Special Order being Returned!  

Yes, I will most likely try to sell it but honestly I never would have picked these colors - 2 shades of purple (which I love) and grey :( for a baby??? I questioned her on this and even sent her samples of the colors - she also wanted butterflies which was a ton of work for me.

She said it wasn't 'soft' and she would never give it to a baby - I used the same exact yarn I've used for the last 3 years and it's the softest every, even softer than most baby yarns.

That is an excellent idea, non-refundable down payment. Maybe a percentage of the total cost. I'll most likely end up putting it on my web site with the others but at a discount as I don't like the colors myself and really have a hard time selling something I don't like.

I can understand that. Its hard to be excited about something you don't like.

Most crafters I know have a non refundable half down deposit for a special order. Then at least, you have your supplies paid for. If it is one just in normal colors it wouild be one thing, but when it may be unsellable to someone else, it would be worth knowing you have your costs taken care of. So sorry for the return!

Now there's an idea - I too have made afghans for the missionaries through our church maybe I'll just donate it to the mission group.

I looked at eBay when it was first suggested that I sell the afghans but I couldn't believe some of the low low prices that the afghans were selling for - I've seen them sell for less than what the yarn alone cost :( you certainly can't make money that way :( Not to mention the work that goes into them.

byfaithonly

have you ever heard of newborns in need? they have a website but I am not quite sure if it is www.newbornsinneed.

No, I had never heard of them but checked out the site and just may be an option - donating the set to them. There is a chapter in Michigan but it's about a 3 hour drive from me - there is contact information though so I may drop them an email.

LOL - kids, my kids for the most part are the most unappreciative in the world but even they love the afghans I've made for them. 3 years ago all 4 kids got new ones colors to fit their homes of the 3 older. The younger one went to the store with me and not only picked out the yarn he wanted but also told me what stitch he wanted me to use :) It matched his bedroom but I wouldn't have picked those colors for him pale blue and dark green.

Thank you so very much for the compliment on my work, it really means alot to me particularly right now as I am taking this personally.

As for returns, I am seriously thinking of not doing special orders in the future unless for someone I know. I've only had one other special order request and that was through a friend and they were thrilled with the afghan - it was for his mother who is from Mexico and he wanted it the colors of the Mexican flag - red, white, and green. LOL it looked very Christmasy to me but those were/are the colors.

Oh wow - I have never had so many people comment on a photo and was greatly surprised.. Yes, I do use the shell stitch, it's my favorite and is so lacy looking for the baby blankets but most of the full-sized ones I do I use the same - it's just so easy for me and goes so fast, plus you don't seem to see a lot of people using it or at least I haven't.

LOL, I usually don't even comment on pics, I will rate them when I think about it. I like the shell stitch, but I usually do the granny square, because it turns out even on all sides for me, as when I work from side to side, it is lop sided.

Now see I don't like the granny squares because once I've finished the squares then I have to put them all together. I did do one for my parents a couple years ago - it was made from scrape yarn, each square a different color. The 2 years before I had done for my 4 children, 5 grandchildren, and 4 sisters - Christmas was fun everyone pointing out the square that was 'their afghan'.

Oh, I don't like the little granny squares that you have to join together. I just like the pattern and make it one big granny square.

My daughter commented on your afghan and said, that "my mom needs to make my baby one." So I suppose I have another project lined up to do.

LOL - sorry to have created more work for you :) How I do mine is just do the shell stitch for the entire body of the afghan then do a single crochet border all the way around - that's the only time mine gets uneven but I cover that up by doing the shell around also - just count how many shells were on one side (or end) and make adjustments as needed so the other side matches.

Thanks for the tips. I've already made the baby two. I'm thinking she liked the set with the pillow, which I haven't done yet.

It was funny, last night she called and said, I want a baby blanket like on mylot. Then her phone rang and so that was as much of a conversation I had from her. But I knew what she was talking about! LOL

Oh that is horrid what that man did and I don't blame you one bit.... Dear I knew we were going to be great friends :) I am going to be picking your brain like crazy. Just a the week before I ordered 2 books on stained glass - I've wanted for years to learn how to do it and we decided to add that to our collection of hand made arts and crafts.

Maybe you can find a stained glass shop near you where you could take a beginning class. I would recommend it because the teacher will have already been through all the mistakes and hard lessons to be learned and can help you avoid all that. It is a very rewarding art, but it can be very frustrating in the beginning. Once you get the hang of scoring, breaking, grinding and fitting, it will go so much easier. Sometimes universities offer stained glass classes as part of a non-credit continuing adult education program. I have taught that type of class at our local university. Good luck! Enjoy!

Thank you, I did some months back find a place that offered the class but it was a long drive from our house and very pricy - that was why I decided to order the books. One is no help at all but the other is great - step by step instructions as well as lots of tips, common problems, and with each step very detailed instructions and list of tools and supplies needed - lots of pictures too, I love that :)

As long as we learn lessons from our mishaps, then we are all the better in the long run.

Stained glass, I've been thinking about wanting a few windows in my home done with stain glass. But I haven't put much thought into it just yet. Maybe one day!

Right now, I have been focused on getting a digital camera. Steeples have captured my facination recently.

That is an excellent idea, I'd never thought of charging a non-refundable fee but will certainly do that in the future - right now all I have in writing (on my web page) is the money will be refunded minus the shipping cost. If I can't sell or do something with the set though I'm stuck bitting the bullet on the yarn and my time both. I'm going to be working on the site this evening and rather than stopping all custom orders think I'll add the non-refundable fee - I'm sure that will deter people from requesting special orders but at least have myself somewhat covered and customers less likely to return if they know they are going to loss money.

If worst comes to worst I'll tear it apart and reuse the yarn at least I'll save that much.

Oh thank you dear - I do take great pride in my work and won't sell or even give away something I don't feel totally satisfied with myself. I have gotten some great suggestions for the future though that should avoid problems such as this - I think she set down exactly what she wanted but then when seeing the finished product decided she didn't like it after all.

Now that is low - has she taken the kitties or was the fund raiser to raise money to have the kitties transported to her? If she offered to pay for the work and hasn't paid I would be leary of how trusting she would be with caring for the kittens also.

I know in the future I'm going to be much more careful about doing special orders and as someone else suggested requiring a non-refundable deposit.

She took the cats (these were full grown cats) in May of 2006...she asked for this "favor" only last year...the fund-raiser was just a general one to bring in more money for her rescue--so the money she wanted to raise had nothing to really do with my cats.
I would have asked for payment first or at least half before making up the flyers but it was kind of a "rush" job to boot and she needed them as quickly as possible

Oh well at least the cats found a home but it's still not right of her to offer to pay and then not, I would certainly be upset.

She said it wasn't 'soft' the yarn I use for all my afghans is the softest yarn you can find and everyone else comments on how soft they are. Yes, she did pay for it and I will refund her money as soon as I receive the set back - minus my shipping fees.

I will go one, I've had too many satisfied customers to let one stop me - I have one lady that not only has ordered 10-12 sets over the last 2 years but pays more than I'm asking every time.

That's me too though - want to make everyone happy but I will not offer to repeat the job, I just nicely said I was sorry she wasn't happy and will refund her money.

Yeh, it's tough to please those that are always having a bad day. Maybe you could pray that she has a scratchy wool blanket to stay warm with.

A know how time consuming those afghans can be - I think in my 12 years with her, my wife made about 1 or 2 a year. They were to be gifts, but still it was something she had to stay after. I'm rather appalled that anyone would find fault in one of them, but you've done all you need to. I may put an order in myself... :-}

LOL - couple years ago I did full-sized ones for all 4 kids plus smaller ones for 3 grandkids and baby ones for 2. The following year I did 4 full-sized for sisters, plus another for my parents, and sold I thing 6 or 7 baby sets...

Oh I am one who can't just 'set' I have to be doing something all the time - actually crochetting is 'relaxing' to me most times, this job wasn't but I did it, not again though. I have learned several things from others who have posted and will be making some changes to my policies.