on DMC conversions

**another re-post, I know. The information is still good, though :)

Ever wonder why a popular line of hand dyed thread doesn’t have a blanket conversion to DMC colors? It can be virtually impossible to give accurate conversions when colors vary from one dye lot to the next! What works well for one design may not (and probably won’t) work well for another.

Picture “designer A” and “designer B” both using the same hand-dyed color (Blueberry) in their designs. They are the same color, but from different dye lots and look fairly different– one is bright blue and one is much lighter blue. If the designers do not provide DMC conversions and the stitcher is left to refer to a blanket conversion for the thread line, one of the blues will obviously not match. Or worse, if the conversion was done by someone holding yet another dye lot (a medium blue this time) neither stitcher will get an accurate conversion.

It’s always best for the designer to provide the conversions on their charts. When I do my conversions, I lay out all of the DMC on the fabric (do a floss toss) to make sure that the DMC version looks cohesive. That way, the stitchers who prefer to use DMC will always get a nice finish even if one of the DMCs does not exactly match the skein of hand-dyed thread. I would think that most conscientious designers do it this way.

Sometimes there is just no DMC equivalent available. Some of the hand-dyed threads can be so wildly variegated, there’s just no substitute. In that case, it’s probably best just to buy the called for color if you want the look to be the same. Of course, it may be more fun just to do your own thing, too!

***Today’s doorprize winner is Katrina H. from TX***

 

designer blogs- the shortlist :)

Thought I’d share a list of designer blogs that I’m aware of that are regularly updated. I have more on my Google Reader, but most of them haven’t been posted to since 1964. Know of any others?

• Jennifer of Dragon Dreams, DragonMusings
• Melinda of Medeiros Needlecraft Design, The Stitching Thread
• Teresa of TW Designworks, Artistic License
• Tanya of The Sampler Girl, At the Honeysuckle Tree
• Jo of Dinky-Dyes, Da Dinky Dyer’s Diary
• Nancy of Glory Bee, GloryBeeStitch
• Kat of Cross Eyed Kat, Kat Gets Crosseyed
• Deborah of Midsummer Night Designs, Midsummer Night Musings
• Jen of Funk & Weber, Needle and ThREAD
• Marianne of Midnight Stitching; Stitching, Tea, & Me
• Linn of Skinner Sisters, The Embroideress
• Tracy of Ink Circles, Pencil Circles

 

why charts are retired + mail goodness

This morning’s mail brought another Sandra Cozzolino chart for my collection and two yummy cuts of Wichelt’s hand dyed Jobelan. The chart is Design Connection, “Let Virtue Be a Guide” and the fabrics are 28ct Raspberry (top) and 28ct. Bittersweet Light… both are just gorgeous in person and I can’t wait to get stitching on them.

Yesterday’s post sparked some interesting conversations and a good question– “why do designers retire charts?” There are several possible answers:

• In many cases the retired design was originally produced in limited numbers simply because the materials included with the design were limited in number. My Mark calendars, for example, sell out every year. The little calendar pads which are included (and are an integral part of the design) are only available to me for a short time, so these designs are forced into limited status, and go OOP quickly.
• Sometimes we just get plain tired of looking at a particular design. So we retire it! I have 2 designs that I retired for that reason.
• Sometimes the sales don’t support the investment it would take to do another print run. For the most cost-effective printing of 8.5 x 11 leaflets, a print run of at least 1000 is required. So if a design’s sales are tapering off, and you are on your last 150 charts in stock, you wouldn’t order another 1000!
• There are many designers out there who are much more organized than I am, and they have planned their releases out a year (or more!) in advance. To keep the busines clicking right along, you print up all of the charts you’ll ever sell for a particular design and then move on to the next one. It may be a while before that original stock is depleted, but by the time it is you’re already 30 designs down the road.

The internet, with it’s message boards and blogs, has played a major role in boosting the sales of older designs. In the pre-internet world, you might have shown a stitching finish to a few of your friends & your family… and if a chart wasn’t in your LNS, you didn’t know it existed! Now, it’s easy to post a picture of a recent finish on a blog and have it seen (potentially) by millions. When a stitcher posts a finish of a design created years ago, a good number of people will go on the hunt for that design… and it may be something they’ve never even seen before! It’s really quite interesting to me the impact that the internet has had on the needlework industry! But that’s another post :)

 

refusing to sell to ebay sellers?

There has been discussion among chart designers about whether to sell to ebay retailers or not. The “no” side claims that being seen on ebay will cheapen their product, while the “yes” side maintains that as long as the reseller has adequate retailer documentation (tax number, etc.) that it shouldn’t matter. I’m on the “yes” side for a number of reasons. As long as a retailer follows my purchasing guidelines, who am I to dictate what they do with my product? (To clarify, I’m only talking about original charts, not illegal copies… that’s a whole ‘nother issue.)

Interestingly enough, there are a few designers who take the time to print on their charts a statement to the effect of “it’s illegal to sell this chart on ebay”. I always wonder what makes them think they can create their own laws… if I printed on my charts, “may not be used as bird cage liner” would that make it illegal to do so? Waste of ink.

Pottery Barn has recently decided to enforce a policy of banning buyers who intend to sell their items on ebay. Obviously PB isn’t in the needlework business, but their policy and the effects it may have their customers is certainly on-topic. Check out this blog post, and read the comments… you’ll get an idea of just how volatile the subject is. It seems as though everyone has an opinion, and each is a strong one.

I agree that ebay has a reputation as “the place to go for cheap stuff”, but would having my charts listed for sale on ebay cheapen MY image? I really don’t think so! I believe that that vast majority of consumers are smart enough to figure out that the brand-holder has little (if anything) to do with the offering of their products on ebay.

Edited: I believe that buying & selling charts on ebay impacts the needlework industry. I am neither advocating nor condemning the sales of needlework charts on ebay, merely wondering aloud about the effects ebay sales have on perceived values and questioning the “rights” of brand-holders to dictate end-user practices.

 

a wee disaster

As most of you are aware, the online needlework show was set to begin last night. There were so many people hitting the site at once that the server crashed! Then it seemed to be fixed, only to crash again. The show owner has assured us vendors that the problem will be remedied ASAP, or failing that, the show will be rescheduled. In short, the show will go on… we just don’t know when! I have seen a few negative posts out in message board land which is just silly. It’s no one’s fault and our shopping is merely delayed not cancelled. Boy, mess up a stashing opp and we all become like rabid beasts :)

 

your opinions, please!

Dear Stitcher,

Needlearts shops, product makers, and associations need your input to serve you better!

Please go to http://www.HartBusinessResearch.com/needlearts.htm and fill out the 10-minute survey there.

Your survey responses will…
**** Help shops and product suppliers enhance your enjoyment of the needlearts
**** Help The National NeedleArts Association promote the needlearts to kids and adults
**** Raise money for cancer victim support and needlearts mentoring
**** Make good use of your thoughts and time

The survey asks about your experiences with whichever needlearts you enjoy: crocheting, cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting, or needlepoint. We’d like to know what inspires you, your activities, the sorts of projects you like to do, your early experiences, where you make needlearts purchases, and what you’d like to see needlearts shops do better. We want to hear from beginners and experts!

Your answers are completely anonymous. No one will use your survey responses to market to you. The survey is done every two years, so now is your chance. The survey is sponsored by The National NeedleArts Association (TNNA), a business organization that supports the needlearts community. Hart Business Research is conducting the research and compiling the results as part of a comprehensive report, The State of Specialty Needlearts 2007.

TNNA will donate $1 for each of the first 800 online surveys to WIN Against Breast Cancer or the Helping Hands Foundation Needlearts Mentoring ProgramSM. You choose the charity.

We hope to hear from you at http://www.HartBusinessResearch.com/needlearts.htm by April 20, 2007.

 

freebie debate, part 2.

If you did not read Part 1 of the great freebie debate, and would like to, click here:
Part 1

“Freebies” (ahem, complimentary charts) were not as prevalent at the Nashville market this year. A step in the right direction, if you ask me. I’d estimate that roughly 30% of exhibitors offered complimentary designs this year.
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Plans are in the works to bring attention to the cross stitch vendors at the summer TNNA show, and one of those plans includes the offering of a complimentary design, which will be part of a unit. In order to receive the entire unit, a shop owner must visit each participating booth. A fine idea at first glance, yet one which doesn’t place a value on a designer’s talents. One of the participating designers was overheard at market saying: “I don’t see them offering free thread or fabric… what’s expected is that the INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY will be given away. How is this fair?!” And I agree with her. Just because the raw material of my product happens to be an intangible thing (my creativity) doesn’t mean it’s worthless. Admittedly, it’s much easier for everyone to assign value to raw materials which must be purchased (ie. cone of thread costs $X.00) but please don’t assume our ideas should be given away just because we did not purchase them from a manufacturer.
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A recent post on a message board poses the question: “where did all the cheapness come from?”, meaning why do stitchers believe materials for stitching should be acquired inexpensively? Well, obviously designers who offer complimentary designs on a regular basis play a large part in this mindset. If I can ‘afford’ to give away a nice design, what would make anyone think that comparable designs are worth $8.00 or more?
Also contributing to the mix are larger companies like DMC and Dimensions, who market their products to big box discounters (read WalMart). Needlework shops cannot compete with the pricing because they cannot afford to purchase by the thousands and receive quantity discounts from the manufacturer. In addition, placement of such products at ‘common’ stores removes the *special-ness* of the product. I simply can’t imagine getting excited about purchasing needlework products at the same place I purchase my toothpaste. And since it’s not a special treat, I sure as heck don’t want to pay much for it.
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I was almost convinced to begin offering complimentary designs to reap the marketing benefits, but I just can’t. It wouldn’t be right for me to contribute to the decline of an industry which I am counting on for support. A bit like shooting myself in the foot… I will remain committed to my original stance: to offer a complimentary chart *only* in the instance that doing so will directly advertise or benefit a charitable organization.