Apart from the fact that my grandmother taught me to crochet and every time I do it I feel like she is here with me, I love that a crocheted item is 100% handmade every time. It's truly an art that can't be taken away from us by a soulless machine. I could take a stack of crochet hats and tell you exactly which of my friends made each one. Every artist leaves our own signature in our work in subtle ways. Every item carries a piece of our hearts in it.
Thanks for sharing this video. I have been saying this to people for a long time. Those cheaply priced crochet store bought items are made at the cost of exploitation of the workers.
I’m currently working on a lace bedspread as a wedding gift for a friend. It’s made with 4 ply yarn on a 3.5mm hook. A friend saw it and gushed about how lovely it was and that I should sell blankets like that. I asked her how much she thought it would sell for, and she said “£250 - £300, easy!” I then pointed out that the yarn cost over £100 and I’ve been working on it evenings and weekends since October. So probably 15-ish hours a week for 4 months, and if I sold it for that price I would be paying myself less than £1 an hour and undercutting people trying to make a living as fibre artists.
For this reason I don't sell my work. I give it to friends and family and donate the rest to an animal rescue to sell to support rehomeing animal abandoned by their owners. I love the craft, so nothing is wasted.
I have always wondered this!! I found it soooo hard to believe that TJ Maxx could have a crochet top for $10 and wondered how they did it. I suspected sweatshops but now I know. Loved this video, I am definitely going to share it around.
To be quite fair, while still not great, Tjmaxx is a basically a resale store but for unsold bulk clothing from other brands. So while still not great they function like a Nordstrom rack with over produced/unsold items.
$10 garment is $5 to the retailer. $3 at the port (with shipping/taxes/documentation). Leaving $1.50 for the yarn, labour, (on machines + programming) all trims (labels +++), all shipping supplies, washing (yards are waxed, and it needs to be removed). Yes, there are sweatshops involved along with child labour, but they are not crocheting.
I don’t think that all the “sweatshops” or whatever they are actually called are bad if they are allowed to quit. Those existing or not, the people still need money, bad working conditions are in all jobs in almost all countries in the world and if they can quit they can quit and get a better job. It’s like taking a massive amount of new shoes to a poor village will put the shoe shop out of work, sure the people get new shoes but a third of the people will be out of a job.
@@Animez4321 that's only true for certain items. a lot of the items at marshalls and tj maxx are actually produced specifically for those stores. for instance most of the food and homewares, as well as most of the no-name brand clothing on the racks, unless it's clearly from another store
Thank you for touching on this topic. There are instances where not only the work is outsourced to poverty stricken countries, but also here within the USA. There are a great MANY products labled "Made in USA" but what theybfail to tell you is they were made by prison workers who are told "this is part of a work release program" and then many of those prisoners never actually getbreleased or if they do, those skills don't help them in any way because of that "felony" hanging over their heads they still find it incredibly difficult to find work on the outside. And getting paid 1/10 of a cent because "thats still a profit" to the prisoner, while the owners of the private prisons are getting money off the backs of "slave labor". I have a friend from India who was employed by a company similar to Darn Good Yarns, where the company says they help women find work. But theybdon't help them find work. They keep them employed with slave wages and they have to work (against their will) because they have to feed their family....and there is no childcare, so often their children are subject to being around machinery and sweat shop environments...its really sad. I was happy my friend got out of that situation, but not everyone is going to get get married and whisked away to another country. Thats just so incredibly uncommon. **also, I am saving this video for future reference every time I hear someone say "oh its probably done on machine and we do it by hand so its not the same quality" Because I hear that misinformation a LOT
You make an excellent point (My degree is in Criminology), slave labor happens right here in the US!! What greed makes people do to others. Its a shame.
I was talking about this the other day with my husband! We passed some crochet bikini tops in Target and I explained that someone had to make it by hand and since the top was only ten bucks, the person who made it probably didn’t get paid nearly enough for their work. And it’s frustrating, too, to think that something we can enjoy and do for our own pleasure is a necessity for someone else. That we could sell our work for a fair price and that they can’t. And whoever did those tops had really excellent, even stitches! I really appreciate that you made a video about that.
That is exactly why I love crochet. It can’t be done by machine. One item can look totally different by changing type of thread and fiber content, needle size, stitches, even the color of the yarn i.e. variegated, self striping, ombre, I could go on forever.
You hit the nail on the head!!! Buy small and/or local business. STOP SWEAT SHOPS!!! Thank you for sharing such an honest commentary! Absolutely adore you 🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶💚
I crochet grocery bags or market bags, but only for my family. I've taken them into stores like Trader Joe's and Aldi, where you generally bag for yourself and always get comments on how good they look, then typically something along the lines of you should sell them. No one understands the cost most people want to buy these for wouldn't even cover the cost of yarn, let alone the 5-10 hours it takes to make. So I never make things that I don't want to; it's too heartbreaking when people suggest that they will buy something I've made then cringe when I give them a price.
Great video. This is the first time I’ve seen a crocheter talk about the issues in the textile industry. I’d love to see a more comprehensive discussion of sweatshop labour and damage to the environment caused by textiles (and sadly, our beloved crochet)
The documentary The True Cost is a great start! I’ve watched it a ton since it came out years ago, just post Rana Plaza, and just recently saw it’s here on YT
@@AnonymousAmyMakes you’re so welcome! It’s really well done and I think sums up a good like starting knowledge of it without being condescending or making assumptions about the viewer which is really nice
Great video! I've been telling people this for years and I'm glad there isn't a machine that can crochet. I never understood why crochet takes a back seat to knit when knit is so easily replicated with machines? I'm in love with the hands on process of crocheting. It's calming and therapeutic for me and I hope they never crack the code to mass produce crochet. 😍
The thing that keeps me from knitting a lot is that it takes a long time compared to crochet and it could just be done by a machine so sometimes it feels therapeutic and sometimes it feels like a waste of time to me.
Since I started crocheting ten years ago, I've become keenly aware how often on TV/in movies, there are things like crocheted blankets on the couches of people who are, ahem, not well-off. It's a curious thing, sort of tying crochet into "poor" or "low-class".
@@yarnpenguin i was heart broken when I was watching "My little Ponies" with my daughter. I grew up on the original show, and I thinkmthe "friendship is magic" is over-all a really cute show, not too far off from the original. But in one episode Rarity tells SweetieBell that "Crochet is Knits UGLY COUSIN" and I just broke down. Even as a joke, that is an awful thing to say.
Greetings from Texas! Thanks for this valuable information. As a crochet artist, I struggled with the transition from hobby to full-time business. Many friends/family do not support me as a business, but yet look for me to continually give away gifts or reduce my prices. I also appreciate this information because I know big companies can be our greatest competitions. I wish nothing but success for you and all the small business owners out there working diligently to stay afloat. Best wishes in 2022 and beyond!😊
I've learned that friends and family can be the best & worst supporters. If your family is anything like mine, they are used to getting free crochet items from grandparent or other relatives. These are gifts from the heart. They are unable to see the true value. & will have issues with you putting a price on it.
Fellow Texan here! I've found that, at least in my little western town, people are willing to pay me for my services. *However* I don't have many sales. My best commissions come from me crocheting in bars and people asking me to make things 😂
I love to crochet and I looked into making and selling my creations, I found that what most people are willing to pay often doesn't even cover the cost of the yarn. I now only gift my items to friends and family.
This information is very affirming Alysha. I've seen crochet hats, gloves and scarves that cost a fraction of what I would charge (if I was charging) for my hand crafted projects. How would I ever be able to compete with their price and intricate details? Wow! Just wow!
You can't compete with their price, however, they don't put the blood, sweat, tears and love you put into your projects. Every time I make something for someone I think of them and the fun times we've had, etc. The machines are unable to put the karma in a project that we can. I'll take hand made anytime!!
Absolutely agree with every point! Great video! If only influencers stop promoting such sweat shops and start promoting real small businesses. Unfortunately it’s true! Please repost this video, everyone!!!! It’s very important for crochet community! Thank you, Alysha!
Loved the video. My Mom taught me how to crochet when I was 10 years old. It is a craft that I will always be grateful to her for teaching me. She passed away several years ago, but a part of her still lives on in the craft that she taught me.
Thank you for shining a light on this blight and giving a voice to the voiceless. My heart hurts for all these humans beings caught in an endless circle of abuse. It has always been valuable to me that no machine can replicate the beauty of crochet. Buy less, but buy local 🌞
i saw a crochet hat in target and my mouth literally dropped ! i’m a SAHM with a very small crochet business, something like a mass produced hat could put me out of business faster than i could yarn over. definitely gave me a fright
Very informative, It's amazing to know that crocheting is to difficult for a machine, because it's so relaxing for me to do. It's a wonderful thing to support small business as well as crafters selling at local events. Sweat shops are a cruel environment.
Great informative video! I've told people that crochet has to be handmade, unlike knitting, although working on the Addi (especially making different stitches and patterns) is still alot of handwork. Crochet is keeping me sane while working for an insane employer during these trying times.
Yes! It is such a shame that us crocheters start trends and get recognition on social media...Then big brands trying to capitalize on the trend, wind up supporting sweatshops.
YES! 🙌🏻 This video is so good and I hope it goes viral because this topic infuriates me and so many people don’t realize that this is what’s happening and there aren’t many resources about it. So thank you! And I’ll be sharing it to as many people as I can ❤️
I fully love that this video went from Informative (fun) to Informative (you're gonna learn about sweatshops). Thank you so much for bringing this to people's attention! I knew it couldn't be done by machine and hate seeing crochet pieces in big chain stores!
After working with only tubes and flat panels which makes a not so large piece of fabric I have upped my “STEEK” game where all things are now possible. Steeked flat panels are made from tubes but are full size minus 3 rows that takes up the steeking and cut leaving a full 15” of width. You can create actual yardage and you can do curves, cool necklines, add zips or open up a sweater so it’s a cardigan. Using tunisian crochet knit stitch is handy for rubbings and collars etc. I agree with the commercial sale of sweat labor items but we’ve become so dependent on other countries to feed our need to over consume that sweatshops will never disappear. If there was no demand there would be no sweatshops.
@@LittlejohnsYarn I don’t know how to knit either. Just me and my knitting machines until someone has the patience to teach me. And that probably won’t happen hahaha!
I am a crocheter - self-taught many years ago. I also have a circular knitting machine (new acquisition ) where I combine the two and make beautiful things! Thank you for this video to show people that crochet is indeed an art and cannot be duplicated by machine!
totally agree with all you said. I buy my Fair Trade items only from verifiable sources like the Leprosy Mission, which has been doing this kind of work for decades. And yes, I would love a video all about the Sweat Shop scourge - which not only damages those who work there, but also the small business person who wants to make a living from their work.
Thank you! SWEAT SHOP! "People don't crochet free" followed by your subtle pause, Bless You! It breaks my heart when I see handmade or hand assembled items selling for One Dollar. I tell my friends the only way these were shipped here to USA for that price, from China, is slave labor by "political prisoners". Please share more about the true manner in which these helpless people are treated.
Thank you Alisha for bringing the truth forward about sweat shops. I saw this in person 30 years ago and it's so hard to bring this to attention of the average person. God bless you. This is a worldwide problem.
I was just having this conversation with my daughter yesterday about the "machine crochet", but then I said; " I wonder if like 50 different people piece together one garment like an assembly line?. I was thinking like a couple people start the chain ⛓️ then they pass it to the others who may do the front panels while others work back panels and lastly they put it together or something. I swear we just spoke this up... you just read our minds.
I feel like crochet clothes have become a sort of fad recently, and people don't understand how time consuming it is. Or because so many people know how to do it, that it's seen as easy, and therefore not worth much. But there's something just so special about looking at a project and KNOWING a real person touched every single stich with their hands when creating it.
I had no idea crochet couldn't be made on machine! But it makes total sense now! I'm just now going to start getting into crocheting, my grandmother used to make beautiful throw blankets! 💚 And that's disgusting how big chains get their products. Wish we could all come together and change it!
This is literally the perfect youtube video. Straightforward answer within the first minute, then the rest of it is absolutely packed with details and alternatives. I'm obsessed, thank you for making this!!
Thank you so, so much for this video, Alysha. I don't know how many times over the past decade I've had people--generally, acquaintances, but not always--ask me how much I'd charge for something. Even though I wouldn't be making anything close to minimum wage for what I would quote them, they'd be *furious*, saying they could get a scarf at Walmart or whatever for like $10, instead of $30 which I know, I know, is too low! It's really disheartening.
@@LittlejohnsYarn Exactly. The time, the skill, the sore wrists... they just don't get what goes into what we make. I do have some loved ones who understand, and they absolutely love what I make and treat the finished pieces with respect and care. But someone shouldn't have had to know us for decades, or entire lives, to grasp the time and care of this passion of ours.
I would explain to them just why hand made things cost more. "JUST the yarn costs $x. Plus it took me x hours to make it, even if I only pay myself minimum wage, that would be $x... Even the cheapest acrylic yarn and 1 hour's work is more than $10!"
@@lji_btrfly Oh, I know, and I've *done* that. They just don't care. That $10 price tag is just way more important to them than my time, materials, and wrists. 🙃
$30 barely even pays for the yarn at retail prices, much less all your hours of labor. Or PROFIT, which is the whole point of a business and is added after paying for labor. It's so hard to ask prices that reflect the true cost of making an item when people are so used to sweatshop fast fashion prices.
Thank you, Dear Sister for taking the time to care by doing a very unselfish and informative video! You are truly blessed! And may the LORD JESUS continue to bless you, your family and business!
I am new to crochet and new to your Channel. I want you to thank you for bringing attention to the problem of sweatshops. Thank you for also pointing out that crochet and other handcrafted items come not only from the hands but also from the heart of the crafter🥰
I only just started crocheting, I haven’t even finished my first project (a single stitch scarf) and you’ve already got me feeling pride in what I’m doing, the fact it can’t be done by machine just hyped me up lol. Thanks! Definitely getting my like and subscribe! Have a great day!!
Hey, thanks for making awareness to the sweatshops and child labor. It's a very sad situation, and you're absolutely right that 'feeding the beast' is not a good solution. Im a 38yo man in law enforcement, and I've seen some terrible things that kids go through to make money for someone else. Stay safe and your kiddos under your wing.
Love the video! And I myself taught myself to knit first, but then I took up crochet. Why? Because I don’t think one is better than the other. I thoroughly believe that knitting and crochet are sisters in the crafting world. Both are beautiful and take just as much skill.
I knew about sweatshops but. I thought "oh well if we having knitting machines, we must have crochet machines too" :x Never buying crochet items in stores again. >_< Thanks for letting us know
Thank you for speaking about how mass produced crochet relies on exploitative labor practices! I just finished making a granny square jacket for a friend. It took 40 hours of my time. To buy a jacket like that for even $100 or $200 with a modest 4x cost price, we're talking labor of less than 70¢ an hour. We know many of these sweatshops pay far less than that in many cases.
I very much agree to what you said. I stopped shopping so many years ago I can't even remember. I am self taught crocheter and sewer. I recently taught myself macrame. I only support smal business. I believe this society is doing everything in their power to destroy small business. They talk alot of shit at the end of the day. They bail out these big companies. We as a people have no idea what go on behind closed doors. If you are rolling in dough you can get anyone to do your bidding.
Thank you so much for this video. I've heard of the sweatshops a lot... they are in the US as well. People like to think it isn't in the US but it is. They exploit immigrants to do the work... but back to my comment. I always thought that knitting was the harder of the 2 just because I can crochet but not knit. I can only knit knots...lol. Anyway, I think I'll be selling my crochet items at a more appropriate price for what it is.
No matter if people actually want a fast fashion video, I think you should make it. It's a very important topic not only in crochet but in general. Many people simply have no idea, what happens in those fast fashion companies.
Great video. That’s the reason why I don’t buy crochet items from the store. I’ve watched too many videos where they exploit people to line their pockets with huge profits. If I do buy a crochet item, it’s either made by me or bought from someone who make handcraft items. And Yes you should definitely dedicate a video to this. Happy New Year !!
I've only been crocheting for a few months and my friends want me to sell them items. It's intimidating to price things at their value when you know they can be bought for much cheaper. For now I think this will stay in the hobby category.
absolutely loved your videos on crochet and sweatshop labor. As some one who has been crocheting over 6 years I know how much goes into a single piece. I am sending these videos to all my friends especially those who recently have made purchases from fast fashion brands.
I'm always stunned every time I see a crochet item at a retail store, because I know it's not possible on machine. One thing I've noticed is that the stitches are all simple and loose, the type of project that would work up very quickly. It's clear that even the stitches chosen are geared towards being easy to mass produce and not because they're the best fit for the object. I was starting to suspect that this was a side effect of whatever new machine was just recently invented, because how could anyone be making money at the prices it was selling for if it wasn't made by a machine? I'm very fast at crochet and wouldn't even be able to get a dollar an hour if I sold my work the same way. Knowing for certain that it's a sweatshop just makes me more angry. I suspected it, and so I've never once bought anything crochet. I've been seeing more and more crocheted items for sale, it's concerning. It means that enough people are buying these things to make it worth it for these big companies to expand.
Oh yeah, I am a knitter (who dabbles in crochet) and I tell EVERA’BODY that crochet is the only craft that can’t be done on machine. If they find it in the store, some person made it by hand. Crochet is hard. Crochet is amazing. I am the only knitter in a family of crocheters. We ooo and aaahh over each other’s handiwork. Be proud of your work crocheters, you are one of a kind!
In a way, I'm glad a machine can't crochet it makes what we do special. I'm glad you confirmed what I already knew. I word at a store and every time I see someone come in with a crochet item I ask them who made it and compliment the workmanship of the person who made it. It is usually a mother or grandmother of the person.
Just started following you. I have bought some repurchased Sari skirts from Darn Good Yarn. They help families from India and are open about it on their website. Anyways, I have a couple of sweaters I wonder about. Pretty sure its crocheted but purchased years ago before I educated myself more. Definitely more conscience about what I purchase.
I have to say that I don't want a crochet machine to exist. I'm proud of the fact that crochet items have to be handmade. That being said, a video about mass crochet sweatshops would be beneficial. You should definitely make a video on that. I'd share the heck out of that along with this video.
Exactly this !!! There is no machine on earth that can crochet. Knit yes. I can't "hand knit" but I do Machine knit. And I do basic crochet. You are SPOT on with the cost of crafting. I have spent as little as $20 and over $1000.00 for MACHINES to knit with. Are they hard to learn - YES. is Crochet hard to learn YES. But if you combine the two - you can make some amazing things. Thank you for pointing out the Horror of the sweat shops and the Whole reason we need to shop local. The only reason Yarn costs so much is because the "big industries" do not want the little guys taking their business. So we are forced to pay the high price for the yarns we use. I am so tired of people low balling what I do, if my yarn cost me $5.00/600 yards - and I need 5 balls for 1 project - that stating cost is $25.00, my time is not free. WHO is going to pay what it's worth? It's disgusting to me when my own relatives do not understand that I personally spend more on them - then they did on me. I started with one of the machines in your video - then I moved up.
You are correct when it comes to the sweatshops. When is done out of the US is very difficult to physically see and audit. For a few years, I make sure I get all the crochet or knitting items from small business.
what a great informative video. Hats off to you for putting it out there. There is no machine out there that can replace our "Golden Hands". All items that are made by hand are our labors of love in my opinion.
Crochet is the only needlecraft that cannot be machine duplicated whatsoever. I find that amazing and quite special aa what you see crocheted is done all by hand just for you!
Yes! Please do the dedicated video! Thank you sooo much for bringing up sweatshops so more can wake up to reality and rethink their purchasing habits. You're the first yarn channel i've come across to highlight this issue. Big like and absolutely subbing you now! x
Accidentally run into this video,! so excited to hear this, I listened twice ! Amen to you..I hope this goes out to everyone. Never really thought about it like this!!! yes I crochet, since I was 20 a young mother. I'm so pleased to have listen to you!!! I subscribed..and 👍 give you a big thumbs up!
I bought my great niece a pair of little unicorn booties from Target a few years ago. They had crochet bottoms and knitted top/sides. I feel so bad for buying them now, after knowing that someone was probably forced to make those and paid nothing. I know sometimes we have to purchase items from places we really don't care to support. But I'll never buy a crochet item from a "store." I crochet myself but I like to buy from local makers in my area also. ❣️
I absolutely love that crochet cannot be automated. I actually stopped going further with my knitting because once the knitting machines started getting more affordable my knitting time lost that special feel.
FIRST OF ALL!!! thank you for answering the question and not dragging the answer out (for people who want to know!) SECOND OF ALL I love everything you talked about in this video THIRD OF ALL I'VE WATCHED A LOT OF YOUR VIDEOS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SEEING YOUR FACE! YOU'RE SO GORGEOUS OMG 🤩
Thank you. I show my face every once in awhile. I hate when you have to wait to the video to find the answer. Give the answer first then tell the why 😉
i kept seeing this in my recommended and thinking to myself "how the **** would the machine figure out where to insert the hook," glad to see i wasn't losing my mind!
Actually, there ARE people sitting around crocheting for (practically) free. There are people across the water in countries where there are no labor laws *or humanity for that matter* who sit in warehouses with poor lighting, no heat or cooling, no restroom facilities, working 12 hour days for literally **pennies** a day! So you're right, these "sweatshops" are exploiting people - frequently children - many of whom are beaten if they don't produce sufficient quantities of products in the allotted time frame. Additionally, many of these "manufacturers" are using slave labor - people who are literally *kidnapped* and forced to work or be killed. Thank you for bringing this ugly truth to light. It is a situation that we should all be horrified by. As in "WTF does our government allow goods to be imported into the US from countries that allow this practice to continue?" If you're as appalled as I am, write letters, make phone calls, hound your local & governmental officials to put a stop to importing goods from countries that turn a blind eye to inhumane labor practices. Go "full Karen" if you have to- just make them listen *and act.*
Thanks so much for sharing. I wrote a few reports in my business management class regarding sweatshops. Sweatshops are full of exploitation and horrid working conditions. Yes! Let’s support our small businesses for our handmade, hand crafted items. 🥰❤️
I hope to one day make the crochet machine to conquer yet another art with souless machines 🙏 perhaps even it will know many different techniques and can leave complex "signatures" and can pretend to put love into the sweater too
Its sad that these skilled workers are paid so little and arent even compensated for repetitive strain injuries. I enjoy crocheting but my wrist, arm and shoulder get sore if I don't pace myself, so I can't imagine having to crochet as a job for wages. Also I feel that those who don't know how to crochet can't really appreciate that every crochet piece made is like a labour of love. This was a really good video with an important message! 👍👍
Sweat shops are why I would get frustrated when people would complain about the price in one of the places I worked. The prices were definitely on the higher side as far as outlets went but since the company owned the factories where the product was made it meant they could ensure fair wages and control quality. I'm not saying that if you compared wages between the US and Mexico or Taiwan they'd be the same, but it wasn't a sweat shop. They were way too concerned abut quality to risk sweatshops. Sweatshops are done by "leasing" warehouses where the products are made or "contracting" warehouses. So essentially you have a middleman between the company and the workers (The owners of the warehouses where the products are made). Its one of the reasons you can hear companies deny working conditions and make excuses that they didn't know what was happening. Here's a base line on discounts for profits for companies. Its not universal but it is a general Idea of how it works. 30% off still allows the company to gain profits. 50% off they generally break even. Anything over 50% off and its a loss. Some of the reasons to sell product at a loss is because they are losing money by not selling the product and it is taking up floor space for products that Could make them money. Time is money also applies for products on the floor. The longer its on the floor the less money is earned. The company is renting the space where they are selling product so space is also money. It can be complicated but in a nutshell, product that doesn't sell in a certain period of time costs more money then it could earn if its not sold, even if its sold at full price. That's why they have clearance racks. They would rather sell products at a loss then lose the profits on newer product that can sell at a better price.
Very informative... I really wish this was said more so that people do a silent protest by not buying at all... I also have a crochet business and I always wondered how those big shops did it... Shame on them.
Thanks for highlighting this world problem. I'd love it if you could expand on this issue. I recently discovered that a certain retail giant gets a lot of their jeans from a country called Lotharios. They have legal slave labour there. In 2022!!! Disgusting.
Love all of your reviews and content that you share. I hope RUclips doesn't fall into the sweatshop category. I know they pay very little and take a large percentage from donations. Makes me feel good as a crocheter that my items can't be produced on a machine. Thanks Alysha
Hi Alysha! What an AWESOME video. I agree 200%, the art of crochet cannot be replicated. I do sell some items but haven't gotten into because very few want to pay what the work is worth. It's funny, they'll pay enormous amounts of money for machine made but crochet and probably knitted too by hand is so overlooked. I just go an addi king and so far have made on hat. I've been searching your page as well as others and am excited to "knit" I can't do it by hand and that's ok, I prefer crochet but I love the look of knit. And YES, those sweat shops are so very sad. So thank you for bringing awareness to this. Thanks for the fun and honest video as always expected from you. Enjoy your evening.
i love to crochet and when i found out it cannot be done by machine, i loved it even more! thank you for making this great fact known to educate/remind people of! tfs!
Apart from the fact that my grandmother taught me to crochet and every time I do it I feel like she is here with me, I love that a crocheted item is 100% handmade every time. It's truly an art that can't be taken away from us by a soulless machine. I could take a stack of crochet hats and tell you exactly which of my friends made each one. Every artist leaves our own signature in our work in subtle ways. Every item carries a piece of our hearts in it.
I feel the same. Every time I crochet I feel closer to my grandmother. It's a beautiful Craft
My grandmother taught me to walk as a baby and to chrochet
Walking and Chrochet are irreplaceable activities. When I see a little child wearing one of my pumpkin hats my heart sings.
@@LittlejohnsYarn .
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Thanks for sharing this video. I have been saying this to people for a long time. Those cheaply priced crochet store bought items are made at the cost of exploitation of the workers.
You're welcome... OMG fan-girling over here😍😍😍😍!!!!
@@LittlejohnsYarn6 n
Or it's machine knit that's pretending to be crochet.
I’m currently working on a lace bedspread as a wedding gift for a friend. It’s made with 4 ply yarn on a 3.5mm hook. A friend saw it and gushed about how lovely it was and that I should sell blankets like that. I asked her how much she thought it would sell for, and she said “£250 - £300, easy!” I then pointed out that the yarn cost over £100 and I’ve been working on it evenings and weekends since October. So probably 15-ish hours a week for 4 months, and if I sold it for that price I would be paying myself less than £1 an hour and undercutting people trying to make a living as fibre artists.
For this reason I don't sell my work. I give it to friends and family and donate the rest to an animal rescue to sell to support rehomeing animal abandoned by their owners. I love the craft, so nothing is wasted.
@@maried3717 @maried3717 That's lovely. You're a very kind and generous person!
I have always wondered this!! I found it soooo hard to believe that TJ Maxx could have a crochet top for $10 and wondered how they did it. I suspected sweatshops but now I know. Loved this video, I am definitely going to share it around.
Glad it was helpful!
To be quite fair, while still not great, Tjmaxx is a basically a resale store but for unsold bulk clothing from other brands. So while still not great they function like a Nordstrom rack with over produced/unsold items.
$10 garment is $5 to the retailer. $3 at the port (with shipping/taxes/documentation). Leaving $1.50 for the yarn, labour, (on machines + programming) all trims (labels +++), all shipping supplies, washing (yards are waxed, and it needs to be removed). Yes, there are sweatshops involved along with child labour, but they are not crocheting.
I don’t think that all the “sweatshops” or whatever they are actually called are bad if they are allowed to quit. Those existing or not, the people still need money, bad working conditions are in all jobs in almost all countries in the world and if they can quit they can quit and get a better job. It’s like taking a massive amount of new shoes to a poor village will put the shoe shop out of work, sure the people get new shoes but a third of the people will be out of a job.
@@Animez4321 that's only true for certain items. a lot of the items at marshalls and tj maxx are actually produced specifically for those stores. for instance most of the food and homewares, as well as most of the no-name brand clothing on the racks, unless it's clearly from another store
Thank you for touching on this topic.
There are instances where not only the work is outsourced to poverty stricken countries, but also here within the USA. There are a great MANY products labled "Made in USA" but what theybfail to tell you is they were made by prison workers who are told "this is part of a work release program" and then many of those prisoners never actually getbreleased or if they do, those skills don't help them in any way because of that "felony" hanging over their heads they still find it incredibly difficult to find work on the outside. And getting paid 1/10 of a cent because "thats still a profit" to the prisoner, while the owners of the private prisons are getting money off the backs of "slave labor".
I have a friend from India who was employed by a company similar to Darn Good Yarns, where the company says they help women find work. But theybdon't help them find work. They keep them employed with slave wages and they have to work (against their will) because they have to feed their family....and there is no childcare, so often their children are subject to being around machinery and sweat shop environments...its really sad.
I was happy my friend got out of that situation, but not everyone is going to get get married and whisked away to another country. Thats just so incredibly uncommon.
**also, I am saving this video for future reference every time I hear someone say "oh its probably done on machine and we do it by hand so its not the same quality" Because I hear that misinformation a LOT
You make an excellent point (My degree is in Criminology), slave labor happens right here in the US!! What greed makes people do to others. Its a shame.
"Made in the USA" is one of the most incredibly misleading things that people feel good about buying, it's really appalling.
I was talking about this the other day with my husband! We passed some crochet bikini tops in Target and I explained that someone had to make it by hand and since the top was only ten bucks, the person who made it probably didn’t get paid nearly enough for their work. And it’s frustrating, too, to think that something we can enjoy and do for our own pleasure is a necessity for someone else. That we could sell our work for a fair price and that they can’t. And whoever did those tops had really excellent, even stitches! I really appreciate that you made a video about that.
That is exactly why I love crochet. It can’t be done by machine. One item can look totally different by changing type of thread and fiber content, needle size, stitches, even the color of the yarn i.e. variegated, self striping, ombre, I could go on forever.
That is so true
I agree. I’ve made 2 baby cocoons using the exact same yarn and hook. They turned out different. I like to call it “unique” lol
You hit the nail on the head!!! Buy small and/or local business. STOP SWEAT SHOPS!!! Thank you for sharing such an honest commentary! Absolutely adore you 🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶💚
Thank you so much!
I crochet grocery bags or market bags, but only for my family. I've taken them into stores like Trader Joe's and Aldi, where you generally bag for yourself and always get comments on how good they look, then typically something along the lines of you should sell them. No one understands the cost most people want to buy these for wouldn't even cover the cost of yarn, let alone the 5-10 hours it takes to make. So I never make things that I don't want to; it's too heartbreaking when people suggest that they will buy something I've made then cringe when I give them a price.
Great video. This is the first time I’ve seen a crocheter talk about the issues in the textile industry. I’d love to see a more comprehensive discussion of sweatshop labour and damage to the environment caused by textiles (and sadly, our beloved crochet)
Thank you. I'm glad you like the video
@@LittlejohnsYarn What Colby said!!!! I'd love to see a more in depth video also! Thanks for getting my wheels turning this morning 😁
The documentary The True Cost is a great start! I’ve watched it a ton since it came out years ago, just post Rana Plaza, and just recently saw it’s here on YT
@@E42545 Thank you Emily!!! I'm going to check that out!
@@AnonymousAmyMakes you’re so welcome! It’s really well done and I think sums up a good like starting knowledge of it without being condescending or making assumptions about the viewer which is really nice
Great video! I've been telling people this for years and I'm glad there isn't a machine that can crochet. I never understood why crochet takes a back seat to knit when knit is so easily replicated with machines? I'm in love with the hands on process of crocheting. It's calming and therapeutic for me and I hope they never crack the code to mass produce crochet. 😍
Thank you. I hope they never crack the code either.
Personally, I can't stand it when people put crochet down like it's an inferior craft. There are extremely beautiful pieces created using crochet.
The thing that keeps me from knitting a lot is that it takes a long time compared to crochet and it could just be done by a machine so sometimes it feels therapeutic and sometimes it feels like a waste of time to me.
Since I started crocheting ten years ago, I've become keenly aware how often on TV/in movies, there are things like crocheted blankets on the couches of people who are, ahem, not well-off. It's a curious thing, sort of tying crochet into "poor" or "low-class".
@@yarnpenguin i was heart broken when I was watching "My little Ponies" with my daughter. I grew up on the original show, and I thinkmthe "friendship is magic" is over-all a really cute show, not too far off from the original. But in one episode Rarity tells SweetieBell that "Crochet is Knits UGLY COUSIN" and I just broke down. Even as a joke, that is an awful thing to say.
Greetings from Texas! Thanks for this valuable information. As a crochet artist, I struggled with the transition from hobby to full-time business. Many friends/family do not support me as a business, but yet look for me to continually give away gifts or reduce my prices. I also appreciate this information because I know big companies can be our greatest competitions. I wish nothing but success for you and all the small business owners out there working diligently to stay afloat. Best wishes in 2022 and beyond!😊
I've learned that friends and family can be the best & worst supporters. If your family is anything like mine, they are used to getting free crochet items from grandparent or other relatives. These are gifts from the heart. They are unable to see the true value. & will have issues with you putting a price on it.
Fellow Texan here! I've found that, at least in my little western town, people are willing to pay me for my services. *However* I don't have many sales. My best commissions come from me crocheting in bars and people asking me to make things 😂
Great video. These companies selling crocheted items for super cheap are DISGUSTING!! Thank you for making this video to spread awareness. ❤❤❤❤
You're welcome ☺️
I love to crochet and I looked into making and selling my creations, I found that what most people are willing to pay often doesn't even cover the cost of the yarn. I now only gift my items to friends and family.
This information is very affirming Alysha. I've seen crochet hats, gloves and scarves that cost a fraction of what I would charge (if I was charging) for my hand crafted projects. How would I ever be able to compete with their price and intricate details? Wow! Just wow!
It's so upsetting to see such low prices. It's one thing to give it away for free(love), not to take advantage of someone.
You can't compete with their price, however, they don't put the blood, sweat, tears and love you put into your projects. Every time I make something for someone I think of them and the fun times we've had, etc. The machines are unable to put the karma in a project that we can. I'll take hand made anytime!!
Absolutely agree with every point! Great video! If only influencers stop promoting such sweat shops and start promoting real small businesses. Unfortunately it’s true!
Please repost this video, everyone!!!!
It’s very important for crochet community! Thank you, Alysha!
Loved the video. My Mom taught me how to crochet when I was 10 years old. It is a craft that I will always be grateful to her for teaching me. She passed away several years ago, but a part of her still lives on in the craft that she taught me.
I'm so sorry for your lost. But I am thankful that she bless you with the gift of crochet.
I LOVE crocheting. It's my therapy. I can pretend to be counting stitches so my husband knows to "shut up" 🤣🤣Thanks for the interesting video. 🥰🥰
Pretend counting! That's a great idea. I may have to try that with my husband, lol.
Thank you for shining a light on this blight and giving a voice to the voiceless. My heart hurts for all these humans
beings caught in an endless circle of abuse. It has always been valuable to me that no machine can replicate the beauty of crochet. Buy less, but buy local 🌞
Thank you. That's another great point, buy less!
i saw a crochet hat in target and my mouth literally dropped ! i’m a SAHM with a very small crochet business, something like a mass produced hat could put me out of business faster than i could yarn over. definitely gave me a fright
Very informative, It's amazing to know that crocheting is to difficult for a machine, because it's so relaxing for me to do. It's a wonderful thing to support small business as well as crafters selling at local events. Sweat shops are a cruel environment.
Thank you. I don't know what I would do without the relaxation of crochet.
Great informative video! I've told people that crochet has to be handmade, unlike knitting, although working on the Addi (especially making different stitches and patterns) is still alot of handwork. Crochet is keeping me sane while working for an insane employer during these trying times.
Crocheting is my safe place too. Without it I may go crazy.
Yes! It is such a shame that us crocheters start trends and get recognition on social media...Then big brands trying to capitalize on the trend, wind up supporting sweatshops.
That's exactly what happens.
YES! 🙌🏻 This video is so good and I hope it goes viral because this topic infuriates me and so many people don’t realize that this is what’s happening and there aren’t many resources about it. So thank you! And I’ll be sharing it to as many people as I can ❤️
I fully love that this video went from Informative (fun) to Informative (you're gonna learn about sweatshops). Thank you so much for bringing this to people's attention! I knew it couldn't be done by machine and hate seeing crochet pieces in big chain stores!
After working with only tubes and flat panels which makes a not so large piece of fabric I have upped my “STEEK” game where all things are now possible. Steeked flat panels are made from tubes but are full size minus 3 rows that takes up the steeking and cut leaving a full 15” of width. You can create actual yardage and you can do curves, cool necklines, add zips or open up a sweater so it’s a cardigan. Using tunisian crochet knit stitch is handy for rubbings and collars etc. I agree with the commercial sale of sweat labor items but we’ve become so dependent on other countries to feed our need to over consume that sweatshops will never disappear. If there was no demand there would be no sweatshops.
I need to learn a thing or 2 about knitting. I'm such a one trick pony.
@@LittlejohnsYarn I don’t know how to knit either. Just me and my knitting machines until someone has the patience to teach me. And that probably won’t happen hahaha!
That's one of the things I love about Crochet, that you know it was hand made.
me too! It can't be replicated.
I am a crocheter - self-taught many years ago. I also have a circular knitting machine (new acquisition ) where I combine the two and make beautiful things! Thank you for this video to show people that crochet is indeed an art and cannot be duplicated by machine!
totally agree with all you said.
I buy my Fair Trade items only from verifiable sources like the Leprosy Mission, which has been doing this kind of work for decades.
And yes, I would love a video all about the Sweat Shop scourge - which not only damages those who work there, but also the small business person who wants to make a living from their work.
Its great that you do the research. The more I research, the more I realize how ignorant I have been. It opens your eyes.
Thank you! SWEAT SHOP! "People don't crochet free" followed by your subtle pause, Bless You! It breaks my heart when I see handmade or hand assembled items selling for One Dollar. I tell my friends the only way these were shipped here to USA for that price, from China, is slave labor by "political prisoners".
Please share more about the true manner in which these helpless people are treated.
Thank you Alisha for bringing the truth forward about sweat shops. I saw this in person 30 years ago and it's so hard to bring this to attention of the average person. God bless you. This is a worldwide problem.
I was just having this conversation with my daughter yesterday about the "machine crochet", but then I said; " I wonder if like 50 different people piece together one garment like an assembly line?. I was thinking like a couple people start the chain ⛓️ then they pass it to the others who may do the front panels while others work back panels and lastly they put it together or something. I swear we just spoke this up... you just read our minds.
I wonder how it works also.... I have been known to read minds, lol
I feel like crochet clothes have become a sort of fad recently, and people don't understand how time consuming it is. Or because so many people know how to do it, that it's seen as easy, and therefore not worth much. But there's something just so special about looking at a project and KNOWING a real person touched every single stich with their hands when creating it.
I had no idea crochet couldn't be made on machine! But it makes total sense now! I'm just now going to start getting into crocheting, my grandmother used to make beautiful throw blankets! 💚 And that's disgusting how big chains get their products. Wish we could all come together and change it!
This is literally the perfect youtube video. Straightforward answer within the first minute, then the rest of it is absolutely packed with details and alternatives. I'm obsessed, thank you for making this!!
Thank you so much ❤️
Thank you so, so much for this video, Alysha. I don't know how many times over the past decade I've had people--generally, acquaintances, but not always--ask me how much I'd charge for something. Even though I wouldn't be making anything close to minimum wage for what I would quote them, they'd be *furious*, saying they could get a scarf at Walmart or whatever for like $10, instead of $30 which I know, I know, is too low! It's really disheartening.
This world is so used to quick manufactured good. They don't understand the time that goes into crochet.
@@LittlejohnsYarn Exactly. The time, the skill, the sore wrists... they just don't get what goes into what we make. I do have some loved ones who understand, and they absolutely love what I make and treat the finished pieces with respect and care. But someone shouldn't have had to know us for decades, or entire lives, to grasp the time and care of this passion of ours.
I would explain to them just why hand made things cost more. "JUST the yarn costs $x. Plus it took me x hours to make it, even if I only pay myself minimum wage, that would be $x... Even the cheapest acrylic yarn and 1 hour's work is more than $10!"
@@lji_btrfly Oh, I know, and I've *done* that. They just don't care. That $10 price tag is just way more important to them than my time, materials, and wrists. 🙃
$30 barely even pays for the yarn at retail prices, much less all your hours of labor. Or PROFIT, which is the whole point of a business and is added after paying for labor. It's so hard to ask prices that reflect the true cost of making an item when people are so used to sweatshop fast fashion prices.
Thank you, Dear Sister for taking the time to care by doing a very unselfish and informative video! You are truly blessed! And may the LORD JESUS continue to bless you, your family and business!
Thank you so much ❤️ God bless you.
Wow, I feel so much more connected to the women in my ancestry knowing that as of yet it’s impossible to crochet using machinery.
I am new to crochet and new to your Channel. I want you to thank you for bringing attention to the problem of sweatshops. Thank you for also pointing out that crochet and other handcrafted items come not only from the hands but also from the heart of the crafter🥰
I only just started crocheting, I haven’t even finished my first project (a single stitch scarf) and you’ve already got me feeling pride in what I’m doing, the fact it can’t be done by machine just hyped me up lol. Thanks! Definitely getting my like and subscribe! Have a great day!!
Short, sweet, and spicy. Perfect kick in the head for 2022. Love!
😁thank you
Hey, thanks for making awareness to the sweatshops and child labor. It's a very sad situation, and you're absolutely right that 'feeding the beast' is not a good solution. Im a 38yo man in law enforcement, and I've seen some terrible things that kids go through to make money for someone else. Stay safe and your kiddos under your wing.
Love the video! And I myself taught myself to knit first, but then I took up crochet. Why?
Because I don’t think one is better than the other. I thoroughly believe that knitting and crochet are sisters in the crafting world. Both are beautiful and take just as much skill.
I knit and crochet to relax, not to hurry! No machine needed here ❤❤❤
Please, please, please do a dedicated video on sweatshops! I know it's heartbreaking, but it needs to be talked about more.
You are so right. More people need to know.
I knew about sweatshops but. I thought "oh well if we having knitting machines, we must have crochet machines too" :x Never buying crochet items in stores again. >_< Thanks for letting us know
I love to crochet! It's like therapy to me and I'm glad it can't be done by machine. Now I feel like it's a bit more worth. Thank you!
It's definitely worth more than people think.
Thank you for speaking about how mass produced crochet relies on exploitative labor practices! I just finished making a granny square jacket for a friend. It took 40 hours of my time. To buy a jacket like that for even $100 or $200 with a modest 4x cost price, we're talking labor of less than 70¢ an hour. We know many of these sweatshops pay far less than that in many cases.
I very much agree to what you said. I stopped shopping so many years ago I can't even remember. I am self taught crocheter and sewer. I recently taught myself macrame. I only support smal business. I believe this society is doing everything in their power to destroy small business. They talk alot of shit at the end of the day. They bail out these big companies. We as a people have no idea what go on behind closed doors. If you are rolling in dough you can get anyone to do your bidding.
Thank you so much for this video. I've heard of the sweatshops a lot... they are in the US as well. People like to think it isn't in the US but it is. They exploit immigrants to do the work... but back to my comment. I always thought that knitting was the harder of the 2 just because I can crochet but not knit. I can only knit knots...lol. Anyway, I think I'll be selling my crochet items at a more appropriate price for what it is.
Thank you for pointing out the existence of sweatshops and the connection between low cost/high profits and exploited labor.
No matter if people actually want a fast fashion video, I think you should make it. It's a very important topic not only in crochet but in general. Many people simply have no idea, what happens in those fast fashion companies.
Great video. That’s the reason why I don’t buy crochet items from the store. I’ve watched too many videos where they exploit people to line their pockets with huge profits. If I do buy a crochet item, it’s either made by me or bought from someone who make handcraft items. And Yes you should definitely dedicate a video to this. Happy New Year !!
Even though I crochet. I still buy crochet from small businesses. Never a big business
I've only been crocheting for a few months and my friends want me to sell them items. It's intimidating to price things at their value when you know they can be bought for much cheaper. For now I think this will stay in the hobby category.
absolutely loved your videos on crochet and sweatshop labor. As some one who has been crocheting over 6 years I know how much goes into a single piece. I am sending these videos to all my friends especially those who recently have made purchases from fast fashion brands.
Awesome and informative video! I’m a self taught Crocheter myself. I find Crochet extremely cathartic!
Thank you so much!
I'm always stunned every time I see a crochet item at a retail store, because I know it's not possible on machine. One thing I've noticed is that the stitches are all simple and loose, the type of project that would work up very quickly. It's clear that even the stitches chosen are geared towards being easy to mass produce and not because they're the best fit for the object. I was starting to suspect that this was a side effect of whatever new machine was just recently invented, because how could anyone be making money at the prices it was selling for if it wasn't made by a machine? I'm very fast at crochet and wouldn't even be able to get a dollar an hour if I sold my work the same way. Knowing for certain that it's a sweatshop just makes me more angry. I suspected it, and so I've never once bought anything crochet. I've been seeing more and more crocheted items for sale, it's concerning. It means that enough people are buying these things to make it worth it for these big companies to expand.
Thank you for this video! It breaks my heart every time I see a crocheted item in a store!
Oh yeah, I am a knitter (who dabbles in crochet) and I tell EVERA’BODY that crochet is the only craft that can’t be done on machine. If they find it in the store, some person made it by hand.
Crochet is hard. Crochet is amazing.
I am the only knitter in a family of crocheters. We ooo and aaahh over each other’s handiwork.
Be proud of your work crocheters, you are one of a kind!
In a way, I'm glad a machine can't crochet it makes what we do special. I'm glad you confirmed what I already knew. I word at a store and every time I see someone come in with a crochet item I ask them who made it and compliment the workmanship of the person who made it. It is usually a mother or grandmother of the person.
Yes do support these individuals that work on these items with love and integrity (which is having good work ethics)!
Ok everyone share this ! Make this go Viral !
Thank you so much. I always wish to have a video go viral, lol.
Just started following you. I have bought some repurchased Sari skirts from Darn Good Yarn. They help families from India and are open about it on their website. Anyways, I have a couple of sweaters I wonder about. Pretty sure its crocheted but purchased years ago before I educated myself more. Definitely more conscience about what I purchase.
Thank you for following me. I've purchased cheap crochet from stores before also. I didn't know any better then.
I have to say that I don't want a crochet machine to exist. I'm proud of the fact that crochet items have to be handmade. That being said, a video about mass crochet sweatshops would be beneficial. You should definitely make a video on that. I'd share the heck out of that along with this video.
Glad I found your channel. This video is really informative. Love seeing other Black women doing art crafts. I knit and crochet.
People need to appreciate other's work and talent and support them.
Exactly this !!! There is no machine on earth that can crochet. Knit yes. I can't "hand knit" but I do Machine knit. And I do basic crochet. You are SPOT on with the cost of crafting. I have spent as little as $20 and over $1000.00 for MACHINES to knit with. Are they hard to learn - YES. is Crochet hard to learn YES. But if you combine the two - you can make some amazing things.
Thank you for pointing out the Horror of the sweat shops and the Whole reason we need to shop local. The only reason Yarn costs so much is because the "big industries" do not want the little guys taking their business. So we are forced to pay the high price for the yarns we use.
I am so tired of people low balling what I do, if my yarn cost me $5.00/600 yards - and I need 5 balls for 1 project - that stating cost is $25.00, my time is not free. WHO is going to pay what it's worth? It's disgusting to me when my own relatives do not understand that I personally spend more on them - then they did on me. I started with one of the machines in your video - then I moved up.
You are correct when it comes to the sweatshops. When is done out of the US is very difficult to physically see and audit. For a few years, I make sure I get all the crochet or knitting items from small business.
what a great informative video. Hats off to you for putting it out there. There is no machine out there that can replace our "Golden Hands". All items that are made by hand are our labors of love in my opinion.
Thank you. It is definitely a labor of love.
I wish I could hit the thumbs-up button a dozen times! Thank you for this reality check.
So glad to hear you're calling out big box stores with their ruthless business practices! Shop local, shop handmade in USA🥰 🇺🇸
Crochet is the only needlecraft that cannot be machine duplicated whatsoever. I find that amazing and quite special aa what you see crocheted is done all by hand just for you!
I am so glad that CROCHET can't be done on a machine. I love making items by hand. I can knit and LOOM KNIT. But CROCHET is my passion
Yes! Please do the dedicated video! Thank you sooo much for bringing up sweatshops so more can wake up to reality and rethink their purchasing habits. You're the first yarn channel i've come across to highlight this issue. Big like and absolutely subbing you now! x
Accidentally run into this video,! so excited to hear this, I listened twice ! Amen to you..I hope this goes out to everyone. Never really thought about it like this!!! yes I crochet, since I was 20 a young mother. I'm so pleased to have listen to you!!! I subscribed..and 👍 give you a big thumbs up!
Thank you for making us aware of the conditions and poor countries and for doing something about it in your way
Super interesting this topic !!
I knew it, a machine doesn't can make crochet !!
Crochet is unique, is an art !!!
I bought my great niece a pair of little unicorn booties from Target a few years ago. They had crochet bottoms and knitted top/sides. I feel so bad for buying them now, after knowing that someone was probably forced to make those and paid nothing. I know sometimes we have to purchase items from places we really don't care to support. But I'll never buy a crochet item from a "store." I crochet myself but I like to buy from local makers in my area also. ❣️
Very interesting video! And to be honest, I'm glad crochet can't be done by a machine. It makes crocheting the more special.
I knew this but thanks for telling us. People need to understand this for many reasons.
I’ve been becoming more aware of those things and I have been loving small business and homemade items 🥺✨🙏🏼❤️🔥
I absolutely love that crochet cannot be automated. I actually stopped going further with my knitting because once the knitting machines started getting more affordable my knitting time lost that special feel.
Im glad their is no crochet machines. This is how valuable our crochet items is.
FIRST OF ALL!!! thank you for answering the question and not dragging the answer out (for people who want to know!)
SECOND OF ALL I love everything you talked about in this video
THIRD OF ALL I'VE WATCHED A LOT OF YOUR VIDEOS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SEEING YOUR FACE! YOU'RE SO GORGEOUS OMG 🤩
Thank you. I show my face every once in awhile. I hate when you have to wait to the video to find the answer. Give the answer first then tell the why 😉
i kept seeing this in my recommended and thinking to myself "how the **** would the machine figure out where to insert the hook," glad to see i wasn't losing my mind!
Actually, there ARE people sitting around crocheting for (practically) free. There are people across the water in countries where there are no labor laws *or humanity for that matter* who sit in warehouses with poor lighting, no heat or cooling, no restroom facilities, working 12 hour days for literally **pennies** a day!
So you're right, these "sweatshops" are exploiting people - frequently children - many of whom are beaten if they don't produce sufficient quantities of products in the allotted time frame. Additionally, many of these "manufacturers" are using slave labor - people who are literally *kidnapped* and forced to work or be killed.
Thank you for bringing this ugly truth to light. It is a situation that we should all be horrified by. As in "WTF does our government allow goods to be imported into the US from countries that allow this practice to continue?"
If you're as appalled as I am, write letters, make phone calls, hound your local & governmental officials to put a stop to importing goods from countries that turn a blind eye to inhumane labor practices. Go "full Karen" if you have to- just make them listen *and act.*
It is horrible! I'm researching for a follow-up video now. It's scary how everything you said is true! Kidnapping, abuse & more.
@@LittlejohnsYarn I think a follow up video is a brilliant idea! Thank you!
I have known any crochet machine. If they had a crochet machine they would be selling them just like the knitting machines. Great video!!!😁😁
Thanks so much for sharing. I wrote a few reports in my business management class regarding sweatshops. Sweatshops are full of exploitation and horrid working conditions. Yes! Let’s support our small businesses for our handmade, hand crafted items. 🥰❤️
I hope to one day make the crochet machine to conquer yet another art with souless machines 🙏 perhaps even it will know many different techniques and can leave complex "signatures" and can pretend to put love into the sweater too
안녕하세요!! 한국에서 crochet 를 배우기 시작한 초보 입니다. 많은 spa 브랜드들이 값싸게 파는 이유가 궁금해서 찾아봤는데 노동 착취라는 가슴 아픈 뒷이야기가 있었군요 ㅠㅠ 덕분에 조금 더 윤리적인 소비를 해야겠다는 생각을 하고 갑니다. 비디오 감사합니다!
Its sad that these skilled workers are paid so little and arent even compensated for repetitive strain injuries. I enjoy crocheting but my wrist, arm and shoulder get sore if I don't pace myself, so I can't imagine having to crochet as a job for wages. Also I feel that those who don't know how to crochet can't really appreciate that every crochet piece made is like a labour of love. This was a really good video with an important message! 👍👍
Sweat shops are why I would get frustrated when people would complain about the price in one of the places I worked. The prices were definitely on the higher side as far as outlets went but since the company owned the factories where the product was made it meant they could ensure fair wages and control quality. I'm not saying that if you compared wages between the US and Mexico or Taiwan they'd be the same, but it wasn't a sweat shop. They were way too concerned abut quality to risk sweatshops. Sweatshops are done by "leasing" warehouses where the products are made or "contracting" warehouses. So essentially you have a middleman between the company and the workers (The owners of the warehouses where the products are made). Its one of the reasons you can hear companies deny working conditions and make excuses that they didn't know what was happening.
Here's a base line on discounts for profits for companies. Its not universal but it is a general Idea of how it works. 30% off still allows the company to gain profits. 50% off they generally break even. Anything over 50% off and its a loss. Some of the reasons to sell product at a loss is because they are losing money by not selling the product and it is taking up floor space for products that Could make them money. Time is money also applies for products on the floor. The longer its on the floor the less money is earned. The company is renting the space where they are selling product so space is also money. It can be complicated but in a nutshell, product that doesn't sell in a certain period of time costs more money then it could earn if its not sold, even if its sold at full price. That's why they have clearance racks. They would rather sell products at a loss then lose the profits on newer product that can sell at a better price.
Very informative... I really wish this was said more so that people do a silent protest by not buying at all... I also have a crochet business and I always wondered how those big shops did it... Shame on them.
Thank you for putting this information out there. Straight to the point and it is easily understood for those who seem not to get it. Hello from Pa.
Hey Pa neighbor!
Thanks for highlighting this world problem. I'd love it if you could expand on this issue. I recently discovered that a certain retail giant gets a lot of their jeans from a country called Lotharios. They have legal slave labour there. In 2022!!! Disgusting.
That is so horrible that other humans care so little for another persons' life.
Thank you for talking about this important question!
Love all of your reviews and content that you share. I hope RUclips doesn't fall into the sweatshop category. I know they pay very little and take a large percentage from donations. Makes me feel good as a crocheter that my items can't be produced on a machine. Thanks Alysha
Lol RUclips is kinda a sweatshop!! RUclips takes 45% of my ad revenue & 30% from donations from my followers.
@@LittlejohnsYarn 😢
Hi Alysha! What an AWESOME video. I agree 200%, the art of crochet cannot be replicated. I do sell some items but haven't gotten into because very few want to pay what the work is worth. It's funny, they'll pay enormous amounts of money for machine made but crochet and probably knitted too by hand is so overlooked. I just go an addi king and so far have made on hat. I've been searching your page as well as others and am excited to "knit" I can't do it by hand and that's ok, I prefer crochet but I love the look of knit. And YES, those sweat shops are so very sad. So thank you for bringing awareness to this. Thanks for the fun and honest video as always expected from you. Enjoy your evening.
Thank you so much. It's a shame people don't want to pay for crochet. It's truly a gift that can't be replicated.
Thanks for another question answered & thanks for advocating against sweatshops
i love to crochet and when i found out it cannot be done by machine, i loved it even more! thank you for making this great fact known to educate/remind people of! tfs!