CROQ: A zine by and for independent crafters

By: Sister Diane

There's no shortage of crafty content in the world. At the click of a mouse, you can dive into a whole sea of craft websites. Flip on the DIY Network or HGTV, and you can simmer in crafty demo shows. And your local Barnes & Noble is brimming with glossy craft books.

So does the world really need a craft zine? YES, it does. And thankfully, such a zine exists in the form of CROQ - an independent, slightly eccentric, and highly relevant voice in the crafty universe.

CROQ is the brainchild of a group of crafty people, many of whom are also entrepreneurs. They met online when they were participants in The Sampler, that delightful monthly subscription to crafty goodies. After some online discussion, they decided to band together and produce a craft zine. . . and so, in June 2005, CROQ was born.

The name is actually an acronym, standing for “Craft Review On Quarter,” as CROQ was originally a quarterly publication. But its founders also like the name’s ambiguousness -- like the zine, it can mean just about anything. And it lends so well to the cute crocodile logo.

CROQ’s founders shared a common frustration with the mainstream world of online, print, and television craft journalism -- it just wasn't independent or original enough. As eloquently put by CROQ co-founder Betsy Greer:

“Why isn’t anyone writing about the importance of what we’re doing? . . .We wanted to see a real print and paper zine that we would actually read. With strong online as well as real-life networks, we are entering a new era never before seen. By combining the power of the internet with the power of personal creativity, we are proving that things do not have to be mass-produced, that we can be our own stylists, that there is strength in mastering the sewing machine or the knitting needles or the silkscreen. We’re about not only recognizing the past legacy and the future possibilities of craft, but about reminding you, the reader, that you’re not alone. Some say that the bubble has already burst, that craft has reached its apex and is destined to plummet. We say bring it on.”

In that spirit, CROQ covers crafting and DIY from as many angles as possible. Here's just a sampling of topics in the first five issues:

- An interview with Renegade Craft Fair founders Sue Blatt and Kathleen Habbley.
- Recipes for crock-pot cookery, DIY sushi, and a Very Vegan Thanksgiving.
- Tutorials for funky retro crafts like Friendship Bracelets and plastic canvas iPod holders.
- Tips for protecting your work on the internet.
- Tips for avoiding craft burnout.
- Thoughts on being a crafty stay-at-home mom.
- How-to's for making your own craft fair, podcast, wedding, and dreadlocks.

CROQ has more than doubled in size since its inaugural issue, from 32 pages to 64. To manage this wildfire growth, the zine will soon become a bi-monthly publication.

Let’s meet the intrepid people who make CROQ:

- Heather Mann makes and sells handmade lipbalms and soaps. She's the master-coordinator for CROQ contributors, in addition to handling layout and marketing duties.

- Stephanie Scarborough runs an online zine distro and cool, crazy button shop. She's CROQ's copy editor.

- Dayna Manowski is a real scientist by day, who makes and sells handmade catnip toys, totes, jewelry and other goodies by night. She and Betsy Greer serve as story editors and idea-generators.

- Betsy Greer writes about the intersection between crafting and activism on her website.

-Mary Bajika knits and sews the world's most unique bags. She's the final proofreader for each issue before it's printed.

Interestingly, these women have never spoken on the phone, and only a couple of them have met in person. Every issue of CROQ evolves entirely online, until it eventually emerges as a real-world, ink-and-paper zine.

There's an important distinction here. Although the CROQ-eteers use online teamwork to make their zine happen, they love the idea of a tangible paper publication. Because online and TV crafting coverage, compelling as it all is, tends to keep you fairly isolated in your home. But an ink-and-paper zine can travel with you to your local cafe, or craft circle, or yarn store, where you can share it with real, live people -- sparking great conversations. No matter how much crafty content we take in, the real magic happens when people connect.

. . . And this is where you come in. Would you like to participate in CROQ? Visit this website to learn more about their submission guidelines, and get involved in the growing community of CROQ-o-philes.

You can (and really should) find copies of CROQ through its Etsy shop, or fine zine distributors like Whammy Industries and Sweet Candy Distro.

See Also

Review: Alabama Studio Style
Review: Kids in the Garden
Flora Alchemy