Sunday, June 27, 2010

Happy Birthday Milo!

YAY!!! hip hip hooray! Milo is one!

That's milo the pattern, by the way. not the original milo boy, Toby. He's 18 months.

But milo the pattern is one, it's been just over one year since I sent him out into knitting world as a paid pattern. My first paid pattern!  What a very daunting moment that was I can tell you. I remember discussing it with Andy and telling him optimistically that I would be absolutely stoked if it sold 50 copies!! 

So how has the big step into selling patterns been for me? I must say, it was a daunting step. It is quite different than offering a free pattern, I think there is a whole new level of expectation, both from myself and the consumer.

The past year has certainly bought me a long way from the sewing side of my business, and to be honest, the knitting side is far more successful and at the moment more enjoyable and more doable.  Sewing kids clothes to sell is really only something that you can maintain for any length of time if you really enjoy and love it. I've been doing it since 2006. It's something I feel you need to come to with a passion for sewing, a love of it. Pretty much like any area of design and handcraft  really. The passion and pure enjoyment of creating is what makes the repetitiveness of handcraft business bearable. Even with passion and love for sewing, the repetitiveness does get to you after awhile. As does the reality that you really don't make much from it, really only enough to buy more supplies. I'd hate to think how many pairs of kids' pants I've made, but you know what, it was one of the first things I tackled as I'm now finding more time for sewing! And I really am enjoying sewing again for just my kiddies. Will I sell my sewn stuff again? Probably, just not this week ;)

But I digress, back to milo's first birthday...

If I were to do it all again though, I wouldn't change a thing.  I would still follow the same route I have. Getting some of my patterns out there as freebies before taking the selling route  I think was hugely beneficial. I really don't know if milo would be quite as popular as it is if it weren't for those patterns that had come before him. I truly believe that  free patterns are a great way for knitters to become familiar with your style and I do so love love love the way it really feels like I'm giving a gift back to the knitting/crafting community as a whole. I think I will always offer free patterns. In fact, I'm working on one at the moment, but it's super secret.

So how did I celebrate milo's birthday?  Well, in true knitter form I knitted a new milo for Toby, my fourteenth!

I knit this in Noro Silk Garden Lite.  While this yarn has a gorgeous texture and lovely colour changes, I am suspicious that the people at noro and kauni have some conspiracy thing going on. I'm sure they're having a big laugh about the fact that they've created such visually beautiful yarns that knitters are so will ing to desperately knit with despite the fact that they aren't actually very soft to knit with. Noro does soften with washing, but sheesh, when you're used to knitting with WOOLganics, it's a bit rude.


Far out, this little dude must surely be the cutest boy in the world!


ooh, and how cool was it that the week milo turned one (ok, I admit this birthday wish is a little belated, this post has been half written in draft form since the 6th) it also hit 1000 projects on Ravelry!!! wooo hooot!!!!! 

Thursday, June 10, 2010

my creative space ...

just the usual stuff...


a bit of secret knitting... shhh, don't tell anyone you looked!

some not so secret prototype test-knitting...

and more prototype test knitting in development.

*phew!* nothing like starting a million new things all at once.

more creative spaces to be found over at kootoyoo

Saturday, June 05, 2010

winter pants at last!!!

Seriously, how long does it take to make a couple of pairs of denim pants?  

Well, at my current rate; at least one month. No joke...

As I've mentioned before, I don't approach sewing with a "whip it up"attitude, I am fastidious and patient, and it does take time to ensure everything is properly and neatly finished.  I am particularly fastidious when pressing hems and waistbands, measuring and pressing and pinning.  I like things to be as well done as possible. I take pride in my finished garments.  I love it when people comment on how professionally finished my garments are, that they're better than bought ones. So yep, I sew slowly.

And that probably also explains why I'm not selling sewn garments at the moment.  

Even so, a month is a bit ridiculous... these have taken so long that Lily has had a growth spurt since I cut them out and has probably grown an inch!   

But now they're finished!! Hooray!!! 


And passed the test of the playground this morning.  Lily's are a straight leg pair, which is a newish cut for me. The last pair I made her where straight leg. These aren't quite as fitted as the last pair, which is perfect for kindy.


Toby's are my classic wideleg pants, perfectly suited to his cute little cloth butt. He loved them so much he gave them a cuddle this morning. awww.


If you've been reading my blog for awhile you will know how much I love locally printed fabrics from our wonderful indy designers, I've made quite a few pants from their fabrics now. You might remember these and these or even these (which are still favs now as cropped pants).  Such beautiful fabrics and the contrast with the denim really sing for me.  

The fabric for these new pairs comes from the talented girls at Ink and Spindle. 

The denim is some of that scrummy organic stuff I've been rattling on about for quite some time. I've had a few emails about where I get it from. It comes from OrganicFabricOnline , a terrific little local business sourcing some awesome organic fabrics.  Jay is super lovely to deal with, and I doubt I'll buy anything but this stuff now! It has a beautiful handle.  


and if you're reading this Megs, yep, they're finished too and on their way to you ;) elastic finally in!!!