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

All that aside, I really enjoyed seeing the results of this survey! Thanks so much for taking the time to do it.

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…

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!)

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.