From Deseret News archives:
Crafting: Who's doing what?
According to their findings, crafters are:
• 92 percent female
• pretty equally divided by age; the largest category is ages 45-54, with 28 percent.
• still learning; 13 percent say they are beginners; 21 percent consider themselves expert; 56 percent say they are average.
• spending money on craft supplies; average buy per visit is $39.23.
• keeping and sharing: 50 percent of projects stay at home; 34 percent are gifts; 16 percent are sold.
Here's how the survey divides craft participation:
• Beads: 47 percent have purchased supplies in the past 12 months
— Key finding: crafters in many different media like beads
• Books: 44 percent have purchased supplies
— Expert crafters buy the most books
• Card making: 24 percent
— Card-making is still intimidating to beginner crafters
• Jewelry making: 28 percent
— All ages enjoy making their own jewelry.
• Knitting: 29 percent
— Still more fans are joining the ranks.
• Needle arts: 55 percent
— Interest is still on the rise, especially with older crafters
• Oil paint: 9 percent
— Men and women buy oil paints at the same rate.
• Rubber stamps: 28 percent
— Crafters in the West are the biggest buyers of stamps
• Scrapbooking: 73 percent
— Scrapbooking appeals to many ages, income levels, and almost an equal number of men participate
• Sewing/quilting: 71 percent
— Many sewing, quilting and fabric categories show new growth.
• Stickers: 46 percent
— Stickers are especially popular with beginners and with men
Eight reasons people craft
1. Relaxation
2. Sense of accomplishment
3. Recommended by friends or family
4. Enables spending time with others
5. Interaction with children
6. Economy/value
7. Memory keeping
8. Health
— Craft & Hobby Association
Top 10 Crafts
Ranked by total sales
1. Scrapbooking/memory crafts: $2.59 million
2. Art & drawing: $1.94 million
3. Other painting and finishing: $1.83 million
4. Home decor/painting/accessorizing: $1.59 million
5. Woodworking: $1.34 million
6. Wedding/bridal: $1.26 million
7. Card making: $1.22 million
8. Floral arranging: $1.22 million
