The next big step

Scallop baby blanket pattern

I was reviewing the initial idea that was Layette Knitting recently which was held as a file on my computer. One of the things that I planned to do was to sell the patterns as a pdf download to save on the postage. This was something that I initially tried with eBay only to be instructed that eBay don't allow pdf downloads because of the risk of malicious content. So for the last couple of years, selling my patterns involved printing out the pattern on quality paper, printing out the buyers address and an invoice, putting them in an envelope, paying for postage and getting the board-backed envelope into a post box that could take it (not many of those around here).

So my options for selling downloadable pdfs seemed to lie with my own website. After a bit of research I attempted to create one on 1&1. This did not go well and was soon abandoned as a bad idea.

Cable baby blanket pattern

I have been a member on Ravelry for a short while and recall that it is possible to sell downloadable pdfs from that site but the problem that I have with Ravelry is that it would tend to be the hardy, more experienced knitter who would frequent the site and my patterns tend to be for the novice knitter. My patterns have had quite alot of success on eBay with buyers recognising that they are helpful and easy to follow. Within 12 hours of uploading my patterns to Ravelry, I am pleased to say I have made a sale and been paid. Hoorahh!

Ravelry.com is an excellent website with many downloadable patterns, some of which are free and I have used the patterns available to achieve some excellent results. It is a free log in website and then you can search for me under Designers to find my Easy to Knit patterns.

www.ravelry.com

These patterns are still available on my ebay shop as before but you can save on time and postage by downloading them from ravelry virtually instantly.

It's all about the knitting

Cable blanket

So Layette Knitting has just celebrated its second birthday and has come along way from the first few items on eBay back in October 2011, now selling knitted items, yarn and patterns all over the world.

It all started during a literacy lesson on abbreviations in my year 4 class when it occurred to me that such things don't really help the nervous knitter as you have to translate a pattern as well as master the physical construction of the stitches. But abbreviations are used to stop patterns being twelve pages long. Hmmm. 

Scallop Blanket

I do most of my knitting whilst watching the tv. The guys like to watch endless football and in the evening I have found knitting helps me to stay awake, but I really can't be doing with patterns that have 50 rows to make a pattern and if you miss one stitch, that's a lot to undo. So the Easy to Knit patterns were born. Based around 4 or 6 rows of pattern, they are simplicity itself. I really hate sewing things up and so the border for the blanket would have to be knitted as you go. The stitch patterns originally came from an encyclopaedia of knitting stitches but later came from my knitting if I found a simple stitch pattern that I could adapt. 

Textured Lacy Blanket

I wouldn't say that they will make me a millionaire, but I have had some great feedback about how easy they are to knit and follow. With a choice of seven on the shop I would say, mission accomplished!

View what's available at my ebay shop via the following link: www.stores.ebay.co.uk/layetteknitting

From small beginnings ...

Logo designed by kuching-sama.com

For this to truly be the Story of Layette Knitting, it has to start two years ago. I found myself without a permanent job, working as a supply teacher. By October 2011, the work was not exactly pouring in so I decided to have a go at making a business out of something had been a life long hobby - knitting. 

Each year in the village there is a flower show which has a horticultural section and a handicraft section, the latter of these is judged by ladies from the Women's Institute and they expect a very high standard. This was my training ground to achieve a standard of knitting and finishing that I felt would be acceptable by others.  I first entered the competition in 1999 and won the handicraft trophy. Flushed with success, I continued to enter for many years afterwards and won the trophy again several times during that period.

Marble wrap neck jumper

Knitting had been a passion for me for many years, especially while my children were small as I was able to make them unique items of clothing for a fraction of the store price. I enjoy knitting small items of clothing because they can be completed within a few days or a week at most. Obviously this is very much time dependent, something I had plenty of in October 2011. The business plan was starting to take form with the idea of clothes for babies and so Layette Knitting seemed to be the most appropriate name. Starting with just a few items to sell, eBay was definitely the right place to open my online shop. It gave the opportunity to sell all over the world and with Paypal accept payments in other currencies. Fantastic!! 

It wasn't long before the idea of designing and producing patterns popped into my head. I needed easy to follow patterns which I could knit up whilst watching the tv of an evening and my Easy to Knit blanket patterns were born. These have enjoyed greater success than my knitted items with buyers coming back for more. The secret to these success has been the simplicity of the pattern, usually containing only four rows of pattern repeated for as long as required. Brilliant!! 

Whilst my shop hasn't made me into a millionaire yet, it has given me a sense of self worth which was rapidly diminishing during that time in 2011. Two years on and still going strong. I have sold items all over the world.  I have ventured out into spinning and dyeing my own yarn. Whilst these two ideas are very creative and exciting, they are still a long way off being good enough to be included in my shop. 

For anyone thinking about going into business for yourself and sharing your passion for a hobby, if you can do it online, go for it! The world is waiting for you!!

To view my ebay shop you can use the following link: www.stores.ebay.co.uk/layetteknitting