Saturday 14 December 2013

Re-Pricing and Special Offer

I'm not sure if the rules changed, or if they've just started being more thorough, but I seem to be getting more and more customs charges on delivery of my scales, and as such I've had to re-calculate prices for almost everything.

Pouches and chokers will be similarly adjusted, although neck pieces and baby dragons won't be significantly changed, if at all (they were priced up more recently with reference to the increasing materials costs). Postage however will remain the same.

If anybody wants to take advantage of the low prices, you need to pay for the order before the end of the year!

And a final note, due to a mix up there is currently an over-abundance of mirror style silver scales, so for a limited time items that are made up of at least 50% of these scales can get 10% off! Items will have the extra refunded after purchase, of if bought through Etsy you message for a coupon code to get the discount up front.

Monday 9 December 2013

Knitted Dragon Neck Piece Pattern

This pattern has been migrated over to Ravelry to give a shopping cart for multiple purchases and instant download, it is also still available at Etsy.


£2.50 
  

This fairly easy knitted scale mail pattern is designed for those who may be learning basic increase and decrease stitches to shape work. One instance of re-joining yarn to work remaining stitches is involved.

The pattern includes comprehensive instructions with step by step picture tutorial for scale knitting in PDF format including blank design charts for designing neck pieces with more than one colour of scale.

If you have any problems or questions about your purchase do not hesitate to contact sfarfort@yahoo.co.uk or send a message to CraftyMutt on Facebook


What Do I Get?

PDF Pattern
- Suggested learning resources for all techniques used, from cast on to cast off
- Step by step tutorial for adding scales as required for the pattern, including images
- Full material and equipment list
- A blank pattern design chart to help you translate your idea into scales
- One blank design chart to design a pattern
- One design guide chart to help translate design into knitted scale order

You can also have a free preview of the first page!

Click to enlarge!

How Is The Pattern Delivered?
This pattern is now offered as an instant download via Ravelry - if you have any trouble with this please contact me at sfarfort@yahoo.co.uk, preferably forwarding your receipt so I can sort things out as quickly as possible!

What Do I Need?
Mostly you just need standard knitting supplies, including a pair of needles in 3.5-4mm (see preview of front page for full equipment list)
You will need 300 scales total for your neck piece. See the bottom of DIY Scale Mail for suggested scale suppliers!

How Difficult Is It?
If you're reading this section you're probably worried that you won't be able to understand how to knit with the scales, and the pattern will be useless to you. Well fear not! Check out the DIY Scale Mail page again, and this time check out the Knit Stitch instructions which includes a tutorial video. That's all the special stuff you need! So if you want to make sure you can handle it before you buy the pattern, have a practice run of the stitch as described there.

What Do I Not Get?
You do not get any ready made scale charts to use, the charts for examples shown on this page are not included; you get the knitting pattern to make gloves and blank charts to design your own patterns with.

Also the legal stuff:
You do not get permission to sell this pattern as it is or in an adapted form, or give it away for free.
You do not get permission to make and sell items made by this pattern, although the technique of knitting with scales itself is allowed - you can design your own items that include scales using the technique described in the free tutorial whether you buy the pattern or not. Only the pattern itself is protected.

What Can I Make?
Epic dragon neck pieces in any colour combination and pattern!
 

Friday 6 December 2013

Ordering Scale Mail Baby Dragons

There are three main areas to consider when you are designing your baby dragon; the scales, the skin, and the features (click any photo for full view)

Ready to find your dragon?
Head over to the Etsy listing or the
bottom of this page for prices and to order

1. Scale Colours
Baby dragons have four "areas" of scales; the front, back, main wing, and wing bars, and between these can have one or two different colours.

Default single scale colour dragon (silver scales, purple yarn)

Default dual colour dragon (orange colour 1, red colour 2) 

As default, if you choose two colours, colour 1 will be assigned to the back and the main wing, and colour 2 for the front and the wing bars, however you can request custom arrangement of the two colours over the four areas, or even to mix it up all together with any ratio.

One possible custom colour arrangement

If you want to request a custom arrangement, please make sure to include it in checkout, or e-mail additional information to sfarfort@yahoo.co.uk.

Baby dragons can sit up on soft surfaces like pillows

2. Skin Colour
This is the yarn that your baby dragon will be knit onto, forming the skin between the scales. There are a range of solid, single-colour variegated, and multi-colour variegated to choose from.
Choosing a specific colour is optional, particularly useful if you want a contrasting skin colour (for example the silver scaled dragon with purple skin), but if not specified the best match will be used automatically.
You can choose one of the following (other colours may be available, feel free to ask before hand)
Solid: Black, White (both contain wool)
One-tone Variegated: Gray, Sky BlueGreen, RedPurpleBrownSandy
Multi-tone Variegated: Purple/Black,  Purple/Blue/Turquoise/Green
All coloured yarns are 100% synthetic and suitable for people with wool allergies!

Baby dragons will happily sit in your hand

3. Feature Colours
To fully personalise your dragon, you can specify colours for the claws, horns, and eyes. Again, if not specified a complimentary match will be used automatically, so feel free to be as specific or vague as you like. A wide range of colours are available, and each feature can be a different colour!
Horns - as standard the dragon has two horns on the head both in the same colour
Claws - as standard the dragon has four claws on each hind foot, and four finger claws and a thumb claw on each front foot, all in the same colour
Eyes - as standard the dragon has two eyes in the eye colour with a hilight to give the dragon more expression


Baby dragons love to curl up with friends at nap time

4. Further Customisation
Still missing something you want? Maybe a really long tail, a fuzzy little dragon-beard, or just more than two colours? Feel free to send in more customised requests directly to sfarfort@yahoo.co.uk, and they'll be priced according to the extra materials and time. In general unless your change is substantial you shouldn't find the price increases by much.

Baby dragons, if handled properly, will not scratch or bite
even with their hard scaly skin

Please note: these baby dragons, like any young animal, are not suitable for children's toys! They have lots of metal bits (including pipe-cleaner wing supports) and although generally sturdy can be hurt if treated badly. They can also hurt you a back if you squeeze or poke them hard, but will cause no harm if handled with consideration.

___________________________________________________
Custom Scale Mail Knitted Baby Dragon - Knit to Order (£40)
(allow up to 5 weeks to make, not including postage time)
Don't forget to specify a skin colour, and horn, claw, and eye colours if
you have them in  mind, otherwise they will be coordinated to your scales

Scale Colour 1
Scale Colour 2
Colour Arrangement
 
 

(Basic postage additional £8, please e-mail sfarfort@yahoo.co.uk if you require tracking)

Tuesday 26 November 2013

Knitted Scale Mail Choker Pattern

This pattern has been migrated over to Ravelry to give a shopping cart for multiple purchases and instant download, it is also still available at Etsy.

£2.50
  

This more advanced knitted scale mail pattern is designed for those with experience in circular knitting with double pointed needles, showing how to make narrow (bottom), regular, and wide (top) scaled chokers.
The pattern includes comprehensive instructions with step by step picture tutorial for scale knitting in PDF format including four images of the blank design charts for your own custom design.

If you have any problems or questions about your purchase do not hesitate to contact sfarfort@yahoo.co.uk or send a message to CraftyMutt on Facebook


What Do I Get?

PDF Pattern
- Suggested learning resources for all techniques used, from cast on to cast off
- Step by step tutorial for adding scales as required for the pattern, including images
- Full material and equipment list
- Blank pattern design charts to help you translate your idea into scales
- Three different choker widths (from 1 inch to 2.5 inch high) with pre-made pattern design charts to the correct size
- One blank design chart for the narrow choker to design a pattern
- One design guide chart for the narrow choker to help translate design into knitted scale order
- One blank design chart for the regular choker to design a pattern
- One design guide chart for the regular choker to help translate design into knitted scale order
- One blank design chart for the wide choker to design a pattern
- One design guide chart for the wide choker to help translate design into knitted scale order

You can also have a free preview of the first page!
Click to enlarge!

How Is The Pattern Delivered?
This pattern is now offered as an instant download via Ravelry - if you have any trouble with this please contact me at sfarfort@yahoo.co.uk, preferably forwarding your receipt so I can sort things out as quickly as possible!

What Do I Need?
Mostly you just need standard knitting supplies, including a pair of needles in 3.5 or 3.75mm (see preview of front page for full equipment list)
You will need 35, 80, or 130 for the narrow, regular or wide choker respectively. See the bottom of DIY Scale Mail for suggested scale suppliers!

How Difficult Is It?
If you're reading this section you're probably worried that you won't be able to understand how to knit with the scales, and the pattern will be useless to you. Well fear not! Check out the DIY Scale Mail page again, and this time check out the Purl Stitch instructions which includes a tutorial video. That's all the special stuff you need! So if you want to make sure you can handle it before you buy the pattern, have a practice run of the stitch as described there.

What Do I Not Get?
You do not get any ready made scale charts to use, the charts for examples shown on this page are not included; you get the knitting pattern to make gloves and blank charts to design your own patterns with.

Also the legal stuff:
You do not get permission to sell this pattern as it is or in an adapted form, or give it away for free.
You do not get permission to make and sell items made by this pattern, although the technique of knitting with scales itself is allowed - you can design your own items that include scales using the technique described in the free tutorial whether you buy the pattern or not. Only the pattern itself is protected.

What Can I Make?
Chokers, of all sizes, colours, and designs!

narrow chokers

 regular chokers

wide choker

Tuesday 9 April 2013

Knitted Scale Mail Pouch Pattern

This pattern has been migrated over to Ravelry to give a shopping cart for multiple purchases and instant download, it is also still available at Etsy

£2.50
  

This more advanced knitted scale mail pattern is designed for those with experience in circular knitting with double pointed needles, showing how to make small (bottom), medium, and large (top) sizes of scaled pouch.

The pattern includes comprehensive instructions with step by step picture tutorial for scale knitting in PDF format including six images of the blank scale pattern design charts.

If you have any problems or questions about your purchase do not hesitate to contact sfarfort@yahoo.co.uk or send a message to CraftyMutt on Facebook


What Do I Get?

PDF Pattern
- Suggested learning resources for all techniques used, from cast on to cast off
- Step by step tutorial for adding scales as required for the pattern, including images
- Full material and equipment list
- Blank pattern design charts to help you translate your idea into scales
- Three different round pouch sizes (from 1 1/2 inch to 4 inch diameter) with stitch numbers throughout for each, and pre-made pattern design charts to the correct length
- One blank design chart for the small pouch to design a pattern
- One design guide chart for the small pouch to help translate design into knitted scale order
- One blank design chart for the medium pouch to design a pattern
- One design guide chart for the medium pouch to help translate design into knitted scale order
- One blank design chart for the largepouch to design a pattern
- One design guide chart for the large pouch to help translate design into knitted scale order

You can also have a free preview of the first page!
Click to enlarge!

How Is The Pattern Delivered?
This pattern is now offered as an instant download via Ravelry - if you have any trouble with this please contact me at sfarfort@yahoo.co.uk, preferably forwarding your receipt so I can sort things out as quickly as possible!

What Do I Need?
Mostly you just need standard knitting supplies, including a set of DPNs in 3.75 or 4mm (see preview of front page for full equipment list)
You will need 60, 150, or 250 for the small, medium or large sized pouches respectively. See the bottom of DIY Scale Mail for suggested scale suppliers!

How Difficult Is It?
If you're reading this section you're probably worried that you won't be able to understand how to knit with the scales, and the pattern will be useless to you. Well fear not! Check out the DIY Scale Mail page again, and this time check out the Purl Stitch instructions which includes a tutorial video. That's all the special stuff you need! So if you want to make sure you can handle it before you buy the pattern, have a practice run of the stitch as described there.
You'll also need to work in the round, and the pattern is written to use DPNs. If you prefer other methods to work in the round and understand the DPN method, it should be possible to work using alternative methods such as the magic loop technique. If you're unsure, feel free to e-mail if you can get any tips on knitting it in your favourite style!

What Do I Not Get?
You do not get any ready made scale charts to use, the charts for examples shown on this page are not included; you get the knitting pattern to make gloves and blank charts to design your own patterns with.

Also the legal stuff:
You do not get permission to sell this pattern as it is or in an adapted form, or give it away for free.
You do not get permission to make and sell items made by this pattern, although the technique of knitting with scales itself is allowed - you can design your own items that include scales using the technique described in the free tutorial whether you buy the pattern or not. Only the pattern itself is protected.

What Can I Make?
Gauntlets, of all colours, lengths, and sizes!
Small pouch - 1.5 inch diameter

Large pouch - 4 inch diameter

Thursday 28 February 2013

March 2013 Re-Pricing - All scale items, new scale items

As of 2014, prices in this post are no longer accurate
however this post is still here for reference

Things are changing. I've been making scale mail gloves and other items for over a year now, and started to realise that the prices I started off with aren't quite sustainable any more

Mostly I didn't realise how much time they take to do when I'm at the stage of having a bunch of orders at once, so as I've previously warned on Facebook (where you should be if you want frequent, up to date information and photos, because it's fast to work with) I need to change my prices for all things scale-mail.
And, as you've probably guessed, they'll be going up, not down.

Scroll down for lots of pictures of pretty scaly things, many of which haven't made their way onto this blog yet!

I'm also changing slightly how pricing works, making only one price band for all sizes of fully scaled gloves, to make it easier to understand and generally fairer for people with bigger hands. See the very bottom of the page for postage estimates.

New Price Charts - March 2013
Scaled Gloves (price for Pair)


Half Scaled
Fully Scaled
Regular (6 1/2")
£24
£39
Long (9")
£30
£54
X Long (12")
£37
£73

Glove Notes: The measurement in brackets refers to the length of the glove along the arm, different hand sizes of one length are all the same price :)
Regular covers the hand and a couple of inches of the wrist, Long covers about 3/4 of the forearm, X Long covers most of the forearm. These are approximations, not minimum guaranteed lengths - the actual length is too dependant on the wearer. With narrow arms, your gloves will go slightly further along your arms, and with wide arms they'll be a little shorter.

"Half scaled" refers to the standard style gloves with scales up the back and plain knitting on the wrists.
"Fully scaled" refers to the special gloves with scales all the way around the gloves, with only the palm bare. There are nearly twice as many scales in the full scaled as the half, hence almost twice the price.

Scaled Pouches
Small (1 1/2")
£8
Medium (2 1/2")
£12
Large (4")
£18
Pouch Notes: The measurement for pouches refers to the natural opening size of the pouch, and approximate diameter of the pouch which is approximately spherical in shape. Different proportions available on request - just send a message about custom orders to CraftyMutt's facebook.

Other Items - Preliminary Prices

1"
2"
3"
Wristband (single)
£6
£9
£11
Wristband (pair)
£9
£14
£19
Choker
£8
£12
£18
Headband
£11
£16

Other Item Notes: The measurement at the top gives the width of the band. Each item is fully scaled around, in the case of wristband and headband they stretch into place. In the case of the choker, there are eyelets at the back, laced up with either a ribbon or leather string (on request, depending on availability)
These prices are preliminary only, and may be adjusted at any time.

Photos
Wondering what the stuff described looks like? Here are a few photos - click them to get into the slideshow for a much better look :) I don't have photos of every option of every item, particularly I don't have photos of some of the new items yet, but I post photos in the ScaleMail album on facebook of pretty much everything as it's made, so if you want to see the new things soon that's the place to watch!

Gloves
 Regular length, half scaled (£24)

Regular length, fully scaled (£39)

Long length, half scaled (£30)



Long length, fully scaled (rainbows :D) (£54)

X Long length, half scaled (£37)

X Long length, fully scaled (£73)

 Pouches
Small pouch vs Large pouch (no medium pouch photo yet though) 
Large pouch open, with some dice in, and pressed flat

Other Items / Group shots


Matching set - 2" choker (£12) and headband (£16)
X Long gloves half scaled (£37)

Eyelet and threading on 2" choker (£12)

Custom Request Items
I can't always take custom requests, and they often take at least two months of work to make, but I love making new things when I can! Prices for custom items are generated on request, depending on complexity and size of item.
Hand-held pangolin, in prototype stage
I intend to make this little one available for regular request when it's proper patterned,
at which point he will get a proper price 

Pauldron, available again on request
price subject to much variation until I've got a solid pattern down for it though!


And Finally a Note on Postage
Obviously, most people are going to want their items sending to them. I'm situated in the UK, and for anything other than standard orders (one pair of regular, long, or x long half scaled gloves) I get custom postage costs for each time. As an estimate though;
Postage within the UK is around £3 for a pair of half-scaled gloves to £10 for large items (x long fully scaled gloves and matching accessories, for example) and takes a few days
Postage within EU is around £6-12 for the same range of items, and takes around a week
Postage outside EU is around £6-15 for the same range of items, and takes around one to three weeks depending on the country and the time of year

This covers standard first class mail (airmail if abroad). On request I can send items using tracked or speedy services, just ask before you buy anything and I'll get you the price for whatever postage you want - be warned that it can get pretty expensive really fast!