Creative Leisure News - Category Reports

What's new in various product categories; monthly update.

Knit/Crochet Events Continue To Grow

New York, Washington, DC, Pasadena, and Charlotte.

by CLN (November 7, 2005)

The weather was warm and sunny in New York but not as hot as the seventh annual Knit-Out & Crochet event in Union Square Park sponsored by the Craft Yarn Council of America: the event drew a record 38,000+ consumers topping last year's record of an estimated 35,000 attendees.

This year's event featured an expanded teaching area � there were two large tents staffed by volunteers to teach knitting or crochet � as well as a broad offering of the demos and the usual crowd pleasers � fashion shows for people and dogs and the Show & Share, where enthusiasts proudly model their knitted or crocheted projects.

"People continued to crowd the Learn to Knit and Crochet tents," observed CYCA�s Executive Director Mary Colucci. "Even with more than 150 volunteer teachers working throughout the afternoon, people waited patiently for approximately 20 minutes to sit down with a teacher. We ran out of all of our starter kits, which we make up in advance, and had to use extra yarn and implements. We estimate that we taught more than 1,400 people. Many had been to previous Knit-Outs and came back to learn the other craft," Colucci noted.

Colucci also noted an increase in number of children under 12 who learned to knit and crochet. "We always have a Kids� Crafts table and usually we do simple yarn wrapping or chain-stitch projects," she explained. "This year the kids wanted to learn technique, and what made it especially effective is that we had teenagers among our teachers. We estimate more than 100 kids learned a new craft."

The Washington, DC, Knit-Out & Crochet event attracted a record crowd as well. An estimated 8,000 people crowded the tents that were positioned in front of the Smithsonian castle on the National Mall. The Capital Crocheters & Knitters (CCK), event organizers, were delighted with the turnout, which reflected approximately a 20% increase over last year. They added another large teaching tent and had to turn away retailers who were interested in renting table space.

CYCA also teamed up with The National NeedleArt Association (TNNA), the City of Pasadena and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to sponsor the Knit In the City event in Pasadena, CA, in mid-October. This was the first Knit-Out actually organized by city officials, and sponsors and participants alike were pleased with the location and turnout. Estimates were that between 800-1,000 people attended the event, which was held in Memorial Park. In addition, the City of Pasadena raised $8,000 from participants and visitors for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

For the first time, CYCA also organized a Knit-Out & Crochet event within a large consumer show. In mid-September, CYCA was invited by the Southern Women�s Show to participate in its Charlotte Show, one of 12 shows the company manages. While staffing a four-day event was grueling, CYCA was busy throughout the show and mobbed on Saturday and Sunday.

"What struck us about all of the events in which we participated or organized is the continuing enthusiasm of consumers to learn to knit and crochet," commented Colucci. "We taught everyone from soccer moms to teens to older adults getting back to a craft they did when they were younger, to men. Universally, they were excited about the new yarns and designs now available in the marketplace and many came together with friends and were going to work on future projects together."

(Note: CYCA was planning to have photos of the New York Knit-Out on its website. Visit www.craftyarncouncil.com. To read previous "Category Reports," click on the titles in the right-hand column. To comment, email CLN at mike@clnonline.com.)

xxx