2015 SHUTIN: A sobering experience, even for a teetotaler.

A sobering experience, even for a teetotaler.

By Sytske

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There was this question, what use is the Antique Pattern Library?  We, New Media Arts,  have our charitable purpose, where it's worded to perfection of course, but what about the actual good it is? How do people profit from having that resource available? And does that match our original purpose, or even come close?

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It would be nice to have a well-grounded answer to that, so that when we apply for funding, we can argue why that would be money well-spent. And how that expenditure would serve the goals of the funding organization. 

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A recurring theme with these funding organizations is that they wish to make life easier and more open for people who are restricted in their activities, and to me fell the task of finding out more about that. I am Dutch and those of you who have experienced the unadulterated Dutch people in close contact will guess what I did next: I put that question in our user forum, plop, like that: Are you housebound or otherwise restricted in what you do?

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Our forum members, a sizable number of whom are Americans, may have blanched a bit and swallowed their initial reaction, before they bravely sat down at their keyboards and answered: fully, honestly, and with an openness that even I had not expected, and their answers have given me a lot of food for thought.

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People with chronic pain, fragile bones, or anchored to their house because they are the sole caregiver of family members who need round-the-clock care.  People living 100 miles from the nearest book- or thread shop, people on very slim incomes who can't afford a trip to the bookshop nor the buying of a book there, nor have space to put it in; people without a driving licence in rural communities, no library services, never outside unless it's for church or doctor visits. 

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I had not thought about that, that daily life could be pared down to such a limited circle. 

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Sure, I love books. When I see an old pattern or needlework book I think what others think when they see a mewling kitten or puppy, Come to me, and I'll take care of you. I'll ensure your survival for the next few years, while I can. But here are people who don't just take care of a book, they actually use it as it was intended.

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They do fine needlework, are inspired to new designs, actually make the things described, teach the younger generations, make presents that may motivate others to take up a needle and thread as well (or a hook and thread). And they enjoy it; for some, it's one of the very few things left to enjoy. The internet is their window to the world, their communication channel, and the Antique Pattern Library a treasure trove where they can take what they like, browse whenever they wish, and never have to calculate if they will be able to afford it. It's there, open for all.

Back to the facts.

Adding up all the poll answers, forum posts, and mailed-in replies, 139 people answered. 104 said no, 35 said yes. Among the no answers there were quite a lot who explained how they used and appreciated the Library, and of course among the yes, many did so as well. 

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And that's the second thing that gave me pause. There was no difference. 

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In doing needlework or other craft work, in reading and appreciating the resources saved and opened to them, the yes-and-no disabled or restricted were the same. In that, there is no distinction.  

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I had expected (another assumption smashed to pieces) that those who were more disabled would be more viewers and less actually doing the work. That was not so. Apparently, the ability to do, enjoy, and appreciate some craft work is one of the last things that leaves us. That's encouraging. 

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Thank you, all forum members who answered with such open honesty. With your kind permission I'll add a few quotes.

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I'm on limited income, so love coming in and looking through all the older patterns, and trying several of them, getting so either one gets yarn or a pattern, so these really help, thanks

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Being on a limited income... just Medicare, I also rely on my sewing and crocheting for making up little gifts for people that I love. I don't feel very handicapped, just very blessed I can still see and work my hands to do my work. 

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I keep my hands busy by knitting or crocheting or spinning constantly, and that helps control the ADHD. Handwork also affords me a place to practice focusing, and finishing the task at hand. Because of my disabilities, my work record is spotty - handwork helps my income, also. 

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I'm able to use my time well, and do a lot of charity work.  I also have time to look through this marvelous library.  I can spend hours browsing!  I have to be careful or I won't have time for my needlework! lol

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Fine embroidery gives me intellectual occupation and something to do with my hands. APL is an important resource for me and has been for many years. All the more so because the patterns and other information (such as the old manuals/magazines) are free and being on a disability pension I can't afford to buy more than the minimum of items related to embroidery - 
the kind of kits I'd want to do, for example, tend to be out of my price range.

And these are worth repeating more in general:

It occurs to me that there are other good reasons why people might need the library.

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(1)    Some people are housebound because they care for others who are  also housebound. They don’t have the money or the resources to get information in other ways. Their computers can be their link to the outside world.

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(2)    There are people who are housebound because of other disabilities.

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(3)    There are people who live in locations where there are no libraries or library resources. (They often lack access to shops which sell any sort of craft related materials too.)  I live in a relatively large city in Australia and specialist craft supplies are extremely scarce.  In rural areas these things are almost non-existent.

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(4)    Creativity aids mental health and physical wellbeing. In turn that reduces the need to use other resources, particularly those related to health and welfare.

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(5)    Many communities have "multi-cultural" policies and are trying to retain traditional arts and crafts but they need to be backed by the on-line resources which are the natural means of  younger people finding information. This is especially important as younger people have less time to attend formal classes or even social groups.

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(6)    We are in increasing danger of losing many resources forever. If we do we will forget our cultural past and everyone, not just those who do these crafts, will be the poorer for it. We have  to look on arts and crafts as languages which will be lost and when we lose them we also lose another way of thinking which can lead to development in other areas, such as the sciences, as well.

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I'd also point out that all needlework is something that even the most physically limited people can enjoy, so long as they have some use of their hands. If not, I suppose one could learn to work with one's feet instead, and wouldn't that be marvelous! Braille or audio versions of patterns are even somewhat available for those with no/poor eyesight. For the physically limited,  needlework fulfills the basic human need for creativity, artistry, feeling useful, feeling a part of a community, and being able to gift handmade items of value to people we love. The physically "whole" have so many other options to fill these needs, many very rightly supported by public financing such as public parks, although of course a great many also love the needle arts as well. Those physically limited can feel very cut off from the rest of society, and that they lead very narrow lives without something as fulfilling as needle arts.

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To add another point, needlework is a relatively inexpensive art, providing rewarding and useful occupation to those with limited incomes. It is even possible to earn much needed income. For those both physically and economically limited, needlework is, quite literally, a life saver.

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All this has changed my focus more than a little bit. I love beautiful pictures, and part of our collection is about master pieces of historical craft masters. But the forum answers have pointed out to me that beautiful pictures are not the most useful and usable parts of the Library; I'll keep the focus on the actual executable craftwork. That'll show in the future acquisitions.

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A sobering experience. And I wasn't drunk, to begin with.