Getting Back in the Groove

 I'm getting back up and going on my Etsy business, Gnomish Gnits, and I'm doing much better now that I have more networking going in a couple social media sites. Today's project is a pair of socks I just started where I am experimenting with combining knitting and crocheting. 

I'll make sure and post more pictures as I progress with them. So far I've added a variety of items to my shop. Here are some of the pictures of things I've made and or sold in Gnomish Gnits: 

My latest decision was to choose two charitable or advocacy groups at a time to donate all the proceeds towards. I made the decision for several reasons. First, because it is a good thing to do. Second, because I am comfortable in my financial situation and, while the extra money is fun to spend, not necessary to my survival. I would rather give it to someone who needs it more than I do. I had someone tell me on Twitter that I should raise my prices, but really, I would rather keep them low so more people can enjoy getting hand knitted items that wouldn't ordinarily be able to afford them. 

 I'm off to a great start and will keep posting updates here to let people see what Gnomish Gnits has to offer, but also just to have a place to post all the experiments (successful or not) and fun that I have as I continue. It's like I chose selling online and knitting combined as my hobby. 

I'm Back!!

Yes...I'm a bad blog mom. I decided that I need to update here. I have another blog for fibromyalgia and knitting that gets a lot more of my attention, but I tend to only stay on subject there. Here I can keep an update going for my business and also just blog about my knitting in general as well as my kids, cats, dog, and all the insanity that is a regular occurrence here in Gnome Land.

First, let me post pictures of all the things I've done in the last year. LOL Lots of pictures!

Lots of socks for a bunch of people. You can tell I like to knit socks...

Then there are the pictures that go with the things I've been selling on my Gnomish Gnits facebook business:

Also a fair share of hats in team colors, to give to folks with cancer to hopefully brighten some people's days

A hat for a friend

And, last but not least, a couple crocheted rugs for the house:

And my helpers that keep me company while I'm working the needles and hooks

Mandy, John's kitty

Morgan, Michelle's kitty

And Mika, everyone's kitty

I don't have a current picture of my kitty, Midna, but I'll add her to another blog post later. We do have some stray kittens who have taken up our patio (it wouldn't be because I put food out there or anything...LOL)

I started reading some great books about how to make yourself motivated and I restarted my Gnomish Gnits business a couple months ago. I immediately received orders and I am doing much better at keeping up with them now. I found that the trick is to take it one day and one order at a time and not stress about time. I only take three or four orders at a time and just enjoy the process of knitting and crocheting. Its all about being able to do what I love.

I Dropped my Etsy Store

After yet another fruitless attempt at using Etsy to sell my knitting, I have dropped it altogether and I'll do all my sales from here, my facebook page, and Ravelry.  No need to pay fees for something that isn't working, after all. Right now I'm doing only "word of mouth" orders as I get them and I'm not stocking a store. There will be opportunities to purchase ready made items, however, as I get caught up and can make new things to post here.

Superbowl Sunday!!

So today is the big game and, even though it won't get posted in time, if you're a diehard fan, here's a hat to wear to show your fan-age! Something for the "geek-at-the-game" types. Your very own Seahawks hat!

I also have all my patterns up for free on my Ravelry store, just for today! Happy game day everyone!!

Froggy Socks

Yay!! I finished these up today. It always seems like it takes no time at all to do the first sock, then forever to get the second sock finished. I have to put on "Guardians" music to stay motivated and just force myself to plow through. It didn't help that I made the first froggy sock and didn't keep the strands lose enough so it was worthless and had to be done over. Anyways, here's the finished darlings:

If anyone wants to order some of these, please give me lots of extra time to do them. I have a few orders to get out first.

Gnomish looking socks

I'm working on my next pair of socks and have decided to make them very colorful and fun. I may even attempt to make a pointed toe with a pom pom or bell on the toe.

I made this much today while sitting in Barnes & Nobel waiting for Michelle to get off work. People were looking sideways at me and my wild socks.LOL

Wooot!! I sold something on Etsy!!

After all these years of trying to get an Etsy store up and going, I finally sold one of my patterns! I've been selling pretty well with Ravelry, but I decided to put things on Etsy because I can only sell patterns on Ravelry not my knitted items.

Right now I'm working on a couple pairs of socks. I found some beautiful yarn from Cascade yarns, called Hawk, in Seahawks colors. I have a couple orders now, using the yarn. My friend, Dianne, sent me five skeins of it for Christmas.

I'm also working on a pair of worsted weight socks for my Aunt. She ordered a pair with a frog design, but after knitting the first sock, I discovered that it didn't fit over the heel. I re-knit the sock using looser stitches.

The second attempt was successful.



I do take orders, by the way, but at this time, it will be a month before I can get caught up to do new orders.
If you don't mind the wait, and want me to make a pair of socks that you see somewhere on my blog, please contact me with a message in comments.



Peg