By M James

Knitting patterns are ideal for those people who are learning to knit, and haven’t got the confidence or experience to design their own creations. Alternatively, those who are more experienced, but want to try and knit something different can use them. Perhaps you want to lean how to knit with different wools or stitches to those that you normally use.

For the beginner, knitting patterns can be used to learn the basics of knitting with something relatively easy to knit, and with step by step instructions. Rather like learning a musical instrument, or taking up a new sport, there will be some basics that you will need to learn before you can progress without help.

By using patterns, you can create great looking things without too much difficulty. As all the measurements and details have been worked out for you, all you need to do is follow the instructions, and knit. You’d use a recipe when cooking, so why not use patterns when knitting?

Using good quality needles and wools will make knitting easier, and can help to make your finished knitwear look even better. Once you become more experienced, you will be able to substitute different wools and needles to knit your own designs based on patterns you’ve used previously.

More experienced knitters might like to have several knits on the go at once. This helps them to stay challenged and enjoy knitting even more, and they’ll always have something to knit, no matter what sort of mood they’re in. Many people like to have something that is easy or quick to knit, perhaps as a present for a friend or relative, or even a new baby. They might also like to have a more complicated knit on the go for themselves.

Most beginners start off with easy to knit items, such as baby blankets or scarves. These can be ideal for those new to knitting, as they are not too difficult to make but can prove to be very popular, especially in the winter, or when there’s a new baby in the family.

Once the knitting basics have been mastered, and you can knit some things without needing a pattern, you may decide to move on, and start wanting to knit more advanced creations. You’ll need to start using patterns again, so that you can learn the shapes and the number of stitches, especially if you’re using several different colors or types of wool.

As you advance, and spend more time knitting, soon you’ll be able to knit more and more things without using patterns, and then you’ll want to progress again, and knit even more complicated items. The only limit is your imagination!

If you’re looking for something new to knit, or want to learn how to knit something different from what you usually knit, why not see what knitting patterns have to offer?

Find many exciting new Knitting Patterns for all abilities, as well as much more, for subscribers of Candis Magazine.

Article Source: M James — Why Should You Use Knitting Patterns?

By Douglas Puckett

Many of us like to build crafts. I for one have a hobby of making things for myself and other people. One of my daughters is also really great at coming up with neat crafts for herself and relatives. Actually all of her Christmas presents are genuine crafts she made herself, that are created especially for the person she’s giving it to as a gift.

Looking at the other side of the cookie, there are many people who love these types of crafts, from decorated picture frames to decorated jewelry and keepsake boxes and more. People flock to craft shows, flea markets and small town craft and antique stores to purchase these unique items.

Since you create them, they are one of a kind items that can’t be bought anywhere else. They are worth more since they are not created in batches of hundreds of thousands by some factory in China. They are your hand made creation.

Now how can you turn those one of a kind creations into some extra income? There are many ways and I will add more and more in more articles as time goes by but for now here are a few suggestions.

EBay: You can post your hand built craft on eBay and sell it in an auction. You can set the minimum price so you at least get back any money you spent on supplies for building the one of a kind item. In your item description, make sure you build up your item and make sure people know what it took to build by hand and what an exclusive item it is. You never know, you may hit upon the next cabbage patch kid doll craze or even beany babies. That’s kind of how they started.

Craft Stores: A lot of craft stores sell products created by just plain old folk like you and me. You take your items in there and the store will sell them for you for a percentage of the monies collected. some call this consignment shops. There are some craft stores that will outright buy them from you and sell them in your shop. You can pick which stores and types of deals you want since it is all up to you. It’s your product and you can sell it how you like.

Flea Markets: This does require a lot of your weekend time in most cases but the rewards can be terrific. You must have a lot of crafts already built and ready to sell for this sales model though if you really want to make sales. You could setup a display item and take orders but most people are impulse shoppers and will only buy it if they can get it right now. you are better off having some already created and ready for sale.

This should get you off to a good start. In my next article, we’ll talk about publishing information about your craft.

My website, Fotometry.com is all about earning extra income from your hobbies so you can go there for more information also. Keep building those crafts!

Douglas Puckett: Author of Self-Help, Hobby and Home Business Articles.
For More Information see: Fotometry.com

Article Source: Douglas Puckett == Create Extra Income From Your Craft Hobby