When Krystina Taylor takes out her knitting needles or crochet hook in class or at the Front Room, she gets an immediate reaction from the people around her.
People are definitely excited when they see me working on things
Taylor said. Our generation is really interested in these kinds of crafts.
Taylor, a senior studying Spanish, began crocheting when she was young and started knitting a few years ago. But she didn't really get into the craft until she got to college.
She is not alone. Over the last 20 years, crafts like knitting and crocheting have grown in popularity, especially among young people. An estimated 38 million people in the United States knit and crochet and the college-aged group is one of the fastest growing participants, according to the Craft Yarn Council of America, a nonprofit organization that promotes the use of yarn.
These crafts are really coming back Taylor said. Before it was like 'my grandmother knits ' but now there is a renewed interest. It's old school but it's also fun.
Knitting and crocheting have been around since the Middle Ages, but during the first wave of feminism at the beginning of the 20th century, many women viewed needlework as oppressive, said Kimberly Little, associate professor of women's and gender studies.
These ideas continued during the '60s and '70s, said Debbie Stoller, editor-in-chief and co-publisher of BUST Magazine and author of the Stitch 'n Bitch book series.
I was raised doing all kinds of needlecraft
but when I grew up and became a feminist
I saw it as something to be embarrassed about and look down upon
Stoller said.
Stoller stopped doing needlework until the '90s when she became obsessed with knitting and realized that the craft needed to be reclaimed.
(In the past
women were) restricted to being housewives and doing things like knitting were seen as very oppressive
she said. But those things themselves were not oppressive; it's just that women were restricted to doing those things.
One of the reasons knitting has become popular again is people have become more conscious of where things are made, Stoller said.
For some people
getting into crafting has socio-political motives
she said. People are more aware of sweat shops and are opting out of the consumer culture by not being a consumer.
Others enjoy knitting because they like the creative aspect, Stoller said.
Taylor makes scarves, hats and bags for herself and gives them to family and friends as gifts.
It's one of a kind and ideally they will see it took you time
she said. It really displays how you feel about them.
Needlework also can be relaxing and help relieve stress, said Cathy Young, the co-owner of the craft store The Tatted Corner, 20 Station St.
(The college students) have cleared me out of needles at least two or three times
