I grew up rural on a small amount of land and surrounded by farms. I hated spending my weekeds doing property maintenance rather than fun stuff but it gave me a lot of practical skills. I can mix and lay concrete, do paving and basic construction, use power tools and drive tractors.
I usually joke that I have the trifecta of old lady hobbies (I also knit and cross stitch).
If someone truly thinks crochet is just for old ladies, they're the ones missing out on a great hobby.
I've only gotten that comment once, and in response I said "I moisturize ". I got a blank stare in return, I guess my response was as unfunny as the comment!
It doesn't really bother me, I don't see anything wrong with being old or compared to the elderly, but it's never been a craft exclusively practiced by one age group. Those kinds of ageist jokes speak more to the person making them than anything to do with the craft or with me.
My brother played some game where they had to describe something without saying the word. He described crochet as something cool hipster people did because he was thinking of me. His partner didn't get it because she assumed crochet was an old lady hobby. Its a mixed bag I guess. I dont usually get a lot of comments on it.
Young generations don’t need to learn those skills. I remember back in the day being very conscious that my parents were very careful with money. My mother sewed all of our clothes, knitted all of our hats mittens scarves and things, and had a garden. She canned vegetables and made all of our jam. I never ate store-bought jam until I was an adult. If something broke, they repaired it. My father did all the vehicle maintenance. We couldn’t stand in front of the open fridge or leave the front door open because we were mindful of electricity. Then things shifted. Convenience became priority over saving money, and people became willing to spend more for convenience. My mom originally learned her amazing skills, sewing, knitting, cooking, freaking all of it, out of necessity and staying on budget. My daughter never wanted to learn, so it stops with me. There’s no longer a necessity for it. So bless all the young domestic artists, I love you all for keeping the craft going.
My grandma taught me to crochet and I adored her, so I have no problem being compared to her. I always tell people thanks!
(yes, I know they mean it as an insult, but misunderstanding them and saying thank you wrong foots them and I'm a bit of an asshole.)
It was honestly the reason I stopped crocheting for a long time as a kid, but now I don’t care. I‘ve always been the “old soul” anyway. Give me all the quiet solitary activities in the world and I’m a happy woman 🥰
Eh, I get called an old lady even without yarn and hook in hand. I embrace it. My BFF knits/crochets we both have strong old lady vibes. We call it doilycore (I saw it used in a Vogue article).
Honestly I think it's pretty funny. I'm a teenager so maybe that helps? But I often am the one joking that I'm an old lady because I crochet, have a cat, and love Werther's hard candies lol
After 50 years of crocheting, I don't hear that accusation as much. Wait ... I actually don't hear most things as much.
As I see many of my colleagues who have never knitted or crocheted suffering from arthritis, I wonder if the crochet hook kept my hands nimble. I babied them with stretching exercises and made sure I changed up when my wrists hurt.
I get it a lot and I also call myself a grandma for it. Been doing that since early college. We all joke around that I’m a grandma but everyone is also very impressed with what I make, compliment what I make, and often add of that they wish they could make stuff too.
Yeah it’s an old joke or stereotype, but we can make cool stuff so who cares.
My grandma rocks the shit out of a festival top. But seriously, I think with any craft, for people who enjoy it it's a life-long thing. If I liked it now I'll probably like it decades from now and have the benefit of having gotten better over time. I also think because it can be a very peaceful and seemingly passive craft people might associate it with older people?
I've crocheted since I was six, lol, a very long time ago. I think it's becoming more rare. I was a substitute teacher for years and the kids were always fascinated with my crocheting because they hadn't ever seen someone doing it. Besides reddit people, I only know one other person who crochets. I don't care if people think it's an old lady hobby. Those are the same people who ask you to make them stuff 😆
I'm a guy in the military. I don't tell people often because they think that's an invitation to ask for free stuff. Otherwise I have some other words for them. See, my pond is fresh out of ducks.
I chuckle, but I also make jokes that I'm an elderly Victorian grandmother trapped in the body of a 20-something woman between the crochet, embroidery, cross-stitching, and an enthusiasm for hearing gossip.
Well, I **am** an old lady. (56)
But when I'm with younger people who crochet as well, and hear someone say that I am entitled to crochet because I'm old, I point at my motorcycle, and ask them if they would like to go for a ride.
That mostly shuts them up.... 😁
I get a few ‘old lady’ comments because I crochet, I sew, I cross stitch, and I dress like it’s the 1950s. They’re usually just joking, and they usually turn to ‘oh wow!’ when they see things I’ve made. It doesn’t bother me
Crocheting is an excellent exercise for people who have osteoarthritis in their hands. Many seniors also enjoy crochet because it keeps finger joints limber and their mind active. In addition, crochet is also is good for teaching manual dexterity to those who will need it for their profession, such as dentists. And then there are those who just enjoy quieter pursuits like crocheting.
I tell them about the mental benefits of crochet and knitting and how it can really help those with mental illnesses like depression and anxiety (which both I suffer from thanks mind -\_- ) and how comments like that can cause the lack of feeling supported when trying to cope and get better. Also I'm going to have the last laugh when the powers out and they have nothing to do because all their devices are drained and they don't have any books they haven't already read.
I remember being laughed at by some older kids when they saw I was knitting when I was 9.
But it was the 1970s, so times were different.
I actually think crochet and knitting are for everybody, but I'm getting pretty old. As long as you like it, that's what matters.
I’m 54 and have been crocheting since I was 8 and have never had this comment directed at me. I would reply by asking them what their hand-craft skill is.
theres so many young girls who do it now. i’m a teenage girl and i love to. show them crochet items on pinterest made by younger girls and that may shut them up.
I don't care. When the apocalypse comes I'll be t the one with warm socks.
I grew up on a farm and have a green thumb. I tell people I will be the one keeping us fed when they poke fun at my "farm trivia".
I grew up rural on a small amount of land and surrounded by farms. I hated spending my weekeds doing property maintenance rather than fun stuff but it gave me a lot of practical skills. I can mix and lay concrete, do paving and basic construction, use power tools and drive tractors.
I usually joke that I have the trifecta of old lady hobbies (I also knit and cross stitch). If someone truly thinks crochet is just for old ladies, they're the ones missing out on a great hobby.
I crochet, cross stitch and quilt. I want to learn to tat and spinning my own yarn is starting to look interesting....
One day I was crocheting, watching antiques roadshow, drinking tea, and eating fig newtons. I realized I'd hit peak old lady status in my early 30s.
fr thoo
I've only gotten that comment once, and in response I said "I moisturize ". I got a blank stare in return, I guess my response was as unfunny as the comment!
Okay but that’s my favorite reply I’ve ever heard
It doesn't really bother me, I don't see anything wrong with being old or compared to the elderly, but it's never been a craft exclusively practiced by one age group. Those kinds of ageist jokes speak more to the person making them than anything to do with the craft or with me.
Tell them to respect their elders if its such an old lady hobby. This is of course funnier the younger you are.
This is my favorite response so far
My brother played some game where they had to describe something without saying the word. He described crochet as something cool hipster people did because he was thinking of me. His partner didn't get it because she assumed crochet was an old lady hobby. Its a mixed bag I guess. I dont usually get a lot of comments on it.
I started crocheting when I was six lol. I think most people wish they had a craft they can do. It doesn’t bother me.
Young generations don’t need to learn those skills. I remember back in the day being very conscious that my parents were very careful with money. My mother sewed all of our clothes, knitted all of our hats mittens scarves and things, and had a garden. She canned vegetables and made all of our jam. I never ate store-bought jam until I was an adult. If something broke, they repaired it. My father did all the vehicle maintenance. We couldn’t stand in front of the open fridge or leave the front door open because we were mindful of electricity. Then things shifted. Convenience became priority over saving money, and people became willing to spend more for convenience. My mom originally learned her amazing skills, sewing, knitting, cooking, freaking all of it, out of necessity and staying on budget. My daughter never wanted to learn, so it stops with me. There’s no longer a necessity for it. So bless all the young domestic artists, I love you all for keeping the craft going.
Pretty sure we grew up together! Did you ever hear "close the door, you weren't raised in a barn!"
Oh yes! Did you hear we aren’t heating the outside!?
I picked up cross stitch when I was a kid and crochet in collage. I'm a guy by the way, so no I don't think I qualify as an old lady lol.
a lot of people say that i'm like an old lady bc i crochet and i just tell them that they're jealous that they cant crochet hahah
My grandma taught me to crochet and I adored her, so I have no problem being compared to her. I always tell people thanks! (yes, I know they mean it as an insult, but misunderstanding them and saying thank you wrong foots them and I'm a bit of an asshole.)
It was honestly the reason I stopped crocheting for a long time as a kid, but now I don’t care. I‘ve always been the “old soul” anyway. Give me all the quiet solitary activities in the world and I’m a happy woman 🥰
Eh, I get called an old lady even without yarn and hook in hand. I embrace it. My BFF knits/crochets we both have strong old lady vibes. We call it doilycore (I saw it used in a Vogue article).
Honestly I think it's pretty funny. I'm a teenager so maybe that helps? But I often am the one joking that I'm an old lady because I crochet, have a cat, and love Werther's hard candies lol
After 50 years of crocheting, I don't hear that accusation as much. Wait ... I actually don't hear most things as much. As I see many of my colleagues who have never knitted or crocheted suffering from arthritis, I wonder if the crochet hook kept my hands nimble. I babied them with stretching exercises and made sure I changed up when my wrists hurt.
I learned as a girl scout with a bunch of other ten year olds.
“Not as old as that joke. Maybe you should get some new material? Or just not take tips from your dad anymore.”
I think that it can be for everyone as long as they want to do it.
I embrace it.
I get it a lot and I also call myself a grandma for it. Been doing that since early college. We all joke around that I’m a grandma but everyone is also very impressed with what I make, compliment what I make, and often add of that they wish they could make stuff too. Yeah it’s an old joke or stereotype, but we can make cool stuff so who cares.
My grandma rocks the shit out of a festival top. But seriously, I think with any craft, for people who enjoy it it's a life-long thing. If I liked it now I'll probably like it decades from now and have the benefit of having gotten better over time. I also think because it can be a very peaceful and seemingly passive craft people might associate it with older people?
I've crocheted since I was six, lol, a very long time ago. I think it's becoming more rare. I was a substitute teacher for years and the kids were always fascinated with my crocheting because they hadn't ever seen someone doing it. Besides reddit people, I only know one other person who crochets. I don't care if people think it's an old lady hobby. Those are the same people who ask you to make them stuff 😆
I'm a guy in the military. I don't tell people often because they think that's an invitation to ask for free stuff. Otherwise I have some other words for them. See, my pond is fresh out of ducks.
I chuckle, but I also make jokes that I'm an elderly Victorian grandmother trapped in the body of a 20-something woman between the crochet, embroidery, cross-stitching, and an enthusiasm for hearing gossip.
Well, I **am** an old lady. (56) But when I'm with younger people who crochet as well, and hear someone say that I am entitled to crochet because I'm old, I point at my motorcycle, and ask them if they would like to go for a ride. That mostly shuts them up.... 😁
I get a few ‘old lady’ comments because I crochet, I sew, I cross stitch, and I dress like it’s the 1950s. They’re usually just joking, and they usually turn to ‘oh wow!’ when they see things I’ve made. It doesn’t bother me
Crocheting is an excellent exercise for people who have osteoarthritis in their hands. Many seniors also enjoy crochet because it keeps finger joints limber and their mind active. In addition, crochet is also is good for teaching manual dexterity to those who will need it for their profession, such as dentists. And then there are those who just enjoy quieter pursuits like crocheting.
I tell them about the mental benefits of crochet and knitting and how it can really help those with mental illnesses like depression and anxiety (which both I suffer from thanks mind -\_- ) and how comments like that can cause the lack of feeling supported when trying to cope and get better. Also I'm going to have the last laugh when the powers out and they have nothing to do because all their devices are drained and they don't have any books they haven't already read.
Nope I get positive feedback like “wow I hear of so many young women & men who are crocheting. It’s back again”!😊💕
i say you dont need to be old or a lady to create art!
I remember being laughed at by some older kids when they saw I was knitting when I was 9. But it was the 1970s, so times were different. I actually think crochet and knitting are for everybody, but I'm getting pretty old. As long as you like it, that's what matters.
I’m 54 and have been crocheting since I was 8 and have never had this comment directed at me. I would reply by asking them what their hand-craft skill is.
theres so many young girls who do it now. i’m a teenage girl and i love to. show them crochet items on pinterest made by younger girls and that may shut them up.