Welcome.

Welcome to the Willow Knits blog.

I'm Anne and I'll be using this blog to let you know what is happening with Willow Knits during the year.

I'll include which Farmers' Markets and shows I'm going to be at, what I'm working on and general news and events plus a little about myself.

If you want to buy one of the scarves or some of the yarn featured, just look in our etsy shop (to the right of the page) or contact me and I'll reserve it for you.











Thursday 19 January 2012

A busy time

Wheathampstead was fairly quiet last Sunday - as expected - but the weather was good and I did sell a few things, so not too bad. Also, one of the other stalls - Barn Bacon - make the most delicious bacon rolls I have ever tasted, so it's worth going just for that!

I'm at Harpenden this coming Sunday, always a nice market and I look forward to going. Hopefuly sales will be OK - for January I'm not putting everything out, but concentrating on wintery things. I ususally sell lots of hats to dog-walkers and gardeners!

Apart from the markets, I've had another etsy sale to one of my regular customers and have been quite busy "behind the scenes" too.

There's three new colours of DK yarn in my Etsy shop ( see mini shop right) and I've been experimenting with a new dyeing method to get red based colours to be colourfast. I think I may have found it. I've dyed a lovely solid cranberry-red colour in my DK silk and am using some of it to to make a bolero. I'm going to write up the pattern and "publish" it in time for Fibre East, so I can offer it to my customers there.

Finally, I've bitten the bullet and decided to accept credit cards. I understand to 66% of transactions are now made with a card and I'm sure I've lost business at my markets, when I've only been able to take cash, so I've put in my application. I've done my money-laundering checks and it should take about 4 weeks if I'm accepted, so fingers crossed!

Monday 2 January 2012

Into the New Year


After a snowy and none too busy Wheathampstead in December, it was so nice to get ready for Christmas and then really relax and enjoy celebrating with family and friends.



Now I'm all ready to start January - I love that feeling of starting with a clean slate and making plans for the coming year. Things have got off to a good start with a couple of yarn sales on Etsy and one of my customers buying a scarf for themselves. I'm having a 10% off online promotion for January, so if anyone has any money left it's a good opportunity to buy some thing for yourself.



I've been accepted for a stall at Fibre East this July - it will be my first yarn fair and I'm pretty exited about it! Not sure how much to take, but I've asked advice on several forums, so hopefully other people will be able to help. I'm going to try to build up the yarn side of Willow Knits this year and this event will be a great opportunity for sales and publicity.



I've made a couple of cowls for my Etsy shop - something new - and will take some similar ones to my Farmers' markets too. My next markets are at Wheathamptead (15th) and Harpenden (22nd).