Quite an unfortunate choice of names for the show.

What I want from my LYS:
-Realize that it's not all about knitting. Crocheters are people too.
-Room to move. Yes, it's lovely to have so much yarn in one place, but being able to get around comfortably (especially for us "fluffy" folks) is also important.
-Accessible for *everyone*! Wheelchair access, no stairs, etc (see also above)
-Books all in one place and organized, rather than racks in various places, and knitting and crochet books in the same stack.

I have to agree with gewurztraminer. Given the public outcry of crochet hate on Knitting Daily after your post and the subsequent movement for crocheters to unsubscribe to the newsletter, I would be concerned. I would strongly encourage you and Liz and Shay to sit down with management and discuss the name and public expectations further. Mixing crafts under an inappropriately used "umbrella" term of knitting may end up alienating subscribers/purchasers and potential subscribers/purchasers of all four magazines.

What I want from an LYS? Crocheted swatches of the yarn for sale to examine and abuse before buying and learning that the yarn isn't really what I had expected.

And I rather agree with gewurztraminer and Sleepycat. It's not that I would stay away from the show because it's named "Knitting Daily TV", the name just sort of implies one thing and not the three things it's meant to showcase. It'll anger the knitters-only faction and keep crocheters who don't read "Knitting Daily" and this blog away.

A question: is it really going to be daily? Because that is 260 shows (if we exempt weekends), and I'm hardly one to start a riot, but if a show calls itself daily and isn't, I'm likely to hold my copy of "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" for solace and then go find some DVDs to watch when the "daily" aspect ends.

In my LYS I'd like to see more crochet tools, primarily hooks. The closest LYS has those nice aluminum hook/plastic handle Clover hooks, but I'd like to see some of the beautiful wooden hooks. I'm ready to splurge, but I don't know where to buy except on-line.

Made-up knitted garments and accessories like scarves, all luscious and drool-worthy, are on display to tempt the shopper. The LYS should have a number of equally lovely crocheted garments as well as accessories to inspire the shopper.

I have to agree with Sleepycat too. While the show would likely be very interesting for crocheters, weavers, and spinners, because it is called "KNITTING Daily TV" the majority of us will assume that we arent wanted just like the comments on Knitting Daily implied.

As far as what I want from my LYS it would be:

1. More luxury crochet hooks

2. More crochet knowledge from the staff

3. More intermediate crochet classes (maybe even an advanced one eventually)

4. More crochet books & patterns. And not just quantity but quality.

5. Samples of crochet garments/accessories/swatches/etc. Seeing the yarn knitted up really doesnt help me know if I want to buy it.

and I think that would be a good start.

-Jennifer Reeve

http://www.craftkitten.etsy.com

http://www.craftkitten.com

http://www.craftkitten.blogspot.com/

What do I want as a crocheter? A little bit of respect. This Knitting Daily TV is just another instance of "crocheters are an afterthought (but give us your money anyway)." I can't fault my LYS for not stocking more crochet tools and patterns, being as I don't think I've ever seen another crocheter there, but I can and do fault the big kahunas who, every time numerous crocheters ask for products for them, give us a song and dance about why we can't have it and why we'd better be content with three mentions a year in Knitting Daily.

The Mad Crocheter
http://madcrocheter.blogspot.com/

While I applaud the new show, I have to agree with the previous comments and wonder what was wrong with the word "needlearts"? It conveys just that, unlike the word "knitting". I wonder how may crocheters and spinners will lose their way and not know to check out a "knitting" show because... um... it's not all knitting? Another vote for a new name here.

As far as LYS's my personal experience has been good, and I have no major gripes. One thing I would really LOVE to see, though, are crocheted swatches right next to the knit ones. And ones that are thoughtfully done, not just using the same mm hook as needle (cuz it doesn't always work best that way).

Premium hooks might be nice, more crochet patterns (good ones, not the same stuff over and over), etc, would of course all be nice too.

The idea of calling a show "Knitting Daily TV" and advertising that it will incorporate all mediums does grate on my nerves a bit but I can bet that there will be a lot fewer complaints from the "unmentionable" crafts than there will be from the die-hard fans of the prized feature. I hope that my local PBS station does carry it. Right now, I have to record Shay Pendray's current show on some random satellite station at 2:00 am.

On to what I like in a true Crochet-Friendly LYS:

1. More crocheted swatches. While I have an active imagination, it's not quite enough to constantly be forced to picture what an inviting yarn might look like crocheted. Plus, it can give the inexperienced crocheter the chance to see what the yarn can look like in the proper gauge.

2. Don't relegate the crochet hooks and sundries to the back of the store. I don't like feeling like the unwanted second cousin when I'm searching for a decent hook and often much needed tools of the trade.

3. Increase the amount of crocheted shop samples. I'm sure that every LYS, even if they would care not to mention it, have crocheters that frequent and would love to assist, if only asked.

4. Offer more advanced or lengthy crochet classes, similar to a crochet-along, such as for garments or socks. I don't want to take a class on how to put squares together for a tote. I want to be able to make a beautiful, flattering garment with guidance and classes such as those are hard to come by.

I'm with everyone above who questions the name of this show, and I'm hoping the Interweave people will rethink this. Judging from the horrible crochet hate the last time Kim posted on Interweave, it seems like if there is a whiff of non-knitting content, it will tick off many knitters who will then feel cheated because they expected all knitting content because of the name, as they did with the newsletter. Then if there is another flap about non-knitting content on the show, this will then tick off many people who crochet, weave or spin but don't knit, and there will be more people vowing not to watch. It's sad, but it's the way it seems to be in the crafting world right now, at least among a very vocal minority.

People seem to take these terms super-literally now, and "knitting" means "knitting", not "any kind of craft that can be done with yarn or that entails making yarn". And some people have such a sense of entitlement (not that I think that's right, but it's the way things are) where even if something is free, if they feel it has been misnamed because it didn't totally contain the content they expected, they will make a fuss.

And as a crocheter I'm so sick of seeing knitterly hate towards crochet. Maybe that makes me a wimp, but why invite it by giving something a title with the word "knitting" in it, and then including stuff that is not knitting?

Couldn't this show be called something inclusive, even if it is is going to be heavier on knitting content?

Here's what I would like: some visual and merchandising acknowledgement that crochet is just as valid an art form as knitting. Even my favorite LYS in Fresno, CA. only has a handful of hooks and very few patterns/pattern books. And this is the most crochet-friendly LYS I've been able to find anywhere!

Also: So many LYS I've come across only carry the super pricey yarns. Why not a mix of the to-die-for mohair kid blends and the tried and true acrylics/acrylic blends. I wouldn't step foot in a big box craft store if I could find an LYS that stocked Red Heart or Caron or Lion.

I'm sure I'm repeating what others have said, but, you asked! :)

Dewi

I just read everyone else's comments and I totally agree -- you crochet mavens rule! It's strange to me that the show would be called "Knitting Daily" if they are hoping to attract other craftsters. It would never occur to me to watch a show by that title because I don't know how to knit. I don't ever assume things with "knit" in the title are going to have anything to do with crochet because, generally, they don't.

Dewi

I would say a LYS should have some (even minimal) knowledge of crochet. For example, knowing that crochet takes more yarn (is there a simple formula to use? probably not...). And for example, saying that yarn is "only for knitting" (huh??).

And yes, having some nicer hooks, designer patterns, more books, swatches (or even some yarn to play with?), samples in crochet... would all be great.

Mostly, though, I think it's the attitude - that it's looked down upon that many crocheters feel unwelcome in their LYS. I've been fairly fortunate, mostly, but one experience had the lady try to convince me to knit instead. um... I actually *would* like to learn, but gee...

As a crocheter, I would like to walk into an LYS and feel *welcome*. That means:
- staff that have a passing knowledge of crochet and crochet stitches
- seeing a decent range of crochet hook sizes along with the knitting needles,
- contemporary crochet pattern books in amongst the knitting pattern books,
- offering crochet classes beyond the basic granny square or scarf, I want to make beautiful fitted garments!! (and spend money on lovely yarn); and
- crocheted samples of yarn.
Being 'crochet friendly' is more than just slapping a sticker up on your shop window - it means actually stocking products to make me want to spend my money with you rather than a competitor.

I'm sad to say my nearby Ben Franklin outlet (a craft chain store) has more crochet hooks and crochet pattern books than my nearest LYS ... I would love to support an LYS over a chain store, but with a young daughter in tow I'm not going to make two trips.

As for the "Knitting Daily TV" announcement, I can only echo the dismay described by other commenters. On one hand it's great to hear that Shay Pendray's show is being updated, but on the other hand I think calling the reincarnation "Knitting Daily" is just redistributing the can of worms from KD.com into a different media. "Knitting" is not an umbrella term for needlearts, and I am getting tired of seeing it used as such. "Needlearts Daily" or "Crafting Daily" would be more appropriate.

Kim, you have a leadership position in the world of crochet: as the editor of a major crochet publication; a published crochet book author; and instigator of a major crochet pattern repository. We look to you - as a leader - to represent us, and to tell Marketing and Management we crocheters are sick. and. tired. of being treated as an afterthought.

I want my local yarn store to treat me with respect.

Much as I want Interweave to start treating crocheters with respect. "Knitting Daily TV"? I can't believe that the powers that be have gone ahead to paint all yarn lovers with the "knitting" brush yet again! It's maddening!

(I haven't been online for three days while I was at TNNA [where crochet interest is slowly and steadily increasing, which made my heart sing].)

I very much understand your complaints about the name of the show and, frankly, I agree. I have discussed the issue with the people involved with the show several times since I was first asked to participate several months ago. When I arrived in LA last week, I also pointed them to this thread and mentioned some of the threads I've read elsewhere about similar topics.

I assure you, though: the name of the show will not change.

My thoughts are these: The content of the show—for all the techniques covered—is going to be top-notch, and for that reason I am extremely proud to be a part of it, and I'm very excited to see it come together when we tape the first episodes in April. I wasn't a part of the branding decisions, and I have been busting my brain trying to figure out how to express to crocheters that the crochet content on the show will involve the same attention to detail (crochet for crocheters detail, of course) that I and that Interweave Press pay to the magazine and to books. I think calling it "Knitting" doesn't make sense, but I also think the title doesn't determine the content, and the content will be original, inspiring, fun, educational, and overall simply fantastic.

There's no way I can take away the whole, "get your crochet content from a show that's branded for knitting" issue, though I wish I could. Still, I ask you to keep as open a mind as you can, because if you're a fan of yarny TV, and of learning from the people whose work you love (I mean all the great guests, not me, in case that seemed like I'm fishing for good lurve here), then I think you'll enjoy the show.

On other fronts, thank you so much for your LYS feedback! The class went well; I had some really terrific conversations with store owners who really want to serve crocheters well.