Here's what I've been doing lately when I'm not either knitting, working, or parenting. Making stuff to put on Etsy!
I have an
Etsy shop to sell bags and knitting accessories, and other items, mostly from felted wool. So far I don't have much in the shop, but I'm working on it. I have quite a few old wool sweaters, which were given to me by a friend that works at a consignment store. Their consigners agree to have the store donate anything they cannot sell, and since most of these sweaters were improperly washed and really aren't wearable as is, they get donated straight to me! During last year's fall/winter consignment season, she gave me so many sweaters I was guessing they would last me well past the summer. Plus I had already picked up a few sweaters at secondhand stores, myself. Yup, I have a ton of materials on hand!
I've also been on the lookout for fabrics to coordinate with the sweaters, to use as linings and trims. Lots of these have come from old garments of ours that I was getting rid of. I also have my Grandma's old zipper box (she salvaged them from garments), and lots of buttons that recently came from my hubby's Grandma's estate. With the wool coming to me mostly free, and most of the linings and trims being recycled as well, the overhead costs of my items will be really low.
I think the biggest reason I haven't filled the store with lots of items yet is that I'm designing these all myself, and each one is a unique work of art. No mass-production here, although I think that as I have made more, I'll get more efficient. I'm planning on carrying a few basic styles (knitting needle cases and notions bags, to name a couple), and vary them with whatever the sweaters and trims show me they want to be. For instance, I was planning on making a zippered bag with one sweater recently, but when I looked at a sleeve, the sleeve cap looked like a perfect fold-over flap. So that bag bacame a button flap bag, and I love it! It is really cute, and much better than what I was trying to force it to be when I was holding various zippers up to it.
I have also had this great idea for a knitting accessory that I'm not really seeing out there much, although it will be an extremely useful addition to my knitting bag. I had made 2 prototypes so far, and think I'm really on the right track. The first one wasn't quite usable, but I've learned from my mistakes, and the second try was pretty good! Not quite ready to sell, though. I have a couple of little details to iron out, and hopefully soon I will have it ready to sell!
That's where you all will come in. Since this is not just a variation on a common accessory, I want to give it a memorable, catchy name. As soon as I'm ready to unveil my design I plan to hold a contest, and let my readers help me come up with ideas. I'll provide a prize (TBA), probably selected at random from all the entries, and if I decide to use a submitted name, that person will receive a prize, too. Who knows, you might just receive one of my secret items!
Sockapalooza Update
Well, the first Mermaid Sock wasn't exactly cooperating, and was a real up and down battle. I've lost track of how many times I knit the heel, but this last attempt is finally a keeper!
I am currently an inch or so from starting the toe shaping. Whew! I hope to finish it tonight or tomorrow, then move on to #2. That should go much more smoothly, I think, since all the detail decisions have already been made. I was starting to think I had NO chance of sending these out on time, but things are finally looking up. Pictures as soon as I get the first one completed!
