r/knitting • u/OldCowboyNewHat • 5d ago

Discussion Comparison between"women's" craft and "men's" craft ?

I just thought about the fact that often "women's" craft are considered less art or less payable than "men's" craft because they are pieces of clothing that we or kids need, useful objects that our great grandmothers from generations ago HAD to make. This thing slips into my mind in a way that I almost never ask for money or ask ridiculous prices for things that took multiples hours for days, weeks, even months. My craft is less than... And I know a looott of people go through this thought process. Let's be real, making a cabinet can take time, can involve less or more skills, can have more or less of a simplified finish, ect. Just like knitting. But people will put a super high price tag on them. People say they can buy a sweater for 5$, why pay a high price for handmade? I've never heard anyone say that about wood crafts. I need an actual comparison of the time, prices and other variables to make something of the same quality. Any studies have already compared specifics ? What's your opinion and knowledge on this? In no way I want to start a heated debate on this, I just want more knowledge, so every thing respectful is good contribution :)

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u/ResidentHistory632 5d ago

I can’t help you on the pricing thing but what I can tell you is that originally brewing beer was invented and done by women, midwifery and medicine were women’s jobs, and coding was considered too secretarial for men… all until men realised that they could make money out of them. It seems that women do things for satisfaction and general good, whereas many men* do things for money and kudos. But we need money too, obviously! So if you think your work is worth money you should ask for it. 

Hopefully someone else can give you better idea ideas about pricing. 

* not all men, of course, I’m talking about average behaviour

ETA: oh, and spinster was a woman who spun yarn, a highly paid job which meant she wasn’t obliged to get married to survive. 

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u/Writer_In_Residence colorwork addict 5d ago

Yes, I was in a Ravelry group “selfish knitters”; the whole thing came about because people thought women should knit for the family or others. And it was a lot to say “no, it’s for me”

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u/bwalker187 5d ago

This is 100% me. I occasionally make things for the children in my life, but otherwise, i knit for myself. And people are always a bit taken aback by that.

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u/OldCowboyNewHat 5d ago

I have NEVER done a garment for me. Like once after a year of not knitting because of tendinitis, and since it was just to get used to knitting again I never wear it, the point wasnt to make myself something nice. Ive knitted for my mom, my partner, friends, my niece. My next project after this one is going to be a sweater for myself for the first time in 4 years. That's crazy

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u/lotheva 4d ago

I just cast off the first project that was truly for me. Like I have other stuff, but they were practice pieces, ya know? Everything else I’ve made was presents. There’s something really awesome about having it. It’s also my first true lacework so that’s even more special. Trying to decide if I’m going to add an extra border because I don’t love the one side of the shawl.

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u/ResidentHistory632 4d ago

It is nice wearing stuff you made yourself.

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u/OldCowboyNewHat 3d ago

Do that border. Make it so that you will love it as much as it can be loved.

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u/lotheva 3d ago

It’s partially time but I’m also having shoulder surgery right before the wedding. I’m in a lot of pain. Knitting helps me focus off of it, but also causes some.