FaveCrafts

1000s of free craft projects, home decor ideas and DIY tips

  • About
  • Holidays
    • 4th of July
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Father’s Day
    • Halloween
    • Mother’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Seasonal Crafts
  • Projects
    • DIY
      • Advice, Tips, & Tricks
      • Gifts
      • Photography
      • Wearable Crafts
      • Pet Crafts
      • Clay
      • Candles and Soap
    • Full Project Tutorials
    • Green Crafting
      • Thrifty Crafts
    • Home Decor and Design
      • Woodcrafts
      • Kitchen Crafts
      • Garden Crafts
      • Painting
    • Jewelry Making
    • Kids Crafts Projects
    • Needlecrafts
      • Embroidery
      • Felt
      • Sewing
      • Quilting
    • Organization
    • Paper Crafts
      • Cards
      • drawing
      • Mixed Media Art
      • Scrapbooking
    • Pop Culture
    • Wedding Crafts
    • Yarn
      • Crochet
      • Knitting
  • Newsletter
  • Giveaways

Bernat Twist & Twirl Yarn

October 19, 2011 by TheCrochetCrowd

New Fancy Scarf Yarn For Knitters or Crocheters

Bernat Has Launched Twist & Twirl for Crocheters and Knitters

Twist & Twirl was added to Bernat’s line up of yarn on September 1st of this year; available in 7 different colours. There are a few advantages to this yarn that I really like.  You can see the colour swatches to see all the different colour combinations that are available.

  • Great choice of colours
  • Price factor
  • Easy Knitting
  • Pattern & Ball Count Realism

I think the colours are super modern and trendy. Most people can’t envision the yarn being done up in the way that makes it very desirable. Once completed, the scarves look extremely random and unique to themselves.

Using Bernat’s distribution power, they have brought this yarn line to market that is comparable, if not, cheaper to the end consumer.

Knitting with this is much simpler than people realize. Learn with this AllFreeKnitting video on how to use it.

Finally, I love how the designers have provided enough yarn in the ball that you don’t need to buy extra. I find most patterns on store shelves force you to buy 2 balls. Usually using 1 full ball and then a very small portion of another ball. With Twist & Twirl one ball equals one completed full size scarf. This makes the consumer only have to buy just one for each scarf they want to make.

For more inspirational knitting patterns, see AllFreeKnitting.com. 1000’s of great free patterns by designers and enthusiastic knitters.

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: bernat, michael sellick, Product Reviews, scarves, Stores, The Crochet Crowd

Buying Yarn Online – Questionairre

July 16, 2011 by TheCrochetCrowd

Members of The Crochet Crowd were asked on July 12th, 2011.

Do you buy your yarn online, if not, what would get you to buy your yarn online?

Frankly, I am surprised as many people are already buying online. I expected it to come back from everyone saying they would never do it. Retailers!!!! Are you paying attention to this?

Here’s what our audience said:

  • Ashley Ludlow free shipping
  • Karen Archamboult I agree with Ashley, free shipping and reasonable pricing. If you can get it on line for the same you would pay in a store, then on line of course. Otherwise, let’s go shopping. Hope that helps Mikey.
  • Amy Davis I buy sock yarn online. Cheaper shipping would get me to buy on line more often. I usually buy a lot at one time so I get my moneys worth for the shipping.
  • Sandra Ortiz-Hall free shipping, no tax, bigger selection than my local store…
  • Tina Rego I buy most of my yarn online. Free shipping and more colors. I also can watch the sales more.
  • Whittney Renfro I haven’t yet bought any yarn online, but I’d like to mostly for specialty yarn that isn’t sold in any stores in my area. The only reason I haven’t is because I can’t actually see and feel the yarn in person, I have to just trust a picture and a few reviews.
  • Maha Hall I buy my yarn online because there isn’t any here where I live which is Saudi Arabia. I have been buying from Yarn Paradise in Turkey which has some really nice and unique yarns.
  • Lisa Defferding Yes I have but only whenit is free shipping or something I can’t find around where I live. I have found yarn online is more expensive than in the store, so if it isn’t anything I can buy local it will order online.
  • Bj Vermillion I buy yarn online sometimes when I want a color or a yarn that my lys doesnt carry. The selection on line is far greater than what I can buy locally.
  • Rita DCm I’ve bought yarn on line. but only when I’ve wanted an specific yarn or color . And I did it on a spanish website. (I’m from Spain), so , I’m not sure if this could be useful :S
  • Ebony Gee i bought online for the first time a couple of weeks ago from herrschners.com. was extremely pleased with the quality and price. i got eight skeins, and with shipping, the cost was about five bucks less than i would have paid for eight skeins at hobby lobby, michaels or jo-ann’s, including tax. i will purchase again from this company.
  • Rita DCm Ebony, I’ve seen that they ship to Spain . I think that I’ll take it a look later. Thanks ! 🙂
  • Kara Giglietta free shipping is a great motivator…plus I don’t tend to buy fancy yarns online, I like to feel them…but if it’s a brand that I know or type of yarn that I know that offers free shipping or sales I won’t hesitate to order online
  • Sara Monkie cheaper than what i can get in store
  • Dawn Raymond 
    In the UK most yarn retailers are small independents, so I prefer to buy my yarn from a small shop in the next village. However, I’m a slave to online sales, and recently bought a mixed pack of 17 balls – the colours are gorgeous and I’m slowly working my way through them and sharing my products on my blog. The reason I bought online was that it was a reasonable price, and as soon as i saw them I wanted them :). Interesting to see the points of view re “free” shipping. As an online retailer myself, I know that if retailers don’t charge extra for the shipping, they’re building that cost into the price of their goods, so you end up paying, regardless. If not, then the retailer would soon go out of business or make very little profit. And let’s face it, most of us pay out in petrol to go buy the yarn at the store…so what’s the difference?

So what did you think? Comments?

Filed Under: Craft Question Tagged With: Internet, michael sellick, Online, Sales, Selection, Stores, The Crochet Crowd, yarn

Who Is Controlling Your Creativity?

October 18, 2010 by AllFreeCrochet

Setting Up My Story:I’ve got this brilliant idea that only I can pull off. A slip over jacket that is made just for me that goes with my stage costume. It’s got glitter coming out of the wahoo and complimentary colours to go with my look. It’s my world wide debut in 2 weeks and I have just summoned up this idea in my brain. Now the question is where to shop?

The obvious choice is the massive retailer because of its convenience. So off to the store I go and suddenly my brain is overwhelmed with colours that aren’t matching what I had in mind. Furthermore, I start getting disappointed with the colour schemes and suddenly when I think something is close… there’s clearly not enough on the shelf to pull off my idea.

I must have walked down the aisle 20 times. I was bad mouthing whom ever choose the colour schemes for the store thing nothing tends to match each other really well. I then start doing what the rest of us do… “I BEGIN TO SETTLE ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THEME!”

Creativity Control:

This is what prompts this story. I see myself on stage with a brilliant jacket… I’m so entranced with the idea of it. I realize my colours aren’t exactly what I wanted and I begin to reason with my subconscious that it’s okay if my shade isn’t exactly what I wanted or I have chosen a completely different colour scheme altogether.

Have you done this? You have an idea and then settle because the store didn’t have what you wanted. When you finished the project you are NOT delighted as you should be because you know in your heart you settled on submission that was 2nd choice. You know darn well what happens next. It will find its way to the very back of the closet never to see daylight until garbage day several years later!

Taking Control Back:

With a hand full of yarn retailing about $70.00 I decided that I am in control. I will not settle for 2nd Choice. I want what I want and I will have what I want! I put everything back down and out of the store I go and the retailer will never know why.

I drove nearly 2 hours to go to a store where I knew I won’t have to settle. http://www.lensmillstore.com Lens Mill Stores of Sourthern Ontario Canada. They have more yarn aisles than 8 massive retailers put together. Everything you could possibly need in quantities to successfully finish a project. For me the drive was worth saving my creativity. Lens Mill Stores was the very first business to ever support my dream in 2009 of The Crochet Crowd.

This is also a wonderful opportunity to check with smaller business owners who sell yarn. Maybe they can get you something special in quantities you need. It’s hard to stock everything due to so much selection. I was going to bug a stock person at the massive retailer but I figured I would get the “Line”, everything we have is put out.

So what do you do? Do you search online for Yarn? Do you check with smaller businesses? Or do you do what most of us do… SETTLE?

For more fabulous ideas on exploring your creativity, visit www.mikeyssmail.com.

Filed Under: Guest Post Tagged With: Control, Creativity, Michael, Mikeyssmail, Selection, Sellick, Stores, yarn

The Cost of Creativity – Creating Your Own Online Store

July 2, 2010 by TheCrochetCrowd

A very common question I receive is about the amount to charge for crafting goods. I specialize in teaching Crochet & Loom Knitting. New enthusiastic people come on board and learn with my “How To” tutorials and then get all rev’d up on the excitment. While sitting there, they get thinking big about creating their own home based businesses. They see people selling stuff all over the internet and then they start seeing themselves as a business owner and marketing their goods.

Realistically, what something is worth is up to the person who wants it. If you are creating something that can be found all over the internet, “How is your product any different?” Are you doing something, a stitch, an emblishment, or a style that is unsually pleasing to the creative beings of your purchasers?

The question answer is, “I have no idea what something is worth, that’s up your purchasers?”

Many websites have great Create Your Own Online Stores with service fees attached to it. Then companies like EBAY or PAYPAL also take a small percentage of your purchase price. Have you thought about shipping and the level of services required to ship your item. Just ensure you factor in the costs of all the service fees that make a transaction possible.

We are in a society where “OUR WORK” aka Creative Designs is heavily discounted due to mass production of stuff available to the general public. We are very used to big box stores clearing creative things at bargain prices. So when you go to price your item, you need to think about your material costs, and then time involved. For some strange reason, “Time” in “OUR WORK” seems to be heavily discounted as its perceived as a pass time hobby. However, you are still an artist regardless.

I know myself… people have offered prices for blankets that have taken 40 + hours and the rate they want to pay is less than the material costs of the yarn. The big box stores have made it harder for real people who have creative abilities to be recognized because they can buy something that looks half creative at a fraction of the price. Creative to many people these days is a really cool idea that has been mass produced a million times over that would look great and can be made cheap due to the mass production involved. People perceive seeing something in your project that they seen at the local store for merely pennies… and take that in account when offering a price.

“The Presentation Of Your Goods is everything and you only get one opportunity to impress…” Follow some simple tips as follows below:

  • Great photographs. Don’t show pictures of your goods with an untidy house or something in the background that is a turn off.
  • Be careful of showing pets. Pet hair perception on items is possible and a turn off to some people.
  • Do great write ups about what they are purchasing.
  • Tell a story… give your items some meaning. The inspiration or thought behind your item.
  • Tell the realistic time on how long it took to make.
  • Don’t expose your raw material costs, but focus on the emotional satisfaction of what it was like to create it.
  • Don’t be too specific on the materials used or the methods on how you got your item to the way it did. There are many people out there who may be asking questions but getting you to reveal your trade secrets so they can mimic or duplicate it for themselves.
  • If you are customizing… say what options are available.
  • Tell how you are shipping it and maybe communicate tracking numbers and when you shipped it to the buyer.
  • There will be people that will bargain with you and will try to get your price to near costs if not below costs. Remember, those customers aren’t doing you any favors. Those are the type of people taking advantage of artists creativity for their own personal gain.
  • If you are using Facebook or social networks to sell your goods, be careful what you post and the comments you decide to make. If you are a negative commenter about your own life or personal circumstances, it may be best to keep potential buyers from seeing your Facebook. Reading negative comments or life’s sad stories really don’t get a buyer to be sympathetic to purchase… they are silent deterents.

There’s lots to think about… and many people can benefit from making a few extra dollars off their creativity. Just be mindful and think about all avenues before getting the itch to buy a skid of raw materials.

Filed Under: Guest Post Tagged With: business, Creativity, home, Mikeyssmail, Online, Purchase, Sell, Stores

Email Email Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Google Plus RSS

Full Project Tutorials

How to turn old jeans into potholders

Turn the seat of an old pair of jeans into potholders. The jean pockets, already ready for slipping in your hands, make this sewing project a breeze. Find a pair of old jeans. Perhaps you have an unsightly hole that is beyond mending like me? Cut two 10 inch squares around each pocket, with the […]

Categories

Free eBooks

19 Halloween Crafts for Kids: Homemade Halloween Costume Ideas and Spooky Decor

"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble."  Welcome the spookiest (and most fun) night of the year with witches' chants, scary … [Read More...]

Seasonal Crafts

Show Stopping Mother’s Day Cards

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and I'm sure some of you are at a loss as to how to show mom your appreciation. Believe it or not, most of the … [Read More...]

Archives

Crochet

Adorable Granny Square Crochet Scarf Pattern

Adorable Granny Square Scarf + 10 More Uses for Granny Squares

Jewelry

22 Beach Wedding Jewelry Ideas

Knitting

Get Cozy with This Free Knitted Shawl Pattern

Paper

13 of the Most Beautiful Free Printables for Your Home

Sewing

Sew In Love Mug Rug Pattern for Valentine’s Day

Thrifty

Home Decor Dollar Store Craft Ideas

27 Home Decor Dollar Store Craft Ideas

Prime Publishing Craft Group
Copyright © 2023 · FaveCrafts - A Prime Publishing LLC property. All rights reserved.

About Us Advertise Contact Us FAQs Privacy Policy Subscribe Terms of Service Unsubscribe

Copyright © 2023 · Tidy Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in