Monday, January 21, 2013

Crochet...ART or CRAFT?

 I was reading another blog..http://gocrochet.blogspot.com  and I got to thinking about this.  She asked if crochet was an art or a craft..maybe art because we might use a design created by someone else and all we are doing is making a copy?  Or is it a craft because face it not everybody can crochet beautifully at first.  It takes time to learn to hold your thread.  You have to learn the stitches.  You have to learn to read the patterns, whether from a diagram, symbols or written.  And even if you get it all down to where you think you know what you are doing there is going to be a pattern that has a mistake or something is going on and you just have to rip it out and say it all out loud as you go.  Everyone in the room thinks you have went nuts.  And then the counting..yes you have to know how to count.  I am sure there is a clown in your house that when they hear you counting..want to help you count..any way I digress..And even when you have all these things down you have to practice, practice and practice.  So now I ask you is this crochet thing we do and art or a craft?  
OK I know I am going to make some people upset when I say what I am going to say...just know this..it is tempered with love..Hey speaking of nice nice..I want to say hi to my new followers..I am so happy to have you ..Ok digressing again..Some people just can't crochet, at least well...Just like I cannot knit..ok I can knit...just not well..I can make a dishcloth.  Notice I said dishcloth..that is it..all it is good for is doing dishes and sopping up spills ( cotton thread is the cat's meow for dishcloths).  So I really do not consider myself a craftsman or an artist when it comes to knitting.. But here is the thing..if I spent more time doing it, if I enjoyed it more like I do with my hook..could I be an artist or a craftsman?  Would I be able to knit as well as I crochet?  I don't know.   I have an older sister..everything she does turns to gold.  She is so talented in whatever she puts her hand to.  I don't know if she has ever tried to crochet..maybe she leaves it alone as she knows this is my thing I do well.  My sister can paint, can mold clay, can do needlepoint, can draw..anything she does..turns out beautifully...as a child it was hard to take an art class or home ec class as I followed behind her in school..and yes compared to her...didn't take the instructors too long to realize I was not as talented..oops digressing again..So does that mean I am a craftsman and her the artist?    Hey Terri if you are reading this..I love you and am very proud of my big sister (xoxo).  If I were to frame the above doily and put it in a show..would it be considered art or craft....what say you?   Thanks for stopping by..would love to hear your thoughts....

18 comments:

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

Love the doily. :)

I guess for me it's easy to answer that question. Art is something original that you created, craft is something that you followed a pattern to get.

Savannah and Roger are characters that I created, that had I not put them down on paper they would have never existed in this world, but my crochet and knitting I do already existed because I am following a pattern.

Don't beat yourself up about the knitting thing. I still want to see you make a knitted doily. I am going to do one this year, if I can ever get the two above characters to shut up and leave me alone for a little while!

Hugs and blessings always dear friend. :)

Knot Forgotten Studio said...
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Mary said...

Vikki, to take thread and create a beautiful doily is artistry to me. You are truly an artist with thread and a crochet hook. My oldest brother is an artist. Like your sister, everything he does turns out very well. He can sculpt, carve, draw, paint, work with leather, etc. I agree, not everyone can crochet well. I put myself in that category. The doily is stunning! I love seeing your artwork!

Anna said...

Definitely art !
Hug
Anna

Rachel said...

Age old question. I think its really hard to define ourselves. Perhaps it really is in the eye of the beholder? My SIL swears I am an artist, but I don't know that I always feel that way. Even when I do make up my own patterns. I think that as long as Women are the creators it will be debated. Seems like its never a question for Men. They are always an artist.

Donna Heber said...

Hi Vikki,

It is so nice to meet you. Your blog is lovely and I love your doilies. I'm still making my way through visiting everyone from Vicki's Grow Your Blog party. I hope you will stop by to say hello.

Charlotte said...

We are artists following a craft! I love the first doily. Where can I find the pattern?

glor said...

Hard to separate, I think its both. I agree, not everyone can crochet, maybe the more you do the better it gets? But not always to perfection, I think you have more then mastered that. Your work of this craft is perfection, a work of art! Like Charlotte said ...

Jenna said...

Hi Vikki! That is a hard one... I would have to say it's an art and a craft. Art, because someone has to make the pattern and figure out the stitches etc...and craft, because no matter who makes it each one is hand made by different individules each being a crafter...each maybe changing the pattern to suit their unique need...I don't know...I buy them because they are art work for my home and hand crafted by wonderful people like you :-) have a great day! Hugs and love, Jennifer

Thistle Cove Farm said...

it's both, depending upon the item made, don't you think? visiting via Vicki's GYB Party and enjoying your beautiful crochet.

stitchin' girl said...

Why can it not be both? The doily is a work of art - if you did frame it and place it in a show it would surely win an award - but it is also a showcase of your craft. Were you not as adept and good at crochet and the stitches, this would not be such a beautiful piece of art!

By the way, I love both crochet and knitting and still knit dishcloths and washcloths. My family prefers the ones I knit to the store bought ones and I love that they are using something that I have made with my hands.

Preeti said...

Both are almost similar. When you use tools and hands, it is 'craft' and the outcome or the resulting creation is 'art'. If you make it in different styles, it becomes 'artistic'. For ages, people have followed patterns and instructions for different arts be it strokes of brushes, color variations etc.
Your doilies are as usual a piece of 'art' which you have 'crafted' with your own hands :)

Bobbi said...

Hey Vik,
Your younger sister here... I think you are an artist. We each have our own talents. I can't crochet or knit, and I have tried all that counting is to much for me. I make cards and needlepoint, I ask you is that a craft or can I be an artist too? LOL
Keep on Hookin' -- I love you!

Knot Forgotten Studio said...

"He who works with his hand is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsmen. He who works with his hand, his head and his heart is an artist" (St. Francis of Assisi).

Hi Vikki, I found this on Tacistudio blog...thought it was the perfect answer for the debate
penny x

Knot Forgotten Studio said...
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Unknown said...

beautiful doilies and blog
love
maria
mscreations27.blogspot.com

SharynB said...

Beautiful work and i say it is definitely art plus a bit of craft..
Dropping by from Petals to Picot Friday Linky Party

Mindy said...

Interesting thought...
ps--my sister is the SAME way!! ;-)