Month: December 2023

Brightly coloured granny squares, kitsch pot or toilet roll holders and seventies’ style dresses all evoke nostalgic memories and emotions, often of love or hate, around crotchet. Crochet did, in fact do a nose dive in popularity in the 1980’s and 90’s, but here at Craft Insurance we’ve been delighted to witness its rebirth with a new generation and see successful businesses grow out of this highly versatile craft.

In our second post where we delve into the resurgence of some traditional crafts, we will look back at the fascinating, relatively modern history of crochet and see how society has shaped it through the decades. We will also look to the future for those marketing their crocheted creations and showcase some inspirational small businesses.

Unlike some classic crafts, it is hard to trace the most distant origins of crochet and there are several schools of thought as to where its roots began. Some believe the first forms of crochet came from Arabia and spread via the trade routes to the Mediterranean. Others hold to its origins being with the indigenous peoples of South America, and still others to China.

In more recent history there are two threads from which modern day crochet has evolved; tambour embroidery and shepherds knitting. Tambour embroidery was introduced to the French aristocracy, probably from China, in the 1700’s. It is crafted by using thread on fabric, thus producing a flat design. Tambour comes from the French word meaning drum, referring to the drum like rhythmic beat of the hook tapping on the fabric. Shepherds knitting originates from the UK, probably from Scotland where crofters whiled away the hours while watching their sheep by “knitting” with a single hooked needle.

Meanwhile, across the Channel, a style of crochet was developed to fashion the delicate and intricate lace for which some regions are still known. In Italy lace making was predominantly carried out in monasteries, and referred to as “nun’s lace”. In France it was the upper classes who mainly availed themselves to the skill of lace making. During the revolution many of this segment of society were either killed or fled the country, thus rendering this expertise almost to extinction. Fortunately however, a small group of nuns in a tucked away monastery were determined these skills did not die out and quietly worked away making lace in the traditional method, thus ensuring the survival of a distinct and regional craft for subsequent generations.

While knitting was a firmly established technique at this time, crotchet had yet to catch on with the general population. It was another tragic event which seems to have catapulted crochet into this more general realm. During the great Potato Famine in Ireland, the starving Irish population had to look for ways to feed themselves. One of these was by learning to crochet lace which they could sell. This stunning Irish lace became well regarded and the art was spread to America as many Irish citizens emigrated to escape hunger. In England, Queen Victoria was so enamoured with a piece of Irish lace gifted to her that she learnt to crochet, thus establishing it’s approval for all.

Here in the U.K. crocheting grew from strength to strength. Intricate stitches were developed during the Edwardian era and it became part of the war effort on the Home Front in both World Wars. Whole articles of clothing were designed and made using crochet between the wars, and after the Second World War it played a role in the “make do and mend” culture of the nation’s austerity. The 50’s and 60’s were maybe the height of crochet popularity with the introduction of brightly coloured granny squares and a huge range of clothes, including wedding dresses, made by crochet.

Sadly the 1980’s saw the demise in the favour of crochet, but in the last decade or so it’s popularity has again gained traction with the burgeoning of online tutorials and websites, local crochet gatherings and a vast choice of patterns and yarns. We have also had the pleasure of seeing the rise in many small, successful crochet businesses.

If you are interested in the work of some modern day crochet influencers why not follow @repeatcrafterme, @allboutami, @tlyarncrafts, @bellacococrochet and @jimmybeanswool on INstagram?

If you enjoy crochet, why not consider selling some of your gorgeous creations? There is certainly a market for them, the start up costs are low and it is a craft you can easily fit in around other parts of your life; perfect for an initial toe dip into the world of craft business. These cold and often grey winter months are a good time to research what is out there, and begin to build a range of stock which is unique to you. It is also a good time to think about how you will sell your initial creations. Online is certainly an option, and there are a number of platforms through which you can do this. You could also look towards spring craft fairs and markets. This wonderful world is well worth exploring as it provides opportunities to network with other crafters, to meet customers and to gain inspiration from other stalls.

When you book, you will need to check if public liability insurance for events is required. While this is not a legal requirement, many organisers will ask that you have public liability insurance for events in place. Even if the event organiser does not request it, both that and product liability insurance are worth considering. Public liability insurance for events will cover you in the unforeseen event that a member of the public makes a claim against you for damage to themselves or their property; for example, breaking an ankle when tripping over a display unit. This is extremely unlikely and may not even be your fault, which is why we call it a “sleep easy” insurance. However, it is advisable to look into insurance backup and both Naomi and Sam are here to answer your questions to ensure you have the best package to set you on your way.

Finally, take a look at the inspiring crochet business listed below, have confidence in yourself and your creativity and get started!

Here at Craft Insurance we have seen an exciting resurgence in a wide variety of traditional crafts over the last decade. Over the next few months we will be running a set of blog posts to showcase these, explaining their history and development and pointing you in the direction of some inspiring crafters who have built successful business upon these skills. In today’s post we’re delighted to be looking at the ancient and intricate art of embroidery.

What comes to mind when you hear the word embroidery? Maybe it’s a small Victorian girl, head bowed low as she works industrially over a meticulously stitched sampler. It could be your team motif machine stitched on your sports kit, uniting your particular squad of players. Or perhaps it is a beautifully hand stitched design of a favourite holiday haunt, bringing back memories of coastal walks and cream teas whenever you glance its way. It probably is not of a man finding fulfilment in creating these complex pieces. However, while embroidery is mostly attributed to women and girls, it is not solely their domain. Both Henry Fonda, the dancer, and Gustav V King of Sweden, have admitted to their enjoyment of embroidery.

Embroidery can be described as the art of creating intricate and complex designs on fabric, using needle and thread. It comes from the French word, “broderie” meaning embellishment. It is commonly believed to have originated from China and the Near East, and to have spread as far as Europe by the Viking era. Samples have been found in Egyptian burial grounds dating from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. It became popular in Europe from 1000AD during the rise of the Christian Catholic Church and associated royalty where it was used to embellish robes, decorate table cloths and create wall hangings. Possibly the most famous of these is the Bayeaux Tapestry, depicting the battle of Hastings in 1066 where William of Normandy conquered King Harold, thus establishing French rule, culture and language in England. It is a truly spectacular hanging, with incredible detail and story telling ability.

If you have visited your local museum, the chances are there will be a few samplers, framed and hanging in a darkened room to prevent spoilage. These might be the most commonly known form of embroidery and those of us of a certain age may even remember having made a small cross stitch square sampler or smaller bookmark at school. The word sampler has Latin and French roots, meaning “an example”. This was exactly the purpose of the original samplers in Tudor England; in days before mass printing made pattern books a possibility, women used to record stitches and patterns on long pieces of fabric, to be used for reference at a later date. In the seventeenth century they became the mode whereby girls practiced stitching the alphabet; this was necessary to mark and embellish linen. In the eighteenth century working samplers almost became a right of passage for girls as they prepared for womanhood. Rather than being long pieces or linen rolled away for reference use only, they became pieces of artwork, to be displayed on the walls of their homes. Girls were not only stitching letters, but other motifs and designs. Religious depictions were popular as, interestingly, were maps. These became so sought after that printed, ready to stitch versions were made available. (An example of an early crafting business based on popular demand!). It was around this time that wool as well as linen was used as background material. As we reach the nineteenth century, working a cross stitch sampler became an exercise for girls in schoolrooms across the country. The coming of the Industrial Revolution, the beginnings of machine embroidery and the availability of cheaper cloth made this skill available to all; no longer was it just for the upper classes of society. The huge social upheaval that followed the First World War could have caused this rich tradition to slip into insignificance. However, a dedicated group of needlework schools and art guilds kept embroidery skills alive and now, almost another century later, we are thrilled to see modern crafting business thriving on the skills and heritage of embroidery.

So why is making hand embroidery such a popular basis for crafting businesses? In itself it is pleasurable and satisfying. Start up costs are low, it is easily transferable (ie it can be carried in a bag and picked up throughout the day), and there seems to be an increasing demand for it. Many tips for starting up are similar to those for any small crafting business, so have a root around our previous helpful blogs. Specifically though, you will need some basic supplies; fabric, embroidery silks, needles, embroidery hoops, marker pens and scissors. You will also need to find your niche, a product area which is unique to you. You will need to develop a marketing strategy and find some selling outlets, either in person or online.

It is also important to set good business foundations in place so you are then free to concentrate on the creative side of your business. Having the correct insurance is one of these. One question we are often asked is what is product liability insurance? There are several types of insurance it is advisable to have in place as you are starting out, and this is one of them. So, what is product liability insurance? It covers you for any completely unforeseeable occurrence in which a customer might claim that your product has caused harm, or not met expectations and make a claim against you. Even if it is not your fault, it will cover your legal defence costs and compensation. Give us a call or drop us a line and either Naomi or Sam will be able to answer not only what is product liability insurance? but also any other questions you have regarding the insurance building blocks of a new business. In the meantime, we look forward to hearing about how you are taking the rich heritage of embroidery and giving it a unique twist for your contemporary customers.

If you are interested in following some modern day embroidery influencers on Instagram why not follow the work of @brwnpaperbag_stitch, @mrxstitch, @jessicalongembroidery and @tessa_perlow?

We would also like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers a really Happy Christmas and a wonderful, prosperous New Year.

There can be few fragrances to beat that of freshly cut or turned wood; an aroma of freshness and the outdoors, evoking memories of childhood rambles through woodland, warm winter woollens and comforting hot chocolate in front of a roaring fire (if you were lucky enough to grow up with one in your home). The texture of wood too, is something to behold; literally to hold. Greenwood is rough and bumpy, a sensory adventure for our fingertips. Turned wood, in comparison, is smooth and soft, a tactile delight which can be quite mesmerising and calming as it slides across our fingers.

Woodturning is an ancient craft combining a mechanically rotating wood lathe with hand-held tools to produce exquisite objects shaped around the axis of rotation. While it has adapted to demand through the centuries, the original skills still required have been preserved and passed down from one generation to the next.

In pre-industrial Britain, wood turners used to congregate in local woods to set up their lathes and get to work. Working with simple mechanical pole lathes, powered by a pedal, they produced legs and stretcher rails for chairs, which were then passed on to another craftsman to be completed. They became known as bodgers. It could be that our modern term of doing a “bodge job” derives from these bodgers, indicating a job left incomplete.

The first record of a mechanical continuously turning lathe was found in one of Leodardo Da Vinci’s sketches; there is, however, no evidence that this was his own design, but it shows that the concept was circulating around that time (pardon the pun). The next biggest change in wood turning came, unsurprisingly, with the Industrial Revolution. From working with pedal powered lathes in the woods, wood turners had to adapt to using high output machines in factories to cope with the demands of a fast industrialising Britain. They supplied the textile factories of the North, churned out farm implements and articles for the nation’s increasing maritime fleets as well as sports equipment, musical instruments and everyday domestic items. This increase in the scale of manufacture started the trajectory towards larger companies specialising in specific products which we see today.

However, even at this time, wood turning maintained it’s craftsmanship, with mechanically-minded gentry learning the skills and creating bespoke ornamental articles for their homes and gardens. Today, many items historically turned from wood are either no longer required, or are made from synthetic materials. Nonetheless, the age old skills have not been lost, and arguably have found a resurgence in today’s artisan wood turning community. The range of high quality products made from locally sourced wood is vast and includes domestic items such as stunning wooden bowls and platters showcasing the natural grain of the wood, pens, musical instruments, candlesticks, clocks and so much more. In our throwaway age which is ever more conscious of treading lightly on our beautiful earth, naturally turned wooden products carry a metaphorical sustainability badge too; they can be made from locally sourced wood, by local craftspeople and will have longevity as well as be completely unique.

There are many woodturning clubs across the country, where stories can be shared, skills honed and ideas sparked. These are great places to meet with other turners, and be immersed in the language, culture and creativity unique to this amazing community. If you are not a part of one, it is worth checking out your local area for a club. It is so encouraging to meet together with others who share your craft and passion; and on a larger scale, local clubs or groups can be the springboard for larger wood turning events. This may be a stall at a local craft show or a demonstration at a reenactment day, or a whole day or even week end event.

If you are a turner, how do you feel about travelling to attend such an event? It is an excellent way to showcase your craft, meet other like minded turners and generate some sales. So, what will you need to consider as you head off to such an event? If you are are holding a stall or demonstration at a pre-arranged event, a lot of the organisation will have been done for you, which is why it’s such a great option. If you are going to carry out some kind of demonstration there you will require extra planning as the venue will have to be suitable for the equipment you need. Whether you are just selling or demonstrating as well, you will need to consider event public liability insurance. However meticulous you are in your planning, it is impossible to predict those unexpected occurrences which could have serious ramifications for your business. Event public liability insurance is an insurance package tailored specifically to your business needs, and could include public and product liability insurance, employer’s liability insurance and legal expense cover. Although this may sound daunting, as a small family business who has been in the insurance world for several decades, we can guide you through quickly and easily to ensure you get a good value, bespoke package for the entire trip. With this in place, you can have peace of mind and be free to concentrate on all the other arrangements.

Publicity and advertising your stall’s presence is key; locally, if it is a small event, but go for national if you are attending a larger one. Advertising your presence at the stall on social media is a great way to get your message out there in many different ways. An event is a great opportunity for those interested in learning about wood turning to come and see a seasoned turner or two demonstrate their craft – it will be a real pull. Trade stalls, food stalls, live music and a bar are all part of the buzz and the excitement. If you are aiming more towards showcasing your craft to the general public, a demonstration will also be an attraction, as well as plenty of opportunity to sell your products. So, get in touch with us to find out about event public liability insurance. Now is the time to start planning for the New Year and browse through the exciting events that you could attend in 2024 to showcase your amazing skills and products as an artisan woodturner.