Is knitting art or craft

The answer is clearly "yes". It can be art. It can be craft. It all depends on how, what and why an item is knit.
If you shop at your local yarn shop for yarn and purchase one of my patterns then proceed to knit the item in question with conventional knitting needles you are engaging in a craft. Or so I thought. Recently an artist friend of mine singled out 'Islandia' and 'Gwenhwyfar'. She identified these patterns as art pieces. Puzzled? I was but she is an artist. She knows art.
If you create or find your own fibre, pattern, and needles in an unconventional way you are clearly an artist. Their is no question in my mind.
Another way to determine if something is art or craft is to ask the question "why?". Why are you knitting this item? Is it to serve a purpose? Say for example, you are cold so you knit a sweater. On the other hand, if you are making a profound statement by knitting the item then clearly you are creating art.
Please share your thoughts: email leanne@oknitting.com