Originally Posted by
janegb
After 9/11 all the hand crafts BOOMED, there were stories of women that day walking into stores and picking up knitting needles, yarn and just sitting down and knitting.. knit, or crochet if thats what they bought. I think its because its very relaxing, and most women want to leave their children, grandchildren more than just money, or a used deck of playing cards. It gives a deep feeling of satisfaction. I used to make my own bread and canned my garden vegetables. I loved the feeling of being able to look at those jars in the pantry and would say to myself. I did this, to feed the people I love.
Unfortunately, Am at the point now, cannot do the large projects (quilts).. am not capable any longer, and I KNOW it. Am settling now on making small things, table runners, etc.
the crafts did not BOOM, the industry did because people panicked that they would not have money shortly after that....The craft/leisure/hobby industry was already riding a very HIGH wave prior to 9/11. The market then was driven by those fixing to retire, who had disposable income and did not care how they spent it! Those folks are now wishing they had held on to some after the last 5 years. They also have houses/rooms filled with stuff they will never use, and thus are no longer putting $ into the market.
Today the market is driven by younger moms who stay home and want to reinvent the pioneering woman! HA...like they could that without blogs, youtube, etc....BUT they are also more frugal, and are not putting the same degree of $ into the market/industry. They are more apt to "share" a pattern online than buy one and in that sense have driven the industry backwards 30 years! They are also the ones that are creating the demand for MORE sewing lessons! BUT are not buying NEW machines. So this NEW age of quilting/sewing is more like the OLD age. DO more with less, it is a craft not driven by $, unless you make it so. Just read this forum. THere is more chat in the topics about FREE patterns, how to make "X" template instead of buying one, etc...while some say " that is how quilting should be, use it up, make do, etc" there are others that argue that as an industry you can not do that, you have to create NEW stuff for people to buy or you lose the industry. Yes, but that does not mean you will lose the craft! I believe that quilting, sewing, etc, is here to stay no matter the industry. It is the industry that is making harder to get NEW people into it though. Just look at the prices today compared to 5 years ago. You can do that buy finding an old magazine/catalog(keepsake especially) and looking at the prices! Todays prices are more prohibitive than ever for newbies!
what keeps it alive is our economy. More people "have" to work to an older age. Older people who are at home are raising/caring for grands, younger moms who stay at home have to DO for their families instead buying all the time, all of these people are keeping ALL crafts alive. Be it scrap booking/card making, crochet, knit or sew. If it can be done for the betterment of the household it is being done!