1. People are making more stuff
Well, obviously! It's not a surprise that there is more blog content after 6 years, but it's so much easier to find help for making traditionally more challenging items like underwear and active wear. These types of sewing seem more mainstream than they once did.
2. Have we reached peak Indie Pattern Company?
Everyone and their dog has a pattern company these days, so it seems. I find myself fairly underwhelmed by many of the offerings available and it's very few that I really feel I 'have' to buy, because they offer something different than I can already find in my pattern stash. Am I jaded? Do I just have loads of patterns already? Maybe a bit of both.
3.You don't even need a blog!
Readers are interacting less and less with blogs. I definitely get fewer comments than I used to, and I notice the same trend on some of the bigger blogs that I follow. I also comment less on blogs because I read them more on my phone, where commenting is more difficult. As an extension of that, a lot of commenting happens on Instagram, where many users build up a following without ever having a blog. It's a great format for easy interaction.
4. The world has re-discovered sewing
The Great British Sewing Bee has reminded the world that sewing still exists, and the increase in number of companies selling fabric etc. suggests there is a large and growing market. Blog sponsorship and sponsored posts are more common than they used to be too - not to the same extent as some types of blog, but still increased.
5. Named/Boutique fabric ranges
A few years ago, Liberty was the only brand name for dressmaking fabrics that I knew. Now we have cult ranges like Cotton & Steel and Atelier Brunette who offer fabric collections. Although limited edition fabric ranges are an established part of the quilting world, this is a newer addition for dressmaking fabrics. So we get more choice of fabrics but also a greater temptation, and none of these fancy fabrics are cheap!
6. Vlogging is the Future?
I read that the internet will increasingly be populated by videos, and some sewing bloggers use vlogging already. Personally I have never looked at any of those, never mind made one, but that may well change as it becomes more popular. Who knows, maybe in 6 years time I will be doing videos instead of writing!
What do you think - do you agree with any of my thoughts?
K x
Excellent observations! Now that you mention these, I suppose I've begun to notice them, too. Especially the indie pattern company thing -- every week, if not every day, I seem to come across a new indie pattern, some more impressive than others. I'm glad there's still space for bloggers like us, who don't plan to get a book deal, do loads of sponsored posts, or start our own line of patterns. I'm still content to use my blog simply as an outlet for my sewing thoughts and projects, to fill the sewing friends gap in my real/day to day life. I've also turned to Instagram in the past few years, which I was not using at all back when I first started blogging 4 years ago. I don't really see myself getting into the vlogging, though! :)
ReplyDeleteI'd definitely be surprised if I ever got into vlogging - can hardly make time to take blog photos!
DeleteI read blogs because I do not have an Instagram, nor do I care to get one. I can see how, with sewing and craft-related things, it would be easier to share that sort of information. I also read blogs because blogs allow me, the reader, to get to know you, the blogger, on a more intimate level than just pictures and brief caption will allow. Reading blogs allows me to sympathize with struggles and celebrate successes with fellow sewing people in particular.
ReplyDeleteThat's what blogs are so good at, presenting a more rounded picture and giving more information
DeleteI have an IG account and a blog (very new) I like to document my makes on IG for memory but love the detail of blogs. It's great when more experienced sewers tell us novices problems found and how to get around them. We can't share that with a picture. Love your blog and your makes K xXx
ReplyDeleteThank you, glad you enjoy the blog, I need to make more time for blogging!
DeleteGreat thoughts! Yes, for sure people are migrating over to Instagram because it's accessible and fun and easy to use and comment on when you're holding a hand rail on a train! Vlogging - this has slightly taken over my work life because publishing is obsessed with vloggers. Vloggers Sell Books - big time. From a certain age bracket and to a certain age bracket. It's a wormhole if you fancy losing a few hours! I don't know about the Indies. It's a bit like self-publishing. Everyone can but should everyone? I still think it can be a viable route to market for someone who thinks outside of the norm. But fresh product - agreed!
ReplyDeleteI hope traditional blogging will still have a place in the internet of the future, vlogging sounds like more work to put together well
DeleteWow 6 years. I'm not sure I read blogs 6 years ago, let alone had one myself. I have one now, almost 2 years. I like to document the things I make, I specially like reading back the changes I made. I like to look at instagram but never post and rarely comment. I try to comment on blogs whenever I can, I'm always happy when someone commented on one of my posts. But as you say it is difficult when you are reading on you phone.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, I find my blog is a really useful record of my output too
DeleteI have definitely fallen off with blogging regularly. I had hoped to blog at least every time I made something new, but life is so busy and I try not to be so hard on myself. Instagram is so quick and easy! I agree with you that there is an overabundance of indie pattern companies. I love that people are living their dream, but I don't love the issues that a lack of experience sometimes causes in the construction of the patterns.
ReplyDeleteSo hard to make time to take photos, I find
DeleteI don't blog and occasionally comment on those I read but I do IG! I'm glad about the indies though as am about to do a dissertation on them!
ReplyDeleteSounds fascinating!
DeleteI agree with very many of your thoughts. I prefer blogs where someone has made something of their choice and they show it. You can find out what worked and what they would have done differently, also how they see it fitting in with other things they wear. I am not keen on posts where stuff has been given for free/sponsored. There are one or two blogs I follow where the 'fabric allowance' has clearly dictated the garment and the clothes being made are nothing like the person's usual style.
ReplyDeleteYes, a definite increase in those sponsored posts compared to a few years ago
DeleteThere are so many bloggers and sometimes I just don't feel like leaving comments. Sorry. Hey Are they going to make a way for us to see Great British sewing bee here in USA? I love that show and if they dont I will just cry my eyes out if someone doesn't leak it onto YouTube again.
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll find a way to get to see it!
DeleteInteresting observations, Kerry!
ReplyDeleteI'm in my 7th year of blogging and still love it.
I had a look at Instagram and hated it, all style and no substance. I want meaningful dialogue not hashtags and, as one of the minority without a Smartphone its not an affordable option for cheapskate me. xxx
Thanks Vix. I enjoy the deeper engagement you get with blogs too, though I enjoy the quick way to get feedback that Instagram provides
DeleteAll true! It's seven years for me; I am still a nobody from nowhere with no monetarising options and I eschew all other social media but FB and blogs because these take up way too much of my time already! But I do enjoy a good blog post and read most of the ones I follow every day.
ReplyDeleteHa, you say 'nobody from nowhere' but I always enjoy reading your comments because you have a wealth of sewing experience
DeleteCongrats on 6 years of blogging! I agree with most of your observations, although there's no GBSB-inspired wave of sewing happening here (seems to be lots of craft sewing happening, but not so much garment sewing). I may be in the minority but I am really not a fan of vlogging. I never watch video posts as I generally find them boring and I'm usually catching up on blogs in the same room as my husband and I don't want to plague him with something that has sound. But I may just be super picky as I come from a TV production background and my husband is an editor- because of that I always feel like vlogs are about 4x longer than they need to be and I just want to edit them myself! :D
ReplyDeleteI feel like I need to know a video is going to be well worth my time before devoting 5 minutes to it! You can't skip through a vlog to check if it's any good first
DeleteWow 6 years! Yes, things have changed a lot haven't they?! I remember the siddent increase in bra & pants sewing, jeans sewing - it's brilliant that all these previously more uncharted areas of home-sewing are so popular now, I just need to give them a try now!
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame people don't interact on blogs as much, I've really noticed that change. It is so much harder to comment now, on platforms like bloglovin. I've also found it difficult to comment on an iPad. I still love reading & commenting on blogs & am always so happy when people comment on mine but I also see my blog as a record for me of what I've sewn, issues I've had etc.
I've still never watched a vlog!
Me neither - it seems like such a different type of thing, and more hassle if you want something to flick through on your phone while waiting for the train!
DeleteNever watched a blog, and don't really want too. Just seems to narcissistic! Also noticed the indie patterns increase, some where the making has no pattern cutting experience at all! Gosh that sounds bitchy but true!
ReplyDeleteI love reading blogs, I like the details you get, love IG too but a blog seems more personal.
Long may sewing remain popular, it's fun!
I think blogs and IG both have their good points, and I probably blog a bit less partly because I use IG quite a lot
DeleteI don't believe "vlogging" will be the big thing. People generally dislike being forced to watch videos if they can help it, they prefer reading the content or viewing images. Video demands sight, sound, and TIME to sit through the entire vid and people do not like this. Many DIY videos, instruction etc are passed over because of them being only on video. I hope to see a resurgence in the printed material, which requires so little, and lasts as long as the paper does- whilst internet content can disappear altogether in the blink of an eye.
ReplyDelete