Ramping Up the Brand

While browsing the shelves of Barnes & Noble this weekend I came across a display about crafting. It featured two books that explained how to create a brand for your homemade crafts and how to market them. I spent some time flipping through both Craft, Inc. by Meg Mateo Ilasco and The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin. While they were both filled with great tips and relevant information, I decided on Chapin’s book. I ordered it last night through the B&N website (because it was a bit cheaper that way - $10.76 vs. the $14.95 cover price). I’m hoping that the book will inspire me to improve on my brand and give me some new ideas.  Visit the author's website here.

March Project Materials

Yarn:
Bernat Alpaca

Aqua

Hook:
Susan Bates US K10.5/6.5 mm

March Project

March's project will be another attempt at a cowl (new pattern this time).  The new Scalloped Cowl pattern I found on the Lion Brand website uses a thicker yarn which I think will solve the hook sizing issues I was having before.  I'm going to try starting this with one of the new colors of Bernat's Alpaca yarn, and if this doesn't work I'll stick with the recommended Lion Brand Jiffy yarn. 

Finished: February Scarf

It's the last day of the month and I barely made it.  I finished sewing in the ends of my February project earlier this morning.  The pattern called for a border around the edge of the scarf, but when I tried it out it made the scarf look too chunky.  I tried modifying the border a few times, but I still thought it looked out of place, so I decided against a border.  Here's the finished piece:

Progress: February Scarf

I've completed all eight squares and have sewn them all together in a long row using a whip stitch.  The only thing left on this project is to crochet a border all the way around the scarf.  Here's what it looks like now. (Side note: It's amazing - in a bad way - how much a camera flash can alter the colors.  The scarf colors look most like the bottom picture.)

First Look: February Scarf

The scarf for this project is made by connecting eight squares.  Four of the eight squares are complete.  Here's what they look like:

February Project Materials

Yarn:

Berroco Comfort DK:

Liquorice

Aunt Martha Green

Crypto Crystalline

Caron Spa:

Berry Frappe

Hook:

Susan Bates US I9/5.5 mm