OT bizarre bazzar

Did I spell that right? I'm puzzled. The little group for Newborns in Need is permitted a booth at some local October bazaar 'if' they offer crocheted kitchen items. ( I don't particularly know that anybody ever makes money at a bazaar but reckon somebody must.) So. I bought a couple of hanks of cotton yarn and crocheted a pot holder. I don't think anybody would want it, certainly wouldn't buy it myself. Do any of you go to bazaars and would you buy a crocheted kitchen item and what in the Sam Hill would it be? We support Newborns in Need and would like to help them raise some dollars for their small budget but this one has me baffled. Maybe I should get out more. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther
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I'd be worried about using a crocheted pot holder -- unless it was really really thick.

But crocheted dishcloths are really popular up here in the midwest. I don't crochet (well -- I can make a great chain -- and maybe even a single stitch or two!)

Here is a pattern sight for lots of different dishcloths!

Reply to
Kate in MI

I wouldn't use a crocheted potholder. But I'd hang it on the wall for decortive purposes if the colors were pretty. :-) BUT...someone gave me some crocheted dish clothes. (dishrags?) About 9x9 square, not for drying hands but for washing dishes etc. They're made (I think) out of pure cotton thread. I love using them, I really do. If I knew how to crochet, I'd make myself some more. The craft booths here seem to also have a lot of those boughten tea towels with the corcheted tops so you can hang them up. Good luck with your booth. Sherry

Reply to
Sherry

Some crazy ideas- toaster/blender/can opener covers; fridge magnets; bread basket liner; trivet; curtain tiebacks; cover for a bottle of dish detergent; a magnet with 'clean' and 'dirty' labels on the front and back with a crocheted ruffle around it (stick it to the front of the dishwasher); a hand protector for wrapping around a coffee cup like they have for those paper-type cups of coffee; teapot cozy; coaster; an envelope type thing to carry tea bags in your purse; crocheted cover for a casserole dish; rag rug with crocheted edge; phone book cover with crochet somewhere on it; apron, tablecloth, placemats or table runner with crochet on it; a 'kitchen-y' bookmark for cookbooks; crocheted edges on tea towels; crocheted flowers in a bud vase; some kind of kitchen saying with crochet on it or around it.... shoot, that's all I can come up with and some are pretty outrageous, I know. I friend crochets scrubbies (for cleaning pots, etc.), but I have no idea what she uses for the scratchy material or where she gets it.

Good luck- I think you'll need it! ;-)

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

"Polly Esther" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@mid.individual.net...

Reply to
Leslie& The Furbabies in MO.

I have some lovely crochet "pot holders" that I would NEVER use as pot holders! However, they are great trivets and useful for all sorts of things -- under a table lamp, under a vase, under a crystal bowl, etc. Several of them were made by my great grandmother from crochet thread and are double-sided and very fancy, but others are more simple, thicker, and crochet with worsted weight yarn. The ones made with yarn I found at a rather strange booth at a craft fair, being sold for $1 each by a high school boy who said his grandmother makes so many that her house is awash in them, and that she only wants enough money to pay for the booth, for grandson's lunch and a small "thank you", and for more yarn.

Reply to
Mary

There was a big fancy for crocheted string shopping bags at one time.

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Here's one out of plastic bags:

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There are enough 'free' patterns about, you could have a set of 'do-it- yourself' sets with crochet hook, some basic crochet instructions, a pattern and a photo. Lots less effort for you. Teach the man to fish mentality, profit above time, energy and raw materials (which at bazaars imo is always forgotten) and good for the environment, too.

Ask again, why 'crochet'? Did they really mean 'just crochet', or was that person using a generic term for handiwork? Seems really odd to specify craft-type quite so specifically. Unless it is a crochet show!

Nel (Gadget Queen)

Reply to
Sartorresartus

That's a very odd requirement IMO! Well, I'd probably crochet my own. Have done so: I love my crocheted dishrags. Thick absorbent cotton that really does the job when counter tops need wiping down. And easy to wash in the machine. I have big ones about 10" square and smaller ones about 7" square. Wouldn't be interested in potholders: too easy for fingers to fal lthrough the holes in crochet.

But I really d>Did I spell that right?

Reply to
Roberta

Sometimes non-crafters use a term that they think covers all creative/ crafty endeavors, not bothering to distinguish because they don't really know, or want to learn.

For example, whatever I was do> Did I spell that right?

Reply to
Ginger in CA

Polly, IMO nobody buys crochet pot holders at bazaars. When I go to the Senior Center Christmas Craft Sale, they are awash in crochet pot holders, towels, dolls with weird plastic faces and doilies of the t ype my Meemaw used to keep anyone from actually touching one of her chairs. Yes, some people buy crochet pot holders to hang on the wall. I believe there are not enough of those folks to repay your yarn costs. T'were it me, I'd skip the bazaar with the totally weird requirement (why such a requirement? are they trying to eliminate competition for a favored vendor?) and send NIN the money you would have spent on yarn.

Sunny wondering why a bazaar would have that requirement.

Reply to
Sunny

Scrubbies are made of net, you can buy it on a roll---like rolls of ribbon. I have a friend who cuts her own net for scrubbies. I buy the crochet dishcloths to use under lamps or clocks. They are too pretty to use as dishcloths and get stained. Sometimes I hang them in the kitchen. My SIL makes both for gifts. I buy cheap dishcloths and scrubbies at the flea market and "save" my good ones to show off. Barbara in SC

Reply to
Bobbie Sews More

Her scrubbies are very rough- it's sure not the netting I am familiar with using for sewing, etc.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Reply to
Leslie& The Furbabies in MO.

Polly,

Check out this website. You can sign up for daily emails/ideas too. They have lots of crocheted items...almost makes me want to learn how!

Reply to
Alice in PA

Oops, just Google "fave crafts"....they have lots of ideas!

Reply to
Alice in PA

Are you only allowed to sell crochet items or can you add sewn items to the mix? I always like the terrycloth towel with the crochet top which can be attached to a cabinet or refrigerator handle. They are always where they belong when your hands are wet not only in kitchen but also in the laundry room.

A few of your bright happy children's quilts would draw attention to any booth.

Susan

Reply to
Susan Laity Price

Yup, the organizers/sponsors (booth fees, baked goods, etc.)

I gotta go with the folks suggesting to skip the bazaar and come up with another plan. I've been out of the A&C circuit since my health went south, but I learned a lot the decade I was in it. I'm sure there are some other folks on the group who can say the same or more. Would it make any sense to get accts. on one or more of ebay/etsy/ craig's list, etc. and sell some stuff directly that way (proceeds to go to wherever). There'd be little ri$k (cash outlay for a booth) and a way to test the market waters for what folkses want (or will buy). Good luck with the endeavor.

Doc

Reply to
Dr. Zachary Smith

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