As a 20-something, I frequently see people in my age group knitting.
However, they're not knitting sweaters or stockings, they're knitting plush
dolls inspired by video games and TV shows.
If you see a 19 year old knitting a orange and yellow hat, she is not just
making a new hat for the winter, she is making a "Jayne Hat" as inspired by
a character in the sci-fi western TV show Firefly.
Several other knit projects I see *frequently* are stuffed animal style
Metriods, from the classic 80s video game of the same name, and SackBoy
dolls, as inspired by the more recent Little Big Planet.
In my own experience with bobbin lace, I have started to make lace gears,
which I aim to assemble in a Honiton fashion to create clockwork-inspired
edgings or fan leaves for a Steampunk costume.
Lacemaking, for me, and knitting for my peers, is about creating art
relevant to my other interests. Hanky edgings and doilies are as much of
interest to me as a pair of plain stockings are to a young knitter: beyond
the learning phase, absolutely none.
To appeal to a younger demographic, emphasize butterflies and angels. Once
one has the skills to design and make a butterfly, they can then go on to
create pretty much anything.
On that note, teach design along with the lacemaking itself. No young person
I know would be satisfied just knowing how to follow existing patterns, or
recreating old lace. Teach what's needed to modify, combine, and create new
patterns, and we will.
-Katelyn Schreyer
On Oct 14, 2011, at 10:24 AM, "lynrbai...@desupernet.net" <
lynrbai...@desupernet.net> wrote:
Dear Jean, Sue, et al,
I must side more with Sue on this. Lace is, in general, superfluous.
(Won't that get a lot of responses!) You can't put it on to make you warm,
alone it doesn't cover your nakedness, You can't use it to dry things, or
use it to cook, or in the garden, or eat it, unless you make it to sell, and
then feed yourself, and who does that in these times? It does, however,
engage the mind, creates things of beauty, satisfies the soul, create
intellectual inquiry, and helps find friends with a mind like your own. As
a group, lacemakers are a highly, highly intelligent bunch, although I say
it as shouldn't.
The only place where Jean's idea actually works, in my opinion, is in
thread, if you work only in white. One spool of Egyptian 60 lasts a long,
long time. I have a pound of Fawcett linen 40/2 that I bought in the '80's,
and it appears almost full, although I have used it a lot.
Suppliers carry things for lacemakers because they can be useful. Those
plastic things that can be used for coasters, with a place for a scrap of
lace can spur one on. I need a use for my lace, and that can be hard to
find.
Books, now there's my downfall, especially egregious since lace books
usually are not cheap, and go from there to incredibly pricey. And you
can't say, well, I can get it out from the library, or borrow it from my
friend. Perhaps I should look into the lending capacities of my local
group, or IOLI, but I am an information and book junkie, and need such
things on my own shelves. I reread. That and fabric is where I am a true
packrat.
A savvy supplier angles things so the teacher also has a new book, and
also carries all the other books of that author/teacher. I know such a
situation increases sales to me. A savvy supplier also keeps an eye out for
things from other disciplines that can be useful to the lace maker.
I wonder if there is a way to parlay the current revival in knitting to
recruit new lace makers?
Lyn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, US, where it's still cool, 66F, 17C, grey,
damp, raining. A good day to sit, eat chocolate, and make lace.
-----Original Message-----
From: Sue Duckles <s...@duckles.me.uk>
Sent: Oct 14, 2011 7:25 AM
To: Jean Nathan <j...@nathan54.freeserve.co.uk>
Cc: Lace <lace@arachne.com>
Subject: Re: [lace] Demise of suppliers
Haha Jean.... I love the bit about the only thing you need...
Reminds me of the start of my daughters shoe fetish.... 3 years old
and saw red leather fur lined boots in a local shop. The conversation
went along the lines of "I want those boots"... "I want never gets..."
says I.
madam waited till Grandma came.... "Can we go to shops Grandma?", of
course Grandma says yes... Madam shows Grandma the boots "Grandma I
NEED those boots to keep my toes nice and warm", guess who bought the
boots.... (BTW, Kyra is now 25 and owns around 200 pairs of boots or
shoes...)
Now are you sure you got the Need and Want the right way round???
Sue in East Yorks
On 14 Oct 2011, at 08:07, Jean Nathan wrote:
One of the problems is that once you've got your basic pillow,
sufficient bobbins and (usually too many) books (for you to complete
everything in it you want to), really the only thing you NEED is
thread. And that won't keep a supplier in business.
They rely, not only on newbies, but those of us who already have the
basic supplies WANTING extra pillows, patterns, books, bobbins and
other equipment ......
The there's the question are there sufficient young people taking up
the craft and buying the supplies to replace those of us in our
dotage who will eventually give up because we can no longer cope or
go to join other lacemakers on a cloud.
Jean in Poole, Dorset, UK
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