Stitch Cooperative

photo by our friend Laura Chau, aka cosmicpluto, from the SC book signing in Columbus — thanks to Libby of Wonderknit for setting it up!

From Dora Ohrenstein, one of SC’s resident crochet gurus:

I’ve attended 5 TNNA conferences in recent years, always focusing on how crochet is faring in a knit-dominated world. People who know say that knitting books and patterns earn far more for designers than crochet ones do. That’s a fact of life I deal with, while waiting for the tide to turn.

It was with some trepidation, therefore, that I plunked down $50 to do a TIPS (Trends, Ideas & Products) presentation at the show. This is a new venture TNNA launched with an educational goal — members paid $35 to see as many TIPS presentations as they wanted — and there were about 50 “classes” altogether. Since the likes of SoHo Publishing and other big guns were scheduled in the same time slot as me, I feared that there’d be two people at most at my little show.

When I saw twenty-five in the room instead, I panicked and went into performance mode (thank goodness my singing background helped here). For 30 minutes I held forth about the beauties of crochet, how to get drape, how important fibers, stitch patterns, and hooks are, what books a shop should have, and on and on. I passed around swatches from my book Creating Crochet Fabric, and walked up and down the aisle modeling my garments, inviting people to stroke and fondle.

My audience, almost exclusively shop owners, seemed downright fascinated! They actually took out their pens and wrote stuff down! They said they wanted me in their store to do a workshop. Very exciting, very different than in years passed, very encouraging, and a bit daunting. A whole new world to get into, though I love to teach and love to travel. Hey, shameless plug: if you’re a shop owner in search of crochet expertise, please be in touch: doraoh@earthlink.net.

So yes, I am quite convinced that the door is really opening for crochet and crochet designers. Knitters are looking for the next big thing, and may have found it in this beautiful craft that’s been sitting under their noses all the time. To what can we attribute this change? Here’s my theory:

I started designing only a few years ago, and went professional at the same time as a handful of other crochet designers: Doris Chan, Robyn Chachula, Kristin Omdahl, Vashti Braha etc. etc. We’ve all been at it for a few years now, and guess what — our work keeps getting better! Unlike knitting, creating gorgeous crochet wearables has few norms, so each of us is inventing the wheel in each design. It takes a few years to achieve really first class work, and lately I am seeing truly exceptional designs from my peers. We’re learning together and are learning from each other. It’s an awesome time to be a crochet designer.

The quality of this work and the excitement about crochet are communicating to the crafter, and this is at least partly why there is genuine interest in crochet at last. They — meaning both the knit industry and the consumer — just can’t ignore the sheer beauty of these creations any longer!

Thinner yarns were in evidence at all the yarn company booths, another boon for crochet. I have a list of gorgeous yarns I want to work with in my current book that’s way more than I could possibly use. Several marvelous new crochet books were being signed — check out the reviews in the new issue of Crochet Insider, available July 1.

From Shannon Okey, who launched her new book The Knitgrrl Guide to Professional Knitwear Design at our booth during TNNA:

This was my fifth or sixth year going to TNNA, and things just keep getting better in the booths — I loved seeing what Ysolda Teague did across the aisle from us. Not only were her wonderful garments on display, but she’d also set up a photobooth, and served tea promptly every day at 3:00. By making her booth a must-visit, she got a lot of attention from shop owners, designers and industry insiders alike. Our back corner was packed solid Saturday morning as everyone attempted to walk the floor “in order,” but I have to say that with few exceptions, it was fairly full the rest of the time, too!

I was personally pleased to see shop owners finally truly seeing the broader implications of participating in our digital affiliate program — being able to stock (at last count) over 200 quality independent designer patterns for no upfront cost is no small thing in an uncooperative economy.

In addition, we spoke with quite a few yarn companies about providing pattern support for their yarns — rather than commission and pay for all new designs, and take on pattern support for them, they can have any pattern of ours they like reknit in one of their yarns and provide a link to purchase the pattern on their website right next to the yarn!

Miriam Felton and I launched our new books at the show, and Stitch Cooperative welcomed its newest designer members into the fold: Kristen TenDyke, Julia Vaconsin, Anne Kuo Lukito, Elizabeth Lovick, Chrissy Gardiner and Melissa Wehrle. Both Miriam’s book, Twist & Knit, and mine got picked up by Unicorn (distributors), too.

All in all, a very exciting show!