Needles!!!

In order to bring my knitting paraphernalia into the 21st century I decided to order myself a set of Options from Knit Picks. I got them in today! Along with more lace wt yarn (that I don't have a project for...yet!). Plus more sock yarn. Like I don't have enough of either of these items, yes??

I have two (yes, two!) sets of NeedleMasters. I have every size single point needle you could ask for in 10", 14" and a few shorter and even a couple longer. I have double the number of double points that anyone would need and all the circular sizes you could want. Many are old but work just fine.

So, why would I spend the money for pretty purple cables when I have so many other needles? Well, let's think about what's different between the NeedleMaster and the Options? The Options points are not quite as pointy as the NeedleMaster's in my opinion, but they are pretty darned close. I have found that the newer NeedleMaster has a very abrupt hump just before the metal end where you screw on your needle tip. That is not such a pain if you are using size 15 needles, but when you start using 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4's you start having to push your stitches over these humps. That makes for very slow and tiring knitting. The Options have a sleek, smooth join. The NeedleMaster's cables are hard and pretty unforgiving. The Options have very relaxed cables and are such a pretty purple!

What it boils down to is that the Options have updated and modernized the needle. The needles are nice and pointy. The cables are flexible and forgiving. The join is sleek and smooth. What is not to like? And as I get older my hands won't allow me to do those 4 hr, 12 hr, 1 or 2 day marathon knitting sessions that I used enjoy. They begin to ache. My pain free comfort is pretty darned important. If my needles are easier to use then my hands and wrist aren't going to hurt. That's my reasoning (or at least my excuse, LOL!) for buying a whole new kit.

Now...if I can only convince my DH that I need a wooden set too! Hmmmm!

Sold!

I couldn't believe it! Got a call from my LYS proprietress asking me if I would sell one of the many items I have displayed (for demo purposes only) on the wall of her store. OK...how much is this person willing to pay and how much would be fair to ask for my work? Ms. LYS won't help with that question. She only asks me what my low price and high price would be. Leave it to Ms. LYS....take the middle ground. Middle ground?? Pretty damned good to me. SOLD!!

Customer may want to commission me to do other projects? Not to sure if I am going there. I don't do my art/craft for a living. I do my art/craft out of love of the project, fiber, challenge, colors, etc.... Can you put a price on that? I don't think so. If I had put a commissioned price on the piece that I sold it would have been way more than Ms. Customer would want to pay. It was all lace....it was knee length....it had beads....it was a lot of work!

So, just how much is our "work" worth? Some charge by the yard of measured yarn, taking into account the more challenging the pattern, the more you charge. This little blurb from SOMEWHERE/SOMEONE that I ran across in the many years of my internet travels pretty well puts it down on paper. (Note: I don't know who wrote this so I can't give credit to anyone. If it belongs to you, let me know and I will put your name on it.)

HOW MUCH I CHARGE FOR MY HAND KNITTING!

The cost of the yarn and any notions required (buttons and such) plus

$0.10 per knitted yard of yarn for plain stocking stitch
$0.20 per knitted yard for texture and color work
$0.25 per knitted yard for lace, complicated textures and/or color work
$10 extra if the yarn is a pain to work with
$20 extra if they want it fast
$20 extra for complicated shaping or finishing
$50 extra for creating the design

A plain stocking stitch, circular, sweater made from an economy yarn and about 40 inches around will tally up to about $200.00.

Before I agree to knit for someone and use a pattern that they request, I will make sure that we are not violating copyright and/or fair use laws.

Did I get what my work was worth? Nope...not according to this. Oh well, it was just hanging around! I didn't plan on wearing it (it was a pre-knit to the sweater that I really wanted). And I get to buy more yarn! Woooo Hoooo!!