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It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!

1000 replies

QuantumWeatherButterfly · 01/01/2023 19:56

Time for a new thread for all the lovely yarn crafters!

Old thread here: http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/artsandcrafts/4557189-its-crochet-knit-natter-9-so-many-projects-so-little-time-oh-well-i-almost-made-it-rhymee_

OP posts:
Thread gallery
274
Ladywithacat · 23/01/2023 18:51

I am very annoyed. Today I have received pattern update which means there was mistake made in the yoke that now resulted me in having to rip all the progress i made from saturday as my stitch count is not adding up 😭😭

VittysCardigan · 23/01/2023 20:32

@aplo That mouse is adorable! It reminds me of the Clangers. Which I mean as a compliment,I love The Clangers.

VittysCardigan · 23/01/2023 21:47

Bugger

It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
QuantumWeatherButterfly · 24/01/2023 10:03

Don't show me pretty shawl pins, @SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound - this makes me want to make a shawl, and my queue is long enough as it is!

My condolences, @VittysCardigan. Can you get more?

I had some weird pain yesterday in my left forearm, so the hand that I hold the yarn with. It seems fine today, and the couple of rows of poncho I did in the evening didn't aggravate it, so hopefully it will be fine.

I would be SO annoyed if I managed to give myself RSI just at the point I feel like I'm actually getting competent!

OP posts:
SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound · 24/01/2023 17:08

Quick everyone, get your popcorn Grin

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4727343-friend-made-me-a-hat-and-trying-to-charge-a-lot-of-money

sophs29 · 24/01/2023 17:12

@SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound I started watching earlier Grin

fidgetcube · 24/01/2023 17:22

No idea what you guys think, but if I was offering to make something, I wouldn’t charge, unless the gift receiver offered to cover materials, even then I’d just say give to charity or keep for yourself.

I am a massive people people pleaser but still. I may be totally wrong here though lol.

sophs29 · 24/01/2023 17:32

@fidgetcube I'm the exact same as you! All my family tell me off because I never charge for my 'work' anything from my sewing, painting or crochet I just do it because I love to people please 😂

SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound · 24/01/2023 17:42

I’ve the maker down as a total chancer! You don’t offer something for cost then try to make a very healthy profit!

fidgetcube · 24/01/2023 17:52

ah thats me relieved lol.

Also totally irrelvent to this conversation but update on the highland cow. I pulled it out and well the yarn broke at least a few times and fluff went EVERYWHERE!!!!!! Yeah...

so i am starting again with different yarn, hopefully it goes well.

Ladywithacat · 24/01/2023 18:27

I must admit I had an experience once when my friend asked to make baby overall for someone and asked how much I would charge. As they were my friends I said just pay for the yarn and a nice bottle of wine will do as a thank you gift which they refused and said that this was not enough for so much work so we agreed we will agree once its made. It then tripled and she asked for two more overalls. Once it was made she paid what she thought was what they were worth and I was happy they liked them.

the next morning I received a call from the husband asking to collect the overalls and to refund all the money because he thought it was too much money 🫣🫣🫣😃

WeCanLiveLikeJackAndSally · 24/01/2023 19:58

@fidgetcube I think for me the difference is offering vs being asked. If I’m offering to make someone something I won’t charge. I would also add if they are taking things when I want them gone (I have a baby blanket upstairs with no home so I wouldn’t charge for that just be happy it’s being used). However, if someone is asking me to do it I would charge. What I would charge would probably depend on how they asked me (assuming I’ll do it automatically adds £50), how arsey the thing they wanted me to make was, how much I like the person and if it turned from a small request to a large one. My payment scale would be somewhere between covering materials and you couldn’t afford me.

fidgetcube · 24/01/2023 20:05

@WeCanLiveLikeJackAndSally yeah I’m similar to you. I’ve been asked and I’m like yeah I could do that, but it’d be 500 odd quid minimum, and then they’re like oh. That was for a full size knitted, blanket made up of squares. Took me like 6months-a year to make my blanket and they wanted one similar lol. 500£ is not even enough for that.

SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound · 24/01/2023 20:30

It’s the bait and switch I object to, offering for one thing then demanding much more.

If you could find someone who agrees to pay £40 upfront for that hat combo, then that’s fair enough but I’d assume they’d have to have more money than sense…

CrochetBug · 24/01/2023 20:42

That thread is fascinating. The seller is definitely in the wrong. But I find it amazing that people can so confidently state that a hat doesn't take hours to make/ only costs a few pounds.

That totally depends on the yarn used and the pattern.
Admittedly I wouldn't use anything other than acrylic for a baby hat, it would use less than 100g for a basic style and I could make one in an hour or so.

But the last adult sized hat I made used more than 100g and took... dunno. A few hours. Probably no more than 5 though. I've previously made one for DS that took closer to 10 hours to make.

And the last 100g ball I bought was £20.

When i take a custom order I price up the materials and then discuss a price from there with the customer. I usually charge 2-3x cost.

QuantumWeatherButterfly · 25/01/2023 10:40

That thread makes me want to not actually get any better at crochet, or people might start asking for stuff! Although I don't think anyone's ever asked my mum to make anything for them (other than me, and I'm allowedSmile) so perhaps it isn't a given!

Can anyone recommend any good yarn craft focused exhibitions? I'm sure I went to one for knitting with my mum ages ago and I enjoyed it even though I was totally clueless. I would love it now! I've just seen a Facebook ad for one, but it was a general craft one and seemed more sewing-based. Google showed a few options but I was hoping someone might be able to recommend one. We're in the south, but we'd travel a bit for a good one.

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SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound · 25/01/2023 13:48

I‘ve never been to one outside Ireland but I’ve heard of them, Unravel is very soon @QuantumWeatherButterfly farnhammaltings.com/artists-and-makers/craft/festivals/unravel

The ones I really want to go are Wonderwool in Wales and the Shetland Wool festival but by the time I pay for transport and accommodation that would pretty much blow the yarn budget for the next few years Grin

There’s a big one in Dublin I’ve been too which is great and a brilliant but smaller local one which hasn’t run since Covid.

Fairislefandango · 25/01/2023 16:10

The seller is definitely in the wrong. But I find it amazing that people can so confidently state that a hat doesn't take hours to make/ only costs a few pounds.

My thoughts exactly, @CrochetBug !

I actually love being asked to make stuff, @QuantumWeatherButterfly ! But not for money - I only make things for relatives. I'm really excited that dd wants me to make a jumper for her. She already has one I made years ago which never fitted me. She says she gets lots of compliments about it and likes being able to tell them her mum made it Smile She doesn't normally get on with jumpers - she's a jacket person and is fussy about necklines, texture etc.

GlowWine · 25/01/2023 20:15

Hello everyone, yes I'm still here, busy week, the first sock is two thirds done, and my hanks (?) of reclaimed wool are still drying. The smoothing/relaxing effect of soaking and hanging the tightly "permed" wool is amazing. My lacy scarf is also finished and remarkably warm, it's just long enough to wrap round my neck twice, I'm so pleased I managed to rescue that wool.

@alpo I love your resolution to finish Wips, mine had morphed to UFOs. I also started dealing with mine, inspired by my daughter who taught herself and turned into an avid knitter last year. I finished the black wrapover cardigan for myself that had been sitting there for years with just the collar missing. And a pair of socks that had a few rows added every now and then over a few years. Those are now done and worn all the time. Unfortunately the other cardigan I knitted for my daughter(s) is now too small even for the younger one - I'll admit it's 10 years since I started it! It was/is only missing the collar and making up! Ah well, there's another unpicking job… I think you can see my achilles heel here: I hate making up. Which is why I'm not so keen on making small fiddly things, and always admire them.

I've not read the other thread but luckily nobody has ever asked me to make anything. I mostly only knit at home, sweaters and the like take months even years to complete so I don't think anyone would ever ask, and I certainly would not offer. That's before the question of payment. What I have done though is shared patterns, but that's a different thing.

It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
aplo · 25/01/2023 21:30

I’ve just read that other thread and had to stop! I only knit / crochet for people I choose to make for and who value what I make for them. Some mistakes along the way with the odd piece ending up in a charity shop pile but I have enough who appreciate it and lots on a wish list for myself too.
@GlowWine some of my Wips are more than 5 years old and I frogged a few too when I went through them all. My niece was born four years ago and I gave her two cardigans that had been Wips for my eldest (who is 25) and I only finished them when my SIL was pregnant!
@SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound I’m in Ireland too and was at that fabulous pre pandemic yarn festival in Dublin and also at others pre pandemic in the west of Ireland (an very small residential one) and others both very north and very south.

@VittysCardigan i take the clangers as a huge compliment. I finished this last night and even ended up making a smaller mouse by using a smaller hook and different yarn. It’s for my niece for her birthday (she will be 4) but my 18 year old daughter wants one now too!

It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
It's Crochet, Knit & Natter 10: New Year, New Yarn, New Thread!
aplo · 25/01/2023 21:31

@GlowWine that scarf is just gorgeous!

GlowWine · 25/01/2023 21:46

@aplo I just logged on to say the same about your mice! So cute and detailed., I hope your recipient appreciates them too.

SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound · 26/01/2023 00:13

@aplo hey 👋 I was at that one too Smile It was so good to get there before Covid. I’m in Belfast, so Yarnfolk at Whitehead was close to me and I’m hoping it comes back again. John Arbon came to it and Riverknits, I was in yarny heaven. It’s brilliant seeing everything in person instead of on the internet!

Your mice are so adorable, I love the suitcase Smile

@GlowWine wow! That’s beautiful!

sophs29 · 26/01/2023 08:40

@GlowWine absolutely stunning! 😍 I bet you're impressed also with your daughter teaching herself to knit!

@aplo wow, that's very cute! She will love it!

GlowWine · 27/01/2023 15:06

@sophs29 Absolutely proud of her, especially as my attempt to teach her didn't go that well ;-) but her picking up a book worked a dream. She's even made fingered gloves now (with a detachable thumb for texting) - something I would never attempt, I have only made mittens for the kids when they were small, and lots of fingerless gloves.

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