New business cards

When you are out and about selling your goods it is essential that you have some publicity with you at all times to hand out your contact details at the flick of a wrist. This is how I get most of my stalls at new fairs - people like what they see, they ask for my card, then they email me about their own school fairs or craft events inviting me to get involved. So when it comes to business cards its worth paying a little money to get them just the way you like them.

I have recently updated my business cards. After many hours of thought and design, this is the new and improved end product.

I'm especially pleased that these cards have a business email address on them! This is my new email account especially for The Flower Mill, which I hope you'll agree gives an extra professional feel. I can't wait to start giving them out at craft fairs across the South West.

Specifications

• Shop: Zazzle
• Size: Business, 3.5" x 2.0",
• Quantity: 100 pack 
• Price: £17.95
• Paper Type: White, 99.20lb white card stock for added quality/strength.
• Design: Grunge floral custom. Dark blue.

How to Crochet a Bobly Popcorn Stitch

One of the main reasons I LOVE to crochet is because there are always new techniques and stitches to learn, so I never get bored of it. Yesterday I taught myself to do a lovely bobbly popcorn stitch. 

I wanted to learn a stitch that would add cosy texture to my work. I learnt this technique by following the instructions in my The Art of Crochet magazine and it didn't disappoint.

I haven't yet got much to show from my popcorn lessons but I did find these gorgeous pictures on-line to give you a good idea of the depth of this lovely stitch.

Pictures from a little vintage doll who
has crocheted/photographed this beautiful
example of popcorn stitches 

Pictures from a little vintage doll who
has crocheted/photographed this beautiful
example of popcorn stitches 

It didn't take me long to get the hang of it. I want to try to incorporate it into my ongoing blanket project, but it takes quite a lot of time - well worth it, I feel, but we'll see what I can manage with all of my other projects on the go.

If you would like to learn how to do the popcorn stitch you can follow these simple on-line instructions...

How to Crochet a Popcorn Stitch

Enjoy!

Taking a course with Craftsy : Know Your Wool

Craftsy describe themselves as " a community of passionate crafters featuring online classes about all your favorite crafts including quilting, sewing & cake decorating." I became a craftsy member to download a free crochet pattern from them, but until now have never taken any of their courses.

I have so much wool, even now as I type there are balls of wool all over the sofa as I am midway through a project (or ten!). But I must admit, most of the wool I own has been donated to me from people who have finished projects or people who wish to help me out in my little Cottage industry The Flower Mill.

Some of my own wooly work at The Flower Mill

This morning I signed up to a free class called 'Know Your Wool' led by Deborah Robson - click the link at the end of this post to get started! - and I thought I would let you know how I am finding it so far;

Getting started

Getting started was really easy. It took me less than a minute to "buy" the course. (It was completely free, but you still have to add it to your cart and process the order). The course is made up of detailed videos that I can watch as many times as I'd like. They never expire and are easily accessed once logged onto my Craftsy account. There was a short introductory Craftsy video about getting the most out of their learning resourses which again took only one minute. Then I was in...

The Course

This information is lifted directly from the Craftsy website. To view it at its original source please click on the text.

My thoughts...

I have only watched the first session and I am finding it really helpful. After just the first ten minutes, I had already realised how I have no idea about the content of different wools or the sheep that they come from or the way the wools are processed to achieve their different textures and looks. I was lapping up Deborah's vast knowledge. 

So far, I have found Deborah Robson's teaching extremely clear to follow and absolutely brimming full with her life-long learnt, specialist information on wool. I am excited to learn from her as she explains everything very thoroughly without waffling on or entering the realms of patronising.

Deborah's thorough book on wool types

The only thing I would say is that I am wondering if it will get more targeted at knitters (as opposed to crocheters and other wool based artisans) as the course goes on, but I don't think that will get in the way of me learning about making the right choices of which wools to use for various projects.

On the whole, I would highly recommend that you give this a go!

To sign up with Craftsy for free click here or to read about this particular course click here. Enjoy!

Wool tidy

If you're reading this blog post its well within the realms of possibility that you are also a wool addict. I'm just potty about crocheting and when people realise that they often donate generous scraps from their bygone knitting projects of yesteryear, to help me in my little crochet accessories business.

To the well trained eye you may be underwhelmed by the quantity of wool here but remember my projects are only a few centimetres big so this really is a mammoth collection for me to crochet into little flowers and creatures so I really am grateful to be the proud owner of such a sumptuous feast of colour and texture.

So tonight I had a big sort out. With a spare shelf in our Ikea storage cabinet and a few left over cocoa drums from my husbands café, I have restored some order for the time being. 

Here. Have a peek...

Darn it

Most crocheters seem to dislike weaving in the ends of their work, but I find it satisfying.It's the moment that your work goes from 'work in progress' to that 'special something'. Plus, if you do it well it will ensure that your creation stays in one piece. 

Some leave about 8″ of yarn at the start and end of their project, but not in my house! In my house wool is precious and I think that's a waste so I just leave about 1” and I've never had anything fall apart yet. 

Sometimes I darn as I go along but normally I do what I did last night -  I'd crocheted 15 leaves, so I had a darning session with a pot of tea in front of the TV and got them all completed in one go. Yay!

Here is more info on how to darn in the ends with a needle...

If you want to leave a short tail

This is fine for little leaves as they are probably going to be sewn to a flower anyway, so are not going to unravel. 

Take the yarn needle and weave it into your project so that the eye of the needle is near the tail you want to get rid of. Then thread the needle with the tail. Pull the needle through and taadaa, tail has vanished and is neatly tucked inside so that your project won’t unravel. 

If you want to leave a long tail

This is probably better for bigger projects. 

Take the yarn needle and thread the 8″ tail. Find a nice ridge of crochet stitches near by to the end of your work, for example on a granny square the edge will do, on a leaf the edge or the centre, on a flower the ring in the centre, or the edge of a petal. Push the needle through that ridge so that the tail completely disappears.  Either keep sewing it in until it has all gone, hidden inside your work, or ruckle your project up a little and snip the tail short before straightening out your project so the end disappears within. 

If you can't be bothered with the whole darned thing

You can work over loose ends as you go along instead, by holding them next to the chain or ring that you are working into. This method is a bit fiddly but it does save you darning the tails in at the end.