Crafting: Who's doing what?

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

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Eight reasons people craft

1. Relaxation
2. Sense of accomplishment