Is Handmade Crafting a Dying Art?

Today's world is ruled by the manufacturing companies. Everything from the clothes we wear to the cars we drive are manufactured. But what happened to the days when most things we used were hand made? It seems that more and more people rely on things bought from the store and lost an appreciation for things that can be made by hand. Sure there are advantages to each but what exactly are they.

We all have to buy clothes. Prices vary widely from a few dollars for a t-shirt to a couple thousand dollars for that perfect armani suit. But in todays world you can get the look you want for half the price if you make it yourself. While manufactured clothes are quick and readily wearable, sometimes the quality just isn't that good. By todays standards though, manufactured clothing just doesn' t last as long. In some cases things may last a year or two, and in some maybe only a few months. Home made clothes however depending upon the skill of the person making them can last for years and in some cases even be tailored for different people, much like children. Something that was made for an elder sibling, can be resized to fit a younger sibling. And the variety of designs and fabric are limitless.

Another way clothes can be made is by knit or crochet. While manufacturing companies have machines who can do these things for us, once again the quality just isn't what it would be if they were homemade. Manufactured items are also mass produced while something that is knit or crocheted by hand is unique in each way. While the designs for things like scarves, sweaters and baby clothes are the same, no two handmade thing are quite the same. And while you can just as easily go out and purchase something, crafters who make things by hand do it with love and a sense of pride behind it. Things that are made by hand can also be passed down to the next generation of family members. Baptism and christening gowns have been known to change hands from generation to generation, as well as baby clothes, even handmade wedding gowns going from mother to daughter.