Paper short abstract:

The paper explores the "creative relations" between craft consumers and the commodities they are searching for in order to craft and to create. How "prosumption" or "participatory consumerism" works within this group of consumers will be explored, using examples from the contemporary DIY-world.

Paper long abstract:

The paper explores the "creative relations" (Vachhani 2013:93) between craft consumers and the commodities they are searching for in order to craft and to create. A craft person has the ability to identify the promises that lies in raw materials and in forms and details that can be used, reused and decontextualized. Commodities can work as active materials, leading to ideas (and fantasies) about what they can become and be transformed into when bought. How "prosumption" or "participatory consumerism" works within this group of consumers will be explored, using examples from the contemporary DIY-world, and connected to social media such as the knit and crochet community Ravelry (Knott 2013). Questions asked are: How are crafters involved in "participatory consumerism"? How do they engage with materials (Ingolds 2013:22)? Which creative possibilities will be enabled within the concept of "prosumption"?