Spring: A Time for New Beginnings

Spring is here, but if you’re like me, where you live is just now starting to show signs of the changing season. On the first day of Spring, we received about 5 inches or so of snow from Mother Nature. Hopefully, the snow is over for awhile.

It was my intention when the new year started to begin blogging and concentrating on my site more. Well, the new year’s resolution has since past, but I’m hoping to spring into action now. Afterall, spring is a time for new beginnings!

I’ve been crocheting right along, but more on personal projects than business type ones. We’re expecting our family to grow by two this summer, so I’m busy making items for the new grandkids that will arrive. Heavens, NO, I am NOT the expecting one. After raising a nearly 19 year-old, I’m focusing on other things in my life.

I was privileged to be interviewed for Topeka Magazine, a local publication, this past November, and the issue is now on the shelves. It’s a short and sweet article about me and my online business, as well as a bit about the local crochet guild, which I started almost two years ago. Time flies! As of this post, you should still be able to read the article by clicking here, then flip to pages 16-17.

I’m hoping to get back into the swing of things by posting more and working on more patterns to sell. My ultimate goal is to start submitting my patterns for publication. I have so many ideas, but so little time, it seems.

Stay tuned. I plan to post again in the near future. Until then…

Happy Hookin’!
Tracie

Bad Blogger Update

I’ve been a bad blogger, I know, and I’ve lost some readers because of it. I need to get back to blogging, so this post is just a rundown of some of the things I’ve been up to lately.

• I met Kim Guzman a couple of weeks ago when she taught a tunisian class to the Topeka Crochet Guild. It was a lot of fun, and Kim is a blast! We invited the members of the Wichita guild to join us as well, and three of them made the drive up. A good time was had by all. I even got her autograph on a book of tunisian dishcloths that she wrote. (Pics will eventually be posted, I hope.)
• I’ve been working on several of my own patterns. I’ve learned that I’m really lousy at getting them written out in a timely matter, though. It’s something I know I need to work on, and I am.
• I have an Etsy store AND an ArtFire store; however, I am considering downgrading on the latter since the $12 a month fee isn’t cutting it for me. I’d much rather pay as I go like Etsy lets me…at least for now. I love the features of AF versus Etsy, but times are tough.
• The crochet guild put labels on blankets the other night that we are donating to a couple of local charities. We have right at 100 of them. Wow. And we also have about 250 hats & scarves to donate as well.
• I have several new ideas in the works which I hope to announce soon.
• I also have at least two patterns I plan to submit for publication.
• I’m crafting for a craft fair that’s coming up on November 7th. Lots to do.
• My daughter is a Senior this year, so we’re preparing for that great graduation day. We had some gorgeous pictures taken at a couple of locations close to home last weekend, thanks to my husband’s daughter.
• You can fan me on Facebook for mini updates. I’m a little better at that than I am at writing out full blog posts.
• Life is good.

Sneak Peak

What do all of these items have in common other than the fact that they are crocheted? There’s something unique about them, but it won’t be disclosed just yet.

I’ve been working on this pattern for awhile now, and just when I think I’m ready to write it all out (all 6 versions), I come up with another one. I hope to get the pattern(s) written up soon and sent out for testing so I can add them to my Artfire Studio and Etsy Shop. I also plan to make some to sell at an upcoming craft fair, as well as in my shops.

I have about a dozen other pattern ideas floating around in my head and in my sketch book, so stay tuned!

CPSIA

The acronym can be as daunting as what it stands for, which is Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, and it has a huge impact on the crafting world.

Seems that large companies such as Mattel like to outsource to China, which in recent history has created quite a stir with its recall of toys that contain way too much lead. In an effort to make items safer for children 12 and under, anyone who sells things to that target market MUST get their items tested by an accredited testing lab. In other words, those who craft children’s products (including but not limited to: toys, clothing, books, CDs, DVDs, etc) for a living may be SOL unless they can afford the testing fees. Sounds ominous, right? Well, to a degree, it is. But luckily, yarns were just exempted, as was fabric, which is good news for crocheters, knitters, and sewers. However, if you plan to crochet or knit items for the 12 and under group and that item has buttons, ribbons, snaps, zippers, and such, it needs to be tested. According to the representative at CPSC which I spoke to today, manufacturers of such notions are responsible for their own testing. It is up to the consumer/crafter of the notions to contact said manufacturer for documentation of the testing. However, I’m not 100% sure she knew what she was talking about, so that may still be a grey area.

Whew. Confused yet? I know I am.

Also, the crafted-for-sale items have to have a label on them. I haven’t gotten all of the information on that as yet, but from what I do understand, it has to be attached to the item and there’s specific information that has to be included.

If that isn’t enough, anyone who crafts for charitable causes have to abide by the same rules, so if you are making a baby hat and bootie set to donate to the local hospital and think that yellow ribbon adds just the right touch, leave it off and save yourself one of the headaches. Just make sure you get the label in place.

Don’t get me wrong: I am all for the safety of children, but if large manufacturers would suppress their greed and have some concern for their fellow man, laws such as this just might not be necessary.

I would personally like to thank Mattel–who, by the way, has been given permission from CPSC to test some of their own items–and other large toy manufacturers, as well as others who have been involved in the lead recalls for making it more difficult on the small businesses. Lucky for me, I write the patterns more than I try to sell the products created from them. My strategy is to stay away from the 12 & under group as a target market for any items I want to make and sell. This does seem to affect my local crochet guild and the items we donate to some charities, though. It’s an area I’m still researching.

More to come on this as I learn more about it, so stay tuned. In the meantime, here’s some links to help you become acquainted with this year-old law:

Happy Crocheting!
~T

My Blog is Back!

After some technical difficulties, my blog is finally back! I don’t know what caused the glitch…or how it fixed itself…but the plan is now to update on a regular basis.

Welcome back, Blog! I missed you.

Creative Inspiration

As crocheters (and knitters), we are creative people. No matter what the skill level, we use yarn and other materials as an outlet of ourselves. On my Twitter & FaceBook, I posted this question:

For me, it’s a variety of things. I love looking at books and magazines for ideas. Sometimes, I’ll crochet a pattern straight the way it was written; other times, I change it up, and still other times, I make something totally different than the pattern every intended. With non-yarn-related publications, I see things and think about crocheting up a different version. Nature sometimes impacts my creativity, too. I think mostly for me, it’s other people, though, and the things that they come up with that encourages me to think outside the box and venture out on my own. And let’s not forget about color. I don’t know as much about it as I would like to, but I do know it impacts my creativity at various times. My button tin also inspires me. It’s fun to go through them and make them into something pretty. However, admittedly, for me that’s not always that easy. I’m very selective and stingy with the things. I could probably create a whole lot more if I wasn’t.

I’m Back!

What have I been up to? The past year has been one full of research as I worked on a special project that has now been put to rest for a short period. More info will be available when the project is ready to be talked about once again. In the meantime, I plan to bring this blog back to life. There’s too much wonderful crocheting going on out there, and it would be a shame to miss talking about it all! So this short post is the beginning of what I hope to be many, many more for the remainder of the year.

Happy Crocheting!
~Tracie

It was only a matter of time…

There’s no question that I’m a hardcore crocheter. I love my hooks and all the versatility one simple tool and a ball of yarn allows me. But when I received a free sample of a high quality set of knitting needles, I took it upon myself to try them out. I couldn’t see giving them away or just stashing them someplace I’d never see them again. (Actually, I received two sets; one is a circular set and one is just pointy sticks.)

I first hit YouTube for videos on how to knit. Then I remembered hearing about KnitHelp.com, which has some great videos and information. Lucky for me, I already had a nice stash of yarn to choose from to play with.

In less than 24 hours, I have taught myself to cast on, knit, and purl. It’s still too early to create much of anything, but I can do the stitches. My preferred method is English. I first tried continental style since I’ve heard people say that’s how they learned and how easy it is, but it’s just awkward for me. That probably sounds odd coming from a right-handed crocheter; I’ve just found it easier to hold the yarn in my right hand and wrap it around the needle rather than from my left hand. I can do that much more smoothly, and my stitches are more conformed.  For me, so far, this seems fairly easy. Guess we’ll see as time goes by.

No, I didn’t buckle down to any pressure from those who wave their pointy sticks and think that knitting is the only way to fiber self-satisfaction and worth. The snobbery that comes from the knitting world in general (not all knitters are snobs, so don’t take it wrong) is actually one of the main things that kept me from even wanting to learn. Receiving a nice bamboo set of needles was a big influence for me; that, and admittedly, I have ulterior creative motives. It was time.

Just for the record: I’ll always be a crocheter first. But knowing how to knit is not a bad thing in my book. A crocheter who knits, yes, that will be me someday. Perhaps. We’ll see where this yarny path takes me.

Truly, there is so much yarn and oh, so very little time.

Cheap Crochet?

“Each crocheter spends twice as much time and does twice as many projects as a knitter, but spends less money per project. They donate more than one-third of what they make, and give away more than one-third as gifts. Crocheters more often shop at craft chain stores than specialty needlearts shops.”

The above information comes from a study conducted for The National NeedleArts Association for 2007. The fact that crocheters spend less money per project and most often get their yarn at craft chain stores may attribute to the ideology that “crocheters are cheap”. However, it’s a fact that crocheters use more yarn, and if we do more projects, we must spend a good chunk of money as well, even if it’s not all at once.

Additionally, this study points out that crocheters are givers. Two-thirds of what we create is given away either as charitable contributions or as gifts. Perhaps that is another reason crocheters as a whole shop more often at craft stores; it’s difficult to justify spending money on expensive wool yarn that is going to be made into a project for charity. Many people have no clue how to take care of wool items–or other natural fibers for that matter. Even the “thought that counts” would be washed away the first time the item was thrown into the washing machine, right along with the time and money that was spent on the item. Let’s face it: There are times when acrylic or less expensive yarns are just more practical and economical to use; yet, they still maintain their purpose. Many of the items made with less expensive yarns find themselves in shelters, homes, and hospitals, spreading warmth and love to those who receive them.

In my own observations, I’ve noticed various differences in the local crochet guild and knitting group in my area. The crocheters are more than excited to help make things to donate to charity. We get together once a month to do just that. We’ve tried to include some of the area knitters in our efforts, only to be turned down each time. Does this mean they aren’t as charitable? It’s not for me to say; I know many a knitter who makes items for others. Even in our local crochet guild, there are a few members who knit as well, and they alternate between each skill in the items they donate.

One other thing I’ve noticed is that when the crocheters get together it’s usually with a purpose in mind, while the knitting group is more of a stitch ‘n bitch gathering. There are other differences in our two groups as well, but these differences do not make one more “right” than the other. We have too many things in common to say that being different on some level is a bad thing. We share a love of yarn, of creating with our hands, and an enjoyment of sharing what we do with others who do the same thing.

To say that crocheters are cheap is a sad attempt at saying that we are less than those who yield the needles over the hook. That statement couldn’t be further from the truth. It would be sad to see either knitting or crocheting become a dying art just because one was looked upon more highly while the other was snobbed upon, especially if it’s a yarn issue. “My yarn stash can beat up your yarn stash, neener neener.” Statements like that are a little immature, don’t you think? It’s more important that the two groups live in harmony rather than knit-pick over the insignificant things that in the end really don’t mean a whole lot.

Do what you love; love what you do. No matter if it takes one hook or two needles to do it…and regardless of the type of yarn, fiber, or other material that you use to do it!

Get Your Vote On

November 4, 2008, Election Day, finally! It’s been a long campaign process, and today is the day to vote for the candidate of your choice. If you’re registered, then get out there and take advantage of this freedom we have here in America, regardless of which candidate you vote for. Give your voice a chance to be heard. Then go back to your crocheting and/or other creative outlet you find happiness in.

Here’s a few crafty projects to help get you started:

• Republican Elephant crochet chart at Crafting With Cat Hair
• John McCain finger puppet at Lion Brand (crochet)
• Obama finger puppet at Lion Brand (crochet)
• Flag pin (knit)
• American Flag socks (knit)
• mini American flag (crochet)
• Stars and Stripes Afghan (crochet)

And for any of you who may be wondering: Yes, I voted!

Happy voting & happy crocheting!