I crocheted Taylor Swift’s questionably ethical viral dress
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- Опубликовано: 7 июл 2024
- This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only. All opinions are my own, and all statements are alleged. Please do your own research and form your own opinions on who you would like to support. I do not condone the sale or monetary gain of any reproductions of this dress, although the dress I crocheted in this video is simply inspired by the original viral dress, and is not an exact replica.
THANKS FOR WATCHING!
I was nervous to upload this video, because I don’t typically insert myself into drama…but I think this is a really important conversation to have. I hope you can see where artists and makers are coming from when they express that this kind of pricing feels unfair and unjust. I tried to make this video as lighthearted as I could, and I’m going back to silly art now. I hope you found this useful in someway, or at least laughed a little or learned how to make something. Be good to yourself (and others! and makers!)!
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Love, Liz
Thank you for making this video. I am from China and wants to give you more context, as a crocheter myself, I know that crocheters are heavily exploited here. The main demographic of crocheters here in China are stay at home moms with a lot of free time, so whole sellers would outsource projects like a crochet ball, a specific crochet doll with a particular pattern to these women. The crocheters would make them in bulk, because the whole sellers would buy them in bulk so they want the price as cheap as possible; a crocheter might spend 1-2 hours or more on a crochet doll with 3-4 color changes (with attached parts that needs to be sew on, I wish I can post picture on RUclips so I can show you how complicated that is), but they would be compensated 10-20 RMB (about 1.3-2.8 dollars) for each piece, and that is consider pretty good in the crocheting community. If that dress is sold for less than 200 dollars, I am very confident that the worker making this dress is getting paid about 2 dollars/hr
thank you very much for bringing this up from your perspective! i feel like it's so important to look at both sides of the coin. crochet should be treated as a luxury, not a cheap commodity, especially when it has to be made by hand unlike knit. i hope that chinese crocheters can be recognized by the expertise they have acrued over years and years and properlt compensated for the work that they do ❤
I live in china and on taobao I have seen crochet bags for about 5 usd.
This is absolutely sad.
At the same time, as a Chinese person, I want to bring up the fact that American people and others are NOT buying good quality products made by Chinese people who have skills. Yes, we should bring low-wage labor to the forefront, but I would love for the international audience to invest in those that do sell good quality products. If a person is a skilled crocheter in China, there’s such a barrier to sell to the international consumers and they have no other means but to work for factories. If only western audiences pay more attention to Chinese crafters instead of overlooking Chinese productions in general, the Chinese artists could make more of a wage; otherwise, there is not much of a market for buying crocheted items as the US, so it’s difficult making a living wage from crochet.
There’s so many people in China and the competition is insane. And many Chinese people are not at an economic level to purchase hand made goods.
That’s a really interesting point that I hadn’t considered, thank you for bringing it up! I’m sure Chinese crochet artists who make their own designs do really unique and incredible work. I definitely want to look into that now. Honestly, I am not someone who buys handmade very often…I love to support artists when I can but I’m a full time artist myself so I am super broke and usually make things myself or buy from the thrift store. I’ve never looked into buying crocheted pieces from someone else so this hadn’t occurred to me. I guess, at least here, people probably would purchase from within the US because of shipping costs/time to ship? I don’t know, but that is sad and I wish Chinese artists had more support too. 😔💛
There’s an additional barrier caused by being unable to access Chinese websites. In order to make an account on Chinese websites, you often need a Chinese phone number. In many cases you can’t buy things without a Chinese broker if you do manage to come across something you’d like to buy which is an additional fee + shipping costs. I’ve personally encountered issues with my cards being blocked on Chinese websites when trying to make purchases, even if they say they accept the card. People who actually care about handmade art are going to be more likely to buy from within the US because the Chinese government has made such an effort to keep their internet, credit and debit system separate that it’s difficult to buy from Chinese artists as a non-Chinese. The website I’ve had the most success with buying from small Chinese artists is Pinkoi but the website isn’t very popular in the US because that niche is filled by Etsy.
It's telling how The Verge girl company focused on the sustainability of the materials and not the sustainability of the labor
I can't speak to Chinese artisans trying to sell to a western market, but I can speak to what it is like to be a small business owner selling to fellow Americans. A friend, my husband, and I started a cheesecake business some years ago, and we rented a stall at our local farmer's market. I can't tell you how many people tried our product, praised it, then asked why they should spend more for our hand-made, small-batch, fresh cheesecake versus going to Walmart and getting "the same thing" for much less. The problem with a western audience is that, while they love the idea of small business/cottage industry/artisanal goods, they don't want to pay the prices required to keep those people in business. And then they're shocked when you tell them that between ingredients and overhead, the "exorbitant" prices are barely keeping the business afloat. That you aren't making a wage from it.
"in my opinion, I don't think that affordable or cheap and crochet should ever be uttered in the same sentence together." 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Affordable should. Reality is if people can't afford something or don't see the value for that price, they won't buy it.
@@never-endingquestions3314these people should probably rely upon resold discounted priced crocheted items then if they can’t make it, get it as a gift, or afford an ethically made product for proper compensation for the work
@@peach-ic4jh Your comment gives the vibe of "you can't have nice things because you're poor." If you sell hand made crafts, if it is priced too high, it won't sell. Nobody cares about the time that goes into making it. You have to be sought after for people to pay high prices because people aren't paying for the item but the name. Louis Vuitton can charge unreasonable prices for a belt because people want to say it's Louis Vuitton, not because it's quality.
"We make sure to keep our margins low to be able to continue to work towards our vision of providing our (global north) customers with thoughtful designs at an accessible price" is really SO funny.
I'm from Brazil and work as a software developer for an outsourcing company. My team is comprised of people from Brazil (outsourced) and from Europe (in-house) and the difference in how we're treated and how much we earn is substantial - we once got news that "our" team got an award for being one of the best performing teams in all of [company who outsources their work] which meant that our European coworkers got a hefty cash bonus and us Brazilians got... well, nothing. In-house employees also enjoy getting the company's expensive tech hardware for free and we don't even get like, coupons to buy them at more affordable prices.
I do earn triple of Brazil's minimum wage, which is a "livable wage"; however, that doesn't really make it any less infuriating, and tech doesn't even come CLOSE to being as taxing on the body as crocheting at a factory scale. It's honestly insane to me that anyone would try to spin this as being an acceptable thing after watching this video!!
@@Letitsia Thank you for this insight! This is so interesting. As a self employed artist I wouldn’t have really thought about something like this happening in normal people jobs. And that really shows that we are all experiencing such different worlds and speaks to why it’s so important to hear each other’s stories. I hate that you’re treated so unfairly in comparison to your European coworkers, that’s such bs. And I don’t know how people find it in themselves to defend this stuff either, it’s wildddd! I think the only people defending it are the super Swifties who can’t hear anything past Taylor’s name or handle the fact that someone is criticizing something she did (probably unintentionally but she obviously has to be connected to the story 😅😂).
@@lizthemetalsmith Yeahhh that kind of fanatical Swiftie scares me tbh 😭 they're not the majority of Taylor Swift fans but they sure do stir up enough trouble to make up for all of the other reasonable fans and some more.
I figured I'd add my perspective because whenever the outsourcing of labor to China is mentioned I see people saying things like "well the cost of living is lower in China, they earn a GOOD wage compared to the average, they should feel thankful that they even have this job!!" and it makes me soooo mad.
Like... not everything in life is about how much money you make??? There's this thing that human beings tend to really like, it's something called "feeling valued", not monetarily but just in general... feeling like others value the work you do and the time you put in to make something happen. I personally think this is 100% unattainable when we're talking about people HAND CROCHETING a garment and the company responsible for outsourcing this work specifically mentioning that they keep profit margins low to achieve their "vision" of providing "thoughtful designs" at an affordable price. If this was about thoughtful designs they'd be selling crochet patterns. Nothing about this arrangement is thoughtful for anyone other than people who have 'saving money' as their only care in life!
When it comes to the team I work with, I have absolutely no complaints because they do treat me as an equal and value the work I do. But many things aren't up to them, things that come from way up the corporate ladder... and I know that when it comes to that, I'm seen as nothing more than an opportunity to cut costs. I imagine other workers in outsourcing situations would have similar feelings. Also, the fact that they actually went ahead with restocking this piece is fucking bonkers 🫥
@@Letitsiaoh definitely! The standard of living thing gets on my nerves too. I used to work for a fashion company that outsourced to China and Bangladesh, and I know for a fact the workers got paid crap. The company made that same argument about them making more than average. Well, the average was still crap so the workers were still struggling. Nevermind that we also knew that those factories also outsourced to other factories that had even LOWER standards. It’s just horrible.
Yes , the same happens with Indian Techies, a lot of out sourcing from Western countries happens in terms of manpower and raw materials both hand made and machinery products. Techies do earn a bit more than the average but compared to the profit they make by out sourcing its just negligible. Plus the fact that they have to work overtime weekends and so on.
The same in Poland (central Europe) they outsource our work to west Europe :)
That dress is so cute and I loved your commentary. I honestly don't think anything Taylor Swift does is ethical but this especially is heinous. Considering she completely has the ability to only buy hand-made clothing where she can personally ensure the proper compensation for the maker I find it abhorrent that she even considered buying this dress. I also think the certified factory thing is kind of useless...idk how much it really means. I wish people would take this attitude towards crochet and and transfer it to other clothes as well because the truth is all clothing is handmade.
Totally, I would love to see a sew-er bring this same kind of attention to other clothing! I was interested in diving into this just because I know the amount of time and energy and back pain that go into crocheting a large project and I was appalled by this pricing! I can’t believe anyone tries to justify it, but some people have a hard time hearing anything past *Taylor Swift*. She certainly could do better and I would have a lot of respect for any celeb who hired an artist and paid them the wage they actually deserve to make them something unique!! That would be so cool to see. Thank you so much for watching!! 💖
I think it is that people don’t respect crochet…this isn’t the first famous person to wear a crochet product and it won’t be the last. And you have to remember China is all about China not about the people or anything else it is about the government and we all know how Covid was handled by China not to mention the decades of killing of innocent babies so why does anyone expect them to be fair and ethical about labor rights?
I agree with you. Also her private jet use and the fact that she has the platform/resources to speak up about issues around the world and just... doesn't. Awful.
@@lizthemetalsmith There is a sew-er I follow who talks a lot about the garment industry, labor, fast fashion, etc. Their name is Haley Marie Vintage if you're interested.
Great video btw. The dress is so cute & you're commentary was spot-on.
@@---ut6fkyeah, she should travel on a row boat 🙄🙄🙄
As soon as I saw that pricing, I flinched. I've been crocheting less than a year and still know that is completely unethical. Plus the Shein information, the secondhand sweatshop practices, etc. I was already aware of all of that but I am glad you highlighted it in this video as well. Very well done.
It is unsettling for sure! 😭 Non crocheters definitely wouldn’t think about it but omggg the amount of work! And to make several a week? Ahhh!
As a knitter, folks who are raging over items being sold as "crochet" when they're actually knit is baffling to me. Like, look, I'd rather everything be on the level when I buy an item... Obviously. But when I see a tag that says "crochet" on a $30 sweater and I grab it for a closer look, I'm ALWAYS happier to see it was actually knit and not actually crochet. I do not care if a machine made my affordable item in an affordable fashion, I DO care if someone isn't being compensated fairly for what is actually a very difficult skill.
Crochet (and hand knitting) is HARD on your body, it takes years to develop the kind of speed and tension control it requires to hand make an item for a mass market. Not to mention, its a skill you only keep by taking proper breaks and making sure to stretch and do nerve glides to keep yourself healthy. Even when you're skilled, it takes hundreds (if not thousands) of hours to complete something like a dress.
I think we have the same point here and I’m not sure that anyone is upset to not have real crochet going for $30. I think everyone who knows what it takes to be a maker in any medium is happy to know that those Target items were machine made and hopefully didn’t take a real human 30 hours to make. If machines could replicate crochet I wouldn’t be making this video. I’d be happy to know people weren’t being exploited. They are probably being exploited though, because it is real crochet, and that’s why I made the video. I totally respect knitters and the toll it must take. I’ve knit one time and it was such a long process that I finished maybe 2 inches of a round and gave up, the project is still on the needles in a bag somewhere. It’s hard work and you are very skilled! I would always advocate for knitters making a fair wage as a professional artist. I was just speaking on one particular dress and the thing I know, which is crochet and the fact that this dress had to be handmade and people need to know about it so they can decide for themselves who they want to support.
I feel the same way. I am amused by imitation crochet and think its quite silly that fast fashion stores try to pass it off as the real thing. But im glad theyre not selling actual crochet at crazy low prices. And if they are i get very annoyed. Haha
I think part of the reason people get so annoyed is that the tags to specify crochet style or imitation. Thus giving the impression that not only is it real but that actual makers are way overcharging for their products. I'm sure as a knitter it's frustrating to see similar stories about creators trying to sell hand knit items and factories selling knit for way cheaper giving people the impression it's not really worth that much. It's sucks that creators have to compete with the impression mass produced items give
Thank you for bringing this to forefront. Thank you for advocating for the fact that handmade crochet cannot be mass produced. I wish that more people understood this!
Thank you so much for watching! I am happy to add to the conversation and try to educate people about how things are actually hand made. Makers deserve so much more respect! 💖
It is so sad that Chinese crafts people do such beautiful work and are exploited by greedy companies.
I remember buying doilies back in the 80s. A 10” round intricate handmade….$25. The woman said “Oh I just do them while watching my soaps.” She definitely undervalued her time.
To be fair, she probably didn't undervalue herself at all. I regularly just give away things that I make that I consider easy or I did while preoccupied with a show or whatever because... well, for me, it was just something to do with my hands. I wasn't about to calculate time and costs and such to make is a 'self valuing' price because I couldn't and that would take nearly as much time as the item itself for my quickest bits. My mom is much the same as a crocheter, just doing it when busy watching a show, or waiting on the slow cooker to finish, or because she has nothing better to do. Quite a lot of us crafty people have zero interest adding a business aspect to our items even once we decide our friends were right and we could totally sell some stuff at the next farmers market lol.
@@lorescien4148 I didn’t mean it negatively. Sorry if it sounded that way.
@@lorescien4148but then adding in the aspect of selling the item takes away from the joy of creating it too. You have to work to a timeframe and can’t be creative. Then have the moments of no crojo, putting everything down for a couple weeks, then starting a new project. 😂😂
$25 if you adjust for inflation was a lot more in the 80s. I ran it through an online calculator and it’s roughly in the area of $80-100 in 2024 purchasing power. She didn’t undervalue her time.
@@krk6216 so you would think but $25 wasn’t like $80.
crochet headband and wristband = game time
Hahaha I was so tired of crocheting after that whole dress but I couldn’t get that joke out of my head. 🤣💪
@@lizthemetalsmith love it were too funny at that point
I think most people have no idea that crochet HAS to be handmade and is so time consuming, only people who create it themselves or are really into craft spaces know about this. There needs to be a lot more awareness about how garments are constructed, and hopefully more celebrities will think about fashion beyond the aesthetic.
My goodness, what a brouhaha about nothing, I have been croting since I was 12, and I have made blankets, doilies, hats, scarves, and so on. And it is not skilled labor
@@esmeraldagreen1992 wow u sound like u don't appreciate urself at all
@@esmeraldagreen1992 Similarly, I have also done crochet for years. My most recent projects were large comforters for my adult children and my grandsons. In just the wool purchase itself for an adult size bed covering I was well over $100. using the Bernat blanket wool, that’s even with buying sales. It was really important to me to make sure that not only would my work be lovely but something that was warm AND that I knew they would love and use for many years.
While creating each unique comforter I would usually begin shortly after waking and starting the day and would work on/off until night putting at minimum 8-10 hours daily. To me it is satisfying to be able to create something for the people I love (I couldn’t afford to purchase something already handmade) and I love that my work is cherished and enjoyed. In general, I can’t imagine paying the cost of supplies and all the time that went into making them being worth nothing….. for my family they’ve become cherished gifts and I’m quite sure most people wouldn’t even want to cover the cost of the wool to make it and pay for the time you put in.
So many people tell me I should sell my creations and I won’t because a lot of people can’t afford my time . I make my creations and give as gifts . Someone said that it was expensive what I would charge . I told them I am not a slave laborer and they went completely 18:01 silent . Thank you so much for pointing this out . I love this dress . That comment about the size is horrible . Freakin troll . You look adorable in your version of the dress .
I feel you on this completely! People ask me all the time to crochet them the items I post online…and I want to respond and say sure, for like $700! 😂 I am a self employed jewelry maker full time and I charge $30/hour and I even feel like that’s too low sometimes. I know my worth when it comes to metalsmithing, so there’s no way I’d ever be ok with cheaping out on my time when crocheting! Gifting your art is perfect! I don’t think non makers understand that when you spend so long on something it really becomes like a piece of your soul and that’s worth a lot, especially in a day where everything is mass produced. Thank you for watching!!!
And ugh yeah Yolanda is a rat. 🤣 It’s always an anonymous, faceless account.
I gave a breakdown once using the price of the yarn I was working with. I was making a baby blanket in Lion Brand's Basic Stitch. I had five (I needed one more) skeins and I had started before traveling but I was in the airport three hours early, I was on two flights equaling about six hours, and I had been crocheting while someone else drove/at the Airbnb for an undisclosed about of time.
I had gotten the yarn on sale too but I used the original price to demonstrate just the material cost and even the cheapest material would be above what someone would pay for a baby blanket. Then, to add on at least seven, though closer to ten hours of work (which would be more when I got the last skein,) at the federal minimum wage put the blanket easily over $70.
That's why only hats, scarves, or other small accessories are at craft fairs; you could get a decent hst pattern down under an hour and the skein can go further than one hat to be economical. Blankets are the equivalent to quilts, which no one wants to pay the price of either.
Same, I crochet and have a friend that was "trying to drum up business for me" because I would never charge the outrageous prices she was seeing from online makers. I sent her a breakdown of the shawl I gave her. Boom, no more pics or complaints about the prices of other makers. 😂 Of course now she wants me to build up an inventory so I can "get rich". Love Her.
I've been crocheting for 40 years now, my mom taught me when I was 7. Friends have encouraged me to sell pieces over the years, but no one would pay for my labor or even the materials. I love fancy sock yarns, but can't afford the prices at my local LYS. So, I save up and purchase 10 100g un-dyed skeins and dye them myself. I've had people who wanted me to sell them, but when discussing price said I was too expensive. Now, I only put them in a yearly silent auction for a non-profit, where they fetch the right price, because they are bought by makers who know the value of the yarn. What I crochet is only ever given as gifts.
I will say as a crafter who works at a yarn shop, the amount of people whos jaws drop when i tell them i charge $25 an hr and a teeshirt takes about 20 hours. Then they ask about our samples, and its always the one that's 50 years old and looks like the big Lebowski sweater, and i tell them $5k. The question the price and im always happy to explain the value of a crafter. Its so sad how uneducated people are. Even new crafters!
Oh, goodness. Even the _yarn_ for that style of sweater would cost a ton. I swear people base their understanding of these things on the price of Super Saver at Walmart.
we have gotten so used to fast fashion prices...yikes
The thing is, items sell at what consumers can afford and how in demand something is. Just because you list something at 500-5000 doesn't mean it can be sold at that price. I sell artwork and make more on prints than actual paintings.
Also, using repetitive motions like one would crocheting this dress, could definitely cause physical problems especially since the makers might be crocheting as fast as they could.
Totally! My neck and back were hurting for a few days after just making one!
I love handmaking stuff and if you don't want permanent nerve and tendon damage you gotta pace yourself? I feel for the people making these dresses 😔
This is very true. When I got into crocheting I went at it too hard and after a few months, I had over strained the tendons in my hand that holds the tension because my hand isn't used to holding that position. Thankfully (kinda) I know how bad ignoring tendon strain can be and take months to recover from if you push it. So I had to take a few weeks off to completely heal. Now I wear compression gloves when I crochet. You have to take breaks and make sure you don't over do it.
Same with typists getting carpels tunnel. So do waitresses that pour from heavy pitchers of water.
54 minutes??! Thank you, crochet gods, for creating this individual.
I love long videos too but I was worried people wouldn’t be into an hour long video, so I’m glad you’re excited about it. 😂 Thank you for watching!! 💖
This is a wild video for me to watch as an Australian who actually used to shop at the original verge girl shop years and years ago!
I find the price that vrg girl sells this piece at especially galling when you consider that the minimum wage for a skilled textile worker in australia is somewhere in the ballpark of 30AUD an hour, meaning that if it was being produced here it would be retailing for 4 figures. Obviously that price would be out of range for many of us mere mortals, but for Taylor Swift? Chump change.
Anyway, thanks so much for the tutorial! I'm excited to make my own soon!
That’s super interesting! I hadn’t looked into the wages in Australia but I assumed it had to be way out of their budget to hire anyone there. It’s pretty gross! What was their store like back in the day? Do you remember seeing any of their hand dyed piece? 😂 I’m so curious about that. Thank you for watching! Definitely make one! It’s winter there, yeah?? This thick yarn I used would be perfect, I was dying wearing it in California summer weather. 💖
@@lizthemetalsmith Idk about Verge Girl but I have seen other Australian designers/makers start off making things here and then outsource production to China to compete with all the other stuff imported from China. Peter Alexander pyjamas is one example. He began making them in his mum's basement but now everything is made in China.
Western consumers are so used to buying cheap crap most of them won't pay for locally made products. There is a small trend in the other direction but it is niche. The sad fact is most people have no idea where their clothes / food / electronics etc. comes from or how it is produced.
I love the dress and I immediately thought she must have ordered it from an independent artist or an expensive fashion house that pays the artists at least $40 an hour. It would take me about 30 hours to make a dress like that and I’m fast. I’ve made similar garments many times and know how much work goes into it. Not to mention. When I saw the price tag I was blown away. Each dress is at least 20-25 hours of labor. Splitting it between four people still means the labor. Taylor especially has the resources and the intelligence to know she shouldn’t have bought that.
100%! It’s so much work! I’m still tired from making just one of them. 🤣 These people are incredible and it’s sad to know they’re not being valued as such. I totally thought it had to have been a one of a kind piece too! I couldn’t believe someone with so much power and influence would be wearing fast fashion crochet. 😩 Hopefully the message gets back to her and she is more careful moving forward. Thanks for watching!! 💖
I expect a stylist bought it for her. Still, hopefully the response to this has somehow reached her as she has a huge platform for promoting more ethical choices.
Thank you for the deep dive. Not a ‘swiftly’ but you can’t help seeing that dress everywhere.
It has taken over for sure! Thank you for watching!! 💖
As someone who’s worked in production, the shadiness that happens is unreal. Subcontracting happens more than you realize. I know so many local designers that closed up shop due to the arrival of H&M. Video’s like this are important to educate consumers to make better choices or inspire to take up crocheting 😊
Im so glad you made this video. Ive seen others top about the topic, but the fact you made the same dress and showed your own process really proves your point. Handmaking clothing takes so much time. fast fashion and handmade should not exist with each other. I didn’t really understand that until i started knitting. Love the dress btw
It really is hard to understand until you do it! I think more people should be talking about it and showing their process and being transparent about why makers deserve the prices they charge for their skill, time, blood, sweat, tears, etc! And thank you for saying all of that, that’s exactly what I was hoping for…that making the dress in the same video would give a deeper understanding of how exhausting it is to crochet that much! And then doing that every single day, making multiple dresses a week? Sending my thoughts to their frickin backs and necks and wrists. 😭 I truly HOPE they are happy and well taken care of. But I also hope people can learn from things like this and not give makers such a hard time when they have to charge double+ for a similar item.
“also only have two hands” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Odd way to justify it…✋😂✋🧶
@21:35 that’s why you need 2 hands, to untangle the yarn:0
@@Joemom80085 True!! 😂
Four people working on a dress for two hours is the same as one person working on a dress for eight hours. It literally is the same. I do not understand what their correspondent was trying to say lol. it only means faster garment turnover, which might mean less storage fees?
@@10feralratsinacoat76 Ok THANK YOU, that’s exactly what I was thinking but for some reason I couldn’t work that out in my head. 🤣 I blame the lack of sleep.
9:57 😂 “I’m sure they also have two hands” love that
As a newbie at crochet, been doing so for less than a year, I know how long it takes to make garments and a dress is no small garment to make. I keep hearing from coworkers, as I proudly show off my latest creation, that I should start selling crochet pieces. But I keep telling them that in order to make it worth my time and effort, I would have to charge quite a bit more than the average cost for a sweater that you can just pick up at the local fast fashion store and I would have a really hard time selling my clothes because of that. That's without even considering the cost of materials which, even when it comes to 100% acrylic, is quite expensive in and of itself.
I'm glad you're talking about this stuff in your video and shining a light on "affordable" crochet. Also glad I found your channel because of it!
I'm a crochet artist in the Philippines. That dress is roughly PHP 6000 on our currency (which is actually around fair price bc of cheaper yarn) and 100% would definitely go to the artist BUT that dress costing $119 dollars under an Australian fast fashion boutique, that's definitely cheap labor. That dress being cheap means they got it for an even cheaper price. Thank you so much for covering this issue!
Thank you for your input and thank you for watching!! 💖
“No shit Yolanda” absolutely took me OUT. We all need more of this energy in our lives 😂
🤣 I couldn’t with Yolanda’s bs, tiktok is a cest pool.
I made 5 hats as presant for some children i know .the mother said thank you so much the kids love them they look like they were bought in tk max.she thought she was giving me a compliment.😂
Omggggg 🤣 that’s so depressing
Oh OUCH. I felt that for you.
I appreciate your input on this topic and how respectful you were. As a Taylor fan I’m disappointed to hear that she purchased something from a company that has a poor policy on creating quality products. She herself has fought hard to own her art and wants us to support her. I hope she can find a way to make this right. That being said, I’m glad I found your channel and will continue to support you.❤
The corporate communication you shared is a splendid example of lip service. The simple truth is that in a better world, we can’t have unlimited cheap-ass clothes. As consumers, we have to discipline ourselves to choose value, and to fill our closets with fewer things. If it means those things are better, and the makers of those things can live better lives. A lower price point makes a difference because so many people want cheap. But, if you make something awesome, plenty of people will shell out money for it. Plenty of idiots stand in line all night for the privilege of paying thousands of dollars for sneakers. It’s kind of like dating jerks versus dating good people. You just have to raise your head, know what you are worth, And let the right ones choose you.
A couple other points that I wanted to make in this video but ended up cutting for the sake of time…
- Just because I’m talking about crochet, which is the medium I am familiar with, doesn’t mean I’m dismissing the problems with mass producing and fast fashion-ing other handmade items. I would love to hear from some knitters/seamstresses about their experiences with the time/toll it takes to do what they do.
- Talking about/bringing attention to one instance or brand doesn’t mean you are expected to be perfect all the time. Not everything I own is ethical and I should totally do better too (granted though I’m not the most famous person in the world and there is some extra responsibility to be cautious of what you promote when you are such a massive influencer…I saw one girl on tiktok saying she didn’t even like the dress and only preordered it because Taylor wore it 😂🙄). This has made me really want to start looking into how other things I use/wear are made (although I can’t remember the last time I bought clothes anywhere but the thrift.
- Yes, the cost of living is a lot lower in China. I did a lot of research into this but decided to cut it because it’s really hard to pin down what people might pay for rent/utilities/food due to differing family sizes/lifestyles/areas of town as Guangzhou is massive, etc…) I tried to reach out to a couple content creators who live in Guangzhou to get an inside perspective, but I never heard back. Feel free to do your own research and see if you think it’s fair!! Besides that, though…even if the workers can comfortably pay their bills…claiming to be all about creativity and women and confidence and charity and love and then doing something that makes people question the worth of a makers hard work sucks (in my opinion). People will likely struggle to sell their pieces for a fair price because people who don’t know any better will think, “But tswifts hand crocheted dress was only $119 so wtffff??”…it makes the market confusing and it hurts artists. I’m a metalsmith and the same thing happens with cheap jewelry. It makes people not want to support someone who puts their blood, sweat, tears and soul into their work because the first search result on Etsy is a $20 “turquoise” ring that doesn’t seem much different to them.
ANYWAY, thank you for watching and for discussing this with me and being respectful and kind!!! I’m not an expert, this isn’t a perfect video, I’m sure I missed some good points and maybe made some bad points but I appreciate you sticking in! Stay tuned for something fun and drama free next time. 💖💖💖
As a seamstress, people are never willing to pay for my things. I was making things for family and friends a few years ago. When I would tell them to buy the supplies and I would sew it for them (meaning my labor was free) they wouldn't take me up on it because just the supplies were so expensive. And I would help them to find where they could get the supplies for cheap and how to reduce the costs. Fast fashion makes it hard for people to value handmade because it is so cheap. This is obviously not a new issue, but it is one that we are having conversations about and I am hoping that we can see some changes. Unfortunately everything right now is super expensive and it is frustrating to see the prices of fast fashion items in thrift stores being more than they were originally. Especially when they are donated in the first place. We, the people, need to keep speaking out, and doing what we can to make changes, and hopefully corporations and governments will follow suit. At least in America there are laws against the factory conditions that were prominent in the late 1800s and so there is hope that the same came be done for China and other countries in the future. We just have to fight for them.
@@adaynasmile Thank you for this perspective! I’m sure that’s really frustrating. If people don’t stop and think twice about the crochet they’re buying, I’m sure it’s 1000 times worse with sewn items. I’m sorry you haven’t had support on your work! 😔 I hope people do keep talking and we can create some change. I’m tired of Shein hauls. Thanks for watching and your shedding light on a seamstresses perspective! 💖
I NEVER charge for my crochet things. That takes the fun and love right out of it.
@@vickinielsen3810 I don’t either. But mostly because, being a self employed metalsmith for so long, I know my worth as a maker and I’d never crochet a large project for less than $30/hour. It’s a privilege to have the time and money to be able to crochet and give it away for free, though. I suspect the workers in China don’t have much of a choice, if they’re willing to do it for so little money.
@@adaynasmile I learned to crochet as a child and did so throughout most of my early adulthood. I could count in one hand the number of pieces I sold. Most of my projects were things for myself and gifts I wanted to make for someone who didn’t ask me to.
Whenever someone would ask if I could just make them ‘this amigurumi I saw online’ I would smile and say ‘sure! Just buy the yarn’ I don’t remember anyone actually doing it. 😅 People just don’t understand nor appreciate what actually goes into handcrafting.
TL;DR Guestimating labor cost of the dress - $14.86
I just want to give perspective as a person whos worked in manufacturing and product creation, so if that dress is $119, the whole sale is $59.50. Typically good margines for labour is 10-30%. 10% is usually non American manufacturing. So. Lets be generous 25% of $59.50 went to labour. That includes cost for the managers mind you but to keep it simple $14.86 is the price they paid to make that dress. So for 13 hours someone made just over $1 an hr.
A dollar an hour isnt even the hourly minimun wage for cleaning workers in Argentina, Jesus Christ
Wouldn't the retail-doubles-wholesale markup not apply since the wholesaler is the retailer?
Not justifying the practice or price, of course (the reality could be 10x your result and I'd still hate it) -- just seems to me like this estimated math may be taking into account a factor that would normally apply but doesn't seem to apply here
Lots of good points here, Liz. I really hope that everyone who bought the dress treasures it as the handmade item it is, & thst thrift shops aren't flooded with them in a few months...
They will be lol just like all the outfits people bought or made for the eras tour.
A tip for when you go to sew up seams: put your yarn up against the seam it is going to join, triple it, and give yourself the amount you would if you cut the yarn and were intending to weave in the ends. For some projects, this is a bit too much but I have found it to be correct more often than not. If you don’t know how much you would weave in, go ahead and give yourself an extra 1/4th of what you are measuring until you get a feel for what works.
Ahh that’s a good tip! I didn’t know that. I always just way over estimate and have a massive tail. 😂 Thank you! 💖
The dress took you 30 hours?! You're a queen... I have two kids, that dress would take me at least a month. I am envious of your talent and speed!
New fan here. This dress has indeed started an important discussion. You did a good job all around.
You’re so kind, thank you for watching!! 💖
Taylor swift is a billionaire, she should be spending her money on ethically priced crotchet, and smaller creators! Also you are very talented - I feel like this dress would look nice in a thinner weight cotton - but god that would take ages…Maybe I might make a crop top in the same design ahah!
GIRL. When I saw that price I was floored. I charge $20 for my little crocheted cat hats. This shit takes so much time if you do it right.
Love this video and the information!
It’s absolutely wild! I’m sad for these makers! And omg I love your little hats. 🥰 $20 is a steal!
You're an icon for calling them out AND showing how to diy the dress 🔥
Considering that celebrities get free things all the time and make plenty of money, I think the least that they can do is support smaller creators and not buy fast fashion that is likely created by slave labor. I am not saying no one should buy things from fast fashion because there are people who depend on those jobs and even though the conditions suck it might be the only thing keeping the people from starving. I am not advocating for it. I would like to see changes. But we also have to be realistic in that there are people who depend on these jobs and we can't simply take them away without providing alternatives. People don't work in these conditions unless it is necessary. However, in regards to people like Taylor Swift, she absolutely should be called out for buying from a company like this and not buying from people who are getting paid fair wages. She should be standing up against these policies and companies. She has a very powerful voice and should be held responsible for the part that she plays in not lifting people up out of their poverty. She shouldn't have to give handouts or whatnot, but she should be criticized for wearing something that was made by cheap labor in, most likely, unsafe circumstances. That is on her, and her stylist. Even if it was a gift from the company for promotion, it is, once again, on her. She knows what kind of an icon she is and she is aware of the power of her wearing a specific dress. She is advertisement for a company and is complicit in the continued negative practices.
Just want to say that this video was awesome! Love the combination of talking about the producing of the original dress and then in "real time" showing the time it takes to crochet. Love the way you told the pattern as well, it is a skill to freehand crochet garments 😊
SO interesting to hear about those hand dyed kimonos!!!!!! Thank you for the deep dive!!!!
Right?! I tried to find more info but couldn’t. Super interested!
I’ve been a cook/baker for 15 years, still only make min when working for a business. I agree with you. People just don’t appreciate the knowledge. I also do other crafts and people usually want cheap
A guy that I knew wanted me to crochet an American flag throw for his couch.i told him I’d calculate the cost and get back to him. I searched for the best price for the yarn. I guessed at the amount of time it would take and calculated the price.
Guess what? He didn’t want it after I told him the price.
Enlightening and informative video, Liz. Thanks for bringing awareness to how much work handcrafting entails with your behind-the-scenes clips. Not only crocheting but any sort of craft we do. There is so much work involved that people don’t realize and sadly we don’t charge nearly the amount that we are worth.
My mom has been crocheting for many years and still does at age 90. She’s pretty quick and can make full on blankets, but it still takes her several days. She says that getting paid $119 or whatever cut they end up getting for that dress is insulting to whomever does the work.
Kudos to you for making this video. 🙌 Also, great job on the dress! 😊
Your mom is a bad@$$! She’s so right, super insulting and I can’t fathom why anyone defends it. I guess just because of the person attached to the story. 😒 And for sure, it’s sad how we have to sell ourselves short even in jewelry because of the cheap jewelry Etsy features, which then changes the perception of our worth too. 😔 I did go into some jewelry stuff too but I ended up cutting it for time. Maybe I’ll do another deep dive on that sometime….after I recover from this video. 😂 Thanks for watching as always, Jess! 💖💖
❤❤❤❤❤❤ thank you so much for bringing attention to this.
I really hope that her fans don’t attack you.
Good luck love!
I’m with you on this 💯
Hahaha, oh I’ve got my fingers crossed! 😅 Thank you, and thank you for watching! I appreciate you. 🥰💖
Thank you, thank you, thank you for saying out loud what we all are thinking! Just recently i was asked to create a top for someone. I gave her an estimated price of 40€, which made her frown because that was too much for "that little bit of yarn and such simple stitches". I honestly couldn't believe it. I do think that 40 bucks for weeks of work is a total steal, but apparently i was wrong. Ended up blocking that person and honestly still can only smh. Nah, babes. I am so happy that i have 30 years of experience under my belt and create whatever the hell I want. There is no way in hell i would ever buy with any of those shops.
I do stained glass and I'm like -- you have no earthly idea how much stained glass costs do you? I dont mean stained glass I create -- I mean buying the uncut glass for me to cut. When I tell people the prices of the MATERIAL it's way more than they would want to pay. Lets not talking about my cutting the pieces, grinding them individually, copper foil on each one, then soldering one side -- flip and repeat. No. I don't sell my work. No, I have no idea how lowes can sell a lamp like that so cheap. I can't even buy the materials for that. I'm at a loss just like you.
When you pulled out the headband and wrist bands I hit that subscribe button so fast 😂👏🏼 love the energy and need it more in my life
Hahahaha I’m so glad you’re here! This video was too serious for me, had to throw in something goofy. 😂
Great background info on how this dress is made and the company's bs about how ethically they treat their workers. Your research is top notch! If someone asked me to crochet this dress for them, I would. But I would definitely be charging more than $120 given how labor intensive crochet is which I would probably have to explain to them, thanks to the fast fashion industry.
@@PatriceWalker Thank you so much for watching! I wouldn’t make something like this for less than $30/hour honestly 😂 and that’s why I don’t sell my crochet! Well, that…and all the cats. 😂💖
@@lizthemetalsmith lol, love the cats. We have 3 in my house, and one just hast to be in my lap.
This is a really well done video and your dress turned out really cute! I think it's important to talk about the ethics behind it, lots of people have no idea how long it takes to crochet something. I didn't know it either until I started crocheting.
Have a great day!😊
Totally, I didn’t know either! I’ve been crocheting for like 15 years but was always too overwhelmed to make anything larger than a bag/scarf/hat. I just recently started making dresses and coats and bigger projects and I can’t believe the amount of time and dedication it takes…and the strain it puts on your body on top of that!! Thank you for your sweet comment and thanks for watching! 💖
I quit selling my crochet items because other makers won’t price their items in an appropriate way and I refuse to work for pennies. An item that takes me an upwards of 10 hours to make and $30 in yarn….i am not going to sell for $20.
I really loved this video and I really love Taylor Swift. I think doing a deep dive into ethical fashion no matter who is wearing it, but honestly especially when people who have huge platforms are wearing it, is necessary to educate everyone on the harm of fast fashion. You didn’t go much into the environmental impact, but it people are interested that’s where I’d direct them next.
Something you said also really stood out to me - I don’t think this is just an issue with devaluing artists. It’s an issue with devaluing women, women’s labor, and historically female arts (often minimized as hobbies).
If we were to look at who in China is most affected by slave labor and sweat shops and poor wages in the textile industry, especially with handmade crochet goods, it’s almost certainly women. I don’t think enough people think about that especially in relation to Taylor as a powerful woman herself.
Thwy didnt actually say they met the ethical standards. It said "based on international ethics standards" not we follow them....the wording seemed icky to me idk y but it seemed like a plausible deniability thing lol
I appreciate your informed commetary and your sense of humor. Thanks!😄
Thank you for doing all the research on this topic! I enjoyed your video and for asking deeper questions.
Thank you so much for watching! 💖
Your video came up on my recommended feed. I was impressed by how much research you did and how well you presented your commentary. The dress looks beautiful on you ! Thanks for sharing your commentary and showing what goes into making this dress.
oh an hour long deep dive ??? im sat! thanks for covering this!
I don't know how to crochet, but i love this video and editing and just you in general. You're awesome.
You’re awesome! Ily friend! Thanks for watching. 💖💖💖
You're adorable & have a great sense of humor. I'm not into crocheting, but I appreciate your artistry. Good luck with your channel. I can see it growing by leaps & bounds. 😊 I think it's fabulous anytime an artist shines a light on topics such as this. My mother knits & also crochets & has made me so many beautiful things. I know how much time she invested into do it, but unless you know someone who crochets or you're in that community there's no way anyone would have a clue. I can't see Taylor even considering something like that & why would she when she's in a completely different industry. This was a great video. Thanks for sharing!
such a well done video that merges my two favorite types of RUclips videos: crochet tutorials and video essay deep dives !!
You have hit every single point I’ve been saying! It’s the fact that not only does she have the money to pay a creator to make it for her. This company is making crochet into fast fashion! Crochet is the absolute opposite of fashion and is truly an art form, Let’s keep it that way!
I do a lot of crocheting but I've never tried to make a garment. I tend to do smaller projects like baskets, crochet animals etc, I've crocheted a blanket many years ago, but now you've impressed me and taken my imagination further. Thank you. I hope you don't mind me adding this video to my crochet/hand stitching playlist for future reference. You showed this so well, even though you went straight through so many hours. Well Done! You're right art and craft projects are a long process, more the hours you put in to them. Even smaller projects can take a few hours to complete. The problem is that independent art and crafters are competing with the mass market suppliers, who produce so many more on the market which undercuts the true artisan. If you wanted to sell the item and tried to put a price on it, would you be able to recoup the cost of materials and labour. I don't think so because of the competition.
Happy i found your channel! I hope to see more tutorials and commentary ❤ you go girl
You’re sweet, thank you for watching!! 🥰🥰💛💛
This is the first time I’ve seen your channel and was Intrigued by the amount of time and cost to make this dress. I’ve been crocheting for 60ish years and I never sell anything I make. One reason is I crochet cause I love to. I like to say, “why crochet? To give it away.”
People are always telling me that I should sell my creations and I ask how much would they pay for a blanket. No one wants to pay for the time and materials. So I use bargain yarn and think about who I’m going to give my item to while I’m making it and it’s usually just right for that person. I’m a happy hooker👵🏻🧶❤
Girl, it did not take me long to hit that follow button, you are so hilarious. But what really made me fall head over heals was "ready, steady, betty spaghetti" obsessed, love you
Excellent video! Thank you for sharing all of the details. Fellow crocheter here 👋 enjoyed your content very much, liked and subscribed 😊
This is a fantastic video! People just don’t get the time (which is cost) to crochet even a simple hat. I am new to your channel and a new subscriber. Thank you for saying this about the value of handmade crochet items no matter the size. BRAVO 😊
you rock! ❤ fantastic video, such valid points so well presented, and you are so courteous and full of grace❤
Thank you for this sweet comment and for watching! 💖💖
This is such a good video omg I am so happy I found you! Thank you for opening up this discussion and also, you're super funny ❤
Thank you for doing this! Your commentary is hilarious. I’m excited for more videos!
OMG Liz!! @47:03 I LOST it! Your cat is absolutely GORGEOUS!! I loved your point at the beginning. I'm not a Swifty either. Great job recreating this by the way.
Richard
Hahaha he is such a stinker!! 🤣 Thank you so much for watching, Richard!! Appreciate you!
You are very articulate. I'm glad you brought attention to this issue. It's so easy in a consumer/capitalist society to go for the bargain without thinking about the ethical implications.
You did a great job explaining things throughout the video. I look forward to exploring your other videos.
PS, it’s perfectly ethical and hysterical for you to show the world how to knock off that dress. Especially since it’s the sort of thing you can figure out if you can get a good look at it. You even give people the power to have that designbut to make it from more sustainable yarns. You angel!🎉
Thanks for all your research and for showing how to make this dress. I’m not a Swiftie, but this looks like it would be cozy over leggings in the fall and winter. And so easy (though time-consuming) to make. You did a great job!
Good research, agreed with your views, liked, and subscribed. Really liked the "You can't know what you don't know, until you do." Thanks for this video. 🙂
Thank you so much for watching and subscribing! I don’t know lots of things but learning is cool and I hope this helps some people see makers a little differently!
This was such an impressive video! It was funny, engaging, and well communicated, from the research to your tutorial, and everything in between! I’ve never crocheted, so learned a lot about the craft, technique, and ethics. Thank you for making this video, and I hope it was kindly received. The dress you made turned out beautifully, and the colors really suit you. Going to go check out some more of your content now!
You are sweet, thank you for such a nice comment! It was received **mostly** kindly. 😂 I think the people who are upset by it aren’t really grasping my point. I just want better for people and artists and makers and if that’s wrong then, whatever, they can be upset. 😂 Thank you so much for watching! Appreciate you! 💖
I also tie my ends together I’m afraid they’ll come apart - I know people say they don’t, but I have had it happen before!
Thank you for discussing this dress, it’s beautiful but I am worried the artists who have crocheted it aren’t being fairly paid for their work- I want to believe they are, but with how cruel the world is to makers / artists, it’s hard to believe.
Thank you for showing us how to make it! 💕 I love it and want to recreate it with other colours once I’m done with my current project!
Sending love and best wishes
I feel like there’s no harm in the knot, when it’s in a seam like that especially! 😂 They totally disappear so why the heck not be extra secure, right?? Thank you so much for watching! I really hope the makers of this dress are at least comfortable with their working conditions and their wages! 💖
There are many great things about this video and commenters have already praised many, but I want to specifically admire your graciousness. You did a phenomenal job of being direct and honest and critical without ever being even the tiniest bit petty or rude to anyone. I love your attitude and objectivity, and I envy your knack for gentleness in your communication! Can't wait to check out more of your work. Props, and thank you for being you!
incredible energy you brought by messaging them and a really telling exchange. awesome video!
I love that you did the research. You are so adorable ❤
Love the video, the tutorial and the dress! Super interesting and important topic! ❤️
Thank you for watching! 💖
Thank you for taking the time to dive deep on this one. I knew that dress was too cheap. Aliexpress is advertising it for sale at $22. Talk about ridiculous pricing. Now i know why I don't make items for the public. They wouldn't appreciate them anyway. Our society is too disposable at this point to respect makers that make things that actually last. 😢
I never sell my crocheted items after an experience at a Christmas Artesia market, I was so upset and then felt sad for those who didn't appreciate the work and design.
I give away my pieces, I make a lot for my students, I teach my students after work, for free. , I make a lot for animal shelters ( cat toys, blankets, beds), and I crochet clothing for charity fundraising activities. I love crocheting and selling I, making my fun, relaxing hobby, very stressful.
you're so brave bc ik fandoms r ruthless when angry hun. gorgeous work❤️❤️❤️
The Swifties have been angry at me on TikTok and Instagram! But it needed to be said. 😂
And thank you! Thanks for watching! 💖
This was so interesting! Thank you for sharing this information. And thank you for all the research you did. ❤
Thank you so much for watching! 💖
I love your videos! Been following you since 2019, keep up the good work! I feel like I’m hanging out with a friend watching your videos
I’m honored, that’s the best compliment and I’m so glad you’re here hanging out! Thank you so much! 💖💖
I love it!!!!! I’m going to do it in turquoise, fushia, white, and black. Subbed!
Oooh that’s going to be so pretty! 😍 Thank you for watching and subscribing! Appreciate you! 🫶
Anyone else not a fan of the olor scheme of the dress? I really don't like it lol. But I really wanna make this in a different color because the shape of it is cute.
You should! I saw someone make a blue version which was super cute.
Omg yes I don't like the color scheme at all.
Thank you for bringing up this subject. It is something that needs to be discussed and understood.
Absolutely loved this video. Love the dress. Love the ethical discussion. New fan, here!!
1st, I appreciate learning that crochet cannot be mechanized. I truly didn’t know that! Second, as others have said, I don’t have a clue how to access goods directly from Chinese artisans. I would be interested if it’s even possible.
We all know Taylor doesn’t care about ethical practices or the environment.
The ironic thing is that celebrities will pay hundreds of thousans of dollar for a designer piece that the designer drew on the paper but that they rarely make. I don't know much about how high fashion works, but the fashion houses as they used to be when the designer themselves made the whole garmet are way behind us. Now, even places such as Channel or Versace outsource their manufacturing process, so the people actually making the garmet earn, perhaps, an eighth of what the designer makes.
The algorithm is pushing you THRU!! 25k views in 3 days 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Ugh I am so grateful! 🥰 I can usually hardly reach 1k views. I guess I gotta dive into drama more often. 😂
@@lizthemetalsmith I love how you addressed a very vital issue and did your research before presenting the information ! It’s amazing that you not only took the time to recreate and teach the creation of the dress but also educated more people on the reality of undervalued workers. If combining the two helped the algorithm then I’m sure glad you did this video as I found your channel and plan to stay :) Hopefully many others came by to check the intriguing title
( not just making the dress but adding the ethics of the company/dress manufacturer and employee wage). Also, showing in real time each step of the creative process, from purchasing to the finished item that took 5 days working tirelessly! More people need to be aware of the time that goes into handcrafted products. While I think the dress is cute I was drawn here more for the information, the dress pattern is a bonus I’ll share with my daughter. Thank you for caring, for creating and sharing your pattern and for your kind/fun manner of presentation :)
Hi Liz, When I saw this dress in a post on a Facebook group, I searched the dress. When I saw the price I was concerned. I asked my daughter, who is a fast crocheter, and she told me that it must have been done in China, with the workers not being paid correctly. That is the reason why most artists here might not be able to sell their craft.
I loved the dress, but I got discouraged when I saw the number of people making the dress. I'm making the dress for my own use. Different colors.
I'm very glad that you took the time to do this video to create consciousness. Thank you. ❤😊
Thank you for watching! It really is disheartening seeing this happen as a crocheter! I think making one for yourself in your own colors is a great option. Some people have told me that’s unethical as well, but the stitch is nothing unique and it seems a lot more ethical to create something for yourself than to support someone being exploited to make it for you. Happy crocheting!! 🥰🥰
Love that you made this video! Agree with everything you said. Also the dress came out beautifully!
Thank you for watching!! 💖💖💖
New to crotchet (only started about a month ago and really only have 2 complete projects) but I love commentary videos and instructional ones too, your vibe is so welcoming and safe, got a new subscriber :)
Aww hey, that means a lot! Thank you for watching and subscribing! 💖
According to justvintagecrochet, the flat granny stitch was originally called the Van Dyke stitch. Just tossing that out there.
😂😂😂😂Loved your warm up....wrist bands, headband!!!
The more I watched, the more I wanted to make my own...and I don't even listen to Ms. Swift. I just find your approach delightfully friendly and comforting. Thank you. Now where's my hook...
You are sweet! Thank you for that nice comment. Haha I don’t listen to her music either but I do like the dress! I want to make another in a solid color, would be a lot faster than changing colors every 2 seconds. 😂 Happy crocheting!! 💖
Well said, and good job getting info from the company and including it as well
Also that test was a great demonstration, even if you completely optimize construction, and assume half the time it's still not a reasonable cost for hand made.