Stitched Up

Stitched Up

Esty Seller Katie Tyson: Lamby the hand knitted sheep

It wasn't until I started a recent placement that I realised quite how popular and extensive the craft industry is, or has become in recent years; like a warm cosy underground movement full of tea and happiness.  Gone are the days when knitting needles and sewing machines were associated with little old ladies.  The re-emergence of the crafting aesthetic that has been slowly but surely sweeping the nation, and the world for that matter, is a refreshing one to say the least.  Don't get me wrong, I for one am a devoted worshipper of high-street fashion, but in these days of mass-production, extortionate prices and poor quality manufacturing, it is exciting to see people getting back in to making things by hand.  It's become fashionable and eclectic to make, purchase or - at the very least - appreciate bespoke, hand-crafted, second-hand or vintage items.  

Nothing says 'I really put a lot of thought into this gift' than presenting someone with something that you have laboured over for longer than a trip into town - even if the stitches are loose, even if you're not quite sure what it's supposed to be, even if the paint is patchy - it's special.


Mass market fashion will always prevail, however it is nice to occasionally have a bespoke item that is entirely unique and all yours.  And gifting something handmade doesn't mean making it yourself - if the thought fills you with dread - there are so many sweet little shops, cute fairs and specialised online market places that I could waste my days browsing through. Sites like Etsy, Not Mass Produced and Folksy  captivate my attention, seriously, I just sit there gazing longingly at all the pretty pictures, not really looking for anything to buy if I'm honest, its just so calming to sigh and coo over floral patchwork quilts and hand-carved wooden animals.


The past-time of crafting has completely exchanged its social status as a working class necessity for the older generations before ours, to one of luxury, prestige and thoughtfulness on the part of the bestow-er.  High-street, department store garments and accessories, things that would have been considered opulent and reserved for the affluent,  are now all-too-accessible and erring on cheap (in quality, definitely not in price).  


My mum obviously had some sort of foresight, as she took it upon herself to teach my sister and me how to cross-stitch, embroider and sew when we were very young - many a frustrating hour that was I'm sure.  And, recently she finally managed to pin me down and teach me how to knit.  Nothing fancy, just basic plain knit and purl, but it was strangely entrancing and soothing - we spent a good few hours on a Saturday night knitting away...clearly I'm living the dream.  Here's a piccie of my first creation. It's just a square of plain garter stitch, but it does bare a startling resemblance to a knitted Shreddy.

I thought it was pretty good for my first attempt.  


I've been pretty lucky recently to have the opportunity to work for a prestigious publishing company within their Craft team, so when I was asked to write a blog for their Stitch Craft Create business website I was pretty bloody excited.  The post went live today so go check it out, and if you're craftily inclined have a look at the Stitch Craft Create website - another site that has the magical ability send time rushing by - with so many adorable things to make, bake or buy.

Here Goes

Here Goes

I've been putting off writing a blog for a while now for fear of sounding, or heaven forbid actually being, pretentious. Might as well jump on the bandwagon. I've always thought of myself as fairly modest, although openly applying such a positive attribute as modesty to oneself is, of course, a contradiction in itself. So, the thought of writing about a subject/subjects that interest me has been somewhat a daunting prospect. I guess the advantage of having a one-sided conversation with the screen of my laptop is that nobody actually has to read this if they don't find what I have to say remotely engaging.

It seems everyone is bloody blogging these days about anything and everything; from cooking and fashion to music and badgers - yes, badgers. It's clearly a great way to hone your writing skills and self-publish your witty or informative sermons on the abyss that is the World Wide Web, as well as looking great on the CV - especially if your career aspirations involve working in academia or, lets say, publishing....*cough* (subtlety never has been my strong point).

My next task was to decide what the subject of my ramblings would be: music, literature, film, fashion, astronomy? I didn't really want to pigeon-hole myself into one genre; for a start I wouldn't claim to be an expert on any of the above, merely an amateur dabbler. So, I decided to be greedy - or lazy, however you want to look at it - and choose all of the above genres and more. Future blogs will be about anything that takes my fancy that day or week, and I will regurgitate profound, self-absorbed blathering until my little heart's content.










So, here goes...