Beginner Questions Set #1
- If I'm giving a piece as a gift, is there somewhere good to get little tags that say handmade, care instructions, etc.?
- Should I block the piece first?
- Should I seriously wash and dry the piece first?
- How did I get so much yarn so quickly?
- Am I asking so many questions and posting so often that you guys are totally sick of me already, even though I've only been here a week? Sorry! I swear the enthusiasm will wear off, although maybe not 'til after the holidays...
posted by Mary Anne Mohanraj at 10:33 PM
13 Comments:
I saw some "fabric" type tags you can sew onto hand knit/crocheted items at Hobby Lobby. I've also made my own "sock wrappers" to give washing instructions, etc. to recipients.
If you get a good answer to how you got so much yarn so quickly, share the wisdom as I think most of us have that same problem!!
I, for one, vote for "Keep posting!"--I could use a little infectious enthusiasm to ensure my own holiday projects stay on track!
Kim
Most of the fabric/craft stores have the little tags. You can also order them online from lots of sources. That way you get your name on them.
As to why there is so much yarn in your stash - - - leave the light on, keep the door open, and post "Thou shalt not multiply" signs all about. It might not help, but it pushes the blame away from you.
1. Print out your own on coverstock, punch a hole and tie it to the piece.
2. Only if it need blocking. Socks usually don't.
3. I an going to wash and dry my gifts because they have pet hair and neither recipient likes pets. Otherwise, probably not.
4. It followed you home. Don't worry about it, as long as you can afford it.
5. No.
Oh, do stick around! We like the company.
I got some "hand made by me" tags quite some time ago. Possibly from Herscners (they have an online catalog, I think) but just as possibly from any other crafting supply place. They seem to be comparable quality, just be sure to find a picture you like.
And about blocking, it depends. Block lace always (unless you like the weird scrunchy look). Block sweater pieces or other things that need to be seamed together. Other than that... *shrug* It doesn't matter as much.
I always wash and block the item. Especially machine washables as I want to make sure it won't come apart if I forget to weave something in or the yarn was weak and I didn't see it..... How sad for a recipient to wash it and have it fall apart.
Not to mention almost every yarn feels nicer once washed.
1) just went to my local Walmart and found sew in tags "Made especially for you by_________" and "Made with Love from Nana"
2) I don't think I've ever blocked something... does that mean I've failed or I don't knit anything difficult?
3) Not confident in my skills to wash it first, if it falls apart when they get it home, I get to make another! Yah me!
4) Yarn is a lot like wire hangers and laundry, if you left just two skeins (hangers, pieces of laundry) together, it multiplies in the dark!
5) Here's to hoping your enthusiasm never fails! Happy Christmas, Merry Thanksgiving!
I enjoy scrapbooking & card making, and have a "Handmade by" stamp... so I make my own little gift tags with that on one side & care & use on the other. -- Usually it's machine washable (as my yarn budget isn't very high)... so it's not like they need the tag for forever, as much as just letting them know they can wash it.
I don't do much blocking nor washing before gifting - but want to try some lace, so I guess I'll be doing blocking soon.
Gotta LOVE yarn!!! My stash was growing for quite a while - and interestingly? My budget has made it impossible to add to my stash lately - so, I'm knitting only from my stash lately - figure I have enough for projects into the next year (lol).
And love reading your posts!
MARY ANNE! Don't even kid about posting less. If you do, I'll be forced to fly to Chicago and lurk around your front door, trying to lure you back with yummy yarns and great patterns. Okay, we'll allow you time to take care of Kavi, teach, write, and have a life but that's it. Otherwise you're ours.
There's an acronym for the more-stash-than-you-can-use-in-a-lifetime syndrome but I'm too busy drowning in yarn to look it up.
Dallas made me some gorgeous Rowan beaded socks last Christmas and spun up two beautiful yarns. She made her own labels for all three, complete with yarn info, care, all the details knitters/crocheters love. She did it with Excel but said there's a program out there somewhere for it. (Dallas, if you see this maybe you can weigh in.)
I'd wash and maybe block if the piece has been handled so much in the making of it that it looks limp and less than its best.
Keep posting! Tags are a nice touch, I'm thinking about getting some for myself. Block only when necessary. Yarns, like children's stuffed animals, breed in the closet.
Oh keep posting! I'm enjoying you immensely.
I make my own tags in a page layout program and sometimes I even take a picture of a section of the finished item to use as a background for the tag (with a white box over it for the typing). I then tie it to the garment or object with some yarn.
Don't worry about lots of yarn, it does seem to multiply.
Hahaha, no, you're not asking too many questions or posting too often!
Last year I gifted handknits to a lot of people who hadn't received them before, and I printed up little messages to include with each gift: "Handknit for you, with love, from (whatever fibers yarn was). Please handwash/machine wash gentle/dry flat/dryer safe, and be sure to enjoy!" So far so good, except *everyone* wants handknit socks this year...
Unless you expect your gauge to change dramatically with washing, I wouldn't wash stuff before sending it. Blocking (even just steam blocking) can really make the most of a pattern (especially lace,) so I'd opt for that if you can.
Here's to enthusiasm!
Thanks, everyone! I think my conclusion is that I will wash some of the larger items, just to see if it makes 'em even softer and cuddlier, also to make sure they don't just immediately fall apart. And I will make my tags myself, out of cardstock, with a hole punch. I have one of those. Might need to get me a 'handmade' stamp if I start doing a lot of these, but not going to worry about it for this holiday.
Kevin has put a moratorium on more yarn until I use up a quarter of what I have, so the stash will not grow anymore. And I gave away two skeins of Red Heart yesterday, so it's decreasing already, yay! :-)
These are great questions, Mary Ann. And I don't think there's such a thing as posting too often.
Cindi
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