Guest Post on Knitting Daily Today

Submitted by Kim Werker on 14 November 2007 - 12:28pm.

The fabulous Sandi asked me to write a guest post on Knitting Daily today, and I took the opportunity to very loosely gloss over one of my major talking points this season (and to show a couple of sneak peeks from the winter Interweave Crochet). From the look of the first dozen or so comments, some knitters found it eye-opening, some knitters are crocheters, and some knitters refuse to look past their needles in a way that resembles racism in real life. Discounting the latter as a lost cause, I must say I've really enjoyed talking to so many knitters this season. We all love the yarn, eh?

But, really, the same points are relevant to us crocheters, too. Knitters aren't the only ones who have to be gently shown that crochet is good for all things. Crocheters often harbour just as steadfast, unenlightened prejudices about the craft. I've talked to lots of crocheters who insist afghans or lace are the only way to go. Maybe because that's all the product they want at the end of a project, but it's certainly not so in the broad sense.

What do you think, oh crocheters?

PS I'm trying to figure out how to return the "comments" link for each post to the homepage of this blog. For now, please just click through to the post's permalink page and comment from there. Thanks!

PPS I hope to see you tomorrow in Burbank! I'm going to read up on the writers' strike while I wait for my plane to board.


I think there has been a lack of interesting crochet designs while there have been too many bullet-proof vests, I think that's your quote, often built up from granny squares. With rare exceptions, gag me.

Lately, much better designs are appearing like the teasers you showed from the winter edition of Interweave Crochet. Yummies. I'm eager to make some crocheted sweaters for myself after I finish, among other things, an afghan LOL.

The other difficulty with pretty crocheted tops is that they are usually lacy presenting the problem of see-through. Even straight double crochet rows can be revealing. It's nice that camisoles are still in fashion, but how long will that last? Crocheters need a simple version of knitters' stockinette stitch without subjecting themselves to the boredom of plain knitting the body of a sweater. That is one solution, but I don't find it a satisfactory solution.

As editor, please preserve us from poorly fitting garments with sleeve to shoulder seams that droop several inches down the arm on a set-in sleeve or with neck fronts so high they strangle the wearer. Banish boat necks from lazy designers that make the front match the back. I know these show up in knitted garments, too, but I hope you'll hold crochet designers to a higher standard.

Thanking you for stoking the crochet revolution.

Submitted by pauline3 on 14 November 2007 - 7:54pm.

I'm having this rather interesting experience right now, since I'm doing very traditional crochet (a doily, after someone else's pattern) to help out a French publisher I'm working with.

Let me tell you, I like garments and accessories, and working with softer material than hard-spun crochet thread about 1 million times more. Oh, if all the die-hard lace crocheters would know what they're missing! (That being said, traditional lace is a great source of inspiration.)

I also very, very much enjoy the combination of knitting and crochet in the same piece (and not necessarily using the crochet only for edging). Lots of fun and very interesting textures.

In response to pauline3, who commented above: My personal crochet equivalent of knitted stockinette stitch is hdc in the front loop only. Solid, drapey and interesting without drawing the attention away from other things. Try it!

http://www.annettepetavy.com

Submitted by Annette Petavy on 15 November 2007 - 1:03am.

Considering the source, trying that is a must! Thanks.
Pauline

Submitted by pauline3 on 15 November 2007 - 11:07am.

I think some of it goes back to the historical crochet/knit experience. My version of the crochet part is here.

http://needlesandthings.blogspot.com/2007/07/ruffle.html

But I have come to understand that it is more. I think it was also what knitting meant in some places and for a generation or more.

Knitting was work. Knitting was socks, knitting was clothing, since knitting was socks, knitting gave rise to darning. So when time came, and they had leisure time, they and their daughters left knitting behind, it was not that they left a thing, so much they left the work it meant in their day to day lives.

It sure was the way it worked in my small home town and indeed in my family. Well except for siwash sweaters, and phentex slippers in the 60's and 70's. Those were the only things commonly knit in our very small town.

I experienced the discrimination as a crocheter long before I read about it. It struck me as a very close minded attitude then, and on reading online that there was this animosity, it strikes me again as close minded.

Give me a string and some sort of pointy stick, please, with a hole at one end, or a hook, or not. This is all I ask. It is all yarn, it is all lovely, and if anyone wants to, is anyone out there designing tatted wearables? And I'm waiting for the extremely embroidered clothing (17th and 18th century) to come back into fashion too.

PS, Kim, The first two issues of Interweave crochet have been amazing. I'm very very pleased. So pleased that I might just subscribe, and I have not subscribed to a magasine of ANY kind in over 10 years.

Submitted by needles on 15 November 2007 - 1:37pm.

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