Friday, January 27, 2012

Impossible jigsaw?

I usually have a jigsaw on the go, to fill those idle moments (idle moments, what idle moments???).
I do like a difficult one, that takes weeks to finish, and I think this is one of the most challenging ones I have done.

It is the 'Impossible' sunflowers design, and has taken me since Christmas to complete.  So now I shall leave it to be admired for a few days, then break it up and on to the next one!

Friday, January 20, 2012

Free miniature knitting pattern for tiny teddy cardigan

This pattern was published in the Knitting Pattern a Day Calendar 2012.  It is also available from the website www.bitstobuy.co.uk as a kit with soft cotton tweed yarn and buttons as shown.


Cardigan for tiny teddy                                                               © Helen Cox 2010
Suitable for a 4 ½ to 5 inch tall teddy
Materials
Yarn:  100m of lace weight (2 ply)
Needles:  US size 0 (2mm)
5 small buttons 
 
Gauge
Not significant at this scale; any variation in size is not noticeable.
 
Finished measurements
The outfit is shown on a teddy of about 4½ inches (12cm) tall when standing, with a chest size of about 4 inches (11cm).  As the garment is quite stretchy, the measurements are flexible and the cardigan will fit teddies smaller or larger than this. 
 
Abbreviations
st = stitch;  sts = stitches;  k = knit;   p = purl;  st st =  stocking stitch (one row k, one row p);  k2tog = knit 2 sts together;  p2tog = purl 2 sts together; sl1 = slip next st;  psso = pass slipped st over last st worked;  yo = bring yarn forward between needles then across right hand needle to make a stitch;  [ ] = repeat instructions in brackets; inc = work twice into the next st.

Directions
Work the five basic cardigan pieces first, then continue by working across all five pieces. 
 

Make the pieces in the following order:

Left front:

Cast on 18 sts.  Work in k1, p1 rib for 4 rows.

Ss 10 rows.   Break yarn and leave sts on needle.

 

First Sleeve:

Cast 24 sts onto the needle holding the left front.  Work in k1, p1 rib for 4 rows.

Ss 10 rows.   Break yarn and leave sts on needle.


Back:

Cast 36 sts onto the needle holding the left front and first sleeve.  Work in k1, p1 rib for 4 rows. 

Ss 10 rows.   Break yarn and leave sts on needle.


Second Sleeve:

As First Sleeve.

 

Right front:

Cast 18 sts onto the needle holding the left front, first sleeve, back and   second sleeve.  Work in k1, p1 rib for 4 rows.

Ss 10 rows.  Do not break yarn.

 

The five main pieces will now be on the same needle, with the right sides facing (120 sts).  Continue with yoke, working across all five pieces.

 

Yoke:

Row 1:  k16, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k20, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k32, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k20, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k16 (112 sts)

Row 2:  p

Row 3:  k15, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k18, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k30, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k18, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k15 (104 sts)

Row 4:  p

Row 5:  k14, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k16, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k28, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k16, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k14 (96 sts)

Row 6:  p

Row 7:  k13, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k14, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k26, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k14, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k13  (88 sts)

Row 8:  p

Row 9:  k12, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k12, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k24, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k12, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k12 (80 sts)

Row 10:  p

Row 11:  k11, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k10, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k22, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k10, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k11 (72 sts)

Row 12:  p

Row 13:  k10, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k8, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k20, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k8, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k10 (64 sts)

Row 14:  p9, p2tog, p2tog, p6, p2tog, p2tog, p18, p2tog, p2tog, p6, p2tog, p2tog, p9 (56 sts)

Row 15:  k8, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k4, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k16, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k4, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k8 (48 sts)

Work 2 rows in k1, p1 rib.   

Bind off loosely in rib.

 
To make up: 
Put right sides together and join the side and sleeve seams.  Run in the ends and turn right sides out.  Press gently with a cool iron, avoiding rib.
 
Make the front bands as follows:
With right side facing pick up and k25 sts evenly along one side of the front (this side will have the buttons, choose whether you want a man’s or lady’s side of fastening).  Work in k1, p1 rib for 3 rows.  Cast off loosely in rib.
With right side facing pick up and k25 sts evenly along the second side of the front.  To make the buttonholes continue as follows:
Row 1:  k1, [k1, p1] to last 2 sts, k2
Row 2:  p2, [yarn round needle, p2tog, k1, p1, k1, yo, k2tog, p1, k1, p1] twice, yarn round needle, p2tog, p1
Row 3:  k1, [k1, p1] to last 2 sts, k2
Bind off loosely in rib.  Sew the buttons to the button band to match the buttonholes.
See my website for all colours of 2ply yarn, also 2mm needles and lots more patterns and kits.

Sunday, January 08, 2012

Is it worth listing low value craft items on Ebay? What do you think?



I have a tiny miniature knitting business selling yarn, patterns etc.  I love knitting, especially the tiny jumpers in 1:12 scale for the dolls house, as it is very satisfying producing something so tiny and neat.  It gives me something to do in the evening in front of the TV.   I sell my little sweaters on Ebay and they go quite well, and I have built up a loyal customer base.  I have tried selling on Folksy and Etsy but it doesn't seem to work for me, Ebay is the way to go.  Incidently, selling has been harder this year, and I think the prices they go for are lower than a year or so ago, but that is a different story.
I have been reading the Ebay discussion boards lately, and it seems that Ebay is pushing sellers towards offering free P&P.  OK I thought, that seems a reasonable idea for buyers and with the start of a new year perhaps I should give it a try, but I decided to sit down and do something I haven't really done before, which is completely cost out the item and profit.
First decision is whether to go for auction or buy-it-now.  Customers probably prefer the latter as they don't have to wait to buy. 
At buy-it-now my price is £4.99, as this seems to be what the market will bear.  So listing fees (for one item) are 40p + 30p US visibility (a lot of my customers are in the US), final value fee 49p, and Paypal commission 38p.  A (large size) stamp is 75p, and the envelope and plastic bag come to about 3p.  Materials are not a lot, say 10p (unless it is a cardigan, as buttons cost me 9p each, so that is an extra 45p, but leave that aside for the moment).  I print most of my postage at home and put items in the post box, but have not included printer ink, cost of sticky labels, shoe leather etc.  So my expenses are £2.72, and my profit is £2.27.  Each sweater takes me about one and a half to two hours to make, so you can work out the hourly rate yourself. 
If I list more than one buy-it-now item the same, the costs go down slightly (if they sell!) as the listing fee is the same, and there are other factors which are impossible to work out, such as Ebay giving higher listing priorities to buy-it-nows which are selling more than one item.  I don't get any free listings as I am registered as a business.
So what about listing as an auction?  I start at £2.99, and sometimes they only go for this amount, although anything higher is a bonus of course.  So at this price listing fees are 15p, final value fee 29p, and Paypal commission 30p.  Stamp is 75p, envelope and plastic bag 3p, materials 10p.  Total costs £1.62, profit £1.37.
I must be mad.
Postage rates will go up in April, so these profits will fall.
Can I really absorb postage costs, or do I carry on doing what everyone else does and try to pull back some fees?  At the moment I charge actual postage plus packing materials, plus 50p 'handling charge'.  But then I risk poor star ratings from customers who expect actual postage only, and too many poor star ratings and Ebay firstly put your listing at the bottom, then stop you selling.
If I increase the item cost I probably won't sell anything.
I really don't know what the answer is.
I carry on because I love doing the knitting, and I keep saying I am not in it for the money, it is just a hobby.  But I am well aware that some crafters do not like this attitude, and by devaluing my own work and undercutting prices I am devaluing everyone elses work too.
What do you think?

www.bitstobuy.co.uk

Friday, January 06, 2012

FREE GIFT dolls house 1:12 scale miniature knitted hat and scarf in Jan!


FREE GIFT
With all orders from the webpage in January I will be sending a free gift of a ready knitted hat and scarf set in 12th (1:12) scale, suitable for a small doll in the dolls house.
Design will vary.  Offer ends January 31st 2012.

www.bitstobuy.co.uk for your miniature knitting supplies - needles, patterns, kits, yarn and tiny haberdashery, also ready knitted garments.
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