A while back there was this forum thread on Etsy where someone was using acrylic yarn for baby items. Somehow I was appalled by that. Maybe I'm missing something there, but the way I see it, they're only babies for a brief moment. Shouldn't we celebrate that with better quality?
The Handmade Movement is about providing quality and craftsmanship, not shortcuts and sale prices. If I want something cheap, there are plenty of mass-produced options out there. Why represent Handmade with mediocre materials? Well, this knitter says screw that. When I think of handmade baby gear, I think of cashmere. Nothing else. Okay, maybe merino, but that's it. Go for heirloom quality.
So to put my money where my mouth is, here's a couple of recent cashmere additions to my stash. I've recycled that gray one specifically for some baby editions of Divide Bravo which are currently in progress. Stay tuned for Divide Bravo Mini because… well, I just don't do baby, so this is totally exclusive.
I completely agree!! I didn't read this particular thread, but I am very reluctant to use acrylic for anyone let alone a baby! This makes it harder for a knitter on Etsy as the majority (shocking!!) of sellers knit with acrylic or an acrylic blend, and therefore their items are much cheaper. But my motto is that if you are putting in all that effort and care into handmade items, your use of materials should reflect and compliment this. Good luck with the limited baby collection!
ReplyDeleteThanks, S! It seems like the best thing to do is soldier on, crafting good things. Customers who 'get it' will find it.
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