What is the Value of Handmade?

What is the value of handmade?

People often assume that it is cheaper. Sometimes it is, especially if you start from very basic elements. If you grow the vegetables yourself, the salad is pretty cheap. But most of the time, if you added up the cost of all of the materials (yarn or wool) and tools (needles, spindles), the handmade item is more expensive than a basic version you could buy in a store - even excluding the cost of your time.

So, what is the value?

Customizability is certainly one value. When all you start with is some wool and a dye pot, your imagination is the limit. And, when you are talking about clothing, being able to tailor the clothes to your own unique body shape means a lot - especially those of us that the fashion houses rarely cater to.

Limits can be good in art - some people have made amazing things when they limit themselves to just a pen and paper- but so can free expression. And the more basic a material you start with, the more free the expression. If I quilt with factory-made fabric, I am limited to the prints I can find in the store or in my closet. If I crochet an afghan with millspun yarn, I am limited to the colors that I find on the shelf.

Speaking of crocheting afghans:

My mother, repairing a multi-colored granny-square afghan

I always knew that my mother crocheted. But she had basically stopped by the time I was born. I remember once, I got a (non)Barbie doll, and I didn't have clothes for her. My mother quickly crocheted a little pair of pants. But that is the only time I ever remember my mother crafting.

But then I was visiting for Thanksgiving this year and she had pulled an enormous afghan out of the attic guest room. I had seen it growing up, but I don't think I had ever realized that it was made by her. She had pulled it down out of the guest room because it was disintegrating - wool moths and neglect. It was mostly acrylic, so much of it was intact, but apparently the yarn used to crochet the squares together was wool. So, although it needed a good amount of repair, the essence was still there.

So, for the first time ever, me and my mother sat and crafted side-by-side. I worked on my sweater, and she got out her crochet hook. She told me the story of the afghan. How they had moved into an apartment and found a bunch of granny squares in the closet. How she had started making more squares out of whatever yarn she could find in the bargain bins. How she realized that she had made far too many, but was determined to crochet them all together. How she liked how it had turned out, but it was enormous and heavy - almost a king-size bedspread. How disappointed she was that it had been neglected.

Which brings us back around to the value of handmade things. Handmade things have stories. Handmade things are connections to people. Even when they are not customized for you.

Baby sweater we received from the family for NEB.
The label inside has the name of my mother's youngest cousin - who got married when I was 10 or so.

With modern manufacturing, we certainly have more stuff than people did in the past. But we rarely treasure our stuff.  I like using our bread machine that we got as a wedding gift. But it is breaking, and, while I'm annoyed that we have a disposable society, where things are not usually made to be repaired, we are just replacing it. Now, obviously, we can afford that because we are fortunate to have good jobs. But I feel like even people who cannot afford to just replace things don't have a sentimental attachment to the items, just worry that they will have to do without.

But handmade items are different. Time went into them. Thought went into them. They are worth passing on as more than just stuff.

We are blessed to have many crafters on both sides of the family. And, as the oldest cousin on my mother's side (and the first to have a child) we got many heirloom sweaters. My husband is the second oldest cousin in his family, but, since his brother lives overseas, we got many sweaters from that side as well. We can't remember who made most of them (though a few have labels), but I wanted to post pictures of a just a few to honor them. There are many, many more.

Made by my MIL. Still too big for NEB, but he will grow into it.

The sweaters are in many styles and abilities. Some were made for my husband or his brother. Others were made for the previous generation. My last post was on gifts that were hand made just for NEB. These are the gifts that are being passed down.

Babies grow fast, so clothes are worn only a few times before they're outgrown. This is true whether or not the maker spent many hours on the gift.

Blue and white sweater of unknown provenance. There is a matching hat.

And, of course, sweaters can only really be worn at certain times of year, and in certain climates. My brother-in-law was born and spent the first few years of his life in Los Angeles. Not many cold days there. NEB didn't ever wear some of the ones we received, as he was the right size only in the heat of summer.

Very small, cute pullover. It has matching pants, but they are two or three sizes larger.

Still, it means something special to us that NEB can wear his family history. And we will be sure to take care of them so we can pass them on when it's time.

NEB wearing a brown sweater. It has a label with name of my mother's brother.