Posted on 10/03/2012 7:16:10 AM PDT by The Working Man
My wife and I were discussing how our Farm Store business was doing, (Not all that well). The fleece from our Alpacas and the products that can be made from it are the focus of what we are doing while we build up the numbers of our Herd.
The big sellers are ready made items like stuffed toys, Finger puppets and some clothing. But what we are both surprised at is how few, (very, very few), people today do "crafty" things in their spare time. Things like knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc.
So that got me to thinking and here I am asking the question: How many of you do or know someone who does "crafty" things in their spare time? I'm not asking for specific answers about what they do just do they do "something". If you want to volunteer that information that would be nice too.
Now to our "Prepping community" here on Free Republic, do you think that the ability to do something "crafty" will be a beneficial skill to have in a SHTF world?
I am crafty. I have knitted since I was about 12 (many many years ago) and after 9/11 taught myself to crochet, since I figured they wouldn’t let me take my needles on a plane. I also have done a lot of embroidery and other needle work. I can sew, but hate it.
I also can..... mostly jams and jellies for Christmas presents, though I have done pressure canning for preserving the garden.
I have refinished furniture, painted, cook, bake and teach baking and cake decorating, and will be teaching myself to spin.... so I can teach the boyscouts.
My current craft project is a present for my almost 1 year old grand angel. I have knitted her a purse, covered it with flowers, and filled it with knit and crochet butterflies. That way she can practice putting in and taking out, counting, and colors. (it also uses left over bits and pieces of yarn)
Most of the purpose of my crafting is to give unique gifts. So many of my friends and family have everything they need, that it is hard to purchase an appropriate present for them.
” I have made reusable crochet swiffers”
great idea! What type of yarn do you use?
In answer to main thread question: I sew and crochet
I sometimes make wreaths, and I used to be very into decorative painting with acrylics, and painting glassware. I’ve gotten away from it for some reason, although I usually do a bit at Christmastime.
I’d love to be able to sew or knit, but I have absolutely no aptitude with needles, and little patience to try.
I sew quite a bit (mostly costumes) and am now learning how to fold origami flowers and using those & other unique materials to make bouquets and corsages. My daughter and I did the flowers/decorations for her wedding & saved a lot of money! It’s really been just for fun, but we were thinking of setting up an Etsy page at some point, we’ll see.
They mostly made crab nets and crawfish nets, but some, like my grandfather, made cast nets. To anyone who can knit or crochet, this would be dead easy.
I teach quilting online. But, I do all that other stuff as well, including tatting.
When I was growing up, “crafty” meant sneaky or untrusworthy.
Here is a link to the article/pattern.
http://blog.makezine.com/craft/craft_pattern_crocheted_revers/
I really do use scraps, mainly cotton & acryllic. Although the next one will have a nice piece of silk mohair in it.
Isew and knit.
However, practical skills would be very valuable. Making or repairing things people need for survival would be worth knowing.
My wife, and subsequently most of her friends, is a papercrafter. She tried yarncraft at one point but didn’t like it.
Alpacas eh? I don’t intend to be offensive, but every time I see an alpaca all I can think is “government teat!” I’m actually pretty surprised an alpaca farmer is a FReeper...
That said, good look FRiend.
“i knit my own tutu”
Such a claim is worthless without pics!
only if plastic models are the new currency. than i am rich.
I love alpaca fiber, but I always have to wait for a big sale. It’s normally a bit pricey for my budget.
I knit, crochet, and have basic sewing skills. I currently have a sweater on my needles for my baby grandson. I am also crocheting “plarn” mats that will be going to Africa later this year. It is a fun charity project. After having made plarn from discarded plastic bags, I’m confident I could make rag rugs as well. :)
I also crochet, embroider, needlepoint, and do cross stitch but knitting is my favorite. I’m working with the most delicious alpaca yarn right now and I love it!
I have several quilter friends too.
I have hand-manufactured a wool felt sewing notion that is sold wholesale and retail since 1985. I do no advertising aside from a retail-oriented website and I supply the major distributors for the quilting market, as well as several minor distributors and assorted retail shops. I also supply carded wool and custom felted items to other crafters across the country, by request.
Business reached a high in 2007, declined precipitously until November 2011 and has been decent, if below the high, for the past year.
I also hand wet and needle felt hot mats for family and for myself. They are simply too labor intensive for sale.
My friends who knit and crochet use acrylic because it stretches. Many people switched away from natural fiber sometime in the 1990s, when the prices went sky high.
People admire alpaca fiber and the more affluent fiber artists/crafters use it in high end/art items. However, most crafters cannot afford it. While I know most long fiber wool and alpaca is not scratchy, you cannot convince the people who think they are allergic to natural protein fiber.
That said, the local alpaca producers sell to several local mills. Two are custom, only and one is commercial with a large retail store and an online presence.
You probably could do better with distributors. Limited production operations just do not have the presence needed to make a living. You reach them through trade shows, which are an expensive marketing option, but worth it, in the long run. You need to target a high price point market with unique items that cannot be copied by others. You need to stand out in a crowded niche &/or own either a production method or have the ability to create something unique in order to compete. You also may want to consider blends w/silk, Tenecel, soy fiber, reclaimed silk fabric (see the sari silk + fiber blends) and also create unique colorways. Repurposed anything is a big market today. You could also think about creating high end items for the home and art clothing to sell at juried craft events in affluent areas as a marketing tool. People who cannot afford the show pieces would then purchase the yarn or felted sheets to create their own. Classes in spinning, dyeing, felting, needle crafts would sell the raw materials.
I do subversvive cross stitching (Google it) and I love it. My rule is no swear words and nothing too provocative since my kid sees my work. Otherwise I shun all forms of crafty stuff.
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