| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Martheme
Sustaining Member
USA
1565 Posts |
 Posted - 11/11/2005 : 09:51:23 AM
|
Hi all,
So as many of you know I'm working on trying to get my business "back up and running" after having a baby earlier this year. I'd like to build it just big enough to allow me to stay home with my little one . . .
Things have been a bit slower this fall than they were when I started last year . . . and I know that is partly because I only have a few colorways of yarn posted right now (getting a whole day with someone managing the baby between feedings hasn't been the easiest thing lately).
What I'm wondering is this: What would you all like to see available? Since my work time is somewhat limited I'd like to focus my efforts on the areas of greatest interest . . .
Some of the things I've been thinking of working on are:
1. New Mystery & Sock Surprise Kits
2. New Shop patterns
3. Hand painting some spinning fibers (which ones=?)
4. New Colorways
5. Spinning Project Kits
I'm very open to suggestions if you have other ideas and I'd love to hear what you think should be the priority. It will be a big help in deciding where to spend my time!
Thanks so much!
Martheme
visit my sites:
http://www.inspirationsyarn.com & http://martheme.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
Lu
Chatty Knitter
USA
207 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2005 : 10:26:16 AM
|
Martheme,
While I love your yarns and colors, I find your site layout kind of difficult.
What really does not do it for me is having the yarn description and the colorways in two different places. I understand the logic of it, but if I am looking at Cran-Blueberry, I do not remember what Espresso is, so I need to go back and check. And after doing that a couple of times, I am likely to give up.
I rather have the "traditional" arrangement, where I have a page for each yarn with the colorways available on that page.
I just wanted to share that so maybe people will reply and you'll know if it is only me (so just ignore me) or maybe it is a common thing.
On another subject, I think I would like to see is a page with all the past mystery and sock surprise kits, I can only find info about #1 and #3, and sock #2. If I am considering buying one, I would like to see the past ones.
Oh, and I think free pattern with purchase are always a big hit. I am in love with Cran-Blueberry, but what to make out of it? A free pattern that uses one or two skeins will give me the extra push.
Are you considering having a merino/silk blend?
Lu
http://knit4ever.blogspot.com
|
 |
|
|
Milinda
Permanent Resident
USA
3816 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2005 : 11:28:53 AM
|
Martheme, BEAUTIFUL yarns to say the least but I would have to agree with Lu about navigating the site.
Are you going to have a Merino/Silk wool???
M L
Others may ask, "What's in your wallet?" But I ask, "What's on your needles?" |
|
|
|
KellyKnits
Permanent Resident
USA
1608 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2005 : 11:41:24 AM
|
more yarn of the same dyelot - enough to make a sweater or at least Clapotis - your colorways are great - my favorite was mean red
Kelly |
|
|
|
Martheme
Sustaining Member
USA
1565 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2005 : 5:11:22 PM
|
Hi all,
Interesting to hear that about the site . . . I'm so used to it that I guess it never occurred to me that it might be confusing. I did add brief descriptions of the yarns at the top of the page where the colorways are listed . . . would it be helpful if I expanded those descriptions and put links to the top throughout the page? I'm also thinking of doing away with the individual yarn page links that are in the brief descriptions and replacing them with links to the swatch photos, which would open in a new window. Would that be better?
I understand what you mean about the "traditional" layout of having a yarn listed on the page and then each colorway it is available in. I had chosen not to do it that way because the more pages I have to edit each time I add or sell yarn the more likely it is the information will be out of date. I can certainly add more information on the page they are listed on though . . .
I guess I should do a better job of getting the Mystery Kit info out there. I had started a Gallery with some pictures of the projects from kits bit I don't have them all in there. So far the Mystery and Sock Kits mostly represent the shop patterns that are available.
I'd love to add a Merino/Silk blend yarn and hope to be able to do so soon. To be quite honest though, I've got to sell some of what I've got already before I can order more at this point . . . I've got a huge pile of yarns waiting to be dyed ;)
How much yarn would you consider enough for a sweater? I've got 1 or 2 lbs dyed in some yarns, should I be doing more than that?
Thanks so much for your help! It really helps to have feedback!
Martheme
visit my sites:
http://www.inspirationsyarn.com & http://martheme.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
Lu
Chatty Knitter
USA
207 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2005 : 9:56:20 PM
|
Yes, having the descriptions at the top of the page does help - going up and down is easier then back and forth. so easier I needed to have a latte and an espresso
are the mitts in the gallery one of the mystery kits?
Lu
http://knit4ever.blogspot.com
|
|
|
|
Martheme
Sustaining Member
USA
1565 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2005 : 10:05:50 PM
|
Hi Lu,
Oh, good. I'll expand the descriptions (and finish finding the gauge info) and put the picture links in . . . and perhaps some ("top") links around the page to help with navigation ;)
Yes, the mitts were Mystery Kit #4 - designed for me by another KR Member in fact. I'll have the pattern up on the list soon, I just haven't gotten the pages together . . .
thanks for your help, I really do appreciate it!
Martheme
visit my sites:
http://www.inspirationsyarn.com & http://martheme.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
KnitRedSox
Chatty Knitter
170 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2005 : 07:52:07 AM
|
Martheme,
I would agree with many of the comments here but also think you should (continue) with your spinning kits, if not expand. There has been a bit of an interest in spinning lately and if people can't afford wheels (or they don't want to commit right away without knowing if they like spinning) they are going to go for the spindles...and you offer great kits! Also, have you considered starting to sell on Ebay in addition to what you are doing over the website? It may not require that much more work and will give you exposure if you provide a link to your store as well! Good luck!
|
|
|
|
Lu
Chatty Knitter
USA
207 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2005 : 09:40:09 AM
|
or maybe Etsy, since eBay fees keep going up and up.
thank you for the free shipping - I tried to email you but your email provider keeps rejecting my email (no matter what account I use) saying that they are spam. that could be a problem if customers try to ask you a question.
Lu
http://knit4ever.blogspot.com
|
|
|
|
Martheme
Sustaining Member
USA
1565 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2005 : 3:47:44 PM
|
Well, I guess I should look into Ebay again, for the exposure . . . and perhaps the other site as well.
Lu, Thanks for the heads up on the email! Overnight last night, after reading your comment, I realized what it was causing the emails to bounce! I had set up a filter to get rid of some of the spam but I guess I didn't do it right since it was blocking most of the emails that were coming in! I just deleted the filter and I'll try again some other time ;)
thanks!
Martheme
visit my sites:
http://www.inspirationsyarn.com & http://martheme.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
Momma78239
Permanent Resident
USA
4859 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2005 : 7:36:56 PM
|
Hi, Martheme!
I would like to see you keep the spinning kits, too. I would also LOVE to see more dyed rovings. Your colorways are so beautiful! I would limit the dyed rovings to merino or corriedale - something really soft. A dyed merino/silk blend would be great, too.
You also asked how much yarn would be needed for a sweater. I'm pretty zaftig (AKA fat), so a pound just wouldn't do it. I think I would need a pound and a half in order to be absolutely sure.
-WendyM
And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. Exodus 35:25 |
|
|
|
Martheme
Sustaining Member
USA
1565 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2005 : 9:26:31 PM
|
Hi Wendy,
Thanks! Actually, I now have a spinning kit for making a pair of socks! It has the fiber, a sample of the yarn to use as a guide (with enough to take a piece for the leader and still have a sample to check by) and the pattern for the pair of socks. I'm hoping to add more kits that are similar to this in the future.
I do want to do some fiber in the colorways. I've been trying to decide whether my time was better spent dyeing the yarn or taking a day to do a batch of fibers. . . and the merino/silk spinning fiber is one of my personal favorites so I'm sure to be doing some of that up!
thanks again,
Martheme
visit my sites:
http://www.inspirationsyarn.com & http://martheme.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
KellyKnits
Permanent Resident
USA
1608 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2005 : 07:10:45 AM
|
I think 2lbs is enough for most sweaters...
Kelly |
|
|
|
mokey
Permanent Resident
15375 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2005 : 07:31:50 AM
|
I'm a chunky chick and 450 to 500g of worsted is enough for a sweater for me; 2 pounds is more double that.
I would also like to see which yarn is in which kit, for example under "espresso" you can list "This yarn is in Kit X."
"An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King Jr.
www.femiknits.blog-city.com |
|
|
|
Lanea
Permanent Resident
USA
5158 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2005 : 08:43:34 AM
|
I'd like to echo the call for dyed spinning fibers. Lots of us are spinning-obsessed right now (my new wheel can't come soon enough!), but we may prefer to leave the dyeing to you.
And I also love wool-silk blends. If you add them, please let us all know. Mmmmmmm.
Design-wise, it would be cool if you could tie your coffee-themed yarn names into your overall site design. I know it would take some design work and coding time, but I wouldn't be surprised if you could find a web-designer who was also a knitter who would be willing to help you out in exchange for yarn.
Support our Yarniversal charities, and buy silly stuff: http://www.cafepress.com/yarniversalcult
http://crazylanea.typepad.com/ |
|
|
|
minh
Permanent Resident and Destasher Extraordinnaire
USA
3416 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2005 : 1:54:31 PM
|
I agree with previous posts -- I tend to go back and forth because I can't remember the description of each yarn.
- I love the kits where you give two options (ie you provide the yarn or the spinning fiber). Please continue to carry those!
- My favorite colorway is "poppies". I was wondering if you would consider making self-striping sock yarn or would that be too time-consuming?
- Until you add the wool-silk blends, people can buy a wool skein and a silk skein to make the (free) multidirectional scarf pattern by Iris Schreier (September issue of magknits)... or at least, that's what I'm doing!
--Minh |
|
|
|
mokey
Permanent Resident
15375 Posts |
Posted - 11/15/2005 : 2:53:36 PM
|
On the COLOURWAYS page, I would like to see samples of all colours, not just the available ones.
"An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King Jr.
www.femiknits.blog-city.com |
|
|
|
Lu
Chatty Knitter
USA
207 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2005 : 2:40:54 PM
|
Martheme,
I got my yarn today, it is so beautiful!
Espresso will probably become the Paisley Lace Shawl from IK Spring 2005.
Lu
http://knit4ever.blogspot.com
|
|
|
|
Martheme
Sustaining Member
USA
1565 Posts |
|
|
Lu
Chatty Knitter
USA
207 Posts |
|
|
glccafar
Seriously Hooked
825 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2005 : 07:55:37 AM
|
Hi, Martheme. I recently made a Purl Scarf where two of the five yarns were yours (both in the Mean Reds colorway). Would you like a picture? I'm just afraid that the other yarns could be distracting...
And I agree that having all the colorways up would be nice especially (this is a big task here) if they were each up in several of the yarns (because each colorway looks so different on the different yarns). |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
