Things I Buy for my Store

Sometimes I like to show you the things that I buy for use in my business. Last year I joined 'Knit it Now'. I enjoyed being a member & I did learn some things. I consider myself a fairly good MK now, but there are still many things I can learn. I always keep my antenna up for new ideas or projects.  & I am always on the lookout for things that can help me produce.  This is a cord knitter that I bought from 'Knit it Now'. (I won't say anything about the $$$.)

I use I cord for the ties in my diaper covers & I thought this would be a good addition to the tools that I use. I have always disliked knitting I cord on the machine. It was the one thing that I hated to do. This cord knitter is all metal & I understand it was made in the '40's. I tried to knit a worsted weight I cord with all 6 needles in, but that wouldn't work well. (Sue advises against worsted weight yarns.) Soooo, I took out 2 needles & tried again with 4 needles in. That worked beautifully. I use a little yarn spray with the machine & it doesn't have a problem with knitting the heavier yarns & makes great ties for my covers. I actually went back & bought another one for a lighter weight yarn & a 6 needles I cord, because changing needles with this machine is a hassle. I thought it better to just have a different machine for each weight of yarn. 

If you decide to buy one of these, keep in mind that it requires 'Tender Loving Care'!! Never force the machine, keep it lubed & it will give you wonderful service. I have had mine for over a year now & it works like new. But, I have seen several on Ebay that are just the remnants of a working machine that has obviously been mistreated.  I have had several of the plastic versions & this one is so much better.

Knit Picks & Spilly Jane

I don't know how many of you get the "Knit Picks" catalog or follow 'Spilly Jane's' blog. I do both. Knit Picks yarn is mostly for hand knitters & spinners, but of course you may use their yarns on the bulky or mid-gauge machine. They have sport weight yarns that can be used on the standard gauge sometimes. You can find 'Spilly Jane's' blog in my favorites.

When I was looking through my Knit Picks catalog I was pleasantly surprised to see a couple of pages devoted to Spilly Jane's mittens. She knits the most beautiful mittens that she designs herself. She is a bit quirky & I love reading her blog as she thinks things that I never do & I find them very enlightening. Here is a picture of some of her mittens. So beautiful!!

Have a look at her blog. I think you will like it. 


Hope Valentines Day was all that you hoped for!!

Working On Orders

I am busy working on orders. I have been doing very well after a slow start this season. I am amazed at all the babies out there!!! So Many & so cute!! Here are some current photos of my recent order for a baby girl. 

I just have sooo much fun making these that it is a crime that I get paid for them. LOL 

I have 5 more orders to go. I am catching up after my internet being down for so long. I had to go to the library with my laptop & write down all the info rather than print it. It was such a mess. Sometimes I drove over there & didn't even go in, but just sat in the parking lot & hooked up to their Wi-Fi. But I am back online now & having a great time. 

Sometimes I buy yarn for my covers on Ebay if I see a good buy. I haven't bought any yarn for my stash this year, just wool for my covers. While scoping around Ebay I found this little pin cushion for $10. It was so cute that I had to buy it. I did need a new one. My last one came from Walmart, the kind that looks like the little tomato.  

Hopefully I will get all my orders out in a timely fashion, & be back on top of everything again. I was so stressed while being unable to get online that it has taken a toll on me. Being off line for almost a month can do that to you, esp. if you are stressing over your online business., not to mention all the blogs I follow. &, I don't want to be nasty but the computers at the library seem to have lots of germs. LOL I had one cold after anther the whole time I was using their computers. 

I'm Back!!! LOL

I am back online, finally!! Everything has been fixed & all is running smoothly. My security system & internet are getting along now, so maybe I can catch up with my orders & my blogging.  I did go to Walmart & buy another laptop just for emergencies. My neighbor has wi-fi & she let me check my email etc. by connecting to her set up. I didn't stay online for more than 15-20 minutes a day as I didn't want to take advantage. :-) You just don't realize how much time you spend online until you can't do it. 

I have to get some pictures taken so that I can upload them. I want to finish the brown cardigan & a couple other things as soon as I possible & show them to you, once I am caught up with orders etc. 

I Have Not Abandon You

I am temporarily offline. My home security system is conflicting with my DSL connection. Will get back as soon as I can. They're coming this week to fix it as the part has finally come in. I am at the library using a computer there as my poor little laptop has given up on me. Time for some shopping!! When I can upload again I have some things to show you. Thx

Felted Mittens

I am making some mittens for the Afghans for Afghans charity. I have an old book 'A Time to Knit Mittens' by Sandy Baas & Marty Godlowsk' that was published in 1985. I believe this in one of the books that I bought at a yard sale years ago. It has a great pattern for easy worsted mittens, as well as other yarn weights. I want to felt them & make 3-4 different sizes. I like making them with the gored thumb rather than the slot thumb because they are interchangeable then. 

 I made these in the men's size & then threw them into the washer for a complete cycle using hot water, then a cold rinse , & drying flat. I have four blue dryer balls that I bought from Walmart to use for felting smaller items, in the machine. I put them in with the mittens so they would have something to beat them up a little bit, & help them felt. I didn't want to felt them too much because I didn't want the ribbing to completely flatten out & lose it's elasticity. It did flatten out some but not so much that they won't stay on. The mittens felted down to 6" in the hand from 7.2" when I started. So, they were a men's medium & now are a child's medium. 

I have lots of felt that I thought I would try to make some cute designs with & hand stitch them to the mitten. We will see if I get up that much motivation!!

Felting in a front loader presents problems sometimes. The door locks so you can't take the item out & check without going through a whole turning off & on, spinning the selector on the washer, waiting for it to unlock, etc. So I don't bother with it. Size is not critical in mittens. There is always someone that they will fit. 

P.S. 

The fish died. 

More Sweaters for Little Girls

I have been working on longies for my store. but am caught up with orders so had time to work on the sweaters for my customers daughters. I just took this one out of the dryer. It is another raglan, with contrasting sleeves & a small red heart knitted with intarsia. I am hoping that the heart is in the right place. I fitted it to my neighbors daughter & it looked good. (Now she wants one!!)

I have the smaller one almost finished. I just have to knit the front & sew it up. I am very happy with the way they turned out. 

One thing did bother me though, when I took the sweater out of the dryer it looked a little wrinkled. This is Red Heart Kids yarn. I have noticed before that this yarn sometimes does come out of the dryer like that. Several times I have taken a damp towel & laid it over the sweater & let it air dry. That works, but if anyone has a better idea I am listening. 

This sweater was knitted using a pattern generated by the  'KnitWare' program. It is a child's size 8, hip length, with a grafted neckband. I always make my children's sweaters hip length so that we don't have any cold tummy's.