Crochet Guide


Crochet Guide
Make your own sweaters and blankets when you learn to crochet. Instructions to learn how and information updated daily.

Most Recent Entries
Crochet Guide

Add these feeds
to your homepage

How To Un-Shrink a Wool Sweater
Aldo Ciarrocchi

Sometimes it happens to us all, in a careless moment we throw our brand new wool sweaters in the washing machine or dryer, shrinking them down about eight sizes and rendering it un-wearable to all but our children’s action man or Barbie Doll.

Luckily I have a contact with some inside knowledge on this matter so I asked my friend Mark Shenton owner of www.woolovers.com if there was a way to un-shrink a wool sweater, he started laughing even before I could finish my question.

Well people today’s your lucky day, I have used the information this Shenton character gave me and mastered the black art of wool un-shrinking and am here to share it with you.

Here we go….

When wool gets wet and warm, the fibres in the wool lock themselves together and don't want to let go, resulting in shrinkage (you can get wool warm or wet, but not both), which kind of makes washing wool garments a dangerous business.

To un-shrink the wool, soak the garment in warm water with a mild soap for about 10 minutes. This unlocks the fibres in the wool. Then lay the garment out on some towels in a cool place. Stretch the garment out to its original dimensions. The stretching pulls the unlocked wool fibres away from each other. Allow it to dry. The absence of heat from the drying process allows the wool fibres to set in place without locking together and shrinking the garment again.

That it, long story short: you will have a brand new, fully functional sweater again.

Take Care,

About The Author

Aldo Ciarrocchi Researcher for Summit media

This article is free for anyones use enjoy.

summitmedia.co.uk

aldoc@summitmedia.co.uk

Are you looking for Free Crochet Patterns
Mike Yeager

Are you looking for Free Crochet Patterns Mike Yeager

If you are in the market for sewing patterns, crochet patterns or quilt patterns you can find them online! Did you know that there are many websites that not only instruct individuals on the techniques of sewing, in all its forms, but that help supply you with the supplies you need Advice can be found online and so can free patterns!

Are you interested in free cross-stitch patterns How about free quilt patterns Maybe you want are looking for crochet ponchos patterns Maybe you would be interested in free knitting patterns Whatever you are looking for, you can find it online! There are many that will offer advice to your questions. There are some that sell patterns and some that will tell you where to get them for free! Yes, free. Interested

To find a website that offers these patterns for free, locate your favorite search engine. An engine like Google or Yahoo will work. Let us say you are looking for free knitting patterns. Type in "free knitting patterns" or just "knitting patterns" in your search box and go! You will undoubtedly receive a bunch of different places to choose from. Browse the list. You may be able to find places that you can go to download the patterns onto your computer to print off later. Forums are places you can join, mostly free of charge, and get to know fellow craftsmen. You will be able to ask questions and get advice. Also, you will get to meet people doing the same things you are. Maybe you will be able to answer their questions! These are great places to find information.

If you dont know what project you want to start, paging through the countless pages on websites will give you many, many options. You will see things you never thought of yourself. You may decide to make something that would look great on your couch or maybe a nice quilt for your friends that are visiting a cabin this winter.

About The Author

Mike Yeager Publisher http://www.a1-fabric-4u.com/ mjy610@hotmail.com

Craft Crocheting From Your Home
Pierre Benoit

Craft Crocheting From Your Home Pierre Benoit

Crocheting is not only a craft but an art. Once you master the basic stitches you will be well on your way to creating masterpieces you will be pride to share with your family and friends. Anyone can learn to crochet as long as they put their mind to it.

Before you run out and buy your crocheting supplies decide what you want to crochet first. According to the item you choose, you will need different size needles and yarn weight. All this information is with the patterns and you will see just how easy it is to achieve your goal of crocheting your first work of art.

You will be crocheting from toys to sweaters in no time. There are so many different items you can crochet. There are snowflakes for the Christmas tree, sweaters for your best friend, and house slippers for every member of your family. You can even learn to crochet baby bibs, blankets, and outfits.

No matter what you choose to crochet you will find everything you need on the Internet! No need to leave the house. Some websites provides you all the supplies for crocheting and knitting with just a click of your mouse. You will need crochet hooks, yarn, and sometimes needles. The crochet hooks come in several different sizes. The yarn is in different weights and you can find them all right by shopping online.

So, when you need to buy your crocheting supplies, come at Crochet Resources first. Save yourself some time and money by shopping online.

About The Author

Pierre Benoit is an Affiliate Marketer and a Webmaster. His website Crochet Resources provides a selection of crochet information, news, supplies and resources. His website Crochet Patterns presents a selection of crochet patterns for every occasion. pierrebenoit@free.fr

If you are chasing the most up-to-date help in relation to blankets.
Tom

When you are on the lookout for better information relating to blankets, it'll be complex separating superior information from inexpert blankets submissions or guidance so it is wise to know how to judge the information you are offered. Pacific Pillows: Comforters Offers pillows and bedding products offered at luxury hotels and resorts around the world. Here's several tips which we sincerely believe you should use when you are searching for information about blankets. You need to understand that the advice we offer is only appropriate to internet info about blankets. We don't really offer any assistance or guidance if you are receiving information offline. Universal Shopping - Blankets and Throws Buy blankets and throws at Universal Shopping and receive a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee from this unique specialty store. A good hint to track when offered information or advice on a blankets article is to research who is behind the website. This may show you the people behind the site blankets authority The quickest way to work out who owns the blankets site is to find the 'about' page. All reputable sites providing information about blankets, will almost certainly provide an 'about' webpage which will list the site owner's details. The info should make known key points about the website owner's expertise. You can then arrive at a decision about the vendor's education and practical knowledge, to offer recommendations concerning blankets. About the author: Tom Brown is the webmaster for http://www.hession-emporium.info

No Sew Fleece Blankets
Loretta Oliver

What you'll need: 1-2 yds. of print outerwear fleece1-2 yds. of a solid outerwear fleece Tape measure rotary cutting supplies if you have them, if not that is okay, just use the tape measure and a pair of scissors How to make *Square your fabric edges by folding corners to meet flat edges and trimming to square it up. *Remove the selvages (fabric fray) *Place the two fabrics over each other, wrong sides together. *Cut a 5" square from each of the 4 corners * To cut fringe, lay fabric on rotary cutting mat, (keep both together, you can pin them in the canter if needed, if you have a rotary or scissor that will cut through both yards at once) and cut strips 1 inch wide and 5 inches deep the whole way around the fabric. If your rotary or scissor wont cut both at the same time, that is okay just make sure to keep your strips evenly spaced. *Using a overhand knot, tie the front and back fringe together (loop swoop and pull knot) the whole way around the blanket. Be careful not to pull too hard, you could stretch the fabric out and distort your blanket. In just an hour or two you have made a great, warm, cuddly blanket! :) To make a pillow, cut a piece of fabric 15-18 inches square (15 for a 10 inch pillow and 18 for a 12 inch pillow) make it just like the blanket, except after you've done 3 and a half sides slide the pillow form in and then finish the 4th edge off. Blankets can be made ANY size ~ just purchase the appropriate amount of fleece for your needs. Blankets can also be made with ONE piece of fleece instead of two for a slightly lighter weight blanket, just be sure to buy double sided fleece with a reversible pattern and follow the same directions as above only using one piece of fabric. Now, get cuddly on the sofa and enjoy your new blanket :) Loretta Oliverwww.stitchingthenightaway.com© Stitching the Night Away

About the Author

www.stitchingthenightaway ~ free cross stitch patterns, community, all things cross stitch.

Transform Wet Blankets Into Comfort Quilts
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D.

You've embarked on a major transition and your enthusiasm is growing. Just when you get a small fire going, someone comes along with a heavy wet blanket.

"You'll hate it."

"I turned down that job two years ago, but it's perfect for you."

"Nobody makes a living that way."

Strategies to Transform Wet Blankets into Comfort Quilts.

"Calm under pressure" is a skill you can learn, and it gives you power. I used to flinch when people were critical until I worked with Rick, an Air Force veteran who had seen more action than he cared to admit.

When a bullying administrator yelled, Rick would laugh. "It's just noise," he would say, "not enemy aircraft." And he'd bounce right back into his next idea.

Recognize the champion in the critic. By investing time and energy to insult you, your critic acknowledges you have strength and power. Be proud!

The universe has sent you a coach. Dancers and athletes learn that coaches do not waste time on losers.

Pat Summitt, award-winning coach of Tennessee's Lady Vols, warns recruits that she yells only at the best players. It's when she stops yelling that you need to worry.

Use humor. When I told a colleague I was considering jobs outside academia, he suggested I visit the campus psychiatrist. Next, he recommended a career guidance book designed for people seeking their very first full-time position after completing a doctoral degree.

I was insulted. Then I decided to have some fun. I surfed around and found reviews of half a dozen books that he could read. One was a mentoring guide for dummies.

He got the message, I felt great and we're still friends.

Wet blankets reflect your inner fears. "You'll hate living there," your friend predicts. And, privately, you wonder if he's right.

"What if there's nothing to do in that tiny little town? Can I handle eighty degrees and humid? What if I can't get another job?"

Your Inner Critic chimes in with, "What makes you think you can run your own business?"

Finally, use imagery. As you feel a wet blanket smother your fire, replace it with a soft, light, warm quilt. Be warm, comfortable and protected as you complete your journey.

Don't worry about saying "I told you so!" to the wet blankets. By the time you've achieved your dream, you'll have only dim memories of that soggy heap in the corner.

This article is based on my ebook, Nine Magic Keys to Career Freedom: http://www.movinglady.com/freedombook.html

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. Author, Career Consultant, Speaker *When Career Freedom Means Business* http://www.movinglady.com Career Freedom Ezine: mailto:subscribe@movinglady.com mailto:cathy@movinglady.com 505-534-4294

A Blanket Mortgage covers multiple properties on the same loan
Syd Johnson

Blanket mortgages are mostly used by commercial developers for one of two purposes: first, they might have a plot of land that they plan to develop into multiple lots and sell them off. Instead of getting a mortgage on each individual lot, they get a blanket mortgage for the entire development. The second is if someone, not necessarily a commercial developer, has multiple plots already developed and wants to use all of the properties as collateral for a new loan.One the lots are developed, the owner will get a release to clear the title on each individual lot that is sold. A good application of this would be a commercial development or a subdivision. The blanket mortgage covers the entire thing during construction, and then a release is obtained for each parcel as it is sold off. A release clause must be built into the blanket mortgage that allows the developer to sell off each unit of the property as long as certain percentage of the entire debt is paid off.The blanket mortgage is a way to do all of your financing with one mortgage application. It covers both current properties that can be used as collateral and potential properties that will arise once a plot of land is developed.Individual homeowners can use blanket mortgages to cover construction of a new home while they are trying to sell their existing property. Once the old property is sold off, the blanket loan is reduced by the dollar amount of equity in the previous home. Some lenders will allow you to pay interest only on the amount that is budgeted for construction of the new property.

About the Author

This article may be freely distributed as long as there's an active link to http://www.rapidlingo.comSyd JohnsonEditor

E-Kanban: Blanket Purchase Orders
Sam Bayer

Blanket Purchase Orders are a “best practice” in the well-oiled kanban process. They minimize the flow of information between buyers and their suppliers, while maintaining the terms, conditions and integrity of the business relationship between the two parties. Datacraft Solutions (www.datacraftsolutions.com), the leader in e-kanban, found that while managing a large number of suppliers with many part numbers, managing the integrity of blanket purchase orders become an issue. For every given kanban release it is important to make sure that: an open purchase order still exists, and that there was enough remaining balance on the purchase order to cover the current purchase. The new Best Practice was “integrating the electronic kanban system” with a manufacturers current purchasing system. Kanbans are now guaranteed never to be sent to supplier unless there is a valid blanket purchase order.Fax Kanban is not Efficient and not LeanAt ten minutes per fax, someone is spending 3.5 hours per day in administration time. That inefficiency results in less time to utilize more suppliers or improve the relationships with existing suppliers.Furthermore, even if 99% of those faxes are trouble free procurement signals, four faxes per month are going to be problematic and dilute the entire rationale for a lean manufacturing operation. Suppliers claim they did not receive the fax kanban; suppliers cannot make the shipment date requested and expedited shipping fees are incurred, or worse, there will be a stockout which will negatively impact customer service levels.According to Sam Bayer, President of Datacraft Solutions Process improvements with existing suppliers will further reduce lead times and inventory levels and bring more suppliers onto the system. Datacraft Solutionswww.datacraftsolutions.comSam Bayere-mail protected from spam bots919-667-9804# # #

About the Author

None

Lean Manufacturing via E-Kanban: Blanket Purchase Orders
Sam Bayer

Blanket Purchase Orders are a “best practice” in the well-oiled kanban process. They minimize the flow of information between buyers and their suppliers, while maintaining the terms, conditions and integrity of the business relationship between the two parties. Datacraft Solutions (www.datacraftsolutions.com), the leader in e-kanban, found that while managing a large number of suppliers with many part numbers, managing the integrity of blanket purchase orders become an issue. For every given kanban release it is important to make sure that: an open purchase order still exists, and that there was enough remaining balance on the purchase order to cover the current purchase. The new Best Practice was “integrating the electronic kanban system” with a manufacturers current purchasing system. Kanbans are now guaranteed never to be sent to supplier unless there is a valid blanket purchase order.Fax Kanban is not efficient and not LeanAt ten minutes per fax, someone is spending 3.5 hours per day in administration time. That inefficiency results in less time to utilize more suppliers or improve the relationships with existing suppliers.Furthermore, even if 99% of those faxes are trouble free procurement signals, four faxes per month are going to be problematic and dilute the entire rationale for a lean manufacturing operation. Suppliers claim they did not receive the fax kanban; suppliers cannot make the shipment date requested and expedited shipping fees are incurred, or worse, there will be a stockout which will negatively impact customer service levels.Datacraft Solutionswww.datacraftsolutions.comSam Bayere-mail protected from spam bots919-667-9804# # #

E-Kanban: Blanket Purchase Orders and Lean Manufacturing
Sam Bayer

Blanket Purchase Orders are a “best practice” in the well-oiled kanban process. They minimize the flow of information between buyers and their suppliers, while maintaining the terms, conditions and integrity of the business relationship between the two parties. Datacraft Solutions (www.datacraftsolutions.com), the leader in e-kanban, found that while managing a large number of suppliers with many part numbers, managing the integrity of blanket purchase orders become an issue. For every given kanban release it is important to make sure that: an open purchase order still exists, and that there was enough remaining balance on the purchase order to cover the current purchase. The new Best Practice was “integrating the electronic kanban system” with a manufacturers current purchasing system. Kanbans are now guaranteed never to be sent to supplier unless there is a valid blanket purchase order.FAX KANBAN is NOT Efficient and NOT LeanAt ten minutes per fax, someone is spending 3.5 hours per day in administration time. That inefficiency results in less time to utilize more suppliers or improve the relationships with existing suppliers.Furthermore, even if 99% of those faxes are trouble free procurement signals, four faxes per month are going to be problematic and dilute the entire rationale for a lean manufacturing operation. Suppliers claim they did not receive the fax kanban; suppliers cannot make the shipment date requested and expedited shipping fees are incurred, or worse, there will be a stockout which will negatively impact customer service levels.According to Sam Bayer, President of Datacraft Solutions Process improvements with existing suppliers will further reduce lead times and inventory levels and bring more suppliers onto the system. Datacraft Solutionswww.datacraftsolutions.comSam Bayersbayer@datacraftsolutions.com919-667-9804

About the Author

None

Lean Manufacturing via E-Kanban: Blanket Purchase Orders
Sam Bayer

Blanket Purchase Orders are a “best practice” in the well-oiled kanban process. They minimize the flow of information between buyers and their suppliers, while maintaining the terms, conditions and integrity of the business relationship between the two parties. Datacraft Solutions (www.datacraftsolutions.com), the leader in e-kanban, found that while managing a large number of suppliers with many part numbers, managing the integrity of blanket purchase orders become an issue. For every given kanban release it is important to make sure that: an open purchase order still exists, and that there was enough remaining balance on the purchase order to cover the current purchase. The new Best Practice was “integrating the electronic kanban system” with a manufacturers current purchasing system. Kanbans are now guaranteed never to be sent to supplier unless there is a valid blanket purchase order.Fax Kanban is not efficient and not LeanAt ten minutes per fax, someone is spending 3.5 hours per day in administration time. That inefficiency results in less time to utilize more suppliers or improve the relationships with existing suppliers.Furthermore, even if 99% of those faxes are trouble free procurement signals, four faxes per month are going to be problematic and dilute the entire rationale for a lean manufacturing operation. Suppliers claim they did not receive the fax kanban; suppliers cannot make the shipment date requested and expedited shipping fees are incurred, or worse, there will be a stockout which will negatively impact customer service levels.Datacraft Solutionswww.datacraftsolutions.comSam Bayere-mail protected from spam bots919-667-9804# # #

About the Author

None

The Insecurity Blanket: Pillow-Talk Your Worries Away
Luigi Di Serio

Are you looking for an effective way to improve your intimate relationships? The insecurity blanket is a semi-revolutionary yet simple tool , which can do just that. But first, it’s important to establish the most common causes of bad relationships, break-ups, and unsuccessful dating. 1. “I never date” + “I’m worthless” + “I’m broke” Men that have low self-esteem and lack monetary stability in their lives are generally terrible at courting the opposite sex, and as a result rarely date. When they do, their relationships don’t progress positively: Jealousy, fear (of commitment) and uncertainty make the relationship sour faster than the sun's effect on un-refrigerated milk. 2. “What he doesn’t know can’t hurt him” In marriages and long-term relationships, financial troubles, pride and dishonesty are the proverbial nails in the coffin of courtship. Hiding your $400 pair of designer boots may seem harmless at first, but an accumulated VISA debt can and will lead your husband to wonder what other things you are hiding from him. 3. “I’ll bet something’s going on between my girlfriend and that guy that she works with…” Assuming that your girlfriend is being unfaithful is the least effective way of figuring out whether or not she actually is. Entrapment may be more effective, but is illegal in most countries. The point is, feeling and acting jealous will only brew resentment towards her, and eventually lead to fighting and resentment on both sides. So what do these unattractive characteristics have in common? What is the common denominator shared by these courtship-killing culprits? In one word: INSECURITY. Lack of self-confidence (“I can’t discuss politics with these people because I’m not smart enough”), low self-esteem (“I don’t deserve this girl - she’s way too pretty for me”), financial instability (“I can’t afford this jacket, but I’ll buy it anyway”) and uncertainty about the future all stem from one’s insecurities. If you’ve taken an introductory psychology course, you’ve probably heard of world-renowned psychologist Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) and his Hierarchy of Needs. In it he ranks the needs of a human being, from lowest to highest: (1) Physiological Needs (air, food, water) (2) Safety (for children, their parents give them a feeling of safety) (3) Love and Belonging (this is why we give affection, because we innately seek affection in return) (4) Self-esteem (when the first 3 needs are met, we can begin to seek a way to gain self-respect, and respect from others, and eventually a sense of self-confidence) (5) Self-actualization (knowing yourself, and feeling the need to do what you’re “Born to do” – an artist will paint, a writer will write, et cetera) The need for safety is a basic one, and according to Maslow (and to most psychologists) must be fulfilled before moving up the ladder of needs. But we live in an urban jungle, not an actual jungle, so it’s largely psychological. Safety doesn’t mean shelter from a predator; it has to do with securing stability and consistency in a chaotic world. We need the security (which a home and family provides). Maslow believed that this need was so powerful that it often drove people toward organized religion. Religion and a strong faith in higher power give us a sense of security with the promise of a blissful afterlife. Believing in God gives one a feeling of certainty and security. If a person lacks certainty and security, they will become insecure. And when an insecure person decides to tackle the constant battle of being in a relationship with another person, they will point their finger and blame the other person (when everyone knows that blaming is never an effective method of problem-solving), they will act jealous and they may become deceptive in order to attain the information that they suspect if being hidden from them. They behave in this apparently idiotic manner in order to gain stability. Kind of ironic, isn’t it? But stability is an intrinsic necessity, and an important survival skill. We’ve all behaved that way at one point in our lives, because we ALL have insecurities. The world is filled with uncertainty, and unpredictability is what makes life so interesting! What’s not-so-exciting is the fear that you will not have enough money to support your family. So you budget scrupulously, you work overtime. You don’t sit around acting vulnerable and helpless, and taking out your problems on other people (least of all, your partner). In relationships, insecurities create an unstable environment. If the soil isn’t rich with esteem, the relationship will not blossom into a beautiful flower. Get it? Plus, nobody’s attracted to a wimp. Can you imagine two insecure people in a relationship? You probably can. You know that couple that fights all the time in front of all of their friends, and never seem to resolve their disputes? That’s them. If they’re both a little overweight or have serious emotional issues, then they’re even more likely to be insecure. Simple math tells me that the chances of their relationship lasting are slim to none, and slim just left the building. So here’s my (proven effective!) solution to this pesky little problem: It’s called The Insecurity Blanket. Rather than acting like an emotional basket case when a problem arises, it’s better to share your insecurities before they become an active problem. Put aside your pride (The deadliest of the 7 Deadly Sins… and commonly known as “The root of evil”) for about 20 minutes, and talk frankly about what fears lurk in your subconscious. You can admit to your girlfriend that you get jealous when you see her strutting around in a mini-skirt and guys flock to her as though she were a walking beer tap. Trust me, she gets jealous too. Every time a girl giggles at one of your jokes and touches your arm affectionately, she feels the urge to grab that girl by her ponytail and fling her violently into the wall. Better listening = better communication = better understanding, which paves the way for more intimacy (READ: better sex!). Insecurity Blanket How-To You can’t just blurt out something like: “I hate it when you act slutty!” Heed caution with the words you choose, and most importantly is the location which you choose to divulge these thoughts. Mutually decide on a time and place each week or month for both of you to lie down beside each other and share each other's concerns, fears, and personal insecurities. You can do this in bed, laying under the covers together, hence the title of the exercise – the Insecurity Blanket. A "security blanket" is a colloquial term used to describe something that someone uses to dispel anxiety. The “IN-security blanket” is a metaphor for an intimate place where two people can share their personal insecurities without fear of being judged or ridiculed. In other words: Location, location, location! Hara Estroff Marano of Psychology Today Magazine says: "Sex is good. Pillow talk is better. Sex is easy; intimacy is difficult. It requires honesty, openness and self-disclosure, confiding concerns, fears, sadness as well as hopes and dreams". This is why if you and your partner seek shelter underneath the "insecurity blanket" at least once a month, your personal insecurities will not compound into resentment towards your partner or your relationship, and make for a blissful, happy life together. Isn’t that why you’re in a relationship in the first place? © 2005 Luigi Di Serio

About the Author

"Jack of all trades and master of none"... Luigi Di Serio is an ad hoc, freelance writer and web site developer who owns over 100 web sites! He holds a degree in Urban Planning and is specialized in strategic business intelligence, security, espionage, sociology and human interactionism (including relationships).www.diserio.com

Transform Wet Blankets Into Comfort Quilts
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D.

You've embarked on a major transition and your enthusiasm is growing. Just when you get a small fire going, someone comes along with a heavy wet blanket. "You'll hate it.""I turned down that job two years ago, but it's perfect for you.""Nobody makes a living that way."Strategies to Transform Wet Blankets into Comfort Quilts."Calm under pressure" is a skill you can learn, and it gives you power. I used to flinch when people were critical until I worked with Rick, an Air Force veteran who had seen more action than he cared to admit. When a bullying administrator yelled, Rick would laugh. "It's just noise," he would say, "not enemy aircraft." And he'd bounce right back into his next idea.Recognize the champion in the critic. By investing time and energy to insult you, your critic acknowledges you have strength and power. Be proud! The universe has sent you a coach. Dancers and athletes learn that coaches do not waste time on losers.Pat Summitt, award-winning coach of Tennessee's Lady Vols, warns recruits that she yells only at the best players. It's when she stops yelling that you need to worry. Use humor. When I told a colleague I was considering jobs outside academia, he suggested I visit the campus psychiatrist. Next, he recommended a career guidance book designed for people seeking their very first full-time position after completing a doctoral degree. I was insulted. Then I decided to have some fun. I surfed around and found reviews of half a dozen books that he could read. One was a mentoring guide for dummies. He got the message, I felt great and we're still friends. Wet blankets reflect your inner fears. "You'll hate living there," your friend predicts. And, privately, you wonder if he's right. "What if there's nothing to do in that tiny little town? Can I handle eighty degrees and humid? What if I can't get another job?"Your Inner Critic chimes in with, "What makes you think you can run your own business?" Finally, use imagery. As you feel a wet blanket smother your fire, replace it with a soft, light, warm quilt. Be warm, comfortable and protected as you complete your journey.Don't worry about saying "I told you so!" to the wet blankets. By the time you've achieved your dream, you'll have only dim memories of that soggy heap in the corner. This article is based on my ebook, Nine Magic Keys to Career Freedom: http://www.movinglady.com/freedombook.html

About the Author

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. Author, Career Consultant, Speaker*When Career Freedom Means Business*http://www.movinglady.comCareer Freedom Ezine: mailto:subscribe@movinglady.commailto:cathy@movinglady.com 505-534-4294

Consultants - Writing Articles for the Internet Blankets the World with your Expertise and Style
Lynella Grant

Copyright 2005 Off the Page A Consultant could be an Expert about Absolutely AnythingCalling yourself a “consultant” demands further clarification. A consultant who… What specific problems do you handle? And who needs what you know? Everyone? (Never true) Businesses selling to seniors? (A precisely defined niche) Success depends on how clearly you can define yourself and what you offer. How easily can potential clients understand it? You provide clients more than your expert knowledge and problem-solving skills. Your delivery style (tricks) are every bit as valuable as your knowledge base. We all relate to some businesses (personally and professionally) more effectively than to others. Great match-ups require something akin to a mating call to help a consultant find and connect with ideal clients. Every consultant is unique in important ways. Your challenge is to express those significant intangibles — so they set you apart from others using the same job title. Do clients understand what you can do for them? How you’re different from the competition? Why they’d prefer you? Article Marketing is Your Ideal StageWhether you’re selling a service, speaking or training, nothing persuades like offering a sample. Writing articles that highlight your style and expertise does that for you. A meaty, 600 to 800 word article is long enough to deliver a tangible taste. Once it’s widely posted, the message can be read by thousands. Some readers will search for what else you’ve said, or click over to your website. Writing repeated in-depth articles further establishes your niche, point of view, and expertise. They’re building your name recognition and readership in short order. Your stock-in-trade is information, so packaging it into articles makes you a content creator. The Internet voraciously demands a steady diet of new material. Websites, ezines (and now blogs) efficiently deliver ideas to targeted readers. But sad to say, too many articles consist of rehashed, low-grade material. Stand out with fresh, professional-quality information. Being a cut above builds respect and trust — a must for doing business down the road. Local Search can Further Define Your MarketUnlike a plumber or day care center, most consultants needn’t be confined to the local arena. Your Internet exposure connects you to a national or global audience, if that’s your goal. But if your target market is closer to home, articles still help to position you. Recent research by The Kelsey Group show that 70% use the Internet to make local buying decisions. And nowadays, 36% of search engine queries request local search results. That means the person includes a geographic term in their search engine query. For example, a query with: “employee benefit consultant” + Denver only lists the small pool of appropriate Denver providers. Every consultant needs to make sure their information appears in local search queries, http://www.yellowpagesage.com/localsearch.html . The trend toward local search is growing quickly. Businesses can easily be left out—which makes them unfindable by online searchers. Who can afford to miss 70% of their client base? Having your own website isn’t necessary — but still helpful for a variety of reasons.Potential Clients will Check You Out OnlineSurveys reveal that over half of respondents consider search engines a better source of buying information than Yellow Pages, newspapers or magazines. When someone enters your name or company into Google (in quotes), what comes up? It helps if your name is unusual. If not, follow up with “search within results” for a qualifier term (like your specialty, “employee benefits”) to find your cites.In just a few moments, searchers get a picture of your professional standing and scope of recognition. They’re likely to be swayed by what they see. Who mentions you, and what are they saying? What kinds of links come to your website? If you’ve been publishing articles, they’ll also show up — enhancing your credibility and incoming links. In my own case, a Google search for my name showed about 100 cites before I started article promotions. Now that’s well over 3,000. So many cites boosted my website traffic and Page Rank as well. If you haven’t gone “ego surfing” on Google for mentions of your name, you should. Because the public will. Make sure there’s plenty of stuff for them to find that does you proud. About the author: --Dr. Lynella Grant Consultant and Author - Promote yourself, business, website, or book with online articles http://www.promotewitharticles.comFree how-to. Or let me write and submit your articles online for you. No learning curves (719) 395-9450

Sweaters and Web Sites: Arent They All The Same
Walt McClure

Sweaters and Web Sites: Arent They All The Same Walt McClure

Beware: Thinly-stretched metaphor ahead. Proceed with caution.

A Web Site is a Web Site is a Web Site....right

No. Its not.

Thats settled. Let us move on to more pressing issues:

Visualize. A sweater. Red and green. Whoa. Horizontal stripes with alternating colors. Causes rapid eye movement and non-physical concussions. 3-Dimensional pieces - stitched in to add some flair to the viewing experience. Shame. Its the crowning piece of someones holiday ensemble. It may be hard on the eyes of ones daily acquaintances, but as long as they wear it with pride, they c- Nope. Still ugly.

In my own fashion-challenged opinion, there are two types of sweaters: Ones that scream bloody murder from 50 yards out and ones that are...."nice" and all seem to look quite similar. Most of us have the necessary survival skills to stay away from the "bloody murder" sweaters. The trick is choosing the right "nice" sweater. Some of them are lemons, prepared to unravel as soon as you walk past an erect light-switch, but its hard to tell for some because they all look so similar.

Seems to me that sweater designers are "borrowing" ideas from other more capable sweater designers in attempts to reach the highest plateau of sweater success. Hmmm. Before long, the top selling sweater designer has dozens of competitors, all peddling the same TIRED design, all at different prices and smothering the racks at Macys. Some of them are well made, some not. Prices arent necessarily on par with quality here.

Let us digress.

Sweater metaphor unraveled: Not all web sites are created equal. Though this seems painfully obvious, you could still be suckered into contracting a horrible website just because it has a pretty design, if youre not careful. Choose a designer wisely because looks can be very deceiving. Not the looks of the designer - that you can pretty much make judgement on right away.

Just remember - design and function dont always walk into the sunset, hand in hand. In fact, sometimes design lops off functions writing hand and runs into the sunset alone. Tragic.

Oh. - and what is that stringy thing hanging from your sleeve

xxxxx

About The Author

Walt McClure is Head Designer and Project Manager of McClure Web Design - Delaware.

http://www.mcclurewebdesign.com

mwd@mcclurewebdesign.com

How To Un-Shrink a Wool Sweater
Aldo Ciarrocchi

How To Un-Shrink a Wool Sweater Aldo Ciarrocchi

Well people today’s your lucky day, I have used the information this Shenton character gave me and mastered the black art of wool un-shrinking and am here to share it with you.

Here we go….

When wool gets wet and warm, the fibres in the wool lock themselves together and dont want to let go, resulting in shrinkage you can get wool warm or wet, but not both, which kind of makes washing wool garments a dangerous business.

That it, long story short: you will have a brand new, fully functional sweater again.

Take Care,

About The Author

Aldo Ciarrocchi Researcher for Summit media

This article is free for anyones use enjoy.

summitmedia.co.uk

aldoc@summitmedia.co.uk

Fisherman Sweater History
Mark Shenton

Rooted in our common heritage, commercial fishermen, weekend sailors, farmers and in fact people from all walks of life love the fisherman sweater. At sea, and in town, it is a symbol of simpler times when you could look good in something that was designed just to be practical and keep you warm, not to show off a label in order to be some kind of status symbol like many garments manufactured today.The fisherman sweater has its origins in Brittany. Surprisingly it was not the fishermen that started to wear them, but merchants who during the 18th century traveled to England to sell onions, these merchants wore an item of knitted wool clothing that made them recognizable from a distance, the garments were made with very tight stitching, using a stitch designed for warmth, water proofing, and considerable resistance to the wind.The fisherman sweater first worn by fishermen was a long garment, tightly fitted, designed to protect a sailor's back and keep the body warm. Highly practical, it had buttons on the side to aid quick wearing and removal, and was made from unwashed sheep wool, which still contained the sheep's natural oil, which had protected the sheep from the elements; this oil is removed from modern wool, as it can smell a bit. The fisherman's sweaters were made in many colours like red, white, blue, and fancy patterns were eventually woven into the sweaters to depict ropes and ladders etc.The future of the Fisherman SweaterIt has been a long journey for the and it has survived many changes in fashion. In these times of high-tech clothing made in some cases from materials that were first invented for astronauts, it is nice to know that a garment made from good old fashioned wool which has been knitted in a design which has not changed much in hundreds of years ago is still as popular as ever and probably will still be for some time yet.

About Mark: Mark Shenton is the owner of www.woolovers.com

Fisherman Sweater History
Mark Shenton

The Fisherman Sweater

Fisherman sweaters used to be something that were seen as items of warm and rugged work wear, but much as changed, and fisherman sweaters have followed jeans to make that transformation from work wear to a 20th century fashionable clothing item.

Fisherman Sweater History

The fisherman sweater has its origins in Brittany. Surprisingly it was not the fishermen that started to wear them, but merchants who during the 18th century travelled to England to sell onions, these merchants wore an item of knitted wool clothing that made them recognizable from a distance, the garments were made with very tight stitching, using a stitch designed for warmth, water proofing, and considerable resistance to the wind.

The fisherman sweater first worn by fishermen was a long garment, tightly fitted, designed to protect a sailor’s back and keep the body warm.

Highly practical, it had buttons on the side to aid quick wearing and removal, and was made from unwashed sheep wool, which still contained the sheep’s natural oil, which had protected the sheep from the elements; this oil is removed from modern wool, as it can smell a bit.

The fisherman’s sweaters were made in many colours like red, white, blue, and fancy patterns were eventually woven into the sweaters to depict ropes and ladders etc.

The future of the Fisherman Sweater

It has been a long journey for the fisherman sweater and it has survived many changes in fashion. In these times of high-tech clothing made in some cases from materials that were first invented for astronauts, it is nice to know that a garment made from good old fashioned wool which has been knitted in a design which has not changed much in hundreds of years ago is still as popular as ever and probably will still be for some time yet.

About The Author

Mark Shenton Owner of woolovers.com

Please read one of my others articles on fishermans sweaters here http://www.woolovers.com/shop/fishermans_sweater.asp.