Knitting is a centuries old way to make cloth that has made quite a comeback in recent years. It’s no longer considered a pastime for grandmothers alone. More and more people of all ages have been learning to knit, and this simple needlework craft lets people express their creativity by making items that are both functional and beautiful. Whether you prefer low maintenance, machine wash items or luxurious and posh, there’s always something new to knit.

Most people envision bulky sweaters and tiny baby booties when they think of knitting. But knitting isn’t just limited to these items. Many knitters enjoy the process of exploring a variety of knitting projects. They might, for example, create a scarf and hat set one week, and a delicate sweater the next. Other knitters enjoy specializing in one type of item, like socks. Hand knitted socks can be a simple but enjoyable luxury.

Many knitters combine knitting and other kinds of crafts. Wool felting is commonly used in knitting, for example. Knitters may use wool yarns to create larger versions of patterns for any number of items, including handbags, mittens, and slippers, which can then be wash and dried to shrink and felt the pieces. These items are weatherproof and durable, and will last for many years.

The most amazing works of knitted art must be the incredible spiderweb lace shawls, however. They are so delicate it is almost like they are made of gossamer themselves. These shawls are usually made of luxury fibers like cashmere, mohair and the softest of wools.

Most knitted items can be made from inexpensive acrylic yarns, or from wool yarns that require a bit of extra care. Acrylic yarns are the least expensive, and can be purchased at almost any store. This is the perfect fiber for beginners, owing to its low cost and durability. Acrylic will last through the multiple rounds of re-stitching that novice knitters often require. Once you’re a bit more skilled with your knitting needles, you may want to try working with some more luxurious fibers. Merino wool yarn is wonderfully soft, and superwash merino won’t shrink, making it the perfect choice for socks.

Other fabulous fibers include wool blends with cashmere, mohair, or angora. These make soft and warm scarves, hats, and sweaters. Just like acrylic yarns, wool yarns are available in a variety of colors and weights, so your budget and your creativity are the only limits.

If you are just starting out with knitting, it’s a good idea to start with a kit that can provide you with introductory instruction in reading a knitting pattern and learning to do the basic stitches. Kits for hats and scarves are available in just about any craft or fabric store. Once you’ve got a handle on the basic knit and purl stitches, you’ll be ready for more advanced patterns. Most of the detailed work in knitted pieces involves a variation of these two stitches. As you gain skill and confidence, you’ll be ready to tackle ever more detailed projects. Be sure not to ignore the finishing details. This can make or break your piece, and can mean the difference between a beautiful piece and one that looks hastily thrown together. Some important finishing touches to remember are to block the finished piece into correct shape and weave in the tail ends of your yarn to hide them.

You’ll feel a sense of pride and accomplishment once you finish your projects and begin to wear them. Before long, you’ll be adept at knitting handmade gifts for friends and family that will be cherished through the years.

by Tommy Venable

Turn on your local news these days and you would think its 1933 revisited. They say we’re not quite in a depression but I guess it depends on who you ask and what part of the country you’re from. The percentage of Americans out of work is almost record breaking. Times may be difficult and job opportunities may be few and beyond reach. These are the times when you have to dig down deep inside yourself and come up with a solution on how you’re going to survive in this economy.

If you’re the creative type, you may want to try making extra cash in the arts and crafts field. This hobby can quickly turn into a very profitable business. With today’s technology, you’re able to reach a wider audience to sell your arts and crafts. Believe it or not, there are people still out there willing to buy handmade crafty items. You just have to be creative in finding where these people are and placing your craft items in front of them.

So, what crafty item should you make and sell? Well, that depends on your creative passions. The crafting field is vast and there is always something for everyone. Some suggestions are; crocheting, knitting, polymer clay, sewing, handmade toys, handmade home decoration, the list can go on and on. Think about what craft items people might want to buy. How would your craft item benefit the buyer? Can your craft item be of use as decoration? Is it a functional craft item? What purpose does it have for the potential buyer? These are the questions you should ask yourself when coming up with ideas on what craft item you want to make and/or currently making.

Now that you have decided on what craft item you want to make, how do you know if there is a market for it? You don’t, unless you do some research. Browse some of the online auction sites that are out there on the web. Type in your craft item into the search field and take note of how many bids are placed or how many items are listed. This is not a sure fire method but will give you a sense of who else is making something similar to your craft item. Another way to find out if there is a market for your craft item is to search for possible stores or internet stores that may be selling what you want to make. Research, research is the key.

You discover there may be a possible market for your craft item. How do you make money? Where do you sell it? This is where you need to get extra creative of getting people to buy your craft item. Research local craft fairs in your area and sign up to ones that fits in with what you want to sell. There are many online internet sites like Etsy and ArtFire where you can setup an online store to sell your craft item. Just make sure you read all the fine print about listing fees and final sale fees but are a good way to sell online. Make sure you take good pictures of your craft item and remember, the potential buyer can’t hold your creation. Describe in detail everything about what you are selling.

Along with selling your craft items on online stores, you can also turn your knowledge of making your craft item into a tutorial or eBook. The quick and simple way is to create the tutorial in word .doc and then convert it to PDF file. List your tutorial on your online store. When people purchase your tutorial, you would email them the PDF of your tutorial. There is also online eBook creating software out there on the web. Do a search on your favorite web browser for; creating eBooks.

These are just a few ideas of how I am trying to survive in today’s rough economy as a crafter. Keep your head up and happy crafting.

Tommy Venable is an artist and jewelry maker. He often post ideas on how to sell and make handmade crafts on his blog and crafting site. http://tommyv.vengraphic.com / http://www.mycraftspage.com

About the Author

My name is TommyV. I am a business owner, entrepreneur, artist, jewelry maker and want to be chef. I was born in Maryland 4 decades ago, was married now divorced with two beautiful children. I now reside in Northern Virginia with my high school crush. My life has been a whirlwind, least to say and I will not depress you with the trials and tribulations that I have gone through. Over the many years of trial and error, lets say I finally understand.