Knitting Snobs?

General Knitting
1

:waah: So I was reading the KP post (the part about the LYS that ragged on the KP Harmony needles) and it reminded me of a local yarn shop that I came across when I FIRST started knitting. They actually laughed at my aluminum (cheapy JoAnns) needles and my yarn. I knew nothing about ‘quality’ yarns and needles when I first started. Like any newbie, I thought you just bought any yarn or needles and begin. Infact, I purposely bought the cheapest yarn and needles incase I was no good at knitting or ended up hating it… then I wouldn’t have much invested in it. But, that still resonates with me… “Where did you get [I]THOSE[/I] needles?” And the look that came with the question. I felt so embarrassed and out of place. I didn’t want to go back there ever again.

Have you ever encountered a Knitting Snob? I now know what needles and/or yarn I prefer. But, I STILL use acrylic yarns (especially when charity knitting or practicing new techniques) and bamboo, aluminum, and cheapy needles. I won’t throw these out or refuse to knit with them. I have invested in more expensive needles that I love - but all in all, it’s the KNITTING I love. I find it a real turn off when people basically discourage others to begin knitting or crocheting by insulting their materials. I just love to knit for the sake of knitting. I also love the knitting community - it is generally a warm and welcoming community.

So yes - I do still buy yarns from the chain stores. Yes, I still knit with plastic, aluminum, and bamboo needles on occassion. But I also buy Addis and Rowan too.

2

I unfortunately don’t have any friends who knit so don’t know any knitting snobs, but I do get strangers in public ask why I waste my time knitting socks when you can just go to Kmart and get them for a buck. They also keep watching me knit so I put it down to a twinge of jealousy that they don’t knit.
I use any yarn I can afford that is suitable for the project. Drugstore acrylics are great for afghans that are going to get a lot of use and abuse. I wouldn’t spend a lot on yarn to make some of the really faddish patterns around as you probably wouldn’t want to wear them after fashions change.
Knit with what you like and what you can afford. I knit for 30 years with a mishmash of needles accumulated at yard sales and 2nd hand stores mostly. I have finally upgraded some of my needles and do notice a difference, but I knit a lot of items on less than stellar tools.

3

Good for you! As far as I can tell, a knitting needle is a knitting needle; and a cheap one serves my purpose just as well as an expensive one. And since about 99% of the knitting (and crocheting) I do is for charity, I use acrylics almost exclusively to avoid bankrupting myself.

4

I use the yarn that fits the job. And I actually prefer aluminum needles, can’t stand the Nickel plated ones. And while I do knit with bamboo, the whole time I am wishing they were aluminum. Can you get aluminum that’s not cheap brands?

Fortunately for me I have not yet meet snobs like that. I’m sorry that they were like that to you. That’s horrible.

5

:hug: KPGurl, don’t let the bahstids get you down! They are SO not worth the wasted energy! Some people like to throw their weight around and in their own minds, they are THE authority on everything. The more they badger you with their opinions - not facts! - really, the more insecure they are. Take heart from that, and don’t give away your personal power.

Don’t you love how LYS owners love to rag about products they conveniently do not carry? Funny that…

In my world, rude folks reap what they sow. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten rolled eyes or quips about my pattern, my yarn, or my equipment. Yes, I have a couple of Addi Turbos - but I also just went down to Wrights’ Factory Outlet (sadly, the store near us is being moved to another state and they’re selling out) recently to buy a ton of Boye needles. I like the old button style better than the new plastic ends on Susan Bates’, because with the Boye needles my knitting doesn’t fall off the end! Today I just ordered, by way of a test-drive, Options interchangables for one needle size, with three cables. I’d been using Addi Turbo Lace needles on this Rona shawl, but the cost of two more Addi needles just to finish this project was ridiculous! As far as I’m concerned, anyone who rags me or anyone I care about on account of my/their needle choice can look forward to having a fun afternoon in the ER having said utensils removed from their person. :twisted:

In terms of yarn, I agree with both of you. Knit what you can with what you can. If I’m making an heirloom piece (ie, lace shawl) for a relative, I may use a better yarn - making that same pattern for myself, I’d probably use a recycled sweater or what have you. I have this thing for knitting out of odds and ends lately - I think I must have a little Mrs. Weasley in me. I don’t waste my time with really trendy garments, because if I’m going to take the time and the expense knit something I want to wear it until it falls apart. Classic lines look better on me anyway.

About the only thing I’m a ‘snob’ on, and it’s more for practicality than any pretense at poshness, is acrylic fiber. There are two charities I knit for (Afghans for Afghans and the Snuggles Project). One only accepts wool goods; the other, they’ll accept acrylic but after a scare at home with our own shelter-adopted beagle (she’ll be 2 next month), I only knit/crochet in cotton now, as according to our vet that has a better chance to pass through should a dog decide to get chewy.

I love silk and cashmere, but have yet to play with them. Alpaca suits me fine as a cashmere substitute.

:knitting:

6

I HATE any kind of snobs!!! It’s OK to prefer a better yarn, clothes, wine, car, etc. but to belittle someone else their choice or budget allowance is just wrong!!! I’ve encountered that sort of attitude, if veiled, in the expensive yarn stores.

I don’t hang out at LYSs at all!:nails:

I’m a thrifty knitter, and though I have the means to spend MUCH more on needles and yarn, etc. I feel there are more important things to spend on, so I am proud to be thrifty…call me a snob SNOB!!!

7

ROTFLMAO! :roflhard:

8

I’ve been known to go to a thrift shop, buy a sweater, take it home and tear it up so i can knit it into something I like! I’d hate to hear those LYS snobs say something about it. I think it’s great to really love and enjoy what you knit with but you should respect others for what they are doing and not rag on something they are investing time in. I HAT THAT! I try no to hang out at my LYS because the people are so awfull. Why do they have to be that way? Why can’t they be more like us? I have tons of acrylic yarns and LOTS AND LOTS of aluminun needles, some that I am very attached to. I have bamboo as well and I love that too. It’s just whatever fits at the time. They shouldn’t have said that to you. Especially as a beginner.

9

I bought Boye needles when I started. My mom has knitted since college and she only uses them and acrylic yarn. I agree that you use what you like and are comfortable with. I have learned that I don’t care for aluminum needles except for wool yarn. I want slick tips, a good flexible cable, and a sharp pointy tip. I have been funny about natural fibers since middle school. I will use acrylic for something that calls for it–Oddball blankets and such–but for me to wear I want natural fibers. I’m not a snob about it. That’s just what I like. I stocked up on Wool-Ease for gift projects–mostly alligator scarves. I do feel a litttle self-conscious in my LYS. I don’t think they make me feel like that but that I expect them to be snobbier than they are. I determined to not hesitate to tell them when I want something less expensive than they are showing me. I am a working single mom of a teenager who needs a lot of things. I refuse to be embarrassed or stressed about [I]one more thing[/I]!

10

I had the reverse happen the other day. We only have a very tiny yarn store in Durham (it is a market stall) and they seem to specialise in acrylic yarns in pastel shades or fun yarns like eyelash and so on.
I don’t mind cheap yarn or acrylic at all. some of it is beautiful and a lot of it is practicle since it can take a lot more of a beating. Hower, I am looking to make a vest for my BF and he said he would like it to be made out of wool or a wool blend.

I was having a good rumage around to see what they had and found a bag which i realy liked the look of but had no label on. I asked the shop assistant if he knew what fibre it was and he gave me a funny look and said he wasnt sure but he thought it was an 80/20 wool acrylic blend, but ’ … did it realy matter?’.

He looked at me as if i was a freak for caring what type of fibre the garments i make are made from?! backward yarn snobbery!

1 Like
11

I PREFER my aluminum needles!

And the answer as to why the LYSs act that way??? Money of course! If they can deceive you into thinking you’re not a good enough knitter, or you might knit better or faster with THEIR superior stuff, or your final product would be loved more by the recipient (after you put all that work into it) if you used their super expensive yarn, then they can stay in business.

Just a tad cynical? I suppose so, but practical as well, they need the clientelle in order to stay in business.

The first time I went to my LYS and I was thinking I’d like to make DH a fisherman’s (Aran) sweater…even though we live in S. TX and he HATES sweaters :teehee:…:shock: So I asked to see some Aran yarn appropriate for that and DH is a big guy (6’ 3" about 250 lbs…so we’re talking an XL or XXL here!) and they told me it would take at least 20 skeins of yarn at $12/skein…well I went:
:thud:

I wished I could tell them
"I’d have to be plastered “:clink:” to do that!!!" Pay that much for a sweater AND knit it myself?!? LOL!

12

I haven’t had an experience like yours per se, but it makes me wonder if some new knitters are sadly turned off to knitting because of the attitude of some shop owners/knitters/whoever is being a snob about knitting. I mean, if you are starting a new craft and someone puts you or your choices down, it might make you think twice about continuing…then again, it might make you twice as determined to master the craft to tell them where to put THEIR needles and yarn :teehee: too…

13

In my 30’s I crocheted like a fiend. Lots’ and lots’ of crocheted articles. Went to a LYS (different state than now) and asked for a specific yarn. She knew I did’t knit, and said,“Hardly worth while to spend that just to crochet with it.”

To this day I’m proud of my reaction, just turned on my heel and walked out, without any ‘handsignals’, and never went back.

No one should ever be shamed into buying something they can’t afford.

14

It would be so much easier if LYS could just put out a sign, so that we knew where they stood on the matter before we opened up the door…

A well placed “We cater to Fiber Snobs & Needle Elitists” would be simple enough, wouldn’t it? Then I’d know from the parking lot that I need not spend my money with them, and go instead to the store with the sign that said “KNITTERS/CROCHETERS/FIBER ARTISANS WELCOME HERE”.

I mean, the shop drama? It’s high school. They need to grow up.

15

Yeah, I just don’t deal well with that sort of drama. I had it up the wazoo in high school, and was SO thrilled to go off on my own to a big college where NO ONE was above anyone else. That gave me the freedom to find my voice later on in situations like this where someone puts something or someone else down.

I just don’t understand why people don’t get the difference between saying ‘I prefer fine needles and yarn’ - okay cool - and ‘Your choice is inferior to mine’ - it’s semantics in presentation but so different in how it makes a person feel!

Of course, that’s also why I am pretty apolitical… :teehee:

16

“Hardly worth while to spend that just to crochet with it.”

That’s ridiculous! Your reaction was perfect because people like that are not worth the effort. Why do LYS care what you’re using the yarn for as long as they get your money. Also, why can’t they understand that it shouldn’t matter to them if you buy the less expensive yarn or equipment as long as you’re buying and they get your money. If they treat customers with respect, we are more apt to be repeat customers.

17

You are SOOOOOOO right! Well put!

18

She knew I did’t knit, and said,“Hardly worth while to spend that just to crochet with it.”

She was an idiot… she must not have realized that crochet uses up a little more yarn than knitting, would’ve sold more to you than a knitter.

19

I think snobbery is a turn off to anyone starting anything, except other snobs. Not just the part of insulting what they have but the part of you have to spend a ton of money.

I ONLY see it on the internet or heard of it coming from the specialty shops, and it goes to all hobbies (computers, archery, knitting, woodworking, etc.). No matter what it is, you need the best or it “won’t work”.

I remember an old saying, “it’s a poor craftsman who blames his tools”.
Obviously the LYS (computer shop, archery pro-shop, etc) is trying to sell you what they have and they know exactly where you got those needles, but the users who blame your tools have something lacking that they are trying to make up for.

I only know crocheters but none are snobs. Just like the generations before everything is Red Heart. I’m the only one I know who uses wool (because I do a lot of cold weather outdoor activities).
My sister likes Alpaca but she doesn’t use it because of the price.

I wished I could tell them
“I’d have to be plastered “” to do that!!!” Pay that much for a sweater AND knit it myself?!? LOL!

Exactly. And I would not (and will not) balk at telling a store that when I go in and figure up a triple digit price to MAKE a sweater.
All across the line needs to get realistic on their pricing. But that’s why they push the snobbery, that way they don’t have to get real. (And I’m not saying a LYS is making a killing, I know the ways of a small business, but on the other side, I know the ways of a small business.)

I buy wholesale for $x. I mark up X%. So the retail price becomes $XX. If I bought wholesale at $xx, the price becomes $xxxx.
A lot of business people are blinded by the dollar signs of big ticket items and don’t realize selling twice as many small ticket items makes them just as much money.

They also don’t realize that if they turn someone off with $xxxx when all they are willing to spend is $xx that person won’t come back.
Instead of blaming their own poor business practices they use snobbery to blame the would’ve been customer.
“Why won’t people come into my store? They just don’t know quality.” instead of “I need to learn what my customer base wants.”

20

I’ve never encountered something like that at my LYS which I suppose is why I spend every Friday evening there at social knitting. I have heard about customers who come in with an attitude though.
I do feel obligated to spend some money there if I’m going to sit in their shop. They only require that you purchase supplies from them for some classes which I gladly did for the sock class. I think by providing us the space and time to knit it seems that most of the knitters shop there anyway. I can’t afford a LOT of their yarns, but I do use some of the cheaper ones. :teehee:

I also don’t think there is anything wrong with yarn from craft and discount stores and I use them for a lot of things. :thumbsup: