Clara expresses something I've been a bit concerned about: what happens when the trendiness of knitting peaks?

I've seen other things come and go, and then get reported snarkily in places like "People" magazine as "so last year".

This is one of the things about American culture that bothers me intensely - the idea that things should be discarded because they have run their course as a fad. And that it's okay, and even to be encouraged in some circles, to ridicule those who cling to "faded fads", with no realization that the whole thing existed BEFORE it was a fad.

I've ranted before about my disgust at ahistoricality.

I wonder how many of the "new knitters" will continue on. My only hope is either that some of them will get hooked and want to continue, or they will maybe put down their knitting for a while, but return to it at a different stage of life when trendiness matters less.

I just hope that yarn continues to be widely available, and in good quality. I learned to knit in the late 70s/early 80s, during a knitting slump. I learned to knit on Red Heart. I probably would not have started knitting again if I hadn't discovered Wool-Ease, and later, all-natural-fiber yarns.

I have nightmares about all the yarn shops closing down and not being able to get a variety of yarn any more. (Yes, I have my stash and yes, it's huge, but I still worry).

What I hope is that knitting will continue - maybe some of the publicity will die back, but I think that's OK, I admit I get kind of tired of hearing yet another breathless magazine article about how some starlet has discovered the healing powers of knitting.


I did start on my newest quilt last night. I'm going to try to force myself to work more steadily on this one, both so I can get it done faster than my last one, and so I don't lose the quilter's callus.