Recently Jenny Henry had a blog post questioning the presence of needlepoint kits at Target. Others have chimed in disapprovingly.
I disagree. I think it’s a very good thing.
It flies in the face of the elitist needlepoint mentality. Too many people think that needlepoint is only for rich ladies, or only for their grandmothers, or not creative, or only good if it’s heirloom quality. Each one of these attitudes keeps people from trying needlepoint.
Even though these stereotypes aren’t true, people believe them (even many stitchers who should know better do). But if the thousands of people who shop in Target see something affordable, fun, fresh, and that they can do — how many might try it? And how many of those might get hooked.
If you don’t think that can happen, think about what the eyelash scarf did for knitting. Many people took up knitting because of those scarves and a fair number of those kept on knitting.
They could do so because the materials to make them were everywhere, even in Target. As a result the folks who wouldn’t go into a crafts store or a knitting shop, bought the yarn and needles and made the scarf. Wouldn’t it be great if the same thing happened to needlepoint?
Inexpensive is not equal to bad. Yes it isn’t as lovely to stitch with cheap cotton floss instead of imported silk, but it works. The reality is that we need to work with what we can afford and we need to help people get good results from these less-than perfect materials instead of putting the idea down as not worthy.
So many of us struggle in our financial lives, so needlepoint is a luxury. If all I can afford is that $10 pendant from Target, shouldn’t we applaud that it is being made and help that person get the best result?
Unlike so many in the needlepoint business, I think you can get lovely results from any kind of needlepoint. I have made beautiful stuff from mass market kits and had bad results from expensive painted canvases. If you are honest with yourself, you could say that too. So why put the Target kit down?
Target has its finger on the trends. Mass marketers didn’t get to be big because they ignored what people wanted. Yes Missoni or Liberty from Target may not be as lovely as the “real thing” but the important thing is that they bring high fashion and high style to everyone.
That’s what Mass Marketers do.
From this and from other signs we can learn a valuable lesson hand crafted is hot. You see the signs all around you: craft kits in Target, DIY weddings in bride’s magazines, custom-sewn dresses at budget prices (eShakti), a handmade section in Amazon. All these things tell us that people want to have the touch of an real person’s hand and the creativity and individuality this brings in their lives.
Target is asking us to be part of this revolution. The question before us is whether we are going to make those stereotypes about us true or if we will be part of the revolution before us.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
Gerry says
Spot on!
Nancy Green says
Once again Janet has hit the needle in the eye. I agree 100%, And who knows perhaps the person who begins with a Target project ( or a Hobby Lobby one, yes, they have a line) will be so inspired that she/he will go on to become a designer of note,
Let’s get real everyone cannot afford silk or other fancy threads.
Thanks, Janet for a breath of reality
Janet M Perry says
Thanks for mentioning Hobby Lobby. I bought a great pendant kit there.
Keep stitching,
Janet
Nancy Green says
I should have added the kits I bought at Hobby Lobby were perforated paper and the paper was of decent quality and the floss while not wonderful was more than adequate. ng
Karen DeMarchi says
I agree if this gets someone interested in stitching all is good. I also agree Target market research has their fingers on what the customers are interested in
Tracey says
I think it’s great! Kids aren’t going to walk into a needlepoint store.. But if they see it at Target and do a kit, trust me, they will Google needlepoint stores and the next thing you know you’ll be driving them there!
Kudos to Target to starting it! I needlepoint at all my kids games before they start and have had many kids and adults come over and ask questions! If a family member doesn’t do a craft a child will most likely not be exposed to it!
Also remember, quilters started with scraps of old clothes and sacks.., they did not have the amazing selection of fabrics.
Great Job Target!! Let’s hope a new generation of stitchers is born!!
judy fenner says
I absolutely agree. I carry canvas from very inexpensive to middle to expensive. I want everyone to
be able to stitch stitch stitch
Renee says
Agree! Some of my most wonderful pieces are simple scenes from kits when I was in school. My mother’s always encouraged it — and every trip to a stitch shop for here resulted in a kit for me to try new things — embroidery, crewel, even latch hook! It was years befor I came back to needlepoint in a serious way, but those early scenes (and ornaments!) are treasures! If the places people actually shop don’t foster beginners in the needle arts, who will take it up? I already have to purchase pattern books from the 80s and 90s because there’s so little out there anymore.
Mary Webster says
Fantastic comment, Janet. Well said. I will be on the lookout for new stitches everywhere. Thanks.
Jenny Kleinschmidt says
I agree with you Janet that ultimately, needlepoint at Target is a good thing. I just didn’t want it it to diminish some of the hard work of the independent designers.
That said, I have bought several of the Target needlework work products myself to test out and promote to beginners.
Mandy says
Agree 100%! My sweet mother in law taught me the skill and has given me many beautiful things as she was a high end stitcher. However, the cost of supplies and finishing means that I don’t have the budget to create gifts for others. I have a small, cherished pillow that she made that probably = $200+. Less expensive options allows me to give more freely and absolutely will engage so many more folks to join in the fun.
Liz Morrow says
Great post! Keeps us humble. Hopefully.
Everyone has to start somewhere. My first needlepoint was an awful brown & orange kit on rug canvas with terrible wool yarn. I moved on from there because I was instantly hooked!
Nancy Green says
What a nice thought and one with which I agree wholeheartedly!!!!! I have very few of my own stitched
pieces as I generally stitch projects as gifts for family and friends.
Corby O'Connor says
Boy, this hit a nerve. I’ve always loved needlepoint, had many pairs of shoes, pillows etc. It wasn’t until I asked my son’s friend about his belt did I learn I could do it myself. Having grown up in the Bronx, I was fortunate to know how to sew, but like golf, needlepoint was not a pastime there.
My first glance at stitching snobbery was when I went to the lns and asked for a lesson. She made some comment about not seeing me again. Then, another episode in another store which I visited with my sister a second time. She had a printed canvas of her son’s school’s logo and wanted to buy better quality thread. As we walked in, I said, “we may meet with some snobbery here”. They exceeded my expectations. She said, “Oh my, we don’t see anything like this often”. She seriously gave the impression she was reluctant to touch it. Then she brought it to another woman who expressed equal distaste.
We felt small…as though we shouldn’t bother because clearly we were not in their league. We didn’t know a lazy daisy from a milanese so we were less than. Awful. I come up against this attitude again and again. There is a group, large, of Needlepoint Elite who are offensive.
Yes, Target. Bring it on. People in the Bronx are no less talented than anyone else. My mother was an expert seamstress. Phew…thank you for allowing me that. It’s been boiling for years.
Jenny Henry says
Sadly, some think I am anti needlepoint in Target and pro snobbery but perhaps this post from last year will help some understand that I am always looking for ways for new people to try the craft through whatever avenue they can. Here is the post.
https://jennyhenrydesigns.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/needlepoint-at-target/
J. burton says
I started by buying yarn, stretcher bars and canvases at church rummage sales. Now I’m a regular stitcher who buys at the local needlepoint shop and online. (And I have a subscription to Needlepoint Now!).
Who cares how you get started – as long as the spark is ignited.
JB