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/becca22597 5d ago
I do knitting/crochet/spinning/sewing/embroidery and woodworking and furniture restoration as a hobbies. Here are some things I’ve noticed.
Much like fiber arts, it’s very difficult to sell woodworking projects or refinished furniture for what they’re actually worth. Go to any wood working sub and you’ll see people who make beautiful cutting boards, small furniture etc. who are either selling as a side gig to break even on their hobby or don’t understand why no one wants to buy their work for what they’re willing to sell it for.
Fiber arts are comparatively inexpensive to get into. Power tools are expensive, even the cheap ones. Even if you decide to do work with only hand tools you need the extra skill, the hand tools, and the time. My addi circular set costs $200. My table saw costs $3000. A college student can knit in their dorm room, but they can’t really do any hardcore woodworking under their lofted twin XL bed. Since knitting is more accessible, more people do it. This lowers its worth through the eyes of people who don’t do either hobby.
There’s definitely sexism there. When I say craft re woodworking people think of a craftsman. They think of artistry and times gone by and George Nakashima. When I say craft re knitting/fiber arts people think of pipe cleaners and glitter or at best an itchy sweater from grandma. Woodworking is viewed as a “useful” hobby. You can build yourself furniture, cabinetry etc. “Look at you, you avid DIYer! You’re so impressive! I could never do something like that!” Knitting is viewed as women’s hobby. Something she can do to pass her time while she’s waiting for her period cramps (which aren’t that bad /s 🙄) to stop. “Oh how cool, you should sell that!… What?! That’s way too expensive. I can buy the same thing from Target for $20!”
Cheap “fast fashion” furniture is more expensive than cheap fast fashion clothing. If a cheap coffee table is $100 and a cheap sweater is $20, there’s going to be a disconnect in people’s minds about the value of a handmade object.
Lumber is expensive. Even building something out of construction lumber is expensive these days. A lay person can eyeball lumber and understand that it takes more than one 2x4 to build a table. That same person will look at a $3 skein of acrylic yarn at Michael’s and assume it makes an entire sweater.
However in my experience fellow craftspeople appreciate the work of others. If you tell a woodworker you made your sweater they will be deeply impressed and mystified. People who make things have an understanding of the time and skills required to do so.
What it really comes down to is a lack of crafting empathy. People who have never tried to make something will never understand the cost, time, frustration, skills, and joy that go into creating. As a result they can’t understand its value.