I'm home again from my trip to Seattle! I'll share a full trip recap next week, but this is just a quick check-in, as I'm still dragging a bit. I had a list of crafty places I hoped to visit, but when you're the only stitcher/sewist/maker/crafter in a group of four people, you might only get to stop at the yarn shop that you happened to walk by.
So Much Yarn in the Pike Place Market area of Seattle is a great little shop with lots of beautiful yarns, and I enjoyed my visit very much. But just because I craft, does not make me a knitter. This seems to surprise folks, one of whom is my brother.
As we walked through the store, he commented on the things I knit, and how much I must love the place. Although I've explained that I CAN knit (though I rarely do), he somehow sees knitting as the universal craft. Does he notice that I hold fabric and thread in my hands, rather than yarn and needles? I'm not sure what he thinks I've been knitting!
He's not the only one to make this mistake, however. When I try to explain what it is I do, many people use knitting as the go-to craft. I suppose it's one that people are more familiar with.
While we're on the topic of knitting and Seattle, I did get to see these knitted props from the Walkie Talkie Man music video whilst visiting the EMP (the exhibit closes next week). A crew of knitters made everything (including some instruments which weren't on display), then animators used them for some live-action and stop-motion animation. Awesome, right?
But with its embroidery and coconuts with faces, this Architecture in Helsinki music video is more my style. Crafts plus music are a good thing however they are made!
So here's my question: Do people ever expect that you do a particular craft when they hear that you make things?
Oh, yes! I sew a lot of different things, but people are always surprised when I tell them I don't know how to knit. Crochet, yes. Knitting, no. At least not yet.
ReplyDeleteI embroider, and sew things like snack bags and purses and tea towels and occasional simple skirts for my daughter. People often ask me to make curtains for them and are genuinely confused when I try to explain that curtains are a totally different animal!
ReplyDeleteWhat I usually run into is if someone learns I knit, then I *must not* crochet (which I do). I think some people think it's sacrilegious to do both. ;o) Even worse, I think *I* used to be one of those people!
ReplyDeletePeople are shocked when they find out that I don't knit or crochet. I love needle point and sewing. Can't cast off without ruining things.
ReplyDeleteI knit and crochet and quite often to the public eye they are interchangeable.
ReplyDeleteIt also confuses a lot of people because I almost exclusively use circular needles, and will knit in the round. If you don't know a knitter and have only seen pictures of straight needles then it can be quite puzzling.
I knit in public a lot and have heard most of the questions. I've also had people insist that I'm not knitting when doing magic loop!
I design patterns for crafts and quilts....I don't crochet or knit...and yes people think I should knit and crochet. They also think since I sew...I should make a wedding dress for a friend.....crazy! The weirdest thing I was asked was if I could make dream catchers with leather.....my style is the total opposite of natural type crafts. People just don't understand! lol
ReplyDeleteIt was really interesting to read the comments above.
ReplyDeleteIt is the same thing over here in germany.
I make watercolour paintings, crochet, startet knitting in fall and do a bit of sewing.
People sometimes ask me to paint them something nice. After asking them which amount they would pay for a picture they like a lot, they answer me: 'nothing. Isn't it fun you doing it for?' Be sure these people are not worth getting one of my pictures.
I think that most people (that don't craft or do some of this creative work) do not see what it takes to hold a hand made unique piece of art in your hand which is made of various ingredients and a huge amount of time.
I love to talk to people that appreciate the creative and hand made work.
Have a nice day. Angela
Being a quilter and crafter people assume I make a lot of the things I wear and ask me constantly.
ReplyDeleteI am going to Seattle next month - do you want to share your crafty to-visit list?
Yes! Friends always tag me in knitting / crochet stuff on Facebook and I have no idea how to do either. :P I sew toys and I can do embroidery and sew skirts & pants. I did use yarn as doll hair once.
ReplyDeleteHaha, yes! I sew and quilt and people are always asking me to do repairs ("I'll pay you!")--yech!
ReplyDeleteI do knit but only on a Knifty Knitter (circle loom) and I make men's chemo hats!!
I make ceramics and people tend to think I must paint as well. My own mom, who has seen pretty much everything I have made and knows all the classes I have taken, sent me a photo of some wine glasses with winter scenes painted on them a few weeks before Christmas asking if I can make a few sets for her to give to friends.... nope, sure can't. I love her but really?
ReplyDeleteI knit and sew and smock and embroider and do all sorts of things but I do not do alterations. Ever. I take our alterations to a lovely shop that specializes in alterations. I am amazed when people get insulted when they ask me to alter something and I explain that I do not even do my own alterations. Why would I want to replace the zipper in their skirt when I do not replace zippers in my own clothes? Why is this such a difficult idea to accept?!
ReplyDeleteI am heading to Seattle area in a couple of weeks. My daughter and family live there. So she asked on the phone the other day if I did alterations! I said no to that and also said I am a quilter!
ReplyDeleteNon sewers-quilters-crafters-knitters-crocheters don't have ANY idea what we do, and why we do it! it is NOT all the same! And Angela in Germany's comment, that someone would want her to paint something nice for them for free- wow! Would they- or anyone go to a store & ask for something for free?? And yet- that is what lots of our friends & family do. I hope they are doing it without realizing how awful it sounds...
ReplyDeleteAll the time. I can be knitting in public and get "Oh, you crocheting?" Or doing some embroidery "My Grandmother did needlepoint too." I try to be polite. I really do try, but have always felt the need to correct anyone that I think is wrong. I am a Virgo. So I reply, "I am knitting" and "this is embroidery." And ignore them afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI often find that people are amazed that I don't draw. They seem to equate the ability to craft with the ability to draw. There are also a lot of people who are surprised that while I embroider/cross-stitch and knit I don't crochet. (Yet).
ReplyDeleteI mainly embroider but I dabble in knitting, sewing, crochet, quilting and diy. But I don't scrapbook and I don't want to scrapbook (great for you, not for me sort of thing) but people are like ooh it's got a great craft section and there is one embroidery book, on a good day... It does bring lots of opportunities to introduce people to needlecraft though :)
ReplyDeleteI just came across your blog and love it!
ReplyDeleteI'm from the puget sound too :) and I totally feel you on this subject! I actually work at a yarn shop... But I'm not a knitter! I know how and I've done several knitting projects throughout my life but my craft of choice involves fabric and thread. Cross stitch, embroidery and sewing is where it's at!