How to Hand Roll a Center Pull Ball

I have the hardest time keeping my yarn organized. For some reason, I always get the skeins that disintegrate the moment I start to unwind them, so I end up with a Pigpen-worthy mess of yarn all over my room. Because of this, I looked all over the place for the right way to roll a yarn ball, but came up with only more problems than I had before. So I decided to post a tutorial on how I do it in case there is someone out there like me that has major issues with yarn chaos.



Step One:

Grab your mess of yarn and find the end of it. Now look at your hand. See the middle three fingers? These are going to be your nostepinne AKA the thingy you wrap the yarn around. Slip your yarn through your pointer and middle fingers and pinch down to keep it in place. Make sure to leave out a decent length of the end of your yarn so it doesn't get lost in the winding process. That will be the center pull end of your ball of yarn!

Pinch that yarn!

Easy Customizeable Headband/Ear Warmer

 

Green with a cute heart!

And now, here's my very first pattern ever! It's super easy & very cute. If you'd rather just download a pdf version of it, one can be found here:

 http://www.mediafire.com/?9790zbwkured27n

Now onto the pattern!







{ Materials: } 

• 2 Balls of Yarn (each a different color. I used some leftovers from a skein I had lying around)
• Size I (5.50mm) Crochet Hook
• 2 Buttons or Snap Fasteners
• Yarn / Tapestry Needle 

The Stressors of a New Small Business Owner

Smam Crafts! business cards.

So. It's September now & that means Camp NaNoWriMo is over, unfortunately. I got to 17.5k I think? & I was hoping to hit 25k. But still, I got a decent amount written in the short amount of time I had! Unfortunately writer's block has crept up on me, so I haven't done a whole lot of writing lately. I think that's partly because of the Monrovia Festival being next weekend, so I'm nervously working on business cards one moment & crocheting furiously so I have enough of an inventory the next. Which I love, don't get me wrong. I love to plan and to get everything ready. It's just a little too much for me to focus on at once.

At least I'm much more motivated this time around! Last year, I barely had anything made. I sold $30 worth of stuff, but it still wasn't much. Just three hats. Spent that money in no time! haha. It was still a really fun experience and I can't wait to check it out this year. I just want to do good, sales-wise since I'm missing two days of work for it.

Lots on my mind! But I got five more items made! A cute lilac headband, striped cable slouch hat, a green & purple cowl, an awesome slouchy brimmed hat, & a silver & navy scarf. I'd like to get at least one more scarf made & a few more baby wash cloths. Then I'd be content.

I just realized today that I have a small business. Can you believe that? It really sunk in when I printed off my first business cards as I was getting everything ready. Since I was little, I have ALWAYS wanted to have my own business. It didn't have to be anything big or too exciting, just something I enjoyed to do.

Well here you go, tiny version of me! Smam Crafts! Awwww yeah!

Anybody else every thought of starting your own small business? Did it ever stress you out big time?