Fashioning Technology

In addition to being a trendy hobby, crafting is a multi-billion dollar industry. Gen Y’ers, mostly women, are rediscovering their grandmothers’ interest in knitting, sewing and creating thoughtful, do-it-yourself gifts for fun and profit.

Etsy, the online marketplace for all things handmade, has about 170,000 sellers and two million monthly visitors. The site made news last week when Etsy founder Rob Kalin announced he was stepping down as CEO. The company is looking to manage its rapid growth, spurred on by the popularity of making and selling crafts.

Syuzi Pakhchyan believes the future of the movement lies in "smart crafting." Her new book Fashioning Technology offers projects that pair yarn and thread with LEDs, fiber optics, and solar cells. She joins Word of Mouth from Los Angeles, where she works as a designer, artist, and robotics instructor.