A Softer Side of Life.

Many people will agree that one thing that has always remained is an interest in the fiber arts. While this has gone from a functional activities to one of pleasure for most thanks to technology the traditions have continued and even increased.

I recall when I was younger sitting by the window with my grandmother as she taught me to crochet. I was never very good, I could make dish cloths, and a few other very simple things. Though I always knew there was more to it. When I was in collage I once again put my hook to work. This time I was going to learn to do it right.

Since that time I have learned how to also knit and spin my own yarn. While many see these as skills of the past I have come to notice that the number of people that enjoy these activities is growing.

Why in a day of cell phone’s, Internet, and Discount Clothing on every corner would we take the time to fashion our own clothing? Well any person that is already stitching will tell you it is not always about the product, but about the methods. Many of us work is stress filled environments, running around and being over stimulated with emails, and phone calls. However the act of sitting down and using your hands to make something purely as a luxury moves our busy minds from 700 mile an hour fast lane, to the gently curving scenic route.
But why did people start? How to they learn?

Well this is not the world our grandparents grew up in, were Mom or Grandma taught you at her knee anymore. Rather most people these days use the same technology that threatened to phase out this craft, to spread the word. Online is the idea place to find everything you need to know about fiber arts. Web sites like Youtube and Ravelry offer videos and tutorials. While Amazon offers books and kits on the subject. Yarn store while a luxury in a downed economy are having a better time of functioning with the ability to advertise online, or even sell products online.

Sites like Etsy offer crafters a chance to sell their wares from their home, and reduce overhead. It also opens the market to products that in the past were hard to come by. Fibers that were only found in set regions of the world are now only a click away, opening the market from simply wool, cotton, and acrylic to such fibers as alpaca, angora, Buffalo, cashmere, bamboo, silk, seacell and much more.

Many of these sites also offer teams and groups so that people can meet and share ideas. Many events have spawned off this such as Knit/Spin in Public Day, Fiber arts markets, and much more. Guilds that were dwindling but vital in the continuation of the traditions are now rejuvenated with new generations that found the art through their new media methods.

Today you are no longer stuck with only what could be found at your local Walmart, or for lucky ones in your yarn shops. Even the selection in your shops are better as they too have more access to finer products, and hand spun yarns.

Thanks to the Internet boom for fiber arts people are even raising their own livestock such as rabbits, goats, sheep, lamas, and alpaca to meet demand or to supplement their own stocks. Though that is another topic all together.