Ten Tips For Craft Shows **Updated**

I'm sure some of you, like me, want to do more craft shows in the future therefore I have been evaluating past ones I have done, along with researching, to come up with ten tips (for now) related to craft shows.

Ten tips, in no particular order, are:

• Ask a friend or family member to be with you the whole time of the show. There is nothing worse than needing a bathroom break and having no one to cover your booth. In those situations I had to ask a person in the booth next to me to please watch my booth. It felt very unprofessional. If need be ask more than one friend to help for a couple hours each.

• Make sure to find out what will be provided to you with the fee you pay to set up. Does the fee include one or two tables, chairs, electricity and so forth? You may need to have your own table and chairs so make sure you know this well in advance. 

• Don't forget about business cards, flyers, postcards or other hand-outs you can give out. Just because a person doesn't buy at a craft show doesn't mean they won't later on. Vistaprint sometimes offers 250 free business card (plus shipping & handling) and more on their site. Promotions change so check out often. You can even make your own on your computer. Make sure the information is up-to-date, don't just cross out information, like a phone number, and write new if some aspect has changed. You want to be as professional as possible. 

• Try to keep your displays "stocked". This will make it appear that you have a nice selection of items to sell. Rearrange items or remove some displays if your stock is getting low. In relation to that, have an inventory list if possible so you can remember later what sold and for how much. Perhaps even have a photo album of sorts showcasing your work so you would be able to take orders if certain items sell quickly. 

• Make a checklist of what you need to bring that day, as detailed as possible. It may sound overboard to write down you need to bring pens or drinks but think of how it would be if you forgot them. Think "outside the box" as well. If you are doing an outside craft show, don't forget about sunscreen or bug spray even. Little items matter and will hopefully make it go smoother. Don't forget bags for customers to put there purchases in if possible, simple grocery bags will work. 

• Think vertical and horizontal in terms of display. Sometimes going vertical will attract more visitors to your booth because they can see your items better than when they are just on a table. Take a photo of your display at the beginning of the event for future reference. Also, once everyone is set up at the event, take a step back (provided you have a helper) a few feet or so just to see how it compares to others or if you want to tweak it. Walk around and see how others are displaying items as well. 

• Wiggle room on prices. Give yourself "wiggle" room on your pricing to allow you to still make a profit taking less for your items if someone wants to negotiate. Perhaps even have a "Prices Are Negotiable" sign to encourage them to talk to you. Also, have price tags on all items.  

• You are not selling used cars. Think of how you would want someone to sell you something. You don't want to feel pressured, right? You want to feel relaxed in your purchases. So be friendly, have a little bit of sense of humor, basically put your customer at ease. If you are a quiet person, this is where having a  more charismatic friend with you might help.  Not a loud person but a more "approachable" person. 

• Time Management. I tend to be early for events because I want to give myself enough time to set up and relax before the event opens to the public. Find out the earliest you can arrive to set up, some allow you time the night before. Try not to break down early even if the event is slowing down. You never know if the last person to come to the event could be your biggest sale. 

• Have fun! This is the most important. As long as I am enjoying the event I'm happy. Selling items is great but think beyond that. You may not sell a lot that day but did you interact with a bunch of people? Success is not just measured in sales at a craft show. 

But wait there's more! 

• Keep a bin handy to fill up with your items throughout the year. This way if a craft show decides to happen on short notice (like in two weeks) you are prepared and able to sign up. 

• Keep track of your "best sellers" to know what people in your area are more likely to buy. "Best sellers" doesn't have to be defined by what actually sells but what is getting attention online or at previous craft shows. Money is tight so you might see items receive a lot of interest but a person may not be able to purchase at that time. 

• If you are serious about being at many craft shows as you can, create a Facebook page or group to let your family and friends know where you will be and they can help spread the word!

• Don't forget to wear one of your items, if possible, to show you wear what you create as well. The knitted item it could be a simple skinny scarf which can be worn in both warm and cold weather depending on the yarn you use. Make sure whatever you are wearing you have some to sell. 

• Don't forget a mirror, big or small, so the customer can see what they look like in the item and not just take their friends, or your word, for how great they look! 

If you have any tips, please comment below. 

Lockhart Trove

One of my favorite looming tool is having a "mug hugger" from Lockhart Trove to store my picks, pens and more beside me while I knit. You can use any mug you have around the house and simply put the mug hugger around it.. Lockhart Trove even gave one of these away during one of my giveaways.

I have mentioned her in the past, as some of you may know, but that's because I love the product! Supporting other crafters is something I try to do so if you get a moment head over to her Facebook page and give her an official "LIKE". 

You can also check out her Etsy site by clicking here. There are a lot of great products to choose from and that would make wonderful gifts for family or friends. The mug huggers are great for teachers as well. 

Top Ten Signs...

Working on my Christmas Wreaths

Remember the Christmas wreaths I made?

Now the hard part, how to decorate them. (These will become Christmas gifts for next year at this point.)

Do I want to use beads?
Small pom-poms?
Find mini ornaments?

Ugh.

The creative process has so many choices at times. I might end up doing a few with beads, pom-poms and ornaments at this rate and compare. Thoughts?

If you did not see the video about how I made this, click here.

Ask Questions

Never be scared to ask a question. Chances are if you have the question so does someone else. I try my best to answer looming questions whether with details or having to say "I don't know." If I can I research for someone I do, sometimes I'm successful, sometimes not.

Keep searching for the answer though. Just because one person does not know does not mean the answer does not exist. Please don't ever feel like you are "bothering" me when asking a question either. If someone takes on the role of a teacher, than questions will be asked.

Do not make someone feel "stupid" for asking what you feel is a "simple" question, that really bothers me. By doing that, you are hindering the learning process because now that person will hesitate to ask again.

My Doctor Who Inspired Scarf (Rough Pattern)

Remember this scarf I did in October? I finally decided to give you a general idea of a pattern.

Cast on 16 stitches using the All In One Loom as a rake like below. Click here for related video.

Once your cast on is done, here is a rough idea of how I did it. I used a weight of 3 or 4 yarn. I would recommend the same weighted yarn throughout the scarf. My brown was a lighter weight than the other colors. You will be changing colors of course, click here for video related to this when using the Figure 8 Stitch. 

I used the colors Brown, Spring Green, Yellow and Coral  and the Figure 8 stitch throughout as follows:

**I didn't keep track of rows so I measured how much each section roughly was on the scarf.**

• 2 inches Brown
• 9 inches Spring Green
• 7 inches Brown
• 6.5 inches Yellow
• 4.5 Brown
• 2 inches Coral
• 2 inches Brown
• 6 inches Spring Green
• 2 inches Brown
• 2.5 inches Yellow
• 3 inches Brown
• 6.5 inches Coral
• 4 inches Brown
• 2.5 inches Spring Green
• 6 inches Brown
• 4.5 inches Yellow
• 5.5 inches Brown
• 3 inches Coral
• 5 inches Brown
• 1.5 inches Spring Green
• 5.5 inches Brown

Cast off, for help go to about the 9 minute mark on the first video above. 

It will come out to about 85.5 inches give or take and is easy to adjust for different lengths. The amount of stitches you cast on may be different on another loom. Like I mentioned, this was done on the All In One Loom. 

Progress Of My 1st Crochet Blanket

As some of you know I've been working on my first crochet blanket. I was suprised that I have been enjoying the process. I'm far from done and far from "perfect" in my technique but wanted to give it a try. Needle knitting, I know won't be for me, but crocheting might. I call this blanket "The Wave", as least for now, because of how the edge is on it. But, it's fun and different. I love seeing how far I've come with each picture.






The last picture is from yesterday when I added another color. For the new and the row before I did what's called a "Basic Treble Stitch", at least according to the video I watched on Youtube. Before those rows I did a double crochet and some basic single crochet. I'm going to be continuing the Basic Treble for a few more rows at least then take a photo to show the blanket size at that point and share it of course. I have no clue how long it will take to make it the size I want which is to snuggle with while watching TV or how much yarn it will take to finish it. I wanted to share because while I'm considered a "teacher", I'm a student too just like you. Plus I know some of you were interested to see how it was coming along.

Have a great day!

Don't Rush...

Don't rush.
Don't compare your progress to others.
We all learn at different paces; we all make mistakes. Allow mistakes to be a learning tool, not a moment to criticize yourself. I have been looming for almost 3 years (started in 2011) and I am still learning. There are loomers more advanced than me but that's okay. I am learning and going at my pace, not theirs.

I enjoy just picking up a loom, no pattern on hand, and seeing what happens. It's one of the few "unknown" aspects in life I welcome. As I learn, I teach. As I teach, I learn. It is a cycle.

Simple Woman's Fingerless Gloves Pattern

Using the same sock loom as in the recent man's fingerless gloves I created another simple pattern for a woman.

Yarn used was Red Heart Comfort ("black) weight 4. Click here more details

*Remember may need to be adjusted to fit a smaller or bigger wrist.*

1. Cast on 42 pegs in a round using the e-wrap cast on.

2. P2tog = 1 row

3. Purl = 1 row

4. P2tog = 1 row

5. Purl = 1 row

6. Knit = 10 rows (using e-wrapping)

7. Now create thumb hole by moving loops off of one peg and moving over(and knitting over), then off another peg and moving over (and knitting over)  to create 2 empty pegs like picture. I used inside pegs. 

8. Work in a "U" knitting for 14 rows (e-wrapping method)

9. Knit = 5 rows CLOSING OFF the thumb hole as you go around. 

10. Figure 8 stitch = 15 rows

11. Crochet Cast Off with 2 chains in between. 

Helpful Videos:

*For how to do P2tog click here.

* For Figure 8 stitch click here

* For Crochet Cast Off click here

Thank You

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I just wanted to take a moment to say "Thank you" to all of you. When I began looming in 2011 I never expected to to go far. Now, it is more than I imagined because of the support of all my Facebook "Fans" and Youtube subscribers. You understand when life happens and delays video making. You encourage me to continue. I have gained friendships through looming I never thought possible.

So, tomorrow I will give "Thanks" for the many wonderful aspects of my life and ignore the "hard parts", at least for a few hours. If you do not have family to celebrate with then put on one of my videos and let me be your family for the day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Flashback: Simple Adult Blanket

Flashback 2011

This was on our queen size bed, not queen size though.

I made this blanket for my mother-in-law in 2011 and she loves it when she sitting in her recliner. It was very simple to do. I used an "S" loom (DA Infinity II loom you have seen in my videos but isn't made anymore). I just did the whole blanket in the e-wrap knit stitch minus the garter stitch at the beginning and end.

I used Bernat Baby Blanket Yarn (3.5 oz skeins of Peachy & White) the following way:

Need: S Loom *May end up a little different than showed due to differences in S looms. 

         (4 ) white 3.5 oz skeins

         (7) peachy 3.5 oz skeins

1. white

2. peachy

3. white

4, peachy

5. peachy

6. peachy

7. peachy

8. peachy

9. white

10. peachy

11. white

Each skein was used fully (as long as I could finish a row). It was easy, once one was done, move onto the next. You can still do the garter stitch to help with curling at the begining and end or easily modify this by doing either knitting or purling for each skein.

*This was around 5ft wide, as for length I don't remember but it is on a queen size bed in the picture. 

Freezer Pop Cozie

Freezer Pop Cozie

Very simple, like 5 minutes, project. Using the bigger side of my spool loom and some leftover Bernat Baby Blanket yarn I created this quick pop cozie for my daughter to use. Just wait until after you insert the freezer pop to open it. You will need to wiggle it through since it may catch a little during the process. But still, quick and simple.

I inserted the yarn through the spool loom first so there was at "tail" to gently pull on the other end to help the project come through. Because of the thickness of the yarn and the smaller opening on the other side, having the "tail" worked well. I did the e-wrap knit until I had the length I wanted (a little more than the length of the spool loom) and did the crochet bind off with 2 chains in between.

My daughter loved it! Make sure to use a thick yarn. Yarn used was a weight of 6.

Hooded Scarf Pattern

I have noticed some recent comments on my "Hooded Scarf" video so I thought I would provide the notes I have associated with it.

Click here for video

HOODED SCARF (Used Green Long Loom Knifty Knitter)

1.       5 rows “U” pattern, you are leaving what will be the front of the hoodie part open by NOT wrapping all the pegs.

2.       Then  decrease your way “down” the U

a.       Note: Keep original loops on ALL the pegs wrapped in the beginning but will be creating a pendulum effect.

3.       Then increase your way “up” the U, reversing what you did in step 2.

4.       Once all pegs have been rewrapped and knitted over, decrease what will be the “back of the hood” 4 pegs. You will be moving the peg that is in the middle of the U formation over to one of the pegs next to it and knit over, then continue on.

5.       Decrease front of hood by 1 peg.

6.       Wrap whole loom again once.

7.       Decrease the back of the hood 4 pegs again.

8.       Now you will be working on the scarf area. You will be working on one side at a time and then will do this on the other side. KEEP THE ENTIRE PROJECT STILL ON THE LOOM! No casting off required until you finish one side.

9.       You will need to determine how wide you want the scarf to be, and decrease as you see fit for the width you want it to be. What I am providing is to be used as a guide. Modify what you see fit.

a.       Scarf Side 1: Knit 20 rows.

b.      Decrease 1 peg in front

c.       Knit 20 rows

d.      Decrease 1 peg in front

e.      Knit 20 rows

f.        Decrease 1 peg in front

g.       Knit 20 rows”

h.      Decrease 2 pegs  in front

i.         Knit to desired length   ?? rows (For me 60 rows)

j.        Crochet Cast off –two “chains” in between.

10.   Repeat on other side by casting on like normal and do step 9.

Basic Fingerless Gloves for Men

Basic Fingerless Gloves for Men

I had made these very simple fingerless gloves for a man using a worsted weight yarn (4) called Red Heart Comfort Yarn (Black)--click here for link to it at Joann's. My husband is "modeling" them. He is a big guy so these should work for most guys but may need to be tweaked for a thinner man.

 I used the sock loom with the metal pegs (since I had projects on my other looms). 

• Use 44 pegs in a round.
• Cast On (I just did an e-wrap cast on)
• Garter Stitch 4 rows (knit a row, purl a row, knit a row, purl a row)
• E-wrap knit 16 rows
• Create thumb hole by moving loops off pegs and moving over like below
•  Knit over when you move the loops over, three pegs should be empty like below

• Work in a "U" for 20 rows
• Now continue doing an e-wrap knitting (wrapping the empty pegs as you go) for 26 rows
• Garter Stitch for 5 rows (knit a row, purl a row, knit a row, purl a row, knit a row)
• Crochet cast off 2 chains in between 
• Done! 

I hope it works for you. 

• Note if you do a flat knit the gloves may become tighter.
• Also if they turn them inside out, the "wrong" side might look cool too.

Getting Help With The Design Process (LOL)

I have been wanting to make myself a sweater for awhile but being plus size I know it will require some thought about yarn and design. My daughter saw me looking at some sweaters online to get an idea of what I might want it to look like and she decided it should be blue, green and white. (Not sure if I will do it in those colors. LOL) Then she asked to see the sweater and I said "I haven't made it yet. I have to think of the design first." (If only I could wave a wand and have it done, right?) She decided to help by rubbing my forehead thinking it would help me think of a design.

What a kid! She did a good job rubbing; I might have some ideas to plan out now. I've had the sweater in the picture for YEARS; it used to belong to my best friend. I think I've had it for 10 or more years. Definitely time to upgrade.

A "Crazy" Idea?

I have an idea. 

But, am I crazy?

Is it "stupid"? 

Who cares! LOL 

So, I had the idea to make hanging files out of yarn, using "scrap" yarn. I have some regular hanging files to use as a templates. I plan on cutting the hanging part out to weave it into the project. I will create holes to put it through at the top and bottom. This is the starting of the idea. I still have to go through with it and see if I like the finished project. But, that is how my creativity. Don't knock an idea until you try it. 

I even talked to a fellow loomer Bonny about it to hear what she thought; we had a nice little laugh over it. What are some "crazy" ideas you have had?

Don't hesitate...

GO FOR IT! 

Favorite?

I've made a lot of projects over the years but can't really pick a "favorite" one. Do you have that problem too? Is it easier to pick a favorite yarn over project? Favorite loom?

For me, if I had to pick a "favorite" loom it would be the All in One Loom from Authentic Knitting Board.

I prefer the gauge of this loom over the others. As for yarn, anything that is soft. I know that doesn't really narrow it down, does it? If I had to pick a project I would say maybe fingerless gloves. They can be finished within a day or two if I'm focused.

Fingerless Gloves On The All In One Loom

Remember the video I did Fingerless Gloves On The All In One Loom in August? Here is a written pattern to go along with the video.

Using the All in One Loom:
* I used Caron Simply Soft Yarn (Red)

1. E wrap Cast On 34 Pegs
2. Rows 1-10: Knit 1, Purl 1 (Rib Stitch)
3. Rows 11-15: Purl
4. Create thumb hole by moving loops off of two pegs and placing moving each to peg next to it, like picture below. Knit over. 
   
5. Now work in a "U" back and forth. Rows 16-23: Purl
6. Rows 24-34: Purl, this time wrap empty pegs as you go around. Purl on the second time around.
7. Rows 35-45: Knit 1, Purl 1 (Rib Stitch)
8. Rows 46-50: Knit
9. Crochet cast off 2 chains in between.

Priority Pyramid

I was on the blog "Gifts We Use" and came across the free printable, Priority Pyramid. I thought this would be a great tool whether for looming or just life in general. I plan on printing mine out and filling it in. Knowing what I want (and should) spend my energy on will be helpful in my life.

How would it apply to looming?

Well, it will let me focus on what projects are a priority and which can wait to be completed. Also, what elements of my business (Simply Intertwined) need my attention. But, I do plan on using it for the greater picture of my life in order to remind myself what is important to me. I just thought it was a great tip to share to my fellow visual learners. You can print more than one so it would be great for me to have one for my business and one for my life.

I plan on 2014 being a better year for me and for my business to grow. Getting a 9 to 5 type of job isn't as important to me as it once was since I began looming and teaching it in 2011. I found a new passion for this and want to have a career I enjoy that doesn't make my anxiety go crazy.

Hope it helps you as well if you decide to download it.

New (And Hopefully) Improved Experince

I have decided to take Simply Intertwined to the "next level". Instead of a regular website, I have decided to have a blog instead. You can still access video list as you can see but this will also allow me to write more about my looming (and other) experiences.  I hope this is a great, new way to simply be connected to my loomers more.

Although I will still be selling items and patterns on my Etsy, this way I can provide the occasional free pattern or notes to projects I have done. I hope you join me as we make entering into 2014 more fun, more intertwined.

Have a great day!