A New Direction

Hello to my faithful followers!  If you're still following me, you've probably come to realize just as I have that selling hand-knits isn't my passion.  :)

For a long time I've been wanting to work more on designing hand-knits. And that includes writing patterns for the items I design. Well, I've started! And along with this new direction I've started a new blog.  In a month or two I plan to delete this blog. So if you want to continue following me and my adventures in knitting, please stop by my new blog:  http://perfectioknits.com

Blessings,
Stephanie

P.S. Right now I'm holding a blog launch...with a giveaway from now until May 2! Come check it out!

new design: {unnamed} mitts

Here they are at long last!  These are the mitts I made just over a week ago.  With the busy Easter holiday, I didn't have a chance to photograph them until today.

Although I would be the first to tell you I hate having my picture taken, I decided the best way to "show off" these beauties is to wear them--and show them being worn.  So, I imagined myself as a knitwear model and had my eldest son once again pretend to be a photographer.  Thankfully, he likes to take photos--especially when it means he gets to use his daddy's fancy camera.  {I like using his daddy's camera too!} I know these aren't the greatest photos, but for now, they'll do.

All dressed up with nowhere to go:

My little guy being silly during the "shoot"

Ribbed texture.  Frilled at the cuff.  Small eyelets at the knuckles.

 

A little more relaxed look:

Closest to actual color of mitts (at least on my monitor!)

 

The nice thing about this design is its versatility.  

These mitts really look great whether you wear them with a dress or your favorite jeans and t-shirt.

Click on your reaction below to let me know what you think of this new design!

spring cowl

I finally have a couple shots of me modeling the new cowl described in my last post.

My 11-year-old son had the privilege of being my photographer today.  I think he did a pretty good job too! And now you can see how the cowl looks on a person instead of just hanging on a bedpost.

So tell me what you think!  {I'll even say "please!"}

How does it look?  {No, not how do I look--that's not the issue here.  I really want to know how the cowl looks!}

Do you like the drape?  What do you think of the lacy texture? 

Would you like to see it in another color? If so, what would you suggest?

Any other thoughts/suggestions for revising this design or do you like it as it is?

I await your comments!!!

new design: spring cowl

I have a question for you.  Well, it's mostly for the folks at my church who saw me yesterday, but I'll take input from anyone reading this post!  Did you notice the cowl I was wearing?  It's one I designed myself this past week.  I'm looking for some feedback on the design/style. 

For those of you who weren't blessed to see me yesterday, here's a peek at it:

cowl is shaped so bottom is wider than top

lace texture close-up

the drape of the cowl

I know it's not super-easy to visualize it on a person since I'm not wearing it in the photo, but I'm still in my jammies this morning and want to get this post done.  <smile>

It's made with bright white chunky-weight yarn.  I used a lacy and lightweight texture and shaped it so the top is narrower than the bottom.  It might be a tad too warm for summer (unless you live in Northern Minnesota like me!), so I'd say the style could be a 3-season cowl. 

So...what say you?
Do you like it?
Would you wear it?
Would you buy one?
Would you give it as a gift to a loved one?
 

You can leave your feedback here or on my Facebook page!

I look forward to seeing what everyone says!

seeking inspiration

We're getting close to Easter now.  I'm guessing that not very many more orders will come in for my bunny hats, but I still have a few ready-made and for sale on Etsy. It'll be nice if they find new homes before the season is over.

Although there are quite a few other baby props I could be making--cocoons, baby bowls or pods, jester hats, pompom hats, bomber hats--not very many of them are appropriate for spring and summer.  So I've started looking for ideas and inspiration for new items I can make that are better suited for spring & summer. 

I'd like to design some new fingerless mitts for spring.  I think using different color(s), length(s), and texture(s) would not only add variety but may interest a wider range of customers too.  I also think I might like to try making some lightweight scarves, cowls, or even shawls too.  I could use some ideas for baby or child items too.

I'd love your input, suggestions, ideas, inspiration.
Let me know what you think in the comments!
Thanks!

Giveaway Time!

Spring is in the air (sort of), Easter is right around the corner, and I'm thrilled to have my Etsy shop up and running!  I think it's a good time to hold a little contest/giveaway!  If you've already been following perfectioKnits, you know that I am very grateful to be able to work with an incredibly talented photographer, Sarah Homme. Beyond Ordinary Photography by Sarah is soon-to-be-open,  and she has decided to have her Grand Opening giveaway at the same time I'm doing mine!  So once you've finished leaving your entries here, go and check out Sarah's blog and enter her giveaway too! 

MY PRIZES
In honor of Spring, since it is officially that season now despite the snow still covering most of the ground here in northern Minnesota, I'm giving away a pair of my knitted Katelyn mitts, a perfectioKnits original design, in a Ladies' size Medium.  These mitts are the perfect accessory to keep your hands and wrists warm while walking and enjoying the reawakening of God's creation, driving your car, or just catching up on Facebook at your computer keyboard.

left mitt is completed!  right mitt is almost done too!

Next, to celebrate the upcoming Easter season, I'm giving away an adorable crocheted newborn bunny hat. This sweet little hat with bunny ears is perfect for a new baby's Spring or Easter photos!  Would make a wonderful photographer's prop or a really cute gift!  The main color is a lovely brown with cream highlights and for the inner ears I've used an equally lovely cream color to contrast.

newborn bunny hat in brown w/cream

And finally, just to celebrate the opening of my Etsy shop and the new beginning that it represents for me, a pair of crocheted newborn booties in brown.  These adorable little booties would be the perfect little "shoe" for a new little man, and could be equally cute on a little miss!  The buttoned flap keeps the "shoe" on baby's foot.  [Design by Cassi Ence at Polka Dot Posh]

newborn booties in my four year old's hands

HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST 
{updated 4/06/2011to clarify}


MANDATORY ENTRY (do this first!!!)
"FOLLOW" this blog and then leave a comment describing which perfectioKnits item you like best!  (1 entry)

EXTRA ENTRIES
"Like" perfectioKnits on Facebook  (+1 entry)
Leave a message or comment on perfectioKnits's Facebook wall/photo (+1 entry)
{NEW!!} TAG perfectioKnits with a post to your Facebook wall  (i.e. you could post "I ♥ @perfectioKnits!") (+ 1 entry)
"Heart" your favorite item in perfectioKnits's Etsy shop  or "Heart" my shop!  (+1 entry)
Blog about this giveaway!  (+3 entries)

<<<< Don't forget to come back to this blog post and leave a new comment for each entry activity that you do! >>>>

Giveaway begins March 30, 2011 and ends at midnight CST on April 9, 2011. Entries must be in the comments of this post to be counted (i.e. don't leave your entry comments on any another posts I might write).  Three winners will be chosen by a random number generator.  Winners will be notified via email, and also posted here. Entries valid within the US. Each winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.

bunnies!!!

Wow!  My baby bunny hats are selling FAST!  I'm so happy to have a seasonal product that people like and are buying!  I just can't keep up!  {I'm not complaining!}  The other problem challenge is that I'm quickly running out of both the brown and the white yarn that I'm making these with.  I did place an order for more, but I don't expect it will get here until late this next week.  I'm working with the yarns I still have and will continue making bunny hats as long as they keep selling!

If you're a customer who has stopped by my Etsy shop and are sad to find the hat you loved and wanted has sold, don't worry!  More are being made!  You can even send me a message {conversation} to let me know what size/colors you're looking for.  Although I'm not officially doing custom orders, I am willing to if I have the yarns on hand.

not limited to baby knits

Although I am primarily making baby items to sell at this time, I do love making (and wearing!) fingerless mitts. I currently have this pair listed on Etsy, with plans to make more very soon!

Katelyn Mitts (back of hand)

Katelyn Mitts (palm side)

Katelyn mitts (modeled by me!)

This design is a perfectioKnits original!  I used an off-center leaf motif to decorate the back of the hands and ribbing at both the cuff and top of mitt. I call these my Katelyn Mitts {named after my niece Katie} whom I originally designed them for. 

Fingerless mitts work wonderfully to keep your hands warm while driving, doing computer-work, knitting, crocheting, reading, watching tv--really just about any time you want warmer hands with your fingers free from the bulkiness of mittens or gloves.

In fact, I could use a pair right now.  Brrr!  I just realized my hands are freezing!  I guess I'd better go put on a pair of my own!

items listed!

It's just a start, but I do have a few items listed on Etsy!  I'm so excited!

Keep watching as a variety of new items will be added soon!  I'm trying to keep myself from watching Etsy, knowing that these things {selling items}take time.  So I've got a bunch of projects queued up on my to-do list and am going to keep making more items so I'll have even more to sell soon!

Keep on the lookout for a giveaway coming to my FB page &/or this blog real soon!  I'm still working out the details but I'm thinking it may have an Easter theme. {smile}


Now for some new photos!!!!  Sarah took some really cute ones of her little Teddy this week!  I just love seeing more of my hand-knit items on a real baby!  Too cute!

Teddy Hat--designed by perfectioKnits especially for Theodore!

Jester hat, Lemongrass (green)

Elf hat, brown and light blue stripes

Newborn lace wrap

In case you are wondering:

Yes, I do create SOME of my own designs.  Teddy's hat is a perfectioKnits original.  It's also a OOAK (one of a kind).  So no, I won't be making more--at least not at this time.  

Some of my designs, like Teddy's hat, are more or less straight from my brain.  True, the bear hat idea isn't at all new, but I feel that my interpretation of it was fresh and original.

Some of my designs are based on items I've seen or ideas that someone gives me (usually because they saw an item and want to know if I can make it too).  I prefer NOT to try and copy other people's ideas and work and strive to either improve or change the design to make it my own if possible.

And some of my items are made with the help of purchased or free patterns which have given knitters like myself selling rights. I really appreciate designers who allow this as many (actually most) patterns have "all rights reserved" which means it's technically not legal for a knitter to make and sell the item without getting permission from the pattern designer first.  I won't bore you with the details of copyright laws and how it pertains to knitting, but if you really find yourself interested in this topic there's a really good {but also rather long} article about it here.

Have a happy weekend everyone!

Ready or not!

I'm opening shop March 1st!  I've still got a few things to work out in the next few days--like how much I need to charge for each item to make this venture worth my time and energy and how much will it cost to ship each too, but I think it's about time I get some stuff up for sale and just see how it goes! {Besides, I need more money so I can have more colors of my yarns on hand to work with.  And the only way I'm going to have more money is if I can actually sell some stuff!}

I must admit I'm rather nervous.  Perhaps that's part of the reason for my procrastination with starting up.  But I know that's only a part of the problem.  We've been incredibly busy with LIFE lately too.  And there just don't seem to be enough hours in the day to accomplish all I need too!  I know I'm going to have to work hard at scheduling so I have enough time for homeschool, housework, and still leave myself time each day to knit and crochet my products too.  I also think my perfectionist nature makes me feel like I have to have everything perfectly in order before I can go forward with this business.  Hmmm...I think I'm going to have to work on "relaxing" my perfectionism a little.  Is that even possible?! 

A young mother who I know from church recently sent me a request to see if I could make a hat with bunny ears for the baby boy she's expecting soon.  Here's a photo of my prototype.  I'm thinking a hat like this in either brown or white with cream inside the ears, instead of the pink, would be fitting for either a boy or a girl.

I'm waiting to hear back whether she likes it and wants me to make a boyish version for her, but I may go ahead and get some yarn so I can make a few of these to sell on Etsy.  There will be a month and a half before Easter and I can see a potential for photographers to want one a baby bunny hat for Easter or spring photo shoots.

Speaking of babies...Sarah {Beyond Ordinary Photography}had a baby boy on February 8th!  Check out her blog and read the incredible and miraculous story of how this little man entered our world.  I'll warn you now, though.  Have a tissue handy--you're gonna need it! Sarah relates the entire story and through it shares how God has once again proven His faithfulness to their family.  We are thanking and praising the Lord with them for little Theodore!

a new month

Is it really February already?  I can hardly believe it.  January was such a busy month and I'm still not ready to start selling on Etsy.  Ah well.  The shipping supplies I ordered should be here any day.  And my hubby, with some brand new software on his work laptop should be designing--and then printing--a few business cards for me soon too.

I'm currently working on another test-knit.  It's a two-color hat based on the long tail pixie/elf style, but with a different color pattern than stripes.  It's been fun trying to find a new stitch to use that looks good in the yarns I have.  I don't have any photos yet, but will post some later if it turns out!

I finally got my bomber hat to properly fit up to a 6 month old!  This means that I believe I have "perfected" this design to fit both 0-3 months and 3-6 months.  I suppose I really should make another of each size to be certain I can actually make more that will fit properly!  Ha!

Sarah, from Beyond Ordinary Photography, is expecting to deliver her own baby sometime in the next week or two.  Needless to say, I'm super-excited for her--but not nearly as much as she probably is!  The soon-to-be-born babe will get to model many of my new items in the weeks to come.

Now it's time for me to get some homeschool work done with the kids {and maybe even sneak in a little knitting time too}!

i'd rather be knitting!

Each day I get a little more organized, and a little closer to the day when I will actually post an item in my Etsy shop.

I guess I didn't take into consideration how much time some of this would take me. Plus I can't completely focus on my perfectioKnits business--I still have to home-school my kids, try and keep my house under some semblance of control, and have time for knitting new items.  All this business stuff just kind of stresses me out.  {I'd rather be knitting!} 

There's still so much I need to do.  I have yet to figure out prices and shipping costs for the items I want to sell. I have to decide on and post my shop policies.  I do have some packaging/shipping supplies on order (finally!) and my hubby has agreed to find time to design and print me out a few business cards soon.  Speaking of business cards, some day I hope to buy some Moo business cards and/or Moo mini cards but I know that first I need to establish my product line and then figure out the best way to take some good quality product-only photos.  It would also be helpful to know which of my items my customers like best before I order any special photo-business cards.

My new {replacement} checks for my business account came.  They're still not printed the way I wanted (they put my business name on the same line as my name instead of beneath it like we requested), but at least my name is spelled correctly this time.  These will do for now, but I certainly won't be re-ordering checks through my bank!   

Sarah had a photo session with her 6 month old nephew yesterday. Here's a photo with a hat I made especially for this session. Of course, she'll get to use it as a prop on other adorable little guys too!  <smile>

earflap hat by perfectioKnits

Actually, this is the second hat I made for this session. 
The first, although it's adorable, ended up a bit small.

 

I couldn't get to Michael's to get more of the same yarn--I hate that the nearest store is a two hour drive from here and that Michael's doesn't have an online store!  I ended up ordering a different self-striping yarn from WEBS and hoped it would work.   As you can see, the two yarns were a bit different, but both look nice.

designing in crochet

Designing is fun--I love the creative process!--but it's really hard to make something new and original.  For example, I recently designed a newborn hat in crochet using super-bulky yarn.  It's a very girlie skullcap or beanie.  I even made a big crocheted flower for it.  I like the feel and look of the crochet stitch I chose to use.  It should look great in photos.  But I know that there are other, very similar hats available on Etsy.  So I ask myself questions like "What can I do to be original?" or "How can my designs be unique?"

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to answer those questions...at least not yet.

To help me in my designing endeavors, I purchased a crochet stitch dictionary this past weekend.  It has 200 stitches to choose from so I'm hoping for some inspiration. 

 

Next on my wish list is a similar book for knitting.  (I do have The Harmony Guides: 101 Stitches to Knit which is not a book, but rather cards with the stitch patterns, but 101 stitches aren't enough for me to choose from!)