Sunday, April 29, 2012

The Sunkissed Scarf


I have been busy sourcing yarn for my store and stumbled upon the lovely Spud and Chloe. Unfortunately they do not supply to online-only stores but I still love their collection nonetheless. I'm sure you'd agree with me if you've ever had the chance to work with it!

I picked out this Outer, Super Bulky yarn for Amber and thought it would make a cosy, warm scarf just in time for winter.  It is made up of superwash 65% wool and 35% organic cotton, perfect for littlies as it is not at all scratchy. This size would probably fit any 3 to 5 year old.  Here is the simple single-ribbed pattern I came up with which you could probably complete within just a couple of evenings, or if you're really quick, just a few hours!

Materials:
1 skein x 100g Spud and Chloe Outer, Super Bulky in Sunkissed colour (7206)
1 pair of 10mm single-pointed needles

Pattern:
CO 9 stitches.
Row 1: K1, *(P1, K1), repeat * till end of row.
Row 2: P1, *(K1, P1), repeat * till end of row.
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 till skein is almost finished, leaving enough yarn at the end for tassels if desired.
(I measured out my tassels before I finished the knitting just so I knew I absolutely had enough yarn.)
Weave in ends. Add tassels.

And there you have it, a lovely, simple scarf for your special little someone! :)

 


Tuesday, April 24, 2012

A Manly Mossy Cowl



Here's a moss stitch cowl I have just finished knitting for my husband and I thought I'd share my simple pattern with you. A perfect little piece to keep you snug and warm over winter!

Materials:
- 3 x 50g Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (I picked the dark green for him to match his green eyes although I think this colour has been discontinued.  Don't quote me on that though!)
- 5.5mm straight needles
- wool needle






Pattern:
Cast On: 60 stitches.
Row 1: *(Knit 1, Purl 1), repeat * till end of row.
Row 2: *(Purl 1, Knit 1), repeat * till end of row.
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 till yarn is almost finished.
Cast Off: In knit stitch, leaving enough yarn to sew seam.
Finish: Lay piece flat and twist one end over so there is a bend in the center of the cowl, creating a Mobius strip. Then sew ends of cowl together with remaining yarn while maintaining Mobius twist. Weave in ends.




Friday, April 13, 2012

What's In A Name

As you might have noticed, my blog now has a new look, and of course, my new logo! For my branding I was wanting to achieve a soft, delicate look.  I have always liked the look of brands such as Crabtree & Evelyn and Jurlique's packaging.  When a friend of mine saw my logo, she said it looked strangely familiar.  She then went on to say that it reminded her of Crabtree & Evelyn.  I was very excited at that comment because it meant that I have achieved what I had set out to do. Although the process was a quick one, I paid great attention to the detail that went into my logo, right down to the baby leaves and petals.  Being the stickler for detail that I am, they had to be JUST RIGHT!

Anyway, I thought I'd take the opportunity to share with you about how I came up with the name for my store.  The journey began back in November 2011, when I stumbled upon a "For Sale" sign in the window of a wool store in Sassafrass. Owning a wool store had become a sort of dream of mine since I started my knitting adventures.  I would frequent my favourite wool shop, Sunspun, buy up wool for projects which to this day I still have not yet started, and basically find any excuse I could come up with just to be able to step in there so I could spend hours around the lovely yarn and all things knitting. I would say to Dave, "If they ever sold the shop I'd buy it." So, when an existing wool store was up for sale, I saw it as my chance to create my own shop atmosphere, a place where others would also love to come and spend their time, and to be able to create a community around something that I love doing.

For a few months Dave and I explored the possibilities of buying the wool store business but nothing eventuated. A big reason being I have been a stay at home mum since Amber was born and taking on the business would have meant that I was no longer able to look after them for the majority of each week.  This was not something we really wanted to sacrifice. During that time there was also an online wool store business for sale.  We explored this avenue also but basically could not see the worth in buying over such a business when it actually seemed easier and cheaper to start up our own!

Through this whole time, we trusted God to guide us and lead us and one night, I was reminded about a scripture in the Bible, Proverbs 31 - A wife of noble character, and how it talked about her doing business of some sort, so I turned to it and this is what I found... 

10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. 

Now I had read this scripture many times before but I never related to it from a business point of view.  And the fact that I was considering a business which involved wool and fabrics, it seemed so apt! (For those of you who don't know what flax is, it is a plant which linen is made from.) So, when I reached the point in my journey of starting my own wool store and thinking of a name for it, it seemed only appropriate.

The picture in my logo is of a flowering flax plant with some yarn trailing down from its stem and it simply represents "Wool & Flax". I hope you like it!

Joan xo

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Logo-Motion

Over the last few days I have found myself quite pre-occupied with working on my logo. It's definitely been a fun (and sometimes confusing) process as I was able to finally see my ideas become more than just concepts floating around in my head. Apparently we did it in record time too, finalising it within a mere 4 days! Thanks to my graphic designer, Joel Cogger, who put up with my fastidiousness about the smallest of details, I am glad to say that we have achieved something which I am really happy with and is even in line with the feel that I originally set out to have!  All will soon be revealed...

But this whole logo process has made me realize something. Starting a small business is like entering a whole different kind of world. There's so many things I've never had to think about before and so many things that I have just dreamt about which I can now put into action. It's a new challenge, a steep learning curve, and I am definitely enjoying it. Funny thing about it though, is that there is no one to tell me whether I am actually doing it right or wrong. Sure I can get advice but ultimately the choices are mine. It is up to me to exercise wisdom and to make sure that the business is grown and run exactly how I want it to rather than how others think it should be.

Somehow I think the whole thing has still been quite surreal. It wasn't until I was showing Amber my logo this afternoon and explaining to her that it was "for mummy's wool store" that it began to sink in. (Sidenote: She liked it! Phew!) I'm going to be the owner of my very own wool store and that is definitely something to be super excited about!

Next week we start on the website, which I'm sure will bring a whole new series of challenges, but I'm up for it and ready as I'll ever be.