Little bits

Just a quick post to say - I haven't vanished!

Started working on a seed-stitch scarf last night. I really enjoy this yarn - it's Patons Rumors, which is acrylic and merino. It's very loose, so I'm glad I'm using my needles with sharp-sharp points. I can't imagine trying to knit this on my bamboo needles (which have much blunter points). I had started this scarf last week, but it was turning out to be much too wide. I frogged it all and restarted with a few less stitches per row, and it is a much more appropriate width right now.

I have so many yarns in my stash that I'm looking forward to getting into! I have some more Patons Classic Wool Merino, which is, of course, destined for more My So-Called Scarves. I might try to make some hats to match them, as the last pair of scarves I made were very, very long.

The next thing I'm trying to do for my Etsy shop is improving my photography skills. Bradley takes excellent pictures for me, but he isn't always available to shoot when I need pictures. Maybe I should have a real, actual contract with him ;-) Ha! That would be pretty entertaining. It's easy to find instructions online to make a light box, so I think that will be my first step. Then I'd like to get a mannequin head; finding a dress form or mannequin upper torso is also in my plan.

I missed my knitting group last night, and I missed connecting with my girlfriends. My friend E. needed help picking up an entertainment center, and since she has always been so helpful when I needed to borrow her truck, I wanted to return the favor. I definitely have to make it to knitting next week! The girls there are so helpful with advice and suggestions; I love the immediate feedback and the bonding. I don't feel like I'm 40 years older than I am (28) just because I'm knitting.

long time no post!

I survived tax season! Can't believe it. I haven't had time to post or update Ravelry or do ANYTHING. I'm trying to get back into the swing of things; cleaning up the apartment, picking up WIPs, getting my stash organized, and so on.

I finished another copy of the My So-Called Scarf in harvest colors. It's posted on Etsy right now as Harvest I. The MSCS I'm working on now is Harvest On Crack - it's the same colors, but the way the yarn colors are striping looks totally crackalicious. I'm looking forward to upping my production over the summer; I have a lot of delicious yarns in the stash that I can't wait to work with.

completion

another project finished! i sewed in the ends of Leslee's scarf this evening, and started on the first scarf of TLS' order. this weekend will be busy, but with being sick, i can tell that i will be spending some time on the couch getting some knitting done. that's also the plan for xmas day, i think - shall have to tell Kelly to bring over whatever project she's working on.

Boredom!

So, boredom knitting tonight, garter stitch, blahblahblah. And FunFur means I have to sort of pay attention to what I'm doing. After going to bed ridiculously late and being up way too early today, I slept for about 4 hours this afternoon - which means I'll be up ridiculously late again tonight. Meh. So, I have MASH out from Netflix and some Sex and the City, so yay! knitting. :P I just don't want to go down to the car to grab the bag of yarn for the next three scarves.

At least with FunFur, I don't have to worry about tweezing the cat hair out unless the buyer/recipient is allergic!

FunFur, bane of my existence

Why on EARTH did I ever make a scarf out of FunFur?? Now everyone who has seen the first one that I made is ordering them. I made one for LisaLou, and GC at work saw it and ordered one, and Mari saw GC's and wanted one, and Leslee saw Mari's and ordered one, and TLS (a partner! in the firm!) saw GC's and ordered THREE!

So, I have to be a little knitting monster this weekend. I don't feel right about starting on TLS' before I finish Leslee's, even if she doesn't actually buy it right away. I spent the evening with some of my knitting girls, and got a lot done on Leslee's. Thank god the yarn is so bulky that I can just use garter or stockinette stitch the whole way; no ribbing or other real pattern to follow. I'm just a little concerned because I don't think that Leslee realized the colorway she liked so much stripes the way that it does. It won't be a big deal if she doesn't like it; I'm sure someone else will buy it... I just don't want to disappoint my friend.

I'm just a little frustrated because I have a lot of other delicious yarns in my stash. I know Leslee isn't in a super-rush to have hers, so I cast on a My So-Called Scarf in the Rosewood colorway last night and was really looking forward to working on that. That scarf is going to be gorgeous; if we go to NYC for NYE, I am definitely keeping that scarf for myself. I can't wait to work with Homespun - I will have to swatch MSCS and see how that yarn turns out in it.

Well, I might be heading out to have a beer with my honey and a friend, so more to come later!

ethics in knitting

Well, my previous dilemma has been solved. I contacted the author of the My So-Called Scarf pattern, and she said that the person who posted it on the Sheep in the City blog actually doesn't have any authority to distribute the pattern. However - she gave me full permission to sell scarves made from the pattern as long as I don't give out the pattern itself. So, that answers that question.

I'm working on becoming a better seller. I ordered business cards from V!staPr!nt, and they should be here soon. I bought red ribbon, rubber heart stamps & red ink, white tissue paper, and beads. I have made up care labels to attach to each scarf and stamped them with the red heart stamps, and will attach them with the skinny red ribbon. Then I'll wrap each scarf in the white tissue paper and tie a wider red ribbon bow around that. If I have to ship them, I'll wrap each one in plastic.

On the business side, I've been thinking about how to keep up with the expenses and track yarn purchases to specific sales. A coworker suggested using Qu!ckB00ks at work but I'm not sure if I should do that. I have to talk to my mentor about other, work-related things, so I will ask him then. For now, I have an Exc3l workbook set up to track everything. I've designated one of my checking accounts to be strictly for this little business, and after I get my W@chovia credit card paid off (it has a relatively low balance), I'll use it if I need to for business stuff. I plan to become an LLC next year, I think, just in case someone has some crazy reaction and tries to sue me. For now, I will just do it under the table to figure out my business plan.

I've completed my commission for Lisalou and for my coworker LG. I just have to deliver the scarves to LG tomorrow! I've already started on the commission for GC, but real life is sidelining me.

Orders

Well, I've been working on Lisalou's scarves for a little while and was nearly finished with the last of her order. I was thinking about what to do next, and one of my co-workers came to my desk to ask about the scarf I sold to another coworker. It ended up with her commissioning six scarves! Two or three for herself and three for Christmas gifts. The original co-worker decided that Christmas gifts sounded like a great idea and ordered two more herself. Then one of my friends saw the signature pointing to my Etsy shop, and is figuring out what colors she wants out of a FunFur scarf.

Score!

So 6-scarf coworker is getting a decent discount for such a bulk purchase. The other two - not so much.

My previous quandary has come back up again. Since I'm new to all of this - I'm not sure what the rules are for selling scarves knit from patterns. I understand that a pattern published in a book or that has to be paid for shouldn't be knit and sold. It should be gifted or kept. I have no problem with that at all. But what about free patterns? Specifically, the My So-Called Scarf pattern? I made three before I knew about rules like this, and have sold them, and they are very popular. I don't try to claim the pattern as my own and gladly point people to the website where I've found the pattern. Also, the person who posted it says that the people who came up with it don't care about the distribution. When I have sold these - I take the position that I'm charging for the materials and my time. I don't want to take credit for the pattern at all. So is this okay? To absolve my concern - I think I'm going to donate part of my profit.

I just want to make sure I'm not stepping on anyone's toes just because I'm new to this. Hm.

So, here's what they ordered:

GC: (by 12/15)
1 Seed-stitch scarf
1 Boucle garter-stitch scarf
1 FunFur scarf
3 MSCS scarves

LG: (by 11/30)
1 Boucle garter-stitch scarf
1 Seed-stitch scarf

I have one of the boucle scarves done, so I think I'll go ahead and do the seed-stitch scarf to finish LG's order. GC knows that LG's order is due sooner so I think she'll understand. I really like the yarn I've picked for this one but jesus does it shed.

Other things to figure out:
Exact pricing structure so I know how to negotiate in the case of more wholesale orders
Business cards (anyone have any recommendations for relatively inexpensive suppliers?) - went with V!staprint
Care instruction cards (I'll just print these on cardstock but I need to figure out the details) - found several websites with legends for care labels; will just prep them for each scarf as they are finished.
When to make this official as far as legal & tax issues