October 1st, 2007 at 01:50 am » Comments (3)

How Cheap Can Cost The Yarn User Dear

It seems like nearly every day the “topic” of yarn substitution comes up on some e-group or another dedicated to using yarn.

Until recently, we in the US could often find great deals internationally if we were of a mindset to be a bit patient. It is sort of interesting to see how the mindset of willing to wait that mail order “requires” and particularly international mail order can clash with the “I Want It NOW” behavior of most netizens. But what do we lose when we choose customer service and price over customer service?

Each time I see this question and many others, I cannot help but think how fortunate I am to have been exposed to the expertise and assistance that can be found in an independent yarn shop where the staff has the experience and knowledge to have educated me in a way that ASCII text and even YouTube simple cannot.

Why not you ask? Because when it comes to yarn substitution, gauge is an integral part of the equation.

Although I have been fortunate to live in places where there are such shops, ones where the staff is knowledgeable and helpful, not everyone shares that advantage.

There is one shop where I often go that the owner knows her customers well, and those she does not, she makes a point of trying to. The advantage to the yarn user is that by having this type of relationship the yarn user can save a heap of heartache by taking advantage of the unique support offered by an experienced independent shop’s staff.

How so? Simple, because they get to know you and what you like.

When a new yarn, similar to the type and weight you enjoy comes in, they can show it to you.

When they have seen several of your projects over time, they have a “feel” for how you work, loose, tight or “on gauge” – so when you hit a problem, they can spot it – and help you get past it.

They can suggest patterns that are appropriate to your skill level and help you steer clear of those that may, because they are not really edited or teched properly cause you trouble. More often than knot, they will also know about errata and can help you avoid that pitfall as well.

I have often read complaints from those who are upset if they visit an independent retailer and find them unwilling to offer ‘free’ help for yarns purchased elsewhere – whether the shop carries the yarn or not.
But if you think about it, it is not really all that unreasonable.

After all IF you buy a sewing machine, say on line, but then you need to learn how to use its features, you cannot really expect the local independent sewing machine store to give you free lessons on the machine functions – the reason the machine was cheaper on line is because they know they will not have to provide much in the way of support and in the case of factory warranty, it is a lot more likely you are going to go to that local shop than ship it back to them.

So yes, the same yarn might be on that retailer’s shelf, but is it really fair to expect them to pay for your support when they have no profit from that sale? Perhaps if you often buy from them, but if you are just using their shop as the local public yarn library and denying them any profit, maybe not.

We so often seem to confuse customer service with customer support. But the truth is, many of us need more from our yarn retailer than just fast shipping and lower prices. We need product SUPPORT and that means help making good choice in yarn substitution.

Next time you are trying to make a decision that really only means saving a few cents, consider supporting the either your local yarn shop either by visiting their store, or their on-line shop – you may find the level of support well worth a few extra pennies.

But what about those who do not have the advantage of a local shop with an experienced staff?

Tomorrow or the next day

August 20th, 2007 at 00:01 am » Comments (2)

Calipers are a measuring tool which I find indispensable for measuring Aluminum and Plastic and Wood Crochet Hooks and Knit Needles. That is why I love these little 4 inch,

Brass Calipers

click for larger image

It is my experience that most of the “4 inch” (which have an overall length of about 4.5 inches) will fit into most any “tool kit” even one as compact as Clover Knit YARN Mate has enough room to include this and a few other “Hooking Necessities“.

For many reasons, none of the handy dandy devices measuring Knitting Needles really work well for Crochet hooks and all to often “stop” at the most common sizes at either end of the size range.

This particularly true for those of use who prefer the type of Crochet hook end found on Clover & Pony Hooks (slightly larger diameter than the barrel).

Obviously you cannot get an accurate measurement of the shaft’s diameter, using the little devices sold for knitting, because you have to be able to get the end thru. If the head of your hook is larger than the hole (unlike knitting needles with tapered points) it just does not work.

Nor, can you use the existing knitting measuring devices for our Double Ended tools, never mind needed into know estoreric details like the Diameter of Grant’s One Needle Looper vs, the K-Tel Knitter or the various sizes of Locker Hooks

For a designer, who needs to include accurate “gauge using x size hook and such and so yarn”

Add to that my need to have the enlarged handles such as Clover’s Soft Touch – so you can’t just poke the butt end thru… well you get the idea.

At just over 4.5 inch long, they easily fit into your pocket or hook pouch and at $7.99 (Sears) to $16 (Duluth Trading) or on average in your local Bead Shop – $11 – they are a worthwhile investment.

Okay too much for the occasional need to measure a Crochet Hook or Knit Needle? but what about gauge? As you can see in the picture, it is really easy to lay the caliper open as much as four inches (although I suggest no more than three and usually am happy with 2 inches) to check your gauge stitches or rows per inch and inch or two to quickly determine wraps per inch for weaving.

Just one small caveat – these are accurate to 1mm, and you can, with practice “eyeball” to .5mm, but I do not recommend using this device to accurately measure your steel hooks under 1mm or any hooks over 1mm to less than .5mm (ie, easy to see 3.5, hard to see 3.75 and certainly no way to be sure of 2.25 vs 2.3) When I need to measure those, either I just hand the box over to the inhouse engineer and his fancy dancy electronic caliper or I use a round wire measuring tool.

or, if you require tools that can measure that small for jewelry purposes I would ask at a reputable jeweler’s supply like the folks at Metalliferious in NYC.

I also find these very useful when making changes to a flat pattern – but that may be because they are there

Hope This Helps

Wheat

P.S. Yes there are cheaper plastic Calipers sold in craft and hobby stores. I was so dissatisfied with their quality and accuracy that I trashed them and consider it dollars down the tubes.

Added 8/23: I am told the quality has improved, so will be looking into these less expensive – small plastic versions.

P.S. Jr, I “reduced so it would fit” the picture of the “still in the package” calipers so you would know what to look for in Sears or woodworking stores (or the tool box of someone who might not miss them immediately if you are discreet about their appropriation for better use)

August 1st, 2007 at 00:00 am » Comments (71)

I am always interested in seemingly esoteric needle arts tools. Naturally, when a reference to Grant’s One Needle Looper came up in a Yahoo group; of course I had to go google. Nothing except an old eBay Auction.

Okay, on to the usual second source for “IT”, aka/ eBAY and nothing except some closed auctions and one picture, at least not for several months, then POOF, suddenly results in my automatic searches. Here is what it looks like:

However, in the last few weeks, quite a few have turned up and as importantly some instructions and patterns. (Happily original not copies)

All of the patterns and such give only the following company Information

The Grant Company
4149 N Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago IL 60641

The Copyrights are mostly dated between 1969 to 1970, so they must have been at that address for at least ten years, but the location is apparently now a building which has been converted to Condos.

The US Patent No is 3,228,212 and was issued in 1966 to Angela Huber of Germany. There is a later patent, 3,979,929 for what seems to be for the technique, issued to Angeline Lapi of Sprakers NY; assignee The Raymond Lee Organization

TH  tells me that he learned a very similiar techniques from a book on Knotting (but has not yet found the book to show me )

Although obviously the patent protections may have expired, my “project” for The Grant’s Looper is to track down whomever currently holds the Copyright to the patterns with a goal to obtaining permission to place them in the public domain.

When time allows, I will add some details about the Pattern Leaflets found so far.

I would welcome any information you care to add as comments or by email to:

Wheat