AboutMarla Expertise I have crocheted many doilies, I enjoy working with crochet thread. I have crocheted numerous afghans. But I have little to no experience in hairpin lace, or the afghan stitch. If you have a question pertaining to a pattern in a magazine, book or leaflet, please include the name and # of it, and the page or pattern #. There is a slight possibility I may have that pattern, and can refer to it. Although I have crocheted sweaters and slippers,I don't feel I have done enough of them to really give good advice as to assembling the pieces, but can give advice on the type of stitches.
Experience I have been a crocheter for almost 30 years.
Question QUESTION: hi Marla,
Go to crochet central click on christmas from their free directory. Pattern for open thread ball. I have made a few of these, but the curve in the bell is not defined enough for anyone to day, that is a bell. I am planning on selling similiar ones at a craft fair very soon. How can I alter pattern for a little bit bigger bell and more defined. I have never done a craft fair and don't know what to charge for these bells. I am making fridgie items, scrubbers, potholders, halloween pins, valentines pins. any suggestions.
Thanks in advance for your help,
roberta
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ANSWER: Hi Roberta!
Thanks for asking. I went to the website. Was it crochetpatterncentral? If it is, I am having trouble finding the pattern you are asking about. Please tell me if I am looking in the right place. Is the ornament named “open thread ball”? Now as for what to charge, I haven’t done too much of that. I have made craft fair items for the non-profit organization I belong to, but people are more apt to pay more for the non-profit organizations. What I have read in the past, though, is to figure out how much something costs to make, and double that price. But don’t take that as a definite rule of thumb. Customers at craft fairs don’t usually consider how long it takes you to make something, or even how much it cost to make it. They want a bargain. Now I did crochet around Christmas balls and sold them for $1.00, and they sold well at one fair, and not so well at another. I bought the balls after Christmas when they were very cheap, so it didn’t cost much to make. I think I sold my snowflakes for 75 cents to a dollar. Both times were several years ago. But to be honest, someone who more experienced in craft fairs than me may best answer this question.
Well, anyway, please let me know if I am looking in the right place. Hope to hear from you soon.
Marla
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QUESTION: Hi Marla,
Oops! the correct website is about.com/crochet. Listed under: crochet.about.com/od/bells/Bell_Free_Patterns.htm
roberta
ANSWER: Hi Roberta!
I found the pattern and will work on it. Is it my understanding that you want the bell to be more curved at the bottom? Sometimes I have starched a crocheted bell and put it over a styrofoam bell and pinned the bottom to a piece of cardboard, and that seemed to work OK. But I'll see what I can do.
Marla
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QUESTION: Hi Marla, New problem. I have been trying to crochet thead shamrock pins and have exhausted all crochet links, finding many. however, they are not coming out as symetrical shamrocks. my husband is open minded on giving me his opinions. He said they are good but not defined enough to sell. can you help me. also, I scanned 3 shamrocks i crocheted, but don't know how to attach to this question.
thanks,
roberta
Answer Hi Roberta!
It's me again! Now, about the shamrocks. I found two among my craft books. One is from "leisure Arts" and another from "American School of Needlework" (or is it "Needlecraft"?). Did you get your patterns from either of these? I think somewhere, one of my "Workbasket" magazines has one in it too. I am sure I have some more somewhere. Let me know where you found your shamrocks, and I'll see if I have them in my collection of craft books.
I am not good at sending e-mails attachments, either. I know my way around most of Microsoft Word by itself, but that is about all.
But anyway, let me know about the patterns you have. It will give me a better feel of what you don't want, at least.
