thenexusknitter

Rainy memorial weekend

It’s a holiday weekend here in the USA. It’s also what most think of as the start of summer. Schools are done. Most anyway. For us in Montana it is the last long weekend before the end of school. As people go camping or travel for the long holiday it is once again rainy and wet for the forecast this weekend. So for me it’s a good weekend to get some projects done and or start new ones. Also getting ready for what is my busy time for my business with the start of farmers markets.

These are just some of the new things that I will be adding for the market. I hope everyone has a good holiday weekend if your in the USA. If your not, have a good weekend and please stay well.

Thoughts this mothers day weekend

As I sit here having been listening to the rain come down this Saturday morning, the day before Mother’s Day, I’m thinking what can I do this weekend when it’s wet and the weather is unpredictable. As a crafter and a lover of handmade things I thought I might check out the handmade fair that is happening today. And then I thought I want to get some of my own crafting done this weekend while I have the time. I have lots to do before the farmers markets start in almost a month.

So, despite the rain I took my mother in law, who’s living with us, to the handmade fair and got some things from some wonderful vendors there. It would have made it a nice day to end it there and say I spent the rest of the day working on my projects but no that’s not how it ended. I ended up getting a call that had me taking my son to the er cause he has been going through a bout of depression and anxiety and felt he needed to be seen for help. He had been seeing a counselor weekly for help or a little over a month now but he needed a bit more than that I guess. So, hopefully now we will get him on the right path forward.

As a mom I struggle a little with this in not seeing the signs or thinking in some way I should have done more but I know from my experience that it is not the case. I have to commend both my kids as they have gone through their struggles with mental health that they have had the strength and knowledge to know and reach out for the help that is available.

So, on this Mother’s Day weekend I would say it is more of a reflective time for me. No big gifts from my kids and happy time. It is more a time to realize that there are things in life that even a mom cannot fix with just a hug. My kids know that I will always support them and I am here for them in whatever they need but I also realize that I can’t always fix every problem they may have. As much as I would love to.

On a side note, as a knitter I was thinking as we were sitting in the er waiting for them to figure out what best to do for him I was kicking myself because this was the one time I didn’t have a project in my bag to work on. I could have gotten so much done at the time. So I vowed from now on to make sure I always have something to do in those moments when life happens to through you a curve ball. For those new moms out there that might read this, welcome to motherhood. It is a roller coaster ride of emotions for the rest of your life I will say and it never stops. But one I would not change.

The last thing I would say about this weekend is I am grateful for my craft I have cause it is my safe place. It helps me through these bumpy ride sections and curve balls that come. As well as the smooth parts of the ride. Happy Mother’s Day. Til next time, I will be crafting on through it all.

Spring in Montana

Hi folks, so I’m sitting at my desk right now working on some scrubbies and items for my shop on this Saturday morning and looking outside my window at the birds eating and there is a mix of snow and rain coming down this morning. It’s actually been going on since yesterday too. Though yesterday was more rain. This is more snow. It’s 34 degrees outside. This is what we deal with in spring in Montana. A mix of winter and spring. How is your spring?

I have to say that lately I have been struggling a bit to stay motivated this time of year. My work gets busy as a essential worker in a grocery store and then to find the energy to work on my own stuff and get content out. I know I am not the only one. But I am trying to push through it. I do have some new products in mind that I think you will love. New things in the works. But for now, it’s just I need to find my mojo back a bit. That’s it for now, til next time, hope you have a nice spring weekend where you are and have a great creative day.

New logo

Hello, I am so excited to debut my new logo that has been finished now. I feel it really represents my brand and where I live that gives me the inspiration to do what I do. As you know I live in Montana as I’ve shown pictures of it many times. The snow capped mountains are beautiful and give me inspiration for making hats and warm things for families. I also live in a community that cares for artists and small business owners and supports them. So it is encouraging as well. I believe my new logo represents all of that. Let me know what you think.

I make things for families and home goods hence the house to house theme and I live in area surrounded by beautiful mountains. All of that made with yarn. This is the new face of my business and I will be changing over all my social media outlets to this. Don’t get me wrong, I love the design my daughter did for me to begin with. But moving forward in my business I decided I needed to step it up a bit.

It is still April and with April brings people thinking of cleaning typically and organizing. I got you covered with that by some of my products such as washcloths and scrubbies. I just updated some photos for the scrubbies on the website.

Knitting and crochet has always been a outlet for me to connect whether it is to reflect or unwind or connect with people like when I was teaching classes on them both. Recently I have been helping a coworker learn how to knit and it reminded me of the joy I get in showing someone how to do the craft I love. I’ve had numerous people tell me I should make some videos too. At first I thought there are more than enough videos out there for it but it has been something I have been contemplating, who knows, maybe 2022 is the year for more firsts. We shall see. But for now, happy Easter if you celebrate it or happy Passover if that is your choice. I have family that celebrates both. I will be back for more and you can be assured I will be knitting and crochet this weekend too. Take care til next time

Spring time in Montana

Hello, as I sit here thinking of what to write this morning I am looking out at blue sky and listening to my chimes outside lightly playing as the wind is picking up. It is currently 37 degrees outside here in Bozeman and it is not expected to get much warmer through the day. Yesterday it got up to mid seventy’s. This is spring in Montana. Where one day it is beautiful and warm and the next be cold and dreary at times. Spring here is kind of two seasons, lingering winter like temps and some spring like temps.

For me as a crafter what that means is I can still make hats and shawls and things but also look toward warmer weather and make things with cotton. I am also now in the mode of thinking of and preparing for the upcoming season of farmers markets and selling in person as well as online. I’m getting excited to show off my new brand coming together that I believe will really express where I live and create and what I do. Where I live gives me inspiration to create.

An example of a beautiful spring day view

Here is a picture of a new washcloth I just finished this morning. It uses a cotton yarn that is a mix of cotton and a scrubby style yarn. So it gives sections of scratchy and soft. Depending on how you like your washcloths this gives you a combo to try. I would say it would be good for the kitchen and the bath if you are the kind that like a bit of scrub for cleaning your face too. What do you think? Would you buy a washcloth like this? I would love to know.

Springtime also inspires me to add more colors to my palette. I love color and this time always makes me happy to see the new growth and colorful flowers and green grass starting to come out. What inspires you about spring? Til next time, stay positive and enjoy the time you are in.

Rebranding of company

It is now the end of March believe it or not of 2022 and before we get further into the year I decided that i need to get working on my goals I had set. One of which is to move my business forward this year. Part of doing that is changing things up to help improve my footprint. I love my look though that my daughter came up with for me but I feel like the time is right to give it a bit more professional look and something that really shows more of what nexusknits is. So I’ve hired a professional designer to come up with a brand that says this and am excited to see what she comes up with. I will be debuting that in the coming weeks. I will also be updating my product photos as well to make it all connected. These will be across both my platforms.

Spring is here and it gives me a sense of freshness and renewal. A great time to bring about some change.

A beautiful view of the Bridger
mountains from near my house.

With spring and the changing up of my space I also have looked at some of my patterns and changed up at least one. This hat pattern featured the half double herringbone stitch in crochet. It still does but I have changed the start for increases and alternating the pattern for the body of the hat. I’m calling this one spring flowers for the color palette. It makes me think of flowers coming up. What do you think?

Spring flowers hat. Pattern by nexusknits

In conclusion, there will be lots changes coming in the coming months and all being good. Let’s all spring forward and bring new life in our lives whatever that means for you. Til next time, keep crafting and connecting.

Going through my stash

So, do you love yarn? Like really love yarn? I know I have loved yarn and natural fiber for years. Recently though, I have had to do some rearranging in my house due to taking on a member of our family moving in soon so have had to move out of the room that I was using as my craft room. Now into part of my living room.

In the process of doing all this I have had to go through my stash as I have had to move it all and come to the realization that I had a lot more yarn then I had remembered. I have now filled at least two large bags full of yarn to donate as it is stuff that does not bring me joy or I see working with in the near future. I’m still not done by the way. As you can see from the picture my shelving is pretty full already. Granted parts of those shelves has yarn for items I’m making for the markets coming up and sales online in my shop as well.

I guess you could call this my jump on spring cleaning. Which in some ways is a good thing since it clearly was needed. I try to do it at least once or twice a year but now it is extra full on as my space is more limited now. A little stressful yet also a relief as I am clearing out things I will not use and finding projects I had started but not finished and will probably either rip out or consider finishing them. Stay tuned for more on that.

In conclusion, all of this has shown me that I need to be more mindful of what I am spending for yarn and making sure I have something in mind to do with it given my limited space to keep it. It’s all good and much needed. Til next time, keep crafting and for this month hope it includes some crochet. More in my next post on that.

Making new things

Hi, so today I thought I would talk about what has been on my mind lately. I have been doing some test knitting for a favorite designer I know. She comes up with wonderful items like hats and cowls and shawls. In the process of doing that though it has made me think that I could take that leap into the design world and try my hand at designing some items myself. So even though I love both knit and crochet so much, my first love I would have to say is crochet since that is what I started with. So, it would make sense then that my first few designs be in crochet. Now I did design some hats before but then I stepped back and didn’t continue. I have gotten the bug again now and looking at designing some market bags and some hats.

This is one of my ideas. I love the moss stitch. Also called the linen stitch or granite stitch. There is a linen stitch in knitting too which is similar in texture. This stitch makes a wonderful, warm feel which I perfect for hats and cowls that are meant to keep you warm. The yarn I am using for this is some lion brand roving in their ice cream brand. There are many colors. It is a nice soft acrylic. Perfect for babies or anyone with issues with wool.

I will be adding a market bag as well in the coming weeks. More items to come. How about key chains? What do you think?

How to move forward in 2022

I know it’s been a while since I last blogged but I have been doing a lot of reflecting and trying to decide what my goals are for this blog and for my business moving forward in the new year.

I decided I want to try my hand at making some new items like some keychains or key fobs as some are stated. As well as some other items like a new market bag to be available in a few months. I’ve been inspired by some friends that have been designing a lot lately and have helped some with test knitting their items which I love to do but it has also sparked in me the notion that I can do the same. To make some new things to brand for nexusknits and add to my shop. So what do you think of this one to start?

The stitch I used for this one is one I have used a lot in some of my other items like my washcloths and dish towels. This one is a longer one. I am going to be trying out some other sizes as well. Let me know in the comments what you think and if you would like to see some others. Maybe with other stitches. Like a puff stitch maybe? I will also be making some with charms as well. Ones that are too big to really work for stitch markers. I have four colors in key fobs to choose from. This one pictured is more like rose gold.

I’ve also decided that in a effort to promote my website/shop I will be adding these items initially exclusively there for people to buy before I consider adding them to my Etsy shop. I have partnered with goimagine, a new handmade company that is a little over a year old but amazing to sponsor my shop online. They are doing something a lot of internet companies are not. They are giving 100% of their profits to childrens charities. I want to help support that and I hope you will too. Please come checkout http://www.nexusknits.com and see what I have. I am constantly adding new things and improving all the time. It’s a work in progress for sure.

Also one last thing. In a effort to expand my social media outreach, I am now on TikTok as well. You can find me there as @nexusknitter67 . Til next time folks, stay warm, stay healthy and take care.

Happy new year!?

You may wonder why I put two different marks at the end of the title. Here’s why. On the one hand I am thrilled we made it through another year and on the other we are still in the same place we have been for two years now. In some ways we have made strides to change things yes, but on the other because of the lies and misinformation given in the US we have not made the changes we need to be further beyond then we are. Enough said on that.

It is a new year like it or not and I am looking forward and on to the positive things that I can and want to do for myself and my business. My business did see some growth in 2021. I continued to do well on Etsy and at the local markets which is great. I also branched out and decided that I need to build my business online beyond Etsy. I decided to partner with a up and coming marketplace company that I believe will be the new face of handmade online and in person. It’s taken the concept that Etsy did in the beginning but has moved away from which is focus on handmade sellers. People who create things handmade. Supporting them and encouraging them to succeed. But the other thing about this business is they are choosing to stay true to their mission as to have a handmade marketplace but also hugely to give their profits to children in need which is something I whole heartedly support and can get behind. Not many companies can or choose to do that. I have had nothing but positive feedback from everyone in this business whether it is other sellers and the original group of founders who are building this. I hope more people will check out and support them in the coming new year. The name of this wonderful business I think is perfect for it. Goimagine. Think about what that means. My goal or plan for this year business wise is to build up my business on this platform, and let everyone know they are out there and doing great things. So please check out goimagine.com and check me out there as nexusknits and on http://www.nexusknits.com.

Welcome to my new spinning wheel. As you know if you’ve read my other blog posts, I am a bicrafty person. I knit and crochet and my love of the fiber arts has no bounds. A few years ago I was introduced to the magic of spinning fiber contents into yarn by taking a class with a spindle. More on that later. Since then I was gifted my mother in law’s spinning wheel. I hadn’t been able to dive myself in fully to spinning with everything else going on the last two years and continuing to work throughout though. I also was having trouble getting the rhythm down to move the wheel with my foot as it is a one foot treddle. So I stopped for a while. But had been looking at these espinners as some of my friends had gotten some and were enjoying them. Thanks to having a job now that has made it possible for me to support my love o the fiber arts I was able to get this espinner the eew 6. It is also made by a small business called dreamingrobots. It was the most affordable one out in the market today and more portable. So this is my plan and goal for myself personally this coming year. To become a better spinner of wool fibers and eventually making yarn for myself to then knit or crochet something with the final product to put it all together. All of this follows my creed of my name. Finding connections in everything I do. Going from the sheep or animal that I have the fiber from to spinning it up on my wheel or spindle to then making something with it by knitting or crochet. Learning so much along the way. Here is a picture of just some of the wool I will be starting with.

One thing I know about the fiber arts, there is always more to learn and explore. I know I will never be bored. So, happy new year it is. Continuing to try to stay positive and focus on what I can control and do for my sanity and my own mental and physical health.

Til next time, stay well, be happy and let’s hope for more kindness in our world please. We surely need it.