A few weeks ago I attended the TNNA Convention in Long Beach, Ca with the owner of Gather Yarn shop, Evi. It was a first for both of us and we excitedly anticipated what we would discover while there. As a crochet designer, my main focus was to learn about independent yarn companies and pattern publishing, and to overall gain a better understanding of the yarn industry as a whole.
It was a wonderful convention and a yarnista’s heaven. That is for sure! From tapestry art, embroidery, and diverse needlepoint work to yarn companies, samples and independent designer booths, we nearly covered the whole exhibition floor.
I began this journey with starry eyes for sure and with a naïve mind, but as I continued walking from booth to booth, I realized that there was a great imbalance to this convention. If you go to the TNNA website, you will see that this organization represents those who do cross stitch, knitting, crocheting, and needlepoint work like embroidery and tapestry art.
However, there was very little crochet throughout the whole convention and I thought that was quite interesting. After speaking with a few random professionals, I was told that crochet does not sell. Not only that, many independent yarn companies do not have crochet designers at all! Now, I can agree and disagree with this statement because it is not that crochet does not sell, it is the fact that crochet is not designed well enough for general consumers as well as some knitters to even want to wear it and for the yarn companies to even approve it if submitted.
I will not go into the history of knitting and crochet in dept, but generally crochet was considered a poor man’s craft and knitters would’ve never dared to wear or even be involved in such a craft, which is why you will find some elitist attitudes at some independent yarn shops.
Some time ago I went to one and was told by a group of ladies who were knitting there that knitting was better than crochet and that I should only do knitting. I did not tell them that I was a knitter or crocheter. I just walked in to inquire about a particular type of yarn. I walked out stunned.
So imagine an art form that had to and still is working extremely hard to be accepted by bother knitters and the consumer who just loves fashion. Let’s look at the bright side though. There numbers show a very positive turn in the perception of crochet alone.
The TNNA 2009 report will tell you that today over 50% of knitters and crocheters do both. That is a huge difference from my 2005 studies where only 13% of knitters and crocheters did both. As a matter of fact, one professional I spoke with at the convention told me that her perception of crochet has definitely changed over the years because of new, wearable designs that are not stiff and unflattering.
This takes me to my mission which developed years ago when I was studying textiles in fashion school and chose to do a report on the history of knitting and crochet and that mission was to do my best to change the paradigm of crochet through my designs by steering away from tradition and focusing on innovation only, help open the eyes of the general consumer, that they may see crochet as wearable garments and not something separate from the fashion industry as a whole, and bring better understanding of fiber fashions to the masses.
Wonderfully, this is happening now and I am so proud to see more crochet and knitwear in mall shops, and commercial designer collections as well as private collection. I just love seeing it everywhere!
I hope that the hard work I’ve put into designing over the past thirteen years has played a part as well.
Overall, we walked away from the convention with so many questions answered, fulfilled and full of understanding of what our next steps would be. So look out for what is next at Raghouse International and Gather as we plan for the Los Angeles Yarn Crawl and Pagewood Yarns trunk show!
More Photos!
Well if you are going to do any kind of needle art, you are going to have to see and you might as well be stylish while doing it!
Safe treats!
Contraptions!
The Coral Reef was amazing!
Fun Yarn
Beautiful bright fibers
Alchemy Yarns. Loved their set up.
If you've ever attended any TNNA convention wether in California or any other state, I would love to hear about your experience. Head over to the comment section and tell all!
With LOVE*
Renaissance Marie Austin
It was a wonderful convention and a yarnista’s heaven. That is for sure! From tapestry art, embroidery, and diverse needlepoint work to yarn companies, samples and independent designer booths, we nearly covered the whole exhibition floor.
I began this journey with starry eyes for sure and with a naïve mind, but as I continued walking from booth to booth, I realized that there was a great imbalance to this convention. If you go to the TNNA website, you will see that this organization represents those who do cross stitch, knitting, crocheting, and needlepoint work like embroidery and tapestry art.
However, there was very little crochet throughout the whole convention and I thought that was quite interesting. After speaking with a few random professionals, I was told that crochet does not sell. Not only that, many independent yarn companies do not have crochet designers at all! Now, I can agree and disagree with this statement because it is not that crochet does not sell, it is the fact that crochet is not designed well enough for general consumers as well as some knitters to even want to wear it and for the yarn companies to even approve it if submitted.
I will not go into the history of knitting and crochet in dept, but generally crochet was considered a poor man’s craft and knitters would’ve never dared to wear or even be involved in such a craft, which is why you will find some elitist attitudes at some independent yarn shops.
Some time ago I went to one and was told by a group of ladies who were knitting there that knitting was better than crochet and that I should only do knitting. I did not tell them that I was a knitter or crocheter. I just walked in to inquire about a particular type of yarn. I walked out stunned.
So imagine an art form that had to and still is working extremely hard to be accepted by bother knitters and the consumer who just loves fashion. Let’s look at the bright side though. There numbers show a very positive turn in the perception of crochet alone.
The TNNA 2009 report will tell you that today over 50% of knitters and crocheters do both. That is a huge difference from my 2005 studies where only 13% of knitters and crocheters did both. As a matter of fact, one professional I spoke with at the convention told me that her perception of crochet has definitely changed over the years because of new, wearable designs that are not stiff and unflattering.
This takes me to my mission which developed years ago when I was studying textiles in fashion school and chose to do a report on the history of knitting and crochet and that mission was to do my best to change the paradigm of crochet through my designs by steering away from tradition and focusing on innovation only, help open the eyes of the general consumer, that they may see crochet as wearable garments and not something separate from the fashion industry as a whole, and bring better understanding of fiber fashions to the masses.
Wonderfully, this is happening now and I am so proud to see more crochet and knitwear in mall shops, and commercial designer collections as well as private collection. I just love seeing it everywhere!
I hope that the hard work I’ve put into designing over the past thirteen years has played a part as well.
Overall, we walked away from the convention with so many questions answered, fulfilled and full of understanding of what our next steps would be. So look out for what is next at Raghouse International and Gather as we plan for the Los Angeles Yarn Crawl and Pagewood Yarns trunk show!
More Photos!
Well if you are going to do any kind of needle art, you are going to have to see and you might as well be stylish while doing it!
Safe treats!
Contraptions!
The Coral Reef was amazing!
Fun Yarn
Beautiful bright fibers
Alchemy Yarns. Loved their set up.
If you've ever attended any TNNA convention wether in California or any other state, I would love to hear about your experience. Head over to the comment section and tell all!
With LOVE*
Renaissance Marie Austin
