Browsing by Author "Puurunen, Jenni"

Knitting is a popular hobby. Knitted products and patterns are shared on social media and advice on knitting is given and asked for. Multicoloured designs are knitted especially on socks and patterns are available online and in pattern magazines. I am a member of a few knitting groups on Facebook and the majority of multicoloured designs that are posted there, is knitted after ready made descriptions or charts. It raised the question to what extent own designs are planned, what function planning fills and which factors influence the decision to plan your own design or make use of ready made charts. The study was conducted using a web survey. An invitation to participate in the survey was published on Facebook in two knit-orientated groups: Iloinen villasukka- ja neuleryhmä (Happy sock- and knitting group) and Neulonta (Knitting). The survey was answered by 177 women, mainly without formal education in crafts. The collected data was analysed using statistical methods. The result of the survey showed that scantily half of the respondents had planned multi-coloured designs. Respondents planned their own designs when ready made charts of the desired motifs were not available or they wanted a personal product. Other frequently occurring reasons for planning were associated with personal development or self-realization. Just over 60 % of the respondents stated that they always or almost always knitted multi-coloured designs after ready made charts. Easy access to suitable charts and the certainty of success when using ready made charts, were stated as reasons for knitting after ready made charts. Planning own designs was considered time consuming and difficult.