Working on new line - Recylced Knits

I have been getting more materials together for a new line I am working on. Hopefully I'll get more done over spring break since finals are approaching very quickly. I will be adding a few new items to etsy soon and have been joining teams and getting more involved with the community. Today I took some pics that turned out great in terms of the colors of my items, however, the way the natural light reflects through my wondows and curtians gives some glare in the background so working with those a bit. Instead of posting, I ended up visiting several etsy stores owned by UWIB members - which are amazing - joined twitter, and found out that I ended up in a treasury for the first time thanks to CCCOE.
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=44452
Plus all of this was much more enjoyable and fun then studying formulas or re domain mapping a glitch with my pilates blog /website.

Next post will include links to all the wonderful unique women in business member sites and blogs since do need to spend some time studying this weekend.

Double meanings

I realized that as I am starting to promote my blog, the title might seem a little odd. I did list a post when the name changed, yet wanted to share a little more technically on this.

When I knit, I frequently grab some yarn, cast it on and then try out a few different stitch patterns, tear it out, and start again, either with different yarns or stitches. Within a row or two, it is usually clear if something works or not by what is on the needle. I also have noticed that the items that do not work well are a bit harder to knit and feel a bit of resistance while working with the items.

Since I took my blog title from a saying in acupuncture, it is like when treating a patient and the needle is in a place that the patient does not need it or, there body is not ready for the needle to go in further. In class it is said that the needle knows when to stop, avoid veins and arteries, and other things that it could just as easily be the body knowing as well as the practitioner having an awareness and knowledge about how to use the needle as a therapeutic tool.

I also thought it would be fun to integrate both ways I am around needles into the title since they are pretty different versions of a tool with the same common name.

Offical ETSY store opening

After starting to set up a store over the last few months, my Etsy store called Design Knit Fun is officially open for business and promotions. It is still a work in progress like everything else, however I have been reading up since it is actually a friendly yet competitive maketplace Meaning it is a super supportive and hellpful community with a huge amount of sellers selling similiar items. Artfire is a smaller site and a few items are also available through them. I might expand the Artfire store as well to include each item, however would also like to start making some sales first. Currently, my knitting projects have been a variety of neckwarmers and scarves with a few headbands and necklaces thrown in. I did make a great neck corset which will be pictured soon on this blog. Photos, seem to be improving as Im actually getting the best pics using my webcam and standing in front of my window . Strange but also solved the question of finding a model or someone to take pics - plus gives them an intersting artsy feel. I dont knoe what that says about macs being easy to use if the webcam is actually producing some bette pics then a digital camera with more features - or maybe its my own digital camera usage skills that need some practice. lol

A new favorite yarn

Well, another one for the long list of favorite yarns to work with. Last week I picked up a few balls of Schulana Fusione which is a silky soft 78%cotton 22% nylon ribbon looking yarn with a little shimmer. It is a bit streychy and amazingly soft and easy to work with. After ,making a neckwarmer / scarflette I ended up going back for more since it was 50% off at Yarns Unlimited. So far, Ive knit two pieces and have a third one planned and hope to find it online in more colors. They only had a few options so stuck with the blue tones since the color saturation was great. Definetly fun to work with amazed how silky the texture is and also amazed the cotton content was as high - i actually thought it was all some sort of nylon / poly blend so even more amazed by it now that found it was mostly cotton.

The fine details

One of the beautiful and unique things about creating handknit (and other handmade items) is in the fine details that can add an extra bit of love or energy to the project. By adding some sort of trim, fringe, buttons, or a little embroidery, an piece can get an extra bit of personality even though it is these small bits that actually take a little bit of extra effort after a project is completely knit, and blocked / sewn if needed yet make it stand out on its own after they are added.

Getting started on Etsy

Well, I am very grateful for all the blogs out there with information on how to have a profitable and visited etsy store. I thought it would be a lot like ebay, and am finding it is a bit more challenging since trying to knit and create items is much more enjoyable then taking photos ans sitting in front of the computer and listing. I am finding it a little harder to write descriptions, with ebay they seemed to write themselves, or I just had popular taste in clothing and shoes. Its weird that it is so different with writing the descriptions and setting prices is also a bit more perpexing. Factoring in yarn, time spent knitting, and then adding in the current economy, and prices of similiar items. A whole other issue is knitting things so much from yarns that Ive had in my stash for years so missing content / care instructions for some, and even have some items listing that knit and never wore or gave as gifts so no idea cost of the yarn etc.....

All of that said, it is also a pretty impressive variety of items and stores with amazing and beautiful items for sale in one place - which is what is so incredible about a handmade items website with individual srores - and an online community that also exists around it with advice and support while getting started and helping others to all do well. Hopefully since a rainy LA weekend, will finish a few items and create some time to sit down, get better photos and list them.

Wrist Warmer Re Do in a simpler pattern

The pattern I posted about a last month was a bit challenging to follow the way it was written. After going to the store that gave it out, I relearned that they had changed ownership. I work near the store, yet had forgotten why I stopped going there for my yarns and supplies. Needless to say, the former owner took her original patterns and samples with her so I was stuck with a 2/3 knit fingerless glove. Luckily, with the amazing options available on the internet. I found a few simple patterns that worked with the yarn I chose for this project. The yarn used for this project is an amazing hand dyed organic cotton from Uruguay purchased at a yarn store in Eugene, Oregon (forgot name) in 2004. I have seen the yarn on Etsy recently in a variety of colors.

The pattern I found was listed for free on blogspot and is amazingly easy to follow and the actual wristwarmer has a cute, simple and edgy feel to it when on. The pattern link is: vickiehowell.blogspot.com/2007/04/hand-like-hole-free-pattern-of-month.html