As the owner of a craft business based in Vermont, Bass has found her niche by being vocal on LGBT rights and other hot-button political issues via her handmade creations.
One of Bass’s most popular products is a self-striping colorway she calls Nothing Says Screw You Like a Rainbow. During the recent presidential race, she sold yarns named Nasty Woman and Bad Ombre, after a couple of President-Elect Donald Trump’s remarks during the final debate. Bass is currently selling pink self-striping yarn at a discount in support of The Pussyhat Project, a craft initiative participating in the Women’s March on Washington on January 21.
Bass says she has found a loyal customer base in knitters with similar political views. But for a sole proprietor or owner of a small company, taking a stand can also mean taking a gamble.
More recently, Schmidt publicized an election quilt in her newsletter with the phrase “Vote for equality” as well as the words “vote,” “peace,” “love” and “justice.”
It can also be difficult for craft business owners to draw a line between their personal/political and business lives when work and hobbies intersect, especially on social media. Suzanne Burkett, a popular Long Island, N.Y.-based yarn dyer, had some customers as Facebook friends, but ended up creating a second profile so she could continue to share her political opinions and avoid seeing posts from fellow knitters with what she says were racist and anti-gay remarks.
“On my original page, my feed has over 800 ‘friends’ and I end up missing the bits of news I do want to see from those who actually matter to me,” Burkett says. “[The second profile] has made social media somewhat enjoyable again. I’d rather be able to share my opinions of Trump with impunity and see what my former classmates had for breakfast than be forced to…post only yarn, recipes, and cute kitten memes.”
Bass advises other outspoken business owners to be prepared to lose customers and have a plan to reach out to new ones who both want your product and like your views. “If you feel strongly that you must speak out but you fear the consequences would be too severe, then I suggest starting with things that are less overtly confrontational,” Bass says. “For instance, you could donate 10 percent of profits for one item to a cause that is political, but a few steps down from white hot. It’s the difference between Doctors without Borders and Planned Parenthood. Both are fantastic causes, but Doctors without Borders isn’t the flashpoint that Planned Parenthood is.”
Ultimately, deciding whether to make your views public is a personal decision. “It depends on how strongly you feel, and what feels right,” Schmidt says. “I think it’s always important to be respectful of the fact that not everyone is going to think exactly like you on every topic, and honestly—right now, especially—I think we have to try to understand why and how we might have such wildly different ideas and find some common ground. I do not put a lot of really personal information out there, but I do try to be true to myself in how much and what I communicate. Being honestly myself has worked well for me as a ‘marketing strategy,’ though it’s more about being authentic.”
Lisa Chamoff
contributor
Lisa is a freelance journalist in the New York Metro area who specializes in home design, real estate and healthcare. When she’s not writing, or knitting shawls and sweaters, Lisa runs Indie Untangled (www.indieuntangled.com), a marketplace and blog that promotes the work of yarn dyers, pattern designers and crafters of knitting-related accessories.
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This was a very interesting article, and one I can relate to. While it’s not politics and knitting, I talk about faith right alongside quilting. I’m Catholic, and my blog (Faith and Fabric) as well as newsletter mix quilting and Christianity. In both you’ll find the latest quilting tips and patterns, as well as upcoming Feast and Holy Days and ways for growing in faith with your family. There is absolutely balance, as Lisa mentioned, that is needed, as is there a need to stay away from ultra hot button issues…just as you won’t find her talking about Planned Parenthood, you won’t find me touching it, either. Thanks for a great article, Lisa.
Give anyone a microphone or a photo-op and they think that people care what their political and social views are. No one cares who Brad or Angelina voted for and why. No one cares who their quilting teacher voted for and why. If you are hired to teach knitting, quilting, or any other thing, park your political views at the door and shut the hell up! If you want to politicize, run for office. Each of us are thinking human beings and don’t need another person with a speck of fame to suffer their opinions upon us!
I get what you are saying, but you also have the option to not follow, purchase, etc from makers who also voice their opinions on outside topics.
I don’t incorporate my personal opinions with my business or products (except maybe I push the Cat Lady Agenda a bit with some bibs), but I think it’s totally fine if someone else chooses to. I see craft as a form of art. Art is a form of expression. We express ourselves on many topics, many that is meant to be hot buttons and controversial. We can agree or not, we can chose to explore the meaning of things presented by these craft/maker based business and blogs. Come to think of it, I would fine crafting awfully boring if some didn’t use it to express opinions. I totally get a kick out of those yarn colorway names, and it gives me a chuckle.
I think crafters are in a unique position here. To those not familiar with the crafting based business world, we can really be overlooked as boring old ladies. But we are not, and using some current political events to color the work certainly can show we don’t just sit around with crochet hooks by the fire with 7 cats on our laps (although, that is quite fine, as well).
While I understand your feelings — when I’m teaching I don’t espouse political opinions — oftentimes the designer’s work is also their art form and means of expression. This is a rare industry where art and business collide, so some blending is inevitable.
Actually, I do care. I am interested in the values and actions of the businesses I support. The majority of people in the creative industry that I know express their views, whether political or religious, in a professional and respectful manner. You have the same opportunity that I do to chose not to support businesses that reflect a view you are against or, that expresses any view oat all if that’s what you choose.
Fortunately, I have received only supportive feedback since I’ve started speaking out in favor of equality, but it seems wise to keep it positive when using a public platform. By telling us to “shut the hell up” you are diminishing us as individuals and stifling any possibility for meaningful engagement. My core beliefs are as integral to my business as my sewing skills. When we build a business around our lifestyle, it’s only natural that you will see the whole person. As a consumer, you have the power to take it or leave it.
I think telling people to “shut the hell up” is not constructive. I run a Facebook group about sewing clothes, and we have a policy about “political sewing posts” that they be 1) factual, 2) kind, and 3) no outside links. So, if you are fundraising for something or making a project about an issue, as long as it includes sewing, you can post about it. All people are people. All people have jobs for which they are paid. When you say that someone needs to “shut the hell up”, maybe there are circumstances under which they operate that make it hard for them to do so. Are they a gay person or a person of color experiencing discrimination in the sewing/making field? One person’s “politically neutral” stance can be another person’s idea of a damaging, dangerous stance. It’s all about perspective. I think we should all be kind and factual in our discussions.
You said twice “No one cares,” but people manifestly DO care.
In the realm of art/craft/design, what we create is personal, and viewers and buyers want to know the maker as a whole person. Whom they can then choose to support or ignore or avoid.
I’m doing a very political project now. I have done similar projects in the past, but not in about a decade, so I have a lot of new followers who don’t know about that part of my work. I lost a few followers when I started this, but the way I figure it, those are not my “perfect people” — not meaning perfect in a way that they are better than anyone else but they are a better match for what I have to offer — I think in our industry we can have a niche that is small and still make a successful living.
https://sheeptoshawl.com/subversive-knitting/
Of course, I totally understand that this is not the right path for everyone. And there is a need to reach out to people of all different perspectives. This project is doing just that, and will be expanding to offer a guide for people around the country to organize and promote knitting get togethers with the purpose of meeting and communing with those who are different than we are so we can all learn more about each other.
http://knit200together.com
These are really interesting concrete examples of a topic I think about a lot — I donate part of my sales to charity, and I know that has attracted buyers, but I’ve always chosen relatively a-political charities (this year is Doctors Without Borders, for example). I wonder sometimes if I’d gain or lose people by choosing a more politically aligned or potentially divisive charity.
I find it absolutely repulsive people are using their fabric designer, pattern maker status, etc as a soapbox. I desperately do not want to know their political opinions. I’m following them either on Instagram or reading their blogs because of their CRAFT. That’s it. I have no desire or curiosity to be “enlightened” about their political views.
Perhaps then, don’t read them.
I agree don’t read about them. Freedom of speech
I care. I care about the food I put in my body, and the clothes I put on my body. I care about the people I hire to work on my house and my business. So I also care about the very soul and feelings of the artists and teachers I choose to connect with and learn from and I want to know them and who informs them and their lives and their art.
Very much like the quote from Harry Potter – “Ginny!” said Mr. Weasley, flabbergasted. “Haven’t I taught you anything? What have I always told you? Never trust anything (anyone) that can think for itself if you can’t see where it keeps its brain (& heart)?”
I care.
Maddie, Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for that quote. Well said and perfect!
Lisa, Thank you for having the courage to write this article. It reminds us we (all) still have the freedom to create, the freedom to speak out, the freedom to run our business’ the way WE choose and the freedom to be who we are…every day.
We should never be expected to keep hidden the things that matter most to us. As artists and makers our beliefs and views are part of the tapestry of our creativity. To give voice to our thoughts and convictions, when done with kindness, enriches our community. We do not have to agree but we should not censor. If a person’s opinion is one you cannot tolerate then you can choose to not support them but don’t expect them to compartmentalize their convictions.
Interesting how all those who include politics always lean left, the author couldn’t find any Trump supporter who happens to have a craft business? I’m sure they exist, because he did win the election after all. But it’s a known fact that such a business owner would be out of business very quickly – because the the vitriol and hate would follow immediately. Sharing your politics in this country means preening your lefty agenda. In the quilting world there is a large section of religious Christian Quilters, I follow some on Instagram, they have been blasted for sharing a religious quote (something uplifting, not an admonition to believe in Jesus). They and I am always silent on the political front.
Maybe I’m just one small person, maybe my business doesn’t matter, I’m that small percent that these businesses won’t notice.
I have political blogs and podcasts, I am now searching for new creative ones, because yes, it does insult me when politics are mentioned because they are mentioned in a very one sided manner. It’s hard enough that in the knitting group I have been going to for 10 years, I don’t feel welcome right now, since it’s a joint project to knit those hats.
So thanks for this list, I now know whom else not to support.
And although initially, these brands might be riding high on their righteousness, just like all these people were shocked that America elected Donald Trump, they might be surprised when for some unforeseen reason, their business falters.
I think the point of the article is that you CAN expect to see the effects of mixing the political with a craft business–positively and negatively. So, no people should not be surprised. I do think that many people also feel that some overtly Christian crafters are ‘riding high on their righteousness,’ but in either case, we have the freedom to express ourselves and our beliefs and we also have the freedom to scroll on by if we’re not a fan of someone’s politics. What would be nice is if no one felt the need to put down others because of their beliefs.
I read your comment with surprise, because I feel like everywhere I look in the quilting world, I’m hit over the head with religion. Isn’t it fascinating that our perceptions can be so different? It’s probably because I’m hyper-sensitive to people pushing their religion on me, and you’re equally sensitive to people pushing their liberal views on you.
I’m back because less than 24 hours later I come across a religious post from a crafting business, this time Joy of Quilting on FB, decrying the women’s march: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1346201692067197&id=126383230715722
Leah, I actually did struggle to find craft business owners who openly supported Trump (I wrote this well before the Facebook post from The Joy of Knitting). There are certainly many craft business owners who refer to religion in their products and marketing, but I didn’t see that as political per se.
Thanks for saying this. Although I lean left (pretty far) I was wondering why the conservative perspective wasn’t represented in your article. I think religion has been inserted to politics. While the US has a separation of church and state in law, that is somewhat blurred depending on who is in power and where you are in the nation.
I think this is a great article and perfectly addresses a line that I struggle with drawing myself. I am a passionately opinionated person with strong views. However, I try to keep the presentation of my beliefs toned down for all of my social media and on my website.
For example, I’m running a project this week called #SewingCommunityGives. I’m asking anyone in the sewing community to donate anywhere this week to show that, though we may have differences of political opinion, we are all a part of a community who cares about each other and the world. I very consciously chose to make the push for donations apolitical. Personally, I do choose to send my money to hot button organizations like the ACLU and Planned Parenthood. But what really matters to me with the project is that we, as a community, can set aside our differences and join together for a common good.
Thank you so much for writing this, Lisa! I feel like your article hit the nail on the head with talking about both the positive and negative side-effects that might happen if you talk about your political views in relation to your business. As you (and Denyse Schmidt) said, it is a personal decision – and the same applies to unfollowing or not buying from someone because you don’t want to support their political view.
This is why I’m always surprised when people get really angry at us business owners who do express political views – if you don’t like it, you don’t have to buy from us. It is really that simple.
I personally struggled with knowing that expressing my political views might hurt my business, but ultimately decided to do it both on my Instagram and my podcast because it just felt right. It felt like me. Often, our businesses are an extension of who we are (especially smaller creative businesses), so I personally don’t see a point in hiding my views.
i LOVED this article!
As my business is focused on nature, ethics and sustainability, reuse and recycling, it is very hard NOT to involve political views, especially at this current point in time!
I think as an owner of a business you have to make a decision. Do my political belief mean so much that I have to express it no matter the cost? Do I think I can get away with it because I think everyone shares my POV?
I know a lot of quilting vendors seem to be Mormon in my area. They display their faith but inoffensively (as in not in one’s face and not preaching). I think some people do not realize that all people do not share grief over elections (or can rise above it). I constantly monitor what I say. WHY? Because coming to my business should be a pleasure. I want it to be a pleasure. When politics creeps in it threatens to usher in the jerk factor. If you welcome the jerk factor, you are clearly saying politics trumps (sorry) good customer service, professionalism and monitary reward. A decision.