I don't know about the industry overall, but the two times I've been to one of these (http://www.stitchandcreativecrafts.co.uk/tickets_stitch.asp), they've been heaving.
My tuppence-worth: I learned to sew (knit, etc) from Mum, who's incredibly crafty (um, in this sense of the word...). She learned from her Mum. I learned a bit at school, but didn't choose textiles as a GCSE. I'm not sure it's even offered these days at my old school.
The people at the craft fairs were mainly the middle-aged, rotund-types. There's an enormous amount of *not* stitch-craft out there (that's one area that's definitely seen an upturn), but the cross stitch stalls seem to be holding steady. There are certainly new kits out every year, at any rate, and it's slightly easier than it used to be to get realistic and tasteful designs instead of the twee stuff / dragons & Indians and Wolves junk that used to be everywhere.
I think part of the problem is that these things aren't very portable; if you're doing a large kit, you need to be able to open out the chart, sort through the threads, and keep track of everything you're doing without getting it damaged. I could just about manage it at a table on a train, but not in one of the paired seats.
Also, it's not very glamorous or exciting. Or sociable, come to think of it; if you're constantly counting and reciting "two across, then one down and another three across..." then it's hard to carry on a conversation.
Unless you have a *good* local stockist, who'll show you catalogues & order things in for you, you're constrained by what they think you should like. Which, since craft shops are usually run by more of these little old ladies, tends to be Forever Friends, cartoon cats with Witty Captions, and rainbow unicorns. You get sepia toned Elvis & Diana, or Anne Hathaway's Cottage if you're lucky.
The last issue, imo, is the cost & time; an A4 picture can cost up to £50 if it's detailed enough, and can take *ages* to do.
I'm trying to think back to when I audited Coats Viyella (as it was then); Coats Crafts was always a stable part of the business, and from looking at their website now it seems to be doing well, but... I don't know. Embroidery just isn't *cool*; I get the same reactions to admitting to it as I do when I say I play tabletop roleplaying games. Very few people make things because they can't afford to buy any more (as did Mum & Gran; they'd windowshop at Jenners, then go home & make the things they liked).
Um. Not sure how helpful that is! I like that seat cover, though... ;)
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A brian dump!
Date: 2008-02-21 01:28 pm (UTC)My tuppence-worth:
I learned to sew (knit, etc) from Mum, who's incredibly crafty (um, in this sense of the word...). She learned from her Mum. I learned a bit at school, but didn't choose textiles as a GCSE. I'm not sure it's even offered these days at my old school.
The people at the craft fairs were mainly the middle-aged, rotund-types. There's an enormous amount of *not* stitch-craft out there (that's one area that's definitely seen an upturn), but the cross stitch stalls seem to be holding steady. There are certainly new kits out every year, at any rate, and it's slightly easier than it used to be to get realistic and tasteful designs instead of the twee stuff / dragons & Indians and Wolves junk that used to be everywhere.
I think part of the problem is that these things aren't very portable; if you're doing a large kit, you need to be able to open out the chart, sort through the threads, and keep track of everything you're doing without getting it damaged. I could just about manage it at a table on a train, but not in one of the paired seats.
Also, it's not very glamorous or exciting. Or sociable, come to think of it; if you're constantly counting and reciting "two across, then one down and another three across..." then it's hard to carry on a conversation.
Unless you have a *good* local stockist, who'll show you catalogues & order things in for you, you're constrained by what they think you should like. Which, since craft shops are usually run by more of these little old ladies, tends to be Forever Friends, cartoon cats with Witty Captions, and rainbow unicorns. You get sepia toned Elvis & Diana, or Anne Hathaway's Cottage if you're lucky.
The last issue, imo, is the cost & time; an A4 picture can cost up to £50 if it's detailed enough, and can take *ages* to do.
I'm trying to think back to when I audited Coats Viyella (as it was then); Coats Crafts was always a stable part of the business, and from looking at their website now it seems to be doing well, but... I don't know. Embroidery just isn't *cool*; I get the same reactions to admitting to it as I do when I say I play tabletop roleplaying games. Very few people make things because they can't afford to buy any more (as did Mum & Gran; they'd windowshop at Jenners, then go home & make the things they liked).
Um. Not sure how helpful that is! I like that seat cover, though... ;)