My life as a knitter. Knitting spoken here.
Welcome to Knit a Bit of Magic
Monday, September 29, 2008
Yarn & Needles Tip
If you are working with a yarn that plies loosely, in other words, it keeps seperating, use needles with blunter tips to keep from splitting the ply. With any new yarn test it out on the needles you plan to use, and if it's a hassle make another choice before you've invested lots of hours in fighting with it.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Prayer Shawl
I have been knitting a prayer shawl for my aunt, who has stomach cancer. I get depressed when I work on it so I'm not doing that much on it at the moment. It's a pearly gray color and it's a lacey pattern in a triangle shawl.
Here is the pattern if you are in need of such a thing. Triangular prayer shawl.
Here is the pattern if you are in need of such a thing. Triangular prayer shawl.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Knitting Blogs and Pricing Your Knitting
I just realized I have three different knitting blogs. This one of course, then one on loom knitting and one on freeform knitting. I must really like knitting.
Today I got into a not very pleasant discussion in the Etsy chatroom about how it hurts all knitters when someone prices their items too low on Etsy. I know buyers can't understand why hand knitted items cost so much but they don't knit and haven't a clue how labor intensive it is to do even the simplest of knitting. Then you start tossing in cables and handspun yarn and beads, and the price goes up and up. But it's hardly fair to expect someone to offer a hat for sale that took them 10 hours to make for $20.00, now is it?
One lady asked how much she should charge for knitting a custom sweater. And I said I can't tell you, but you have to factor in how fast you can knit, the cost of yarn, buttons, and trim, your hourly wage (yes you should have one, you have to eat too), and how much time it takes to fix mistakes because you are working with a new design and there will be mistakes.
Today I got into a not very pleasant discussion in the Etsy chatroom about how it hurts all knitters when someone prices their items too low on Etsy. I know buyers can't understand why hand knitted items cost so much but they don't knit and haven't a clue how labor intensive it is to do even the simplest of knitting. Then you start tossing in cables and handspun yarn and beads, and the price goes up and up. But it's hardly fair to expect someone to offer a hat for sale that took them 10 hours to make for $20.00, now is it?
One lady asked how much she should charge for knitting a custom sweater. And I said I can't tell you, but you have to factor in how fast you can knit, the cost of yarn, buttons, and trim, your hourly wage (yes you should have one, you have to eat too), and how much time it takes to fix mistakes because you are working with a new design and there will be mistakes.
Free Head Wrap Pattern for beginners
Today I am knitting a head wrap out of Homespun that is 2x2 ribbing and 14 stitches wide. You can make one too.
Supplies:
Pair of knitting needles in a size you are comfortable with
Yarn that feels soft against your face
Yarn or tapestry needle.
Stitches you need to know: Knit and Purl
You must also know how to cast on and cast off.
Cast on 14 stitches.
Knit 2, Purl 2 until you reach the end of the first row.
Turn
Purl 2, Knit 2 until you reach the end of the 2nd row.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until the piece is long enough to form a tube around your head.
Cast off.
Use yarn needle to sew narrow edges to each other using an overcast stitch or your favorite joining stitch.
Optional: Sew on an artificial flower or decoration.
Put head wrap on, take photo, and send me your picture and I'll add it to my blog.
Pattern copyright 2008 by Fayme Harper
For non-commercial use only.
Need help learning to knit? My favorite site is http://www.knittinghelp.com.
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