…ere’s why: selling an item with a trademarked logo requires that you obtain official licensing from the company that owns the trademark. I can’t just draw the Chicago Bears logo on a t-shirt and sell it as a ‘Bears shirt’. The same way that I can’t design a pattern of a Disney character. I need to pay to license the use of the logo/character/trademark. Now, here’s what makes me cranky: So far, Etsy has not shown…
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How to Dye a Rainbow Gradient Yarn (using a sock blank!)
…Tricks If you’re not sure how a particular color will come out, do a test swatch! You don’t want to mess up an entire skein because one color comes out different than you wanted! The disadvantage to a sock blank is that the bits of yarn that are tucked inside the stitches are a little harder to soak with dye, so a light application of dye may result in splotchy yarn. (although… it’s a cool look, so experiment. You may want…
Continue Reading5 Tips for being a good student (and get the most out of class!)
…ns you need to get it straight. And then, if possible, do it over again to test yourself. 3. Take notes I know… you had been hoping to leave the notepad in high school. But, if you want to learn a new skill, it helps to jot down notes in your own words. Or, for a tricky stitch, maybe take a photo of your hands (but be mindful of a teacher’s photo policy). Do whatever you need to do so that you can replicate the results at home, later (…
Continue ReadingDoes Cotton Shrink?
…ment, as this will increase stretching. And rest assured that it’ll ‘shrink’ when you wash it… but do a test swatch just to make sure!…
Continue ReadingInterview with Heidi Bears!
…p the pattern for what I think will be a very popular animal and have also test crocheted two completely new and different bear patterns. I love bears! Everyone loves bears! I had read a comment by someone that a bear is a bear is a bear… this couldn’t be further from the truth! It’s like saying “a human is a human is a human… they all have two arms, two legs and a head…” Obviously people are incredibly different despite having t…
Continue ReadingEasy Cowl Tutorial
…needle (slightly large for the yarn), to get a loose, soft fabric. Knit a test swatch to determine your gauge (number of stitches per inch). Try to do a 4×4″ (10x10cm) swatch to get a good idea. My gauge was 6 sts/inch. Measure your head and calculate how many stitches it will take to get around it. My head is 21″ in circumference, and I wanted a tight fitting cowl, so I aimed for a 19″ cowl circumference. If you want a loo…
Continue ReadingA Peek into the Club that’s Coming Next!
…0; and the infrastructure that I put in place just couldn’t keep up. Combined with cumbersome software and rising shipping prices, I knew something needed to change to better serve my customers. You might want to watch this video I made when I announced the decision to end the club: Announcing, the FreshStitches Club! In 2017, I’ll begin the FreshStitches Club! (but keep your eye out in December 2016 for an early-bird deal!) I am just…
Continue ReadingMummy Crochet Pattern
This pattern is a pdf that will be emailed to you immediately upon purchase! Meet a mummy! What’s Halloween without an adorable mummy? Isn’t he a cutie? Perfect for Halloween! This mummy is created by crocheting a basic shape, and then applying crochet stitches to create his wraps. Full photo tutorial is provided for how to crochet the wraps! This mummy measures about 8″ tall when completed with worsted weight yarn, but can be…
Continue ReadingPatterns & the sale of finished items, one designer’s perspective
…ot to allow folks to sell the items! So here’s my policy: You are welcome to sell items from my pdf patterns. I ask that you include a note about the item being a ‘FreshStitches Design’ on the tag (at a craft fair) or a link to my shop (in an online store like Etsy). It makes me happy. It makes my customers happy. What could be better? Chime in! Are you a designer? What’s your policy and why? Are you a crocheter? How does t…
Continue ReadingWant to discover a whole new world of patterns? Try reading crochet charts!
…ese books on the topic. Just one example of the crochet fabulous-ness that comes out of Japan. Of course there’s a little bit of bad news that accompanies this discovery: many of us (myself included) don’t read Japanese. Meet your friend: the crochet chart Want to know the good news? Japanese crochet patterns are written with charts: meaning that, if you can understand the international language of the charted symbol, you’ll gain…
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