$90,000??!!

Bloomberg Businessweek, August 15-28, 2011


HANDICRAFT WEBSITE ETSY
Etsy.com, the online market for all things handmade, has 10 million items for sale.  Among them: a hand-knit coffee mug cozy ($13); a vintage Underwood typewriter modified to work as a computer keyboard ($799); a set of pickle forks ($60).  The oddball mix spawned Regretsy, a blog that commnets on eccentric Etsy finds.  The tagline: "Where DIY meets WTF," Regretsy may be an indicator of Etsy's success.  Since its founding in 2005, the site has helped turn the artisanal, locally source, bespoke-authentic movement into a viable business, at least for itself and a handful of its 800,000 vendors.  Sales hit $314 million in 2010, the first year Etsy was profitable.  Etsy freely acknowledges most of its vendors won't make a living on the site.  Yokoo Gibraan, who knits scarves for Etsy ($50-$150) in her Atlanta living room, is one who does.  "I work around the clock" to make about $90,000 in annual sales, she says, "but knitting isn't stressful - it's the best job I ever had." 
-Susan Berfield, Bloomberg Businessweek


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On My Needles while on vacation...

Aaaaahhh...a week on Fire Island with my family.  I was even able to sneak in some knitting on the beach and knitted this cowl - start to finish.  I'm not lying when I say it's a quick knit!

I could have worked on one of my other projects, but this one's perfect for the beach.  I have the pattern memorized, and it's easy to put down and pick up when I need to refill a sand pail with water or rescue a sand crab.  :)

Class resumes next week.  Hope to see you ladies!


Tuesday, August 16th, 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Wednesday, August 17th, 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Please RSVP a day or two prior if you would like to join me.  Thanks!

On My Needles: Rosette Lace Scarf

I'm calling this one the "Ultimate Lace Challenge" for my knitters.  

So, which of you ladies will be first?!

Welcome *new* knitters!

A warm welcome to my *new* knitters from Spring and Summer 2011:

Jane
Joanne

Katherine

Lynn

Margaret

Maureen B.

Maureen Q.

Mary
Meghan

A couple of them came to me already knowing the basic stitches.  A few had never held a set of needles.  Nonetheless, they are all doing fabulous with their projects.

At Tuesday evening's class, three were working hats in-the-round and on double pointed needles for the first time, one was working the Lattice Stitch Cowl, one was working the One-piece Baby Cardigan for her first grandchild-to-be, and one was learning the purl stitch.   I am so proud of these women and their dedication to their craft!

Thank you, and welcome to the club!  -k.

On My Needles: Cabled Baby Booties

Straight needles and mock cables make these little guys so much easier than they may appear!

On My Needles: Organic Cotton Market Tote

In a few weeks, I hope to fill this one with some goodies from Rockville Centre's farmers market.

PS - I love to knit lace!

On My Needles: Cabled Drop-stitch Mobius Scarf

After spending four sessions in July teaching my knitters to fix their knitting mistakes, they may think I'm completely nuts when they work this project.  Just before binding-off, we'll drop a few stitches all the way down to the cast-on edge.  Yikes!

When it's finished, it can be worn as a mobius scarf (think: long, twisted loop),  as a cowl when looped twice around the neck, as a scarf, or around the shoulders as a shawl.  Talk about a multi-purpose accessory!