Rainbow Mimi on Xbox Live
And the results are in – what did the survey tell us?
Firstly, I wanted to say thankyou to everybody who took the time to take the survey – hopefully it wasn’t too harrowing recalling those repressed memories times when you naively approached a quaint looking yarn store, looking for a crochet hook…
There were 704 responses to the survey in all, and I’ll leave it to you to decide whether the results were of interest or not.
The vast majority of respondees (512/704) were ‘bi-craftual’, able to both knit and crochet to at least some degree, whilst there were 112 sole hookers and 86 people that were capable only of wielding pointy sticks in pairs. You want that in a graph? OK (though I mustn’t do too many of these otherwise I will get drunk on the power of the visual aid…) Let’s start with a venn diagram:
venn diagram demonstrating which crafts respondees enjoy
It is important to note at this point that answers to this and all questions may be skewed slightly. This is an open blog, and anyone is free to visit and all were free to take part in the survey, however Google Analytics shows that all of the significant volume of new traffic were coming from crochet blogs and crocheting groups on message boards such as Ravelry (more of which, later), so there should be strong representation of the crocheting community present in the results – that is no bad thing at all, but may not be representative of the general balance of those that tend to favour one craft over the other, which brings us on to the next statistic.
The survey asked of those people that could both knit and crochet, which craft did they prefer, or find themselves doing most often?
Venn diagram showing knitting/crocheting preferences
So, though the majority of people that took the survey can both crochet and knit, most claim a preference for one or another craft, with knitting being the most popular. Is this the first hint of an anti-crochet bias, though? People who professed a preference for knitting were asked if they looked down on crochet as a less valuable/meaningful or less refined craft.
So how many knitters have an anti-crochet bias?
Not many people claiming a knitting preference felt that they had reason to look down upon their fellow crafters with hooks, so maybe the perceived anti-crochet bias, though keenly felt by many crocheters, isn’t felt by knitters? A look at the opposing set of statistics throws up an unexpected result, though:
Do this many crocheters really see knitting as a less-refined craft?
I admit that I don’t now what to think of this statistic. Could it be that crocheters are just more freely able to admit that they dislike the ‘other’ craft whereas knitters hide their bias, or are the statistics gathered here typical… or are the results an anomaly caused by the depth of feeling and ‘call to arms’ of various crochet blogs.
During the time that this survey was running, a number of crochet sites/bloggers/groups picked up on the post and called their members to action to (and here I quote one such post) ‘have our say about the knitting snobs’. Following the new incoming links from my analytics panel showed that all new non-organic traffic was coming from various crochet sources, and I also had a PM on Ravelry the very day that the survey went up to point me towards a group discussing the survey and accompanying post, and all of a sudden I found myself introduced to the members of the Crochet Liberation Front.
Now, let me just start by saying what a lovely bunch of people make up the vast majority of the Crochet Liberation Front. They welcomed me into their discussion as a guest in their Ravelry Group with grace and interest, and in a way this post is dedicated to the people I chatted with there. It seems quite clear that many people, especially crocheters, do believe that there is an anti-crochet bias, though how this bias manifests itself seems to be as much a matter of contention as whether it actually exists or not. Many people view the comparative lack of crochet literature and supplies as an anti-crochet bias, whereas others do believe that it is apparent in the very attitude and words of other crafters. I have never experienced this myself, and never seen it happen to a crocheter, but as it was suggested to me on a few occasions maybe I would not ‘notice’ the bias, being primarily a knitter.
so, why no stock?
I think it is quite a strange and almost sad idea that one group of crafters feel ill-judged by their crafting cousins, but I wonder if it is in any degree self-propagated? Most of the crocheters I have met discussed with online this last weeks have a live and let live attitude to their crafting, but there were a few blog posts from bloggers that seemed to think that I, as a knitter, needed to be put in my ‘place’, have my attitude adjusting, or thought it necessary to send forth their ranks of readers to show this blogger the power of crochet. That’s fine, and on most occasions quite humorous, but there did appear to be one or two instances where the strength of conviction was a bit too militant for my comfort. I had a couple of instances of name-calling directed towards me, which was a bit much, and various calls to change or delete what I had written, or delete the little cartoon that headed the post which contained the survey. I am glad to say that most people enjoyed the little cartoon I had sketched and didn’t take it out of the humorous context in which it was made, but I will be upfront now and say that this is my blog, and the opinions and ideas expressed here are, of course, my own, and no calls to change what I have written because individuals or groups may disagree will pressurise me into changing what I have written, no matter what names I am called, because this is my little place on the internet.
There seem to be such vehement feelings about past-times like knitting and crochet. Surely these hobbies should be full of enjoyment and relaxation, and shouldn’t need to be the subject of such angry feelings? It doesn’t just apply to this debate. Do I think that young people need to ‘reclaim’ knitting to show that it isn’t the preserve of little grey-haired old ladies? Nope. Do I think that we need to spread the word of ‘Punk Knitting’ and get the message out their and into people’s faces? Nope. Do I think that this knitter needs teaching a lesson? Nope.
If you enjoy knitting, or crocheting, do just that. Enjoy it and stop worrying what people think of it. Do you think I am a little grey haired old lady because I knit? Don’t bother answering, because I seriously couldn’t care less if you did.
Really. It wouldn't bother me at all.
Although I used to crochet a lot as a kid and young adult (and my knitting experience was limited to a single sweater), I have been almost exclusively a knitter for 5 years. I don’t look down on crochet as a craft or technique in any way, but I do admit that I (and I believe, many knitters) have a bias against most crocheted PROJECTS. I think that’s an important distinction.
And I should know better – I’ve done fine crochet lacework. But the vast majority of my experience (and probably most knitters’ experience) with crocheted items has been crappy, ugly, bulky projects made with cheap acrylic yarn. Certainly there are the same type of knitting projects, but they seem fewer in proportion. When the average person thinks of “crochet”, he or she is probably more likely to be thinking of granny square afghans, toilet-roll covers, and bulky baby blankets rather than cabled sweaters, fine garments or lace shawls. (I’m not knocking those projects – I’ve done them myself and have seen totally gorgeous ones. I’m just talking about what people PERCEIVE.) Even though cabled sweaters, fine garments, and lace shawls can indeed be done in crochet, I just don’t think that’s what most people think of.
That may be partly due to what people see when they buy garments, scarves, afghans, etc. It’s rare to see anything crocheted rather than knitted, since it can’t be duplicated by machine. I believe there’s a tendency among people who don’t knit or crochet to think that machine-made garments are somehow superior, and a common “compliment” on a hand-made item is to say “I can’t believe you made that – it looks store-bought”.
I switched to knitting because (other than lace), I felt that knitting produced a better-looking fabric for garments, which is what I was interested in making. Patterns I’d seen for garments in crochet were generally nothing I would ever wear. (Though one of my most favorite sweaters ever was a store-bought sweater with a knitted body, but a crocheted yoke and sleeves. I’ve often considered recreating it.)
However, I think things are changing as more and more patterns are coming out for crochet. Interweave Crochet, for example, has had some stunning patterns that have been making me consider picking up the hook again, for something other than trim or edgings. Also, Japanese patterns are becoming more available in the U.S., many of which are totally or partially crochet.
It’s my understanding that the Japanese don’t really have different terms for knitting and crocheting – they just consider it working with two needles or one. I think this is a great attitude, and one that I hope we all learn to adopt.
Great survey, interestingly written up. I myself would like to learn to crochet, not least for the lovely edging patterns that you can do with it… and I believe (I might be wrong) that you can still take a crochet hook on a plane?!
Love the blog, and am avidly following each new post. I love your style of writing, and am mega impressed by the graphics (couldn’t do that myself!)
This post kinda made me laugh. I teach yoga and participate in the yoga blogging world and you would be AMAZED at the amount of “poo flinging” that goes on about yoga too…who’s right in their teachings, who’s wrong, who’s more yogic. It amazes me that we humans can pick a fight about just about ANYTHING…including innocent hobbies and practices that are brought into our lives to make it more ENJOYABLE. Thanks for running the poll, for standing up for your right to express YOUR opinions on YOUR blog, and for doing it all with a sense of humor…something we all could use to employ a little more in life
And for the record…I can create with both pointy sticks and hooks and while I have a personal preference at the moment, I will be the first to admit my craft ADD could change that without even the courtesy of a notice. I mean why choose sides and limit your options…
Great post, very interesting! I love the perception that little old ladies knit, it makes me grin.
At 30 I’m far from being one, but I will definitely be knitting when I finally am! So, I’ll just do a lot of practicing (read knitting) until then so I can be a really great little-old-lady-knitter.
Great survey, and very interesting results. The unstated one, which you are too polite to say? Some people are completely mad. Don’t take it personally, it could be anything from recipes to swing dancing to nuclear physics–there would be a lunatic fringe. Well done, you!
love (1000)
Love the survey, love the analysis, love that you don’t even care about this comment.
hehe – I don’t care for being judged on my character/wealth/age etc becuse I knit, and don’t care for the people that comment in that way, but I enjoyed your comment very much – it raised a chuckle, and there’s a sign I must care
Just wanted to say “ditto” to Jenn and Dame Emma’s posts. Mimi, while you say you don’t care, it’s clear that your feelings have been hurt by the comments of the extremists out there. As a crocheter (and knitter), I just wanted to say that I’m sorry that so much unnecessary ire was thrown your way. There are people out there who insist on being irrationally angry over the silliest things and, unfortunately for you, some of them decided to vomit their ugly emotions all over you recently. It was unwarranted and inexcusable and says EVERYTHING about them and NOTHING about you.
All that aside, I really enjoyed seeing the results of this survey! Thanks so much for taking the time to do it.
Thankyou, Mary
Your comments are kind and thoughtful, and make me feel extremely happy that I do bother keeping a blog.
The comments from a very few others don’t so much ‘upset’ me so much as they make me wonder what on earth people find in what is (assumedly) an enjoyable hobby to get so worked up about. I wasn’t upset by the names (because, frankly, I think they marked the people using them to be a bit out of touch with reality, but I was a bit put off that a few think it is somehow their right and duty to declare their opinion and own values so above others that they might think it their right to insist that private blog content be adjusted to their own approved view of things. It’s not so much a cause for upset but a cause for despair that a few people think they have that right. It’s not upsetting so much as it is bizarre! I put my disclaimer in there to make my thoughts clear, and to re-establish that this is my space where I write what I feel, and that there is space for reply, but that does not extend to an insistance I change my content
I really very much enjoyed the survey, and so thank you for taking part as it would have been useless without the input of all those that took part!
Mimi xxx