Where have the last 2 1/2 years gone? / New Year, New Start

As some people may be aware, I had another baby around 2 1/2 years ago and made the decision to close the physical shop.  I'd decided I wanted to close quite a while before, but ideally wished to sell the business so that my customers didn't lose their wool shop.  This proved not to be possible, so around 2 weeks before my daughter was born (slightly earlier than expected!) I closed the shop.

My intention was to keep the online shop going, expecting to only need 6 months or so to get back to it.  Being a mum of 4 I should have known better!  With one thing or another, I still haven't managed to do all the things I wanted to do to be running properly again, and after several difficulties in fulfilling orders due to errors on the site, I turned the site to dormant until I had ensured that all stock levels were correct and all my products were photographed and listed on the site.  While it is off, I also want to re-style and refresh it for a new start.  This all still hasn't been done yet, but I am hoping to be back up and running over the next couple of months.

I have several ideas for the blog.  I've wanted to write blog posts many times about my projects, especially spinning, but wanted to write about the business first.  I would like to write a post at least once a month, but if I can manage a weekly post I will!  

This year my main priorities are:

1.  Getting the site updated, re-styled and running as soon as possible.

2.  Blogging about my projects, knitting and spinning, at least monthly.

3.  Posting on Instagram daily @knittermum

4.  Spinning for at least 15 mins every day.

I have many other things I want to do this year but that gives me a start!

Busy couple of weeks!

Over the last couple of weeks we have expanded the shop into the next room! The settees for knitting groups and workshops are now next door which means we have more spaces. The shop is now the whole length of the room, more spread out and feels soooo much better!

I've started to get some of the new yarns in for the Autumn. Wendy have brought out a brushed aran blend with alpaca in called Osprey which is lovely and soft and knits into a gorgeous fabric. This yarn and the patterns will be on the site as soon as possible.

I have just received a delivery of Peaches & Creme and this will be the last of the old brand. However, when I went onto their website, they have had a new style website and it looks as though they have rebranded the P&C, merging the P&C with the Sugar n Cream. I am waiting for confirmation that I can continue to order with the same terms and I will confirm as soon as possible.

Current Projects

Home:

Long Jacket - ummmmmmm not yet done (mumbled)

Bamboo jumper - I've finished the back and made a start on the front. I've not made much progress on it over the last week or so as other things have jumped in the way!

Shop:

Multnomah - This is finished and blocked and has been worn! I'm really pleased with the final item :o)

Husband's scarf - My hubby kept pinching my hand dyed, hand spun, hand knitted scarf last year, so I told him to pick some fibre out of my stash so I could do one for him. I finished spinning the fibre at the beginning of the year, navajo plied it and finished it, but didn't get round to knitting it until a couple of weekends ago - 8mm needles and chunky wool meant that it took me a couple of days! He is very happy with it, so hopefully I will get mine back!

Sock:

I've just started the 2nd flying saucer sock, so that will be my mindless sock for knitting groups :o)

Anita's sock - a friend asked me to knit her another pair of socks a little while ago in Jawoll Magic Dégradé. I decided to put a pattern on it for her and spent quite a while trying to work out how to get the stitch pattern from a book to work in the round! I've got it sussed now and I'll put the pattern on here as a free pattern once I've got it all sorted and written up.

Spinning:

I realised at the last minute that the Tour de Fleece was starting, and although I've not joined a team, I decided to set myself a target of spinning every day with an additional target of finishing the fibre that I got in a secret santa swap and started when I'd finished the fibre for my husband's scarf. I've been spinning it quite fine, so it has taken ages! I plied it at the beginning of last week, but realised when I wound it into a skein that I had not added enough plying twist, so put it back through the wheel last Thursday. It has now been skeined and finished and is roughly 4ply. I've roughly measured it and I have approx 900 yrds - enough for a shawl! I just need to find a suitable pattern now :o)

I've taken time off!

I've not been in the shop this week! I've been feeling quite stressed recently about all the things I've needed to do at home and am not getting time to do, so I arranged with a couple of friends to give me some time off. I have had a great week, sorting out rubbish, weeding the garden and cleaning the house, and I feel loads better! :o) There is still loads left to do but that feeling of being overwelmed by it all has gone.

So.... I feel re-charged and ready to work tomorrow! We have crochet workshop tomorrow morning and hopefully will be sorting out some dates for the next few. I will also get back to putting patterns and other products on the site.

Current projects

Home: I've not done much knitting this week as I've been concentrating on getting things done, but I have given myself some time for me and of course my evenings as usual!

Bamboo jumper: I've just finished the armhole shaping on the back and just need to knit so

many inches before I can leave that on a thread and start the front. I'm getting this done much faster than I did last time!

Long jacket: Still haven't sewn this up!

Shop:

Multnomah: I did another couple of pattern repeats last weekend but obviously no progress during the week! I'm not far off finishing it now - maybe by next week!

Sock: I've finished the 1st sock with the flying saucers, but haven't started the 2nd yet.

Spinning: I've done bits and bobs of spinning at home this week - it's just been good to sit and do some for ten minutes or so when I've had a gap. I'm looking forward to plying this!

Spindle: I brought my spindle home from the shop this week and have been doing some in breaks while cooking. It's also great to take to school with me to do while I wait for my kids! I've been working on this for quite a while as I don't spend long periods spinning on a spindle - I've plyed two cops worth so far. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this yarn yet though!

Busy week!

I've had quite a productive week this week, getting some patterns on the site and sorting out photos. I had a delivery from King Cole the other day and checked stock of the Bamboo Cotton and added a few colours to the site that hadn't yet been uploaded. There are now patterns on the site for the King Cole Riot, although most King Cole DK yarns can be used for these patterns. King Cole patterns are double-sided, giving different options for garments - the pictures from the back of the patterns are at the botton of the page for each pattern, and a larger photo can be seen by clicking on the thumbnail. I am gradually working through the patterns, but it takes ages!

I am now stocking King Cole Comfort DK as a good value baby yarn as a replacement for Wendy Bambino which has been discontinued. I loved the Bambino, but the Comfort is a good alternative. I'll get the Comfort on the site as soon as I can.

I've also had a delivery of Manos yarns since last week - I have a few colours of the Silk blend and one of the Lace not on the site yet, so again, I'll get those up as soon as possible.

Current Projects
I haven't had a huge amount of time to knit at home recently so little progress this week!

Home: Long Jacket - I still haven't sewn up the sleeves, but I should have time to do in on Monday - last Monday ended up very busy and I didn't do much of anything!
Bamboo jumper - I've done a few more rows on this, but it'll take a while. I still need to get a photograph done!

Shop: Multnomah - I've been working so much on my computer, I've not done a lot of knitting - I've done a couple more pattern repeats of the feather and fan though - it's gorgeous!

Sock: This has had most of my knitting time recently. I got past the heel and then decided that to get the best chance of the 'flying saucers' pattern on the foot, I should do the length suggested on the instructions :oS , so I ripped it back and did some more knitting on the leg before doing the heel. I'm now not far from the toe decreasing, although I needed a break from it and haven't picked it up for a few days.

Spinning: This is what has been taking most of my time at home! My wheel has been calling and I've spent the last couple of evenings watching a DVD while spinning. I intended to take a photo this morning but didn't get time. I'll add one later :o)

Well it sort of worked......

I've not quite managed to post overy Friday so far, but at least it's not been months! Last week was half term and routine went out of the window. We had a good, busy week, the kids were happy and very little work got done! The previous Friday I had a visit from a rep distributing Filatura di Crosa yarns. There are some fantastic yarns in that range - I want to build on my range of Centolavaggi lace weight and there is a gorgeous 4-ply range of pure wool which would replace the Patons Dreamtime.

Over the last few days I've been getting more products on the site - I've got some Jawoll Magic Dégradé Sock Yarn in for the first time which comes in a range of gorgeous colourways and I've also put the Jawoll Magic Stripes range on the site. I've had this in the shop for a little while but hadn't got it up.

We've also been looking at ways to improve the speed at which the site pages load - most of the problem I think it the size of the photos, so we will be gradually changing these.

The other area I am working on is patterns - I have a large stock of patterns but very few on the site - I am aiming to get a few up a week.

Current projects

I'll give an update each week on what I am working on. I tend to have projects that I keep at home and others at the shop as I was finding I was carrying some backwards and forwards without getting time to work on them!

Home: I've finished the knitting of a long jacket in Patons Jet - this is a gorgeous pattern with a big shawl collar. I need to sew the sleeves up and attach them and it's done - just in time for the warm weather! :oS Well at least I'll have it ready for the winter! I'm aiming to finish the sewing on Monday - I never feel like sewing in the evenings - that my mindless time!

Bamboo jumper - I started this before I started the Jet jacket but I stole the Knitpro tips to do the Jet one. Now I've finished that I want to get this jumper done - it's a pattern from Knit Today - one of the first magazines I bought when I really started knitting again. I'm using Sirdar bamboo and Wendy Pure in 2 row stripes - mainly because I didn't have enough of either yarn - but it's working out well.

Shop: I've had a ball of Jawoll Magic 64 Garnet in my stash for a little while and wanted to do a triangular scarf/shawl with it. I've started the Multnomah shawl and it looks fantastic - I've just started the feather and fan pattern for the bottom edge.

Sock: I usually have a sock on the go as my portable project - it's perfect for taking to school when I'm waiting for my kids! I'm making a sample pair of socks for a supplier in Flying Saucers yarn - it's an interesting one to start! I'll do a special blog post with the process when I've got a little further.

Spinning: I've a wheel both at home and the shop. At home I am working on a blend that I received in a Secret Santa swap at Christmas - it is merino, alpaca, baby camel, silk and angelica and is a mix of orange, pink, purple, white and natural brown and is spinning up really lovely. I've got my wheel set up so I can sit if I have a few minutes and do a bit - provided the kids haven't put too many toys in the way!

At the shop I have some pure merino that I bought from somebody on ravelry in a mix of blue, teal, murky green and brown - it gives the impression of the sea and I'm spinning it into long colour repeats. I'll get some photos done of both of these too :o)

New leaf turning - hopefully?

I know it has been a very long time since I last wrote a post, but I have a plan! Friday morning is the probably my least crazy morning, so I am going to try to write a blog post every week on the Friday.

There have been several times when I have wanted to write and have planned sections - particularly when something has happened. Every time though, the planning has been while I've been washing up or driving and can't do anything about it! Then life and kids take over and the post doesn't get written :o(

Simply Knitting magazine gave me a nudge about this blog when they featured my site in their magazine. It was fantastic to be mentioned and I am very grateful to them. I also appreciated the nudge about the blog and once again planned to write but didn't! My shop was also voted runner up in the East Midlands in the Origin awards so thank you to everyone who voted for me :o)

Life is busy, and the shop and website becoming more and more so which is fantastic! I am getting more organised now as I settle into the business and juggling work and the kids is getting a little easier. The count down to the summer holidays is on, so I am trying to get as much work done as possible before then! There are several products in the shop that are not yet on the site, but I am gradually working towards getting everything on there.
There have been some issues with the site loading very slowly. We will hopefully be getting this sorted out as soon as possible.

That is it for now and all being well, I'll write again next Friday!

Shop Opening

The shop is open on New Year's Eve, Sunday (2nd Jan) and on Bank Holiday Monday (3rd Jan). I will be closing on New Year's Day.

Shop opening hours will be as normal from 5th Jan.

'Tell a friend' abuse

Somebody has been abusing the 'Tell a Friend' feature on the website and using it to send spam emails.

We are trying to remove this feature to prevent this happening, but for now we have put the site to 'Down for maintenance'.

Please note that these emails were not sent by Create and Knit, but we advise people not to click on the links as they may take you to a site with malicious content.

We get the site back up and running as soon as possible.

I apologise for any inconvenience. The next day I can send parcels will be Wednesday.

It's been too long!

I don't quite know where the time has gone - it's been ages since I wrote a post on here!

In my defense, there has been a lot going on - with school holidays and opening a shop! I now have a bricks and mortar shop in Breedon on the Hill, NW Leicestershire on the same site as Priory Nurseries. The owner is gradually converting the old farm buildings into small retail units to give new businesses a start. There are several gift shops, antiques, book shop and card crafts, as well as the plant nursery and my wool shop - well worth a visit if you are in the area! There are more businesses moving in soon as well - including an old-fashioned sweet shop next door to me! :o)

I am gradually increasing my stock in the shop from the companies I already have yarn from, and there are several companies who I have contacted about ordering from.
I also went on a natural dyeing course a few weeks ago, and once I have some more equipment, I will be dyeing yarn to sell in the shop and on the website.
I also have a couple of bag designs to write up and loads of ideas for more :o) Now I just need a bit more time......

First pattern design!

I never thought I would have a go at designing my own knits, but it seems to be happening at the moment!



I saw a picture of Yoga Socks on Ravelry and wanted to do some for a friend since she always has cold feet! I was going to use one of the patterns in the database, but decided to have a go at making my own pattern so that I could sell them to other people in the yoga group if they wanted them :o)



Ok - here's a pic of the finished objects. That's a shock in itself - that I've actually finished a whole pair of socks!

I've written up the pattern properly as well and I'll get it on my site as a pdf for free download, but I'll put it on here too. If anyone wants to use is, feel free - but I would appreciate any comments about how the pattern is written and how they come out if a different yarn is used.


I used TOFUtsies 'Hot Foot It' and I think I could get at least 2 pairs out of one ball.
I used a set of 5 dpns - size 2.75mm


So - here's the pattern:


Cast on 60 sts, split between 4 needles (15 each) and join.
The stitches on N1 and N4 hold the stitches for the back of the leg.
N2 and N3 hold the stitches for the front of the leg.

Rounds 1-16. Work in K2, P2 rib
Rounds 17-32. Work in stocking stitch
Rounds 33-46. Work in K2, P2 rib as set in the cuff

Divide for heel
Round 47. Work in rib as set for stitches on N1, 2 and 3 and 2 stitches on N4 (47sts in total), then cast off 26sts, rib to end as set. (34 sts remaining)
Rows 48 and 49. Work straight rows in rib as set

Instep
Cast on 26 stitches and join (60sts)
Rounds 1-12. Work in K2, P2 rib as set
Rounds 13-24. Work in stocking stitch
Rounds 25-36. Work in K2, P2 rib as set
Cast off in rib


I hope all that is clear. :o)

I've got a couple of bag designs which I've not written up yet. I'll get those on here as well at some point.

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by Lottie. I've not done this before :o)

Rules

The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

1. Ten years ago May 1998 - I was finishing my last year at Uni doing an Occupational Therapy degree and looking into getting a job.

2. Five things on today's "to do" list (in no particular order) - Washing up, cooking tea, entertaining the kids, knitting, tidying up.

3. Snacks I enjoy - Chocolate! Dry cereal straight from the packet.

4. Things I would do if I was a millionaire - Open a yarn shop :o) Own my own house again, talk to the local farmer about extending the garden.

5. Places I have lived - Worcestershire, Nottingham, West Cumbria, Derbyshire, NW Leicestershire

I'm gonna tag:
Iwouldratherbeknitting
Wolfmaiden
Carl
Christine
Knitwithwine

(Knittermum)

May Market - how it went!

I had a good day at the market - this is the first time I've actually been able to sit down and think enough to write this!

I learned alot on the day - knowledge that I will use for future fairs etc.

Firstly, there were several people who visited my stall who asked for cheap acrylic yarn in a variety of colours. I had been thinking about moving towards stocking mostly natural fibres, but I'm now going to have a range of value acrylic yarn as well as the more expensive yarns which yarn addicts like to fondle! The Fyberspates yarn I had on my stall was very much admired, but no sales unfortunately :o(

Also, I decided to have a range of knitted items for sale on a future stall which would appeal to non-knitters and maybe tempt some of them into starting to knit :o)

I've started making some little bags and a dolls blanket. I've also got plans to make some hairbands and bracelets as well. These are my first designs! They are fairly simple and easy to make and I am planning to make up some kits for later fairs. Once the patterns are written up and the items finished and photographed, I will have them available as free downloads on my site.

I'll get some photos on here as soon as I have some.

I will be at a couple of school fairs in June, so most of my designs at the moment are aimed at primary school age children, but I will look into adapting the designs or making new ones to appeal more to adults.

Castle Donington Medieval May Market

I'm going to be having a stall at the May Market at Castle Donington on 5th May. I'm really looking forward to it - hopefully I'll make enough sales to cover my costs, but the main aim of the day is to market my business in the local area.

I've got some business cards and leaflets printed now - it's all feeling very professional now! The market should be fun - I'm making a medieval dress and a rustic shawl for the sale and I'm going to be making the stall look medievally.
I'll post pictures next week :o)

The TOFUtsies have been selling well on my site - although I made a bit of a mis-calculation of the costs, so I've lost money in the first few sales! Oh well - teething problems - and I'm glad I've got it sorted now! And I'll probably be ordering some more very soon. The fact that they take 2 weeks to arrive is annoying - but just means that I have to plan ahead a bit.

I finished a project!

I finally finished my Mum's jacket - a pattern from Simply Knitting. To be fair - I finished it before Christmas, but it was a bit too tight, so I unpicked the seams and re-knitted the body sections. The knitting went fast, but then I left it for ages because I was putting off doing the sewing!

I've got 4 more projects to finish now before I'm going to let myself start any other big project - although I might let myself have a play with the SWTC Terra and make myself a hairband - partly because my hair is driving me bonkers!

My Sudoku blanket is coming on well now - I've even started the sewing! :oO I'll get a photo of my progress up here at some point. I've got a big incentive to keep doing that one, because it is for my son and he gives me a sad face if he sees me working on anything else!

Update on business

So much for me doing a few posts over a few days! Where does the time go?

I met with a rep from Coates Crafts today to talk about stocking some yarn from Patons. There are some really nice yarns in that range at reasonable prices! He's going to send me some style sheets of the yarns I am interested in, so I'll be ordering some from them at some point.

I've booked a stall at the Castle Donington Medieval May Market as well now - on May Day. I'm really looking forward to that as I'll get myself known more in the local area. Hopefully I'll make some sales, but even if I don't, it's a chance to be seen.
I heard about a craft fair in the local area today, so I should be going to that too! It's not till August but it gives me a chance to get some display garments made and maybe to sort out some of my designs!

I've got business cards off to be printed now, and leaflets and posters nearly ready to distribute, so it's all coming together!

Busy life!

I've not managed to do any posts for the last few days so I'm going to have to do a few posts over the next couple of days!

Nothing ever happened about that order - not that I expected it too! I just don't see the point in doing something like that - but hey ho!

I've put in another order from SWTC, so I'll have some new yarns on the site soon - and more for me to be tempted with!!! The Terra yarn that I ordered from them last time has inspired me though. I've been having loads of ideas about jumpers/tops to make with it - I just need the time to try and make them real now!

There are a couple of books on Amazon that I like the look of - both on knitting (surprise surprise!) and I've decided to use them as an incentive to get some projects finished. I've got 5 projects on the go - some of which have been sitting waiting to be sewn for tooooo long. The plan is - when I've finished these projects I will buy myself the books - hopefully that will keep me on track! I got tempted by some sock yarn today, but I must resist!!!! :o)

Don't know what to think :o/

I had a sale last night on the website by cheque/money order, but the person hadn't used the discount coupon. I know that if it was me, I would have been kicking myself but wouldn't want to contact the company or cancel my order (to re-order) because I would have felt that it was my fault.

So - I emailed the person to find out whether they knew about the discount and that if they wanted to take advantage of it, to send a check for the lower amount. I wouldn't send any yarn out until I had cleared funds - which is said on the website - and I repeated this in the email. However - the mail bounced back. We wondered whether it had just been entered wrongly so I phoned this morning - number not recognised.

So now I don't know what to think. I won't be sending the yarn out until I have money in the bank, but it feels very strange that someone would do this. And there is still the possibility that it is still a legitimate order but the person didn't want to be contacted. I don't know - just have to wait and see :o/

Had 1st Sale!!

I had my first sale on the website last night and sent the parcel this morning! It's really nice to get started. Hopefully, this will help other people have confidence in me, so I will get some more customers (fingers crossed!)

My brother wants some yarn from me and I've spoken to other people who are interested, so here's hoping that this is the start of it.

I've been thinking about visiting Donington Sunday market next weekend to find out how much it would be to have a stall there. It would be good to get more local people knowing about me - especially since there are not many yarn shops around here now.

I really want to get some more stock, but until I make some more sales I don't really want to put any more money into stock. It's difficult - the site would look better if I had more of a range, but at the same time, I don't want to take too much of a risk!

New blog created for Create and Knit news

I'm going to start using the Create and Knit News blog for updating the website, so this one can be more about me and my projects, although I'll keep updating this one with general progress on the business etc.

I've looked at other people's blogs from ravelry recently, and it has been interesting seeing what other people do with their blogs.

I've just got a new digital camera and once I have worked out how to put pictures on the computer, I will start posting relevant photos too. Make it look at bit more interesting!

I've got all the yarn that I've ordered now and I've had a lot of traffic to the website - no sales yet though - but it is really encouraging having people visiting!

Site is live!

We're still waiting for a couple of boxes of yarn from America, but they should be here in the next couple of days.

We've moved the shop to the front now so now I need some customers! :o)
There's still a few things to do on it - a few pictures to upload and some tweaking to make it look more attractive. Still - it's live!