Dec 6, 2013

Ribbing Cast On

I just discovered this AWESOME technique for 2X2 or 1X1 ribbing for knitting. It's very stretchy and works great with hats and headbands! I can't wait to try this on cuffs and neckbands!
http://youtu.be/wf8cY_djTRI


Aug 15, 2013

My name is Melissa and I am a Frogging-aholic...

I knit or crochet just about everyday, and about every other day I am frogging one project to start another one.

So what exactly is frogging? That's a question I wondered the first time I saw this term. www.knitty.com has the best explanation: In the knitting world, however, frogs say "rip it, rip it." And that's the reason knitters use the term "frogging" as they merrily unravel their hours worth of knitting.

That's right people, I seem to be constantly ripping one project or another apart to start something else. You may be wondering if the reason is maybe I'm not very good at knitting, or maybe I'm just not that great at paying attention to patterns. Well neither of those are correct. I do this because the design, or the colors, or the pattern just feel wrong. I mean I'm going along, no problems, nice and smooth and then I look at what I am doing and think, "You know, this would look better in gray instead of black.", "I should be crocheting this, not knitting it.", "OMG, this pattern is so B O R I N G!!!", "I'm not sure what it is but this just isn't going it for me."

So rip-it, rip-it, rip-it I go.

Last night I realized that I had a problem when I looked at the back of the striped baby blanket I was knitting and I didn't like the look on the backside, so I frogged it and started a crochet pattern using the same colors.

Not sure what the point of this post is, other than just admitting out loud that I'm addicted to frogging, but thanks for stopping by!!!


Aug 1, 2013

Social Networking???

Facebook...Twitter...Pinterest...etc...

Which ones do you belong to and which ones should you belong too? To be honest I have no idea!

I never imagined that when I wanted to start posting my handmade items for sell there would be soooo much to consider and learn! Years ago I started selling on eBay and have continued to - in small increments - sell my handmade items as well as stuff I no longer needed - books, clothes that have been outgrown, etc... But now there is Etsy, which is a great site dedicated to the crafter/artist and nothing else. Their fees are WAY lower than eBay, but there is sooo much more to wade through when wanting to buy something. I'll get to the costs in a bit, let's return to this social promotion first.

I have Facebook and have had it for years but I initially started it to remain updated with family members - who are spread out everywhere - and friends I had previously lost touch with. Now I see you should have a page for your business. How do you make one or why should you even have one? So far I have found out that the reason behind having one is to promote your Etsy store and allow friends and such a way to see promotions you may have and to announce sales that are happening or will be happening. Oh and it will also show all of your newly listed handmade items! So this will be my first stop: http://www.facebook.com/page_guidelines.php , always read your guidelines first before doing anything else! I goofed already and broke one rule on Etsy, so now I am trying my best to be *mmm, cough, anal, cough*, when it comes to double and triple checking things before I post anything :)

Now to make a page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php  I have used the Brands & Products and used the subcategory Products/Services. I was going to use the Small Business category, but since I sell such a small amount of items and do more custom orders than anything else I decided the Products/Services was my best option. So be sure to go through each section until you find the one that feels like the right fit for your products/business/etc...

This will help with, well just about any question you may have: https://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/etsy-seller-how-to-creating-a-facebook-fan-page/
Just be sure to read through it entirely and take your time :) I had a few windows open at once to switch back and forth, double checking and rereading certain items.

So now that you have begun your new business page you need to go and design a nice cover photo. After that you will need to decide what your welcoming post should say - make it lighthearted, funny - and be sure sure to include a thank you for all those who have stopped by!

I could go on and on forever on this subject but I think I've given enough to get you started :), also earlier I mentioned the costs of selling on eBay compared to Etsy. I will do a whole new post just on that subject so please check back for that.

Thank you for stopping by and listening once again to my rambling!







Apr 2, 2013

so many ideas, so little time...

Summer is almost here and I have been going through patterns for knit tops, crochet vest, crochet tanks, knit vests, crochet or knit dresses...UGH! I mean seriously, I have 3 - 2" binders stuffed with clothing patterns! Why do I have so many do you ask? Well the answer is simply that I always print out a pattern I come across because I never know when I may want to make it, at the same time I have kinda screwed myself, lol.

Now I can't decide where to start or even what I'm wanting to make. Anyone who loves their handmade items like I do knows that if your mind isn't excited about the project, what's the point? Maybe halfway through the project you'll get bored and start frogging it or you'll persevere and finish the project and hate it.

Awww the joys of decisions...

I just finished the Geometry Dress by Lily M. Chin, who by the way has just the cutest designs, and this is actually the second one I have made my daughter and I still love the pattern. So I figure I was in the mindset to keep making my daughter more summer inspired ideas, boy was I wrong :(

I started this babydoll top by ONline yarns, after slowly trying to translate the pattern from German to English and then realized, the chart was all I truly needed - I know, I know! But we are all allowed one true blonde moment a month and this was mine ;)

Now because of my obsession with new ideas I have overloaded myself with too many ideas and not enough time to make each one. But only the front panel has been finished for the babydoll top I started for my daughter and I can't seem to start on the back panel because of my obsession with trying new ideas!!!

So the crux of my problem is that I can't make a solid decision on either to finish the babydoll top or start something new? And I'm telling ya'll this because, well, complaining and talking to myself tends to get me into trouble, and only you would truly understand my dilemma.

Not sure what point I was trying to make but thanks to all my fellow obsessive crafters for being my sounding board!!!