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!!!!! 

9 comments:

  1. Well done on all your Milo followers (sales). I think MILO is definatly a fantastic pattern. For me one of the things that stood out to me was that it was for a BOY- well it is unisex too (I have made mine for girls) and good patterns that suit boys are not as common.
    I made a Milo out of Noro, and also WOOLganics, and yup was nodding my head to agree with everything you said!

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  2. Congratulations on your one year anniversary of Milo. It looks like a great pattern that I will certainly try one day soon. Oh, and your little guy is a real cutie patootie.

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  3. Congratulations! I never knit with Noro because I find it has that scratchy feel to it. Your new Milo looks fantastic on your little boy. How exciting that it is the 1000th project too.

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  4. Congratulations!
    Milo is the pattern that got me knitting after a LOOONNGG hiatus ;)
    I love it and can't wait to make another for my little boy.
    Woo hoo- 1000 projects-no wonder!
    Toby surely is cute and that stripey Milo I love!

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  5. Happy birthday indeed! I love the Milo pattern and know more will hit my Projects page in months to come.

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  6. Congratulations on Milo's first birthday! I have to agree with you that offering free patterns was a great way to get started although would you believe the first pattern of yours that I knitted was actually the Milo! That was after seeing FO's on a forum which then also lead me to Ravelry, I haven't stopped knitting since then! LOL I'm now working on my first Oriental Lily, having knitted Eden's Eve and Olearia I am most definitely a fan of your patterns :-)

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  7. Well done - it isa great pattern and as you know I love it too:) That one looks great - agree with the staff at Noro - they are aughing all the way tothe bank as well:)

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  8. I absolutely love your stuff. I have just stumbled across your blog and you are one talented lady. That dress is amazing and i love the vest. I am in awe of your talent. I don't knit myself but am defiantly inspired

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  9. I just made my first Milo and immediately cast on for another.
    Its a great pattern. And Toby is just the cutest little boy!!!!!

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