Featured Etsy Blogger

This month's featured blogger is: Donna Pool. Her shop is filled with great photographs, vintage stuff, and custom buttons. The blue bunny is one of my favorites from her shop, but I also like this photo:

Check out her blog, Donna Says, here.

She's written several posts lately about the CPSIA. Recalls of toys and products for children because of dangerous lead content has resulted in the CPSIA, a law that could wipe out handmade toy makers like Donna.

Creating and Selling a Craft Pattern

Ok, the Etsy Blog Carnival topics this week include writing about a tutorial or directions, a "how to".

I thought about finally putting the diaper bag tutorial together that I promised I would do last summer, but I just couldn't get motivated to do that. However, I've been thinking a lot lately about the success of my knitting pattern. I've made 226 sales so far, including 167 on Etsy. So, I decided I would write a little how to of how I did that.

Creating and Selling a craft pattern:

1) Come up with an original design idea and execute it, keeping detailed notes. This is the hard part. I developed my "Cabled Neck Warmer" pattern while on a three week vacation. This allowed me to try knitting several prototypes. As you go, take great photos of the process and the completed item(s).

2) Write a draft of the pattern. At this point I just used Word to type up my pattern. Make the pattern as clear as you can and include photos to illustrate.

3) Find a volunteer or two to test your pattern. I was lucky to have JanKnit volunteer to be a test knitter for me.

4) Make adjustments to the pattern as needed based on feedback you get and/or after making the item again.

5) Convert your completed pattern (Word) to pdf format. I use this website for free conversion but there are others you can find using a Google search. http://www.doc2pdf.net/converter/

6) List your pattern on Etsy and other sites. I have mine listed on Ravelry (knitting site), Artfire, here on my blog, and on my website. One advantage to the Ravelry site is that the purchaser can instantly download their pattern. I did have my pattern listed on Ebay. I sold 10 copies there but decided it wasn't worth the trouble and the fees to relist. It's easy to set up a paypal "buy it now" button on your website or blog if you want to sell from there. Just log in to paypal, go to "Merchant Services" then pick "Buy it Now button" and you will be walked through the steps.

7) Approach local shops to carry your pattern (my local LYS is selling mine and I've taught two knitting classes there using the pattern). Also, have copies for sale at any craft shows you participate in.

8) Once a purchase is made, email the pattern to the buyer. I always offer free help if needed and encourage them to leave me feedback on Etsy.

9) repeat from step 6. I try to keep 3 patterns listed on Etsy at all times. When one sells, I reslist rather than listing a quantity of 3, because I get more exposure for my pattern that way.

10) Start over at step 1 with a new pattern idea. Unfortunately, I haven't done this yet, but hope to this year.

I'm back!

I'm back from vacation. Got a few wonderful photos, like this one of the Santa Rita Mountains, near Green Valley. While vacationing I started and completed my third CPH hoodie sweater, this one is for me, I'm keeping it. I'm not totally happy with how one cuff turned out and I want to put some ribbon on the back of the zipper, so I may be tweaking it a bit, but it is finished. I completed it in about 2 weeks. By the way, I am really squinting in that photo because I was still in the bright Arizona sun this morning.

A couple of days ago, I cast on for a man's zippered vest for J and the pattern (a combination of a type of moss stitch and welts) frustrated me at first, but I think I have the hang of it now.

Thanks, Betz

It's a thrill when someone whose work you admire, finds something you made worth making and commenting on. If you don't know Betz White and her book Warm Fuzzies, you should definitely check out her blog, and her Etsy shop. She also has a new book coming out soon, Sewing Green. I had a surge of pattern sales in the last day and didn't know what to attribute it to until I heard from one of my customers that Betz had featured it on her blog. Don't you love how the neck warmer looks in the lovely Brooks Farm yarn? Thanks, Betz.

Manic Monday, on Tuesday

I've been forgetting to check for the Manic Monday updates since I've been vacationing. So, here it is, one day late:

Manic Monday #153
By Fleur de Lisa
What's the most embarrassing song on your iPod (or music collection)? I do have an IPOD but can't honestly think of an embarrassing song on there. I do have "Don't Worry, Be Happy" maybe some people would be embarrassed by that one, but it makes me smile.

How much time do you spend each day in your commute? (Or if you don't work outside the house, how much time do you spend in your car or other preferred mode of transportation?)I am so luck this way. Two days a week I work at my "close" office which is just a few blocks from my house and other three days of the week, I have to drive two miles or so to my "far away" office.

What's your favorite wardrobe item and why? I have a couple of really nice Pendleton jackets/suits. In fact, I picked up the new one above on a recent thrift store strip, what a find. After finding the jacket, I found the pants on a subsequent trip (they aren't Pendleton, but are a wonderful fine wool too). Two things I really like, the jacket is part of the "Weaving for Life" collection from 2006 and the jacket cost me $4 and the matching pants $1. Having bought a few Pendleton items retail I can really get excited about the deal I got!

Just Off My Needles!

Just to prove I have been somewhat productive on my vacation, here is the Central Park Hoodie sweater I knit for myself. It's my 3rd CPH and I really like the pattern. this time I added an applied I-cord edging and plan to insert a separating zipper (once I find the right size and color, I may have to order one from Zipper Stop but I plan to check locally first). I also shortened the sleeves from the pattern instructions and increased the sleeves every 6 rows (rather than 8) to give a bit more ease. I knitted it in Patton's wool, in an "oatmeal" color. I can only think of one thing I did which I didn't like which was that I didn't take care to begin and end the ribbing on the front the same way. One side has Knit stitches at the end, the other side has purls, however that's something most people won't notice and I'm not about to frog the 300+ stitches on the ribbing just to make it perfect.

Speaking of perfect, the weather in So. Arizona is nearly perfect too. 40's in the mornings and 70's in the afternoons. I really don't want to go back to winter in Idaho, though I will be able to wear my sweater there.