promising Young Woman,” Frank explains, the film selection has been “extremely well received,” with events frequently selling out.
The Rise of Knitting and the Power of Community
Frank attributes the growing popularity of knitting to a surge in interest since the pandemic, fueled in part by knitting influencers like Sophie Scar, a Danish designer whose small bandanas are popular in Vienna’s sixth and seventh districts. She also notes that knitting provides a welcoming space for those who may not be naturally extroverted, observing that many attendees share they’ve long wanted to join but hesitated. For Frank, knitting remains a “catalyst for mental health,” offering a meditative and grounding experience akin to walking.
“Please Do That”: A Growing Creative Business
Frank is now formalizing her work under the label “Please Do That,” designing knitting instructions, organizing workshops, and hosting collective knitting events. Each knitting pattern takes approximately two months to develop, including testing for clarity and functionality, and is sold for around six euros. She emphasizes modern knitting techniques, avoiding the demand for extensive sewing after completion.
Speed Knitting and Future Exhibitions
Looking ahead, Frank plans to launch regular speed knitting events starting March 18th, inspired by speed dating. Participants will rotate between tables, each adding to a collaborative knitting project. She also envisions an exhibition showcasing the creations of her community, encouraging knitters to display their work with pride. Frank has already presented her designs at Vienna Fashion Week.
Advice for Beginners
Frank advises aspiring knitters to avoid starting with a scarf, calling it “unhappy” and time-consuming. Instead, she recommends choosing a project you’ll genuinely enjoy and wear, finding instructions that match your desired outcome. “Then you have a nice sense of achievement.” She points out that knitting extends far beyond sweaters and hats, citing her recent creation of a pair of pleated trousers as an example.
Learn more about Sophie Frank and BITTE MACH DAS at www.bitte-mach-das.com.