New Blog!

Please visit our all new Tweedz blog at MyTweedz.com!!

Overcoming the Home Business Challenge

I feel very fortunate to not have to work and still get by on basic necessities. However, with plans to do more voluntarily I want to really make a go of my business to support that endeavor at the very least.

Previously, I had a difficult time marketing myself and my products. I’ve had to overcome the mindset of “selling my hobby” and look at the whole adventure as a reputable business. I am still having a bit of mindblock with that aspect but I’m working on it.

I know many of you have become successful in your homebased businesses and I would love to hear about your challenges and how you overcame them. How you were able to reach your goals and any other pearls of wisdom you’d care to share.

“Evie”, Mannequin Head Wonder

Evie Mannequin Head Wonder

So, the mannequin head came in the mail and I have to say, I’m very excited about it. There is the initial creepy factor but I’m getting used to it. It helps to put it away – like in a closet – when not in use. There is that uneasy feeling of being stared at otherwise.

Having been a Barbie fanatic in my youth, this is an enjoyable extension of my childhood. I must admit that I am afraid of her wig. The hair seems to be falling out disturbingly so I’ll have to do some research on caring for it. But a wig was necessary. I cringe when it even slips, I think I would freak out having a bald mannequin… although it might come in handy when frightening the neighborhood children.

I do feel that my photos at the shop look a lot nicer. The girls did a great job modeling, but I think the uniformity of the Tweedz “character” along with common lighting, etc. really makes a positive difference. Plus they were sick of my bossiness.

As for a name, I thought long and hard about it but it wasn’t until working with it (her) this afternoon that I got to know her in a pick a name sort of way. Please note, I’m speaking in a Barbie, name-your-car or other inanimate object sort of way. I’ve always been a unique individual but worry not. I’m not thinking hunks of plastic are real people, even if they have molded faces and fake eyelashes. The name Evie just seemed to stick as I posed her with the new Evie beret. It just seemed to suit her.

Now, if only she had shoulders.

Buckles and Fabrics

I am psyched to have received my fabric, buckles and clasps for my hat projects. Unfortunately now I need buttons but I will pick those up later tonight. I am looking for a specific shank. The only bad thing about my hats is I create at whim. I can have an idea in my head when I begin but nine times out of ten, it doesn’t end up that way. Not because I can’t do what I first imagine, but because my mind starts innovating as I work and I decide to take another turn. I am really proud of my upcoming hats. They have a lot of ME in them.

A friend told me our creations are like our babies. So true that is! We put so much of ourselves into them they become like our offspring. Funny and kind of weird.

Let there be tags!

The cut tag

At the old shop I used to print out fiber and care cards to include with fun fact cards for specialty fibers. I got to thinking how much easier and more professional it would be to have sew in tags on all our items

Ze'tag!

then include fun fiber cards when applicable.

After shopping around a bit I found I could just as easily make a simple yet efficient label myself. We need nothing fancy, just something with our name, fiber & care information. This is what I came up with. The upper right shows the tag after cut from the sheet of tags. As you can see it’s designed to fold over and be hand sewn into the garment. I realize many people dislike tags so I didn’t spend too much time making it look perfect. I also forgot to add our etsy URL to it but that will be in the next batch.

Fiber & Care info

This is how it looks sewn in. I wasn’t over thrilled about how the various colors of thread looked against the white tag but I’d rather have the thread match the garment itself than the tag. And then once flipped over the fiber content and care instructions are listed. I am really happy with how they turned out and especially thrilled I could do them myself.

Tunisian Cables

I thought I might post a glimpse of my latest project. It’s a pair of handwarmers done in Tunisian Crochet with Cables. It is an experiment of sorts, so unfortunately the tweed wool makes it a bit harder to see the cabling. Please click the pics to see them larger and in detail.

Working on the Tunisian Cable

Here at left is a view of my hook through the loops. Tunisian crochet is a mixture of knitting and crochet. Using only one hook with a bobble (or in my case, a rubberband *wink*) on the end of the hook, one brings up loops in various ways to create stitches across the work as in knitting, and then works those loops off in varied fashion. The work is never turned so the backside is very chunky and obviously different than the front. My whole work shown here is in a series or four stiches (4 knit, 4 purl, cable, 4 purl, 4 knit) so my cable is only four stitches wide.

4 wide cable

Six would be more visible, but as I said this is just an experiment in getting the technique down. As in any cabling project, it takes some time and effort. I forgo the use of stitch holders so that especially requires the need for quick work and focus. Otherwise fibers separate, loops get pulled to far to get the hook through, or inadvertently pulled back out altogether. However, the time to learn is worth it.

Tunisian, otherwise known as Afghan Crochet or Tricot is almost a lost art form and yet it is so fun! It’s virtually impossible to find patterns other than scarves and truly, very few Tunisian stitches work well on scarves imo. The variance between the front and back is too great. There are a few such as the Shell Lace which has very slight variances. So I am experimenting and have found a great many patterns to create. It’s awesome!

Hats and more hats

Life is like a box of softly felted wool… right? Well, to me it is at the moment. I just ordered some wool and nifty fabric for lining and hatbands. PLUS I found some great little accessories that I think will be O, so divine once I get my hands on them. I want to go back to basic with the next couple of hats, like modern simplistic. Stylish simplistic… ah, yes.

I also ordered some business cards today – so excited to get those – and accidentally ordered a self-inking stamp. I thought I could customize it but I guess not, then when I tried to remove it, I had discovered I had already paid for it!! Oh well, I will use it I’m sure.

John is finishing up his latest scarf project. He is ga-ga about cables right now and is experimenting with all their various forms. I too have to admit a fondness for them. However, being a crocheter (is that word? Maybe if I say it en français… crochetier! *lol*) I dislike immensely the look of crocheted cables. They just look so….stupid! So downright cheap. (I apologize to all the crochet cable lovers out there…maybe mine just looks stupid.) So, I have taken up Tunisian crochet which is wickedly awesome – the best of both knitting and crocheting worlds. You will see some fruitage of that endeavor soon at the shop.

Until later my fair friends.

Boog out.

Welcome!

Thanks for visiting our Tweedz blog. We’ll be trying to get some posts of projects and currently listed items as we get further along. Please be patient with us!