P.I.G.S. or Projects In Grocery Sacks, are an inevitable part of the Creative Crocheter life style, from childhood to the age of wisdom and beyond.

After all, we all can get “tired” of a project or even if we just ascribe to the “there needs to be at least three P.I.P. s – Projects in Progress

So how does this effect “so many hooks”. easy,

By the mid-1950’s I had already”discovered” that not all crochet hooks are created alike. Yes, even then a G was not necessarily a G,

Add to that my early sense of organization not only included keeping the Pattern leaflet with the in progress P.I.G., but the “hook used” with that project.

Why, you ask, can’t you just look at the pattern and use the same size hook. Well the problem with that is because again, even then, I did not think Crocheted garments needed to resemble suits of armour. Secondly, I have never been able to ‘write in a book’ and pattern leaflets constituted books in my warped brain. Copious notes on sheets of loose leaf paper, but nary a mark on the pattern itself.

My father once commented late in his life that he thought the reason I was good at writing/editing patterns so almost anyone could do them, was because I seemed to have spent my entire life writing out my own version of my favorite patterns, including any changes.

At some point (teen years) I decided that it would save me hours of frustration (and allow me to have P.I.G.S that did not end up in the trash because I could not remember the added details) if I bought a hook at the same time I purchased the pattern and yarn… or was absolutely sure the likely size hook was “free in my sewing box”. Admittedly it took me a bit longer to realize that since I seem to prefer using a hook at least 1mm larger than the pattern stated, that is what I should buy.

Once I figured that one out, so began a nearly life long habit of carrying around any “hooks not in use” or more accurately “not buried in P.I.G.S”

Later in life it meant that I had “a supply” that could be used for teaching the “next generation” or even just introducing mine to the satisfaction of crochet.

Does this make me rather “A.R.” probably those with the proper degree will say yes,

And, yes, this penchant for assembling all that the project requires “in one place” before beginning does carry over into other handwork as well.

I just say, No, it makes me efficient in getting started and eventually finishing…

What’s your excuse?

And What are the REAL costs…

This is based on a post written last year for Designer Biz. I am publishing it here at the request of a e-friend who wanted to use it as a starting point for a discussion in a group where all involved do not qualify for membership in that DBiz.

The question was;

Primarily my question is this: After arriving at my total cost for materials (chart, directions, fabric, floss, metallics, beads, embellishments, needle, etc.), is there a rule of thumb or a good suggestion of what my percentage of mark-up should be to establish my wholesale price for which I sell to the catalog company?

And then Wheat Wrote….

First piece of advice, unless you are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN – and it is written into the order as a condition of sale that you will NOT Be expected to accept returns or chargeback on future sales of other items placed with this company,
Thank them for thinking of you, but your business is in designing and self publishing charts not financing their inventory costs at no risk to them.

There are companies who do “kitting” as a part of their business, to a very limited degree, we are involved in this but more often than not, sub out the work when we can. They usually charge us, depending on quantity (smaller qty, higher per unit price) cost plus labor plus 14 to 30% of the projected RETAIL price.

Second, okay you have decided to go forward,
YOU NEED TO PRICE IT OUT AS IF YOU WILL NEED TO HIRE SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THE WORK.

Begin by a complete cost analysis. Every single component, the minimum quantity you will need to buy either to meet the initial order from the catalog company or to qualify for wholesale pricing from the appropriate distributor.
NOTE This is NOT the amount ordered by the cataloger, say they want 36 kits, but to qualify for wholesale pricing you need to buy 48. Then your initial cost for that item is the price including delivery of 48 pieces.

Don’t forget the cost of packaging, the little bags to hold the beads, embellishments, etc. The labels and such you may need to prepare.

Any special tools you may need to buy and the supplies for it (not everyone happens to have bag sealing equipment in their basement)

Will you need to buy more than is needed “for this order” ?
Didn’t I explain that already, Yes, but you would be amazed how many people do not hear it the first 15 or 20 times it is said…
So, IF YES, then remember to factor in TOTAL cost as well.

Find out what if any requirements they have on how and in what time frames the product needs to be shipped.

IF YOUR DELIVERY IS DELAYED (lots of good reasons, waiting for a supplier to get a needed component that is out of stock or stuck in customs can cause serious delay)
WHAT IS THEIR PENALTY POLICY

Figure out the cost of packing materials and REMEMBER Not JUST the PER UNIT but the entire BUNDLE you will need to buy to get the best pricing.

Once you have all those numbers, “pretend” you have the order.

Factor in how long it took you to “source” and order all those components.

Allow that the cost of the components will be sitting on your credit card for at least 90-120 days so add in the cost of the money for 120 days of interest (and you might find that using 180 is even closer, but if the deal is with Wal-Mart think in terms of a year or more to see your first check)

TIME how long it takes to lay out all the components, then how long it takes to put them together all the way thru to packing a box which will have the minimum quantity of kits. (at least 12 I would hope)

NOW decide the value of YOUR time, and give LONG HARD Thought to IF You want to spend your time this way. If not, what will it cost to hire someone to do this for you.

In your deliberation please take time to consider what or how you will dispose of “leftover” components.

Another “hidden cost” in sourcing is Minimum Orders. Over the past week I had to source a particular bead for a kit to go with something that will be published in a magazine in June. The only supplier who had what I REALLY Wanted/Needed has a $250 minimum order AND while I fully expect to need no more than 50 grams of this bead, must order at least 500. The ENTIRE cost of that 500 grams will need to be factored into the cost of the initial run of these kits.

Okay, now ADD ALL THE COSTS, INCLUDING AND ESPECIALLY The cost of sourcing all the materials – and you have the INITIAL cost of “MANUFACTURING” the first run of Kits or maybe even only the Prototype you will be submitting prior to actually getting an order. .

Divide that number by the likely number of sales. Since it is a catalog, I am hoping they have guaranteed to buy a minimum of 36. So that will be number to use

AND THAT WILL BE YOUR COST PER KIT –

Now that you have determined the actual cost including the initial development expenses…

You need to determine a selling price, in my never humble opinion, this should be at least triple that cost for you Distributor price, at and least quadruple for your WHOLESALE PRICE.

Your markup has to cover your profit and perhaps in the future sales rep commission and/or discounting for distributors who will pay less than keystone pricing. Failure to allow for such expenses – not to mention marketing and other routine costs of doing business is the number one error most “designers” make when pricing anything from patterns to kits.

Please expect that MOST catalog businesses EXPECT you will give them Distributor prices which means if your wholesale per unit is $10, they will expect to pay $6.50 to $7 and may expect “free shipping”

I am SURE I left out a few things, so hopefully others will add their thoughts, by commenting.

Price higher than you think the market will bear? Then RUN, Don’t Walk away – why invest your time, money and thought in a project that will not make money and in fact likely will cost you money “in the long run”.

But ONCE AGAIN, everything else aside,

IS THIS HOW YOU WANT TO SPEND YOUR TIME?

IS THIS HOW YOU WANT TO INVEST YOUR WORKING CAPITAL?

As the inimitable Mark Twain said….

Although I certainly would not be all that surprised (and apparently the rumors did exist or so I am told)…

After all I have not done anything on this blog in months. Besides it was somewhat close apparently.

Now that the consensus “I’ll Live”, and with many thanks to the wonderful folks at Carroll County Hospital and the ongoing care offered to the uninsured in this county by Access Carroll it is time to give this blog some attention.

Besides, part of getting healthy means getting back to a normal routine, so time and past time to share my thoughts.

Much of whatever energy I had has been devoted to “getting Zenned” and building Retail Web Sites, and that is an on going process – the impetus? Well, it would appear I won’t be able to travel any time soon (and have been “at home” all of 2008 traveling no further than the hospital as it happens)

Tied into that is that we have decided to destash with an eye to selling and moving to a smaller house. Much as I love this place, it is just not possible to take care of it, me, TH & TheMom. So downsizing is needed.

We are evaluating what to continue to offer and what really “only sells at shows” and those things will be clearanced – mostly thru the  domain and that which we plan to continue (particularly all things Clover) will be available thru the Retail Website, ItsAllJustString.com

I still hope to keep this blog relatively uncommercial, but will be including links to the products we are selling when it makes sense to do so.

The kick in the pants I needed was a request by a friend to move an old post to Deisgner Biz to the blog so she could point people at it. So I guess that will be my first (second?) blog-a-mentory of 2009.

Thanks to all who have been so very supportive this year, you will be in my thoughts forever.

So thanks for

With thanks to TH who went thru various Knot Books, it would seem that the Grant’s Looper (aka/ K-Tel Knitter) base row is the same as The Chain Sinnet
can be seen in the Ashley Book of Knots, The Chain Sinnet #2868, on page 472

The Looper/Knitter is being used not unlike a fid is used in ply split braiding.

http://www.animatedknots.com/chainsinnet/index.php

Others have suggested it is not unlike NalBinding, and I think I would have to agree

So many names, all for the same techniques, no wonder I am “fused”

Did you miss out on the 60’s?

Haven’t you ALWAYS wanted to say that you went to Washington to fight for your rights???

Here’s your chance to make a difference!!!

PLEASE JOIN US IN WASHINGTON DC ON JUNE 4 AND 5.

We’ll be meeting Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 8:30 a.m. at the Harte Senate building in the ground floor cafeteria, right hand side near the glass windows when you walk in.

Also, we plan on assigning someone to sit there for the day to help direct people to their appointments, pass out our literature, etc. We could use a volunteer for this, too.

If anyone lives in the area, even if you can come for one day, we invite you to join us. If you don’t want to talk, that’s ok, just being there will help reinforce our position. The more, the better!

Note, we want to look as professional as possible so please keep this in mind. (We will be in business attire)

Bring along some printouts of your art to share with the Senators and Congressmen! Or your kid’s art!

Let them see what’s at risk. Have you been infringed? Share your story on a flyer. It’s the personal aspect of this that will get their attention.

When they see that we’ve gone to the extreme of leaving our studios to come to Washington, they’ll know we are committed to our cause.

PLEASE COME!!!

Meanwhile, Please visit out OPPOSITION WEBSITE
for up to date info and resources.

http://www.owoh.org

Hope to see you there,

Don’t Let Congress Kill Creativity –
Help Stop the ORPHAN WORKS BILL –
ACT NOW – Visit: http://www.owoh.org