Knitting images

Sometimes when you buy an item you want it to reflect who you are. It's not just the color or the stitch that interests you, but an image on the hat, scarf or mittens that makes the item distinctly yours. Whitaker Knits has had its share of such requests.

The process is more time-consuming, especially if the image is one that Whitaker Knits hasn't done before. In that case a graph of the image has to be made before knitting can begin. Then the proper weight of yarn and the right size of needles have to be determined through trial and error so the image will have the correct length-to-width ratio.

The finished product, however, can be very rewarding, and customers of Whitaker Knits are generally happy with the results.

The process is called intarsia and involves changing yarn colors in the area of the image only as opposed to carrying two or three colors of yarn across the back of the garment as with Fair Isle patterns.

This maple leaf mitt required little planning on the part of Whitaker Knits because the image was already charted in a knitting magazine.

 



This Horde image, however, was a challenge when a buyer requested it a couple of years ago because Whitaker Knits had to create the image on paper and experiment with needle sizes, and that was after looking up the image online because of a lack of knowledge of what the Horde image actually was or referred to. The customer was happy with the results, and if the customer is happy, Whitaker Knits is happy.

 

This Washington hat probably has Trademark infringement issues. The NCAA is pretty picky about things like this, but it slipped our minds at the time because the customer was our concern. School colors are not usually an issue, but logos are protected. Still, the photo proves that Whitaker Knits can create a monogram for personalized items if a customer requests it.





 

This paw-print baby blanket was not a customer request but a Whitaker Knits idea for a baby gift. The paw print pattern is from a knitting magazine, but the placement is a Whitaker Knits original. 

 

Words are the easiest images to knit into an item because letters are easy to graph. This blanket was made for family, not for sale.

 



 

Personalized items always take more time, but if you have the time to wait and are comfortable with a finished product that is attractive but not exactly what you envisioned, a personalized item could produce that "Eureka!" moment you are looking for.

 

Contact Whitaker Knits at www.etsy.com/shop/whitakerknits if you have a request. If we aren't up to the task, we'll let you know.



Thinking Ahead

Christmas is four weeks away, but for online sellers only two to three weeks are left in the holiday shopping season. Spontaneity is not a bad thing in some cases, but shopping online requires some thinking ahead.

Whitaker Knits has all it's items in stock, so you don't have to add the time it takes to make the item into your lead time, but shipping is uncertain, especially this time of year. We can ship within 24 hours, but the postal service has to have time to drive the item to its destination, and it has to have room on the trucks for everything that is being shipped or items can get bumped to the next truck.

Overseas orders are even worse. Whitaker Knits has had items reach addresses in the U. K. in seven days or less, but you can't count on that. Anyone outside the U. S. ordering from Whitaker Knits should place that order within the next few days to assure Christmas delivery.

Inside the U. S. delivery usually takes two to three days, but Whitaker Knits would advise five to seven days this time of year, just to be safe.

There are advantages to ordering online if you are a plan-ahead kind of person. You can shop at your leisure. You can shop while watching the big game or that traditional holiday movie. You can shop at 1 a.m. when you can't sleep or at 3 a.m. when Jake at State Farm is taking calls from men with jealous wives who can't sleep.



And Whitaker Knits is a great place to shop for those people who always puzzle you. What would the person who has everything appreciate? A pair of hand-knit fingerless mittens? How about that person at the office whom you barely know? A hand-knit scarf? A slouchy hat?

Filling stockings? Scarves won't fit, but mittens and hats are great additions to the candy and fruit already in the sock. And all Whitaker Knits items are functional. Anyone can use a hat or fingerless mittens.

Visit www.etsy.com/shop/whitakerknits today to assure that your hand-knit gift will be ready for giving when you need it. Happy holidays.

I Have a Friend

I have a friend who crochets and a few years ago took up knitting as well. She has the love of yarn that all of us with yarn-based hobbies have. She also has no self control. She sees yarn she likes, and she buys it. She buys for projects that she doesn't actually make, and she fills her closet with a plethora of intriguing colors and textures.

And then she cleans out the closet. That's where I come in. She brings me the yarn that she can no longer make room for, and I willing take it.

It's a blessing -- and a curse. Those of us who knit know the temptation of yarn shops. I don't even go into them. I have enough trouble keeping my curser off the "add to cart" button when I search yarn on Etsy. But this is free yarn, and I tell myself I'm doing my friend a favor by taking it off her hands even though it feels more like stealing.

That's the blessing part. The curse part is that I am obsessed with using all the yarn. I feel the need to use every scrap in some project. The compulsion to create my way through boxes and bags and totes full of yarn is sometimes overwhelming. It's like an endless tunnel, and just when I see the end, my friend cleans out her closet.

I foresee a day when I hide yarn and needles in secret locations so that I can sneak a few stitches when no one is looking. A day when I make excuses to stay at home so I can knit. I try to take a break and read, but the yarn calls to me. Perhaps I need an intervention.

Then again, what's the harm? I make a little extra money selling things at www.etsy.com/shop/whitakerknits, I give hand-knitted items as gifts, I give items to charitable organizations. There are worse compulsions, worse addictions, worse obsessions.

Excuse me. My yarn is calling.

Customer Reviews Are A Boost

Reviews are important to sellers because they allow potential customers to evaluate the seller and the products and can actually make or break a sale. But Whitaker Knits likes them for another reason. Why make a product that buyers aren't happy with? The reason for doing anything is to make the lives of those around us better, and if we can provide something for them that they absolutely love, then life is worth living. So sometimes I read the reviews simply to validate my existence.

Hufflepuff fingerless mittens:
Love love love these fingerless mittens! I recently just went to Harry Potter world at Universal Studios in Florida and bought a Hufflepuff scarf and was disappointed they didn't offer a matching hat and glove set. The scarf I bought is a much darker more muted yellow/gold and the hats and gloves they had at the park were very bright and obnoxious yellow that didn't match my scarf at all. These mittens are a VERY close match and I couldn't be happier! I also bought the Hufflepuff beanie to go with these mittens to have a matching set. They were just what I was looking for to match my scarf. ☺

 

Purple Mobius shawl:
Like a big, purple hug! Very warm and well made. Tight enough but not to where it constricts movement. Great purchase! Thanks so much!

Gray fingerless mittens:
Warm without being bulky or inhibiting the ability to move. Very well constructed. Fast shipping, too! Thanks so much!

Jayne-style hat:
Well and accurately made, timely processing and shipping, very comfortable.

Great quality item, the shipping was fantastic, seller posted this as quick as they could and arrived before a week was up to the UK.

A very cunning hat! Woman walks down the street in this hat, people know she ain't afraid of nothing!

 

 

Slytherin scarf
This is the second scarf I ordered and the craftsmanship is just impeccable! The scarves are warm, vibrant, and beautiful! I don't think I can ever go back to buying scarves in stores, the difference is incomparable. These are so reasonably priced for what you receive, it's DEFINITELY hands down the way to go as far as Harry Potter scarves are concerned and I will definitely recommend her. Thank you so much!!

Gryffindor scarf
This is seriously the most incredible scarf I have ever seen! It looks AMAZING!! I love it soooo much!! It actually managed to exceed my expectations and I could not be happier, I'm over the moon! It's insanely high quality and well made and I will recommend this seller to anyone who asks me where I got this fantastic scarf! :D Thank you so much!

Some of these reviews are old and there have been some price changes and style changes to make the scarves more like those seen in the Harry Potter movies, but Whitaker Knits is still dedicated to putting out a quality product at a reasonable price. Visit us at www.etsy.com/shop/whitakerknits. Let us make you happy.

                                                                                     

I Really Could Use a Mannequin

Selling items online requires that we take photos of what we are selling so that the buyer can have a look. It's bad enough when you have a sub-standard camera and no decent background, but when you also have no model, the process becomes an effort in futility. Never mind that I'm getting old enough that I hate to see pictures of myself, I can't even get a good pose because I'm in front of the camera rather than behind it.

 

I need a mannequin. A mannequin has style. What style exactly depends on the mannequin. I think I'll invest in an artistic one without a face or hair. Something impressionistic but not abstract. I can get the pose right. I can get the drape of the clothing right. I can get the focus right. I can make the accessories look attractive to buyers.

And I can dress it up for Halloween to scare people, plant it in my home so intruders will think the house is not empty, or talk to it when I am alone -- or when I'm not alone. Everyone needs to talk things out now and then, especially with someone who is non-judgmental.

A mannequin is a good investment for Whitaker Knits. I hope my budget allows me to purchase one soon. Until then, visit www.etsy.com/shop/whitakerknits and try to imagine yourself in these hand-knitted accessories.

Fingerless Mittens for Every Day

Those of us who have cold hands appreciate the popularity of fingerless mittens. We can work or relax and keep warm while allowing our fingers their normal dexterity. Of course, we always had the option of cutting the ends out of the fingers in our gloves (as in the movie "While You Were Sleeping"), but with hand-knit mitts we have the option of personalizing the wrist warmers to our personalities or making them match different outfits.

Whitaker Knits uses the mitts for -- what else? -- knitting. But any kind of craft can become more pleasant when you don't have cold hands. Scrapbooking, crocheting, beading can all be warmer pursuits with the help of Whitaker Knits fingerless mittens. (Baking is not recommended because of the fuzzy fibers.)

Any workplace can be unpleasant if your hands freeze all day long. If you find yourself in the bathroom warming your hands under the hot water faucet, try wearing fingerless mittens instead. Your hands will stay warm without missing a mouse click.

 

In this new era of cell phones, keeping our fingers free has become more important. Texting is next to impossible with our fingers encased in leather or fibers. Fingerless mittens keep our hands warm while we conduct business or socialize by mobile phone.

 

Sometimes it's not for warmth that wrist warmers are a good accessory, but for fashion. The mitts can dress up any outfit and add an eye-catching difference that will set your look apart from that of the crowd.

 

 

A soft, delicate yarn can even make fingerless mittens an appropriate wedding accessory, for the bride or for the bridesmaids.

 



During our down times when we want to relax with a good book, or a video game console, we can again do so with warm hands thanks to Whitaker Knits wrist warmers.

 

 

 

 

 

It's even possible to play guitar wearing wrist warmers. They can become part of  your image, like Michael Jackson's single glove.

 

 

Visit  www.etsy.com/shop/whitakerknits for a variety of fingerless mittens in stock and ready to ship. They are great for your own use or as gifts. They're great for Secret Santa gifts, and they fit in Christmas stockings, too. 

Baby Blankets and Afghans at Whitaker Knits

If you're a traditionalist, baby blankets come in one of two colors -- pink or blue. And there is a place for tradition. Certainly it's sweet to see a little baby girl in pink or a little baby boy in light blue, especially when the infants are still young enough that the color of their clothing is the only way to know if they are male of female.

But Whitaker Knits offers you the option to think outside the box and explore other color options. It's not that we think pink and blue are boring, it's just that life is more complex than that. People aren't all alike, and Whitaker Knits provides for people who are not in line with the masses.

One reason to buy a non-traditional color for baby is if you are buying for a sports fan, and by "fan" we mean fanatic. Whitaker Knits found itself with an excess of burgundy and gold yarn and created this baby afghan which is perfect for fans of the Minnesota Golden Gophers who are in our backyard as Whitaker Knits is based in Iowa.

Another option is to buy a blanket in a color that is trending, like this lime green which is seeing a resurgence with the return of 70s fashions.

 

 

Then there are colors that are always popular, like purple. Many moms grew up loving purple and must have the color for their own babies.

 

 

 

Sometimes it's good to go with neutral colors because the sex of the baby is not yet known. Pastels are a good choice, but creams and browns are also an option.

 

 

 

Visit Whitaker Knits at www.etsy.com/shop/whitakerknits for more baby items. It's a great way to shop for baby showers or for that initial nursery set up. These blankets are all washable and have a long life. All items ship within 24 hours.

 



Jayne Cobb Costumes for Halloween and Christmas

Whether you need a Jayne Cobb hat for your Halloween costume or Jayne hats for every member of your family for a Firefly-themed Christmas card, now is the time to buy, and Whitaker Knits is the place to go. Whitaker Knits has hats for infants, fitting heads from 14 inches around to 16 inches around. The child's size fits heads from 16 inches to 18 or 20 inches.

 

 

 The regular Jayne-style hat will fit most adults, male and female, stretching to 23 inches in circumference.

 

 

Order the Large hat for Jayne Cobb costumes for heads larger than 23 inches around.

The hats are in stock and ready to ship -- no waiting for the hat to be made after it is ordered. The style and colors are fairly accurate. Very cunning.

Vist www.etsy.com/shop/whitakerknits and read reviews from over 400 customers who have purchased the Whitaker Knits hat for Jayne Cobb costumes.

 

"Dear Diary, Today I was pompous, and my sister was crazy." Jayne Cobb

 

Charity Begins at Home

Whitaker Knits believes in giving whenever giving is within its power. That means donating to charitable causes like the local library. Last year Whitaker Knits donated hats and scarves in the colors of the Hogwarts houses in the Harry Potter movies for the yearly raffle sponsored by The Friends of Drake Public Library. This year Whitaker Knits has donated two ripple afghans.

 

All proceeds support Drake Public Library in Centerville, IA. Raffle tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. Send your check with your phone number and address label (or name and address) to

The Friends of Drake Public Library

115 Drake Avenue

Centerville, IA 52544

 

Other items are also available in the raffle including quilts, jewelry, clothing and gift certificates to local businesses. Drawing for raffle items will be November 4, 2014.

 

 

 

Back to School -- Again

It happens every August in the U. S. Students go back to school. For moms and dads with students it's a busy time. Supplies and school clothes must be purchased. Schedules must be reworked.

And with the start of school comes a change in the weather. While it may be hot for the first few weeks, fall arrives soon and temperatures cool.

Here's a new hat from Whitaker Knits that is a great fashion accessory but will also provide warmth when the time comes. These hats are great to wear simply to complete an outfit, but they'll also keep your ears warm at a football game. Wear them tight against the crown of your head or set back on your head like a slouchy hat. These hats are great for elementary school, junior high and high school and will make a positive statement on any college campus.

Check out these hats and other great items for school at www.etsy.com/shop/whitakerknits.

Summer knitting

Hand-knit items simply don't sell well in summer. Even when Whitaker Knits attempts summer fashions, like lacy scarves or lace wrist cuffs, buyers aren't buying. Of course, our Australian friends help sales during our summer when the weather in their part of the world is colder, but the sales are few compared to sales during winter in the U. S.

So summer is a time to stock up. Whitaker Knits is preparing for the Halloween rush for Jayne Cobb hats and the Christmas demand for Harry Potter house colors.

But summer is also a time when Whitaker Knits can try new things. These hats are a result. Well-made, warm and fashionable, these hats are produced individually with a variety of yarns and patterns, making each of them unique. The diversity of items at Whitaker Knits makes it likely that buyers will find something they like. Visit Whitaker Knits at www.etsy.com/shop/whitakerknits.

 

 

The History of Whitaker Knits

I recently began thinking about how long I've been knitting and how the little shop I have at Etsy.com is just a fraction of what I have produced. I taught myself to knit in high school, and I made some sweaters for myself, and threw away many things that simply didn't meet my standards.

Then I gave birth. Knitting became a way to show my love to my children by taking the time to make things that I thought would please them.

 

This Hawkeye cheerleading outfit was an effort of love for my firstborn in 1992.



 

With two daughters, most of the things I knit became hand-me-downs. This sweater was no exception. Knit in 1992, my second-born wore it later.

 

Dresses were a little more difficult and time-consuming, but this one turned out well.

 

I made this rainbow blanket for my son in 1999. He still has it, but it's much too short now.

 

 

I was quite proud to be able to make matching sweaters for myself and daughter number two.

 

Following a chart requires great concentration, but it's worth it to see the smile on someone's face.

 

Knitting doesn't limit me to what I can find on the rack in a store. When this daughter was obsessed with The Lord of the Rings, I knit the names of the characters in the Fellowship into this sweater. 

 

 

These are just a few of the items that I've produced over the last 25 years. I'm happy to knit for your families now. Visit etsy.com\shop\whitakerknits for hand-knit items for every age.