(I) Handicrafts as a hobby have become a major industry in recent years, (II) Whether as a hobby or a vocation, handicrafts encompass activities that require a variety of skills. (III) They also usually require some equipment, as in knitting, which requires the use of needles. (IV) Because of this, the term handicraft may seem misleading. (V) However, the term is used to mean producing something without using machines.