From Deseret News archives:

Crafting: Who's doing what?

Published: Friday, March 7, 2008 12:19 a.m. MST
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A survey commissioned by Craftrends magazine shows who's doing what in the crafting world. The survey, conducted by Penn & Associates of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, features both interviews with craft-store shoppers as well an an online questionnaire segment.

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

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