There was a thread recently on Ravelry asking if crochet is getting more popular on that site. Apparently, there are quite a few crochet patterns on the New and Popular section cropping up. Of course, in the thread, there were quite a few crocheters Rah Rah Rahing about the awesomeness that is crochet. And then you had some knitters who were trying to hide their, "Say it ain't so!" while they ran to double check the New and Popular patterns.
I think it's a bunch of hooey. It's quite ridiculous this whole, "Us vs. Them" mentality that crops up between knitters and crocheters. I giggle to myself when I think about it since I have a very vivid imagination (shocking, I know). I keep picturing 2 sides of wild-eyed, tangle-haired, fiber wielding women- half carrying pointy sticks and half carrying not-so pointy hooks. They rush onto the battleground screaming, "For our frrrrreedom!" in heavy Scottish brogues as they flash their cojones to each other by lifting their knitted or crocheted kilts. There's blood! There's tears! There are even dismembered digestive systems! However, ultimately, the kilts are the winners.
This was my response to the thread:
A couple of my projects have been recipients of some comments like that (“Wow, I didn’t know you could do that with crochet” or “I would learn crochet just to make that”). Unfortunately, crochet has earned it’s ugly red-headed stepchild reputation (darn the 70’s!!). However, there are some amazing things being done with crochet and some wonderful patterns that are coming out to hopefully bring people over to the dark side….err….to become hookers…..umm…..to try crochet. ;). Not to take away from knitting, but to open up eyes and minds to the different possibilities out there for appeasing this strange and urgent primal need to work and express ourselves with fibers. Whether with hooks or sticks, that’s what it boils down to. It’s all about the fiber.
First off, if you happen to be an ugly red-headed stepchild, then I must say.....sucks to be you! HA! Secondly, if you've read my blog long enough, you know that I'm a nutritionist and that I'm all about the fiber. I've said it before and I'll say it again: a clean colon is a happy colon. However, in this case, I'm talking about a wholly different kind a fiber. Yummy and good for you all the same. The fiber that we use- whether acrylic, wool, or some sort of Frankenstein blend of anything that can be made into string- is what is makes us all light headed and breathless. I don't go into the craft store to stare googly eyed at the crochet hooks. I go to pet and drool over the yarn and dream about what I can create with it. FIBER folks.
I love crocheting. However, it's just by the luck of the draw that I picked up the hook rather than the sticks. In 2007, at the same time I picked up a "Teach Yourself to Crochet" packet at Walmart, I also picked up a "Teach Yourself to Knit" packet. For whatever reason, I ripped apart the Crochet one first. I just connected with it instantaneously and the rest, quite frankly, is history. Eventually, I did open up the knitting kit and I even tried it out. (Gasp, shock and horrors!) I actually knitted a washcloth early last year:
Yes, my friends. I can both knit AND purl! And, yes, I do become more awesome by the minute. Granted, my "square" dishcloth does look more rhomboid, but it's a dishcloth nonetheless.
A few lessons I learned with this dishcloth:
1) Knitting takes for freakin' EVAH to do. It took me nearly a week to knit that scrawny little thing! In comparison, it took me nearly a week to crochet this:
1a) Ok, ok. If I actually took the time needed to master the art of knitting, it probably wouldn't take me so long. However, I'm extremely impatient. Extremely. That's why it made me laugh when folks said I must be so patient to have crocheted my Mario blanket. No- not patient- just crazily obsessed. Extremely impatient, crazy, and obsessed. About sums me up.
2) Knitting makes a really stretchy fabric. I really like the way this dishcloth feels. Knitting does make a really nice fabric and is great for making wearables. I truly would like to be able to knit myself a sweater. However, check 1a again.
3) Even though most people say that Continental knitting (or "picking") would be easier for crocheters to learn since you hold the yarn in your left hand as you do for crocheting, I could not get the hang of it for anything. Throwing the yarn seemed so much more of a fit for me. Goes to show you that most people actually don't know anything and generally just talk out of their butt about everything.
4) If I had the time to practice knitting, I would. I just have so many crochet projects running through my head and not enough time to get them fleshed out so knitting sits on the back burner. Also, read 1a again.
I think it's unfortunate that there are some knitters who thumb their noses at crochet. However, as I said earlier, crochet has not had the best of reputations. When people think of crochet, they usually picture orange, avocado, and yellow granny square or ripple afghans or little old ladies making a plethora of doilies that nobody is going to use. I am proud to have some projects that have shone a positive light on this wonderful craft. It's not just for old ladies to make tacky home accessories. It can be cool and fun and ART.
However, we as crocheters have to do our part to continually show the world the awesomeness of our craft. Designers need to keep making new and beautiful items that will continue to make people (including knitters) think, "Wow! I want to learn how to do that!"
ETA: I'm not saying that doilies aren't art, as well. Have you seen some of those thread crochet projects?? Check this out!
ETA: I'm not saying that doilies aren't art, as well. Have you seen some of those thread crochet projects?? Check this out!
Stop making so many lousy granny square projects in tacky colors! Use something other than pastels for gifts! Use colors and textures and designs that may challenge you! If you make a purse, line it and put attractive handles on it! The finishing of an object makes all the difference in the world. I LOVE it when I'm wearing one of my purses and someone asks where I bought it from. They gasp and just can't believe that it was handmade. That's the way it should be, folks. If you find that people don't like your handmade gifts, stop thinking they're being ungrateful and take a cold, hard look at what you're giving them. Are the colors tacky? Is the workmanship shoddy? It doesn't matter if you spent a week making that baby blanket- nobody is going to appreciate a piece of crap no matter how much "love" was put into it.
If you are a beginner, then this does not apply to you. We all have to start out somewhere. Look at my knitted dishcloth- a total piece of poo, I know. Believe me, I have had my fair share of rotten crochet projects, as well. However, as your skills improve, don't just get stuck in the same old row after row of dc projects. Branch out and try something new!
I do think that the whole "us vs. them" thing is ridiculous. However, I am a crocheter and I love my craft. I don't want someone thumbing their nose at me just because I bring a dull hook into battle. I want to show them that I can totally kick their arse with my weapon of choice.
How about you?
