Blog
Third Party Links March 08 2023
Third party links may earn me a commission, but rest assured they are there because they are trusted and relevant! I only recommend what I believe in.Hat Sizing Guide June 18 2022
Are you venturing into freehand creating or making your own knit and crochet patterns, but you're stuck on how to get the sizing right on those top-down hats? Fret not!
The charts below (imperial and metric) will prove a helpful guide for getting those beanies to fit - regardless of whether you're working with cables, single or double crochet, etc - without having to start a head collection.
Simply increase every round to create a flat circle until the measurements match the corresponding size:
Then work even until the height matches as well. That's it!
Pretty simple, right? Let's see what you've made!
2021 Holiday Order Deadline November 15 2021
Make your holiday orders by December 3rd to guarantee Christmas delivery!Free Shipping On ALL Orders! June 06 2019
We now offer free domestic shipping on all orders. So long as the order is being shipped within the US, we've got it covered!
Free shipping will be the most cost effective, which will usually be First Class Mail with USPS. If you'd prefer faster shipping, you always have the option to upgrade your shipping for a little extra!
**No minimum orders to qualify. Free shipping only applies to original delivery from Gromidez to the address we're given. In the case of returned orders or re-delivery, standard shipping charges will apply.**
Valentine's Sale and Deadline January 18 2019
Are you looking for a great deal on gifts for your geeky sweetheart, or just want to take advantage of free shipping for yourself? Now's the time to jump on it!
From now through February 14, domestic standard shipping is free on all orders over $14!
Not only that, but if you order to a US address before February 8, you'll even get it in time for Valentine's Day!
If you need your order before the 14th, please contact Gromidez to discuss BEFORE placing your order.
Please understand that the guarantee provided by Gromidez, LLC is only that your orders will be SHIPPED by the dates provided by USPS. Gromidez, LLC cannot be held liable for any delay in shipping once the item has been delivered to the post office.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Gromidez!
Thank you for your understanding!
2018 Holiday Order Deadlines October 22 2018
With the holidays, of course, comes an increased order volume. As you can understand, this means even more work for crafters who personally create every item they sell. In order to ensure that your gifts can be delivered on time for Christmas, please make sure you place your order by the dates below.
First Class Mail: December 10th
Priority Mail: December 13th
Express Mail: December 15th
Due to increased order volume, your orders may be delayed in processing, but WILL be shipped by the dates provided by USPS in order to guarantee December 25th delivery if ordered by the above dates.
If you need your order before the 24th, please contact Gromidez to discuss BEFORE placing your order.
Please understand that the guarantee provided by Gromidez, LLC is only that your orders will be SHIPPED by the dates provided by . Gromidez, LLC cannot be held liable for any delay in shipping once the item has been delivered to the post office.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Gromidez!
Thank you for your understanding and have a wonderful holiday season!
2017 Holiday Order Deadlines November 19 2017
With the holidays, of course, comes an increased order volume. As you can understand, this means even more work for crafters who personally create every item they sell. In order to ensure that your gifts can be delivered on time for Christmas, please make sure you place your order by the dates below.
First Class Mail: December 8th
Priority Mail: December 9th
Express Mail: December 11th
Due to increased order volume, your orders may be delayed in processing, but WILL be shipped by the dates provided by USPS in order to guarantee December 24th delivery if ordered by the above dates.
If you need your order before the 24th, please contact Gromidez to discuss BEFORE placing your order.
Please understand that the guarantee provided by Gromidez is only that your orders will be SHIPPED by the dates provided by USPS. Gromidez cannot be held liable for any delay in shipping once the item has been delivered to the post office.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Gromidez!
Thank you for your understanding and have a wonderful holiday season!
It's Not Possible To Be A Passive Ally November 20 2016
As likely everyone is aware, Brexit and the election of Trump into office has sparked a monumental increase in hate crimes against marginalized peoples. Everything from verbal and physical assault to efforts to decrease their rights as human beings. In the US alone, there have been over 700 reported incidents in just two weeks.
It is clear that the validation and normalization of bigotry and racism has emboldened the populace who would have otherwise been more subtle in their hatred. As a result, one movement that has swept social media is the wearing of safety pins to designate oneself as a safe person. While the safety pin is meant to communicate that someone is safe to approach for company, it is also meant to signify that the person will intervene in violent or hateful situations.
Unfortunately, a number of people have also brought up that the safety pin pales in comparison to real action and is often used more to assuage the guilt of self-proclaimed allies who do not plan to do anything in the face of violence.
Since the safety pin is only a small symbol and a minimal gesture, Gromidez has designed a number of buttons to accompany or entirely replace that token. As allies, we are obligated to take tangible action in this very real fight against injustice and cruelty. Not only in person, but online, at family dinners, in the workplace. It is time to get out of the comfort zone and stop worrying about rocking the boat, for we have already tipped overboard and will surely drown if we don't work together.
The featured buttons are a prominent 2.25" to ensure that your message is received loud and clear. Silence is acceptance. 100% of the profits will be donated to relevant organizations to aid in this fight. Bulk orders are welcomed and encouraged, including a discount. If you are a non-profit who wishes to supply the masses, please contact me directly about a donation.
If you choose to wear a safety pin, please recognize that you are implying your support for ALL people. All races, all religions, all gender identities, and all sexual identities.
We simply can't let hatred win. Thank you for fighting.
Warmly,
Maygin
Each button is available both on Gromidez and Etsy. Options for bulk ordering are available in the listing for each individual design. The entire collection is also available for a discounted price.
While wearing a button is a wonderful gesture, it isn't all you can or should be doing. Please take a moment to call your representatives on the issues as well.
If you have suggestions for other button designs or organizations to donate to, please contact me directly at maygin@gromidez.com.
As all the buttons are printed and handmade by yours truly, please understand that order volume may increase wait time.
Care Instructions for Your Gromidez Wearables July 26 2016
Unless otherwise noted, Gromidez knit and crochet products are created using 100% acrylic yarn. Here are some frequently asked questions about this material, and their answers!
Why acrylic?
With our products reaching a great number of people all over the world, Gromidez has decided to use acrylic yarn for a number of reasons. One of the biggest being that acrylic is hypoallergenic. Consumers with allergies to natural fibers, such as wool, need not be concerned with the synthetic fiber, acrylic.
Besides health concerns, acrylic yarn also comes in a variety of vibrant colors and can be machine wash and dried. So it's best for creating the most fun, colorful, and accurate designs that are convenient to care for!
Additionally, acrylic fibers won't shrink, stain, mildew, or attract moths.
But isn't acrylic yarn rough and scratchy?
While that may have been the case many years ago, as older yarn crafters will tell you, it isn't any more. As with any other fiber, different brands provide different products with varying levels of softness. Gromidez wearable creations are made exclusively with the softest yarns, so you're always comfortable. And with every wash, the yarn tends to get even softer still!
Ok, so how do I take care of the acrylic stuff?
It's super easy! All of the Gromidez wearables (unless otherwise listed) can be washed and dried in the machine along with the rest of your clothes!
Heavy friction can cause pilling, so you may choose to wash these items on the gentle cycle and/or in garment bags. But it's not required!
The only thing you can't do, ever, is iron acrylic. Since acrylic is synthetic, direct heat will melt the fibers. But since acrylic doesn't really wrinkle, you probably won't ever feel the need to iron it anyway!
When storing your Gromidez wearables, it's best to fold them since hanging them can cause the items to stretch out of shape. If you choose not to machine dry, lay them flat instead of hanging them.
How to Cosplay February 09 2016
My dearest fellow cosplay enthusiasts-
Many people still seem to think that the ONLY way to cosplay is to make your own costume. This is simply not true.
Rules for successful cosplay are:
1. Love a character
2. Dress like that character in whatever way you're able
3. Continue to exist while in that costume
That's it. You're cosplaying!
Not everyone has the time, talent, or funds to make their own costumes. Not everyone has the desire. Some costumes simply don't require it (why make a T-shirt?). And guess what, it's not necessary. People who try to tell you otherwise are flat out wrong.
If we believed people who try to say it's only real if you made it yourself, that means they make their wigs from scratch, their shoes, every piece of their props, and every stitch of clothing they wear. What about contacts? Or makeup? Where, exactly, is the line drawn between what is acceptable to purchase and what must be DIY? There isn't one. Make what you can/want, beg, buy, or borrow the rest. Seriously, it's ok.
No, you shouldn't claim that you made a costume that you didn't. Yes, go ahead and tell people about the alterations you made to the jacket you bought at the thrift store. No, you shouldn't claim that you made a costume that you commissioned. Yes, you can explain in great detail the styling you did to the used wig you got from your favorite Facebook group. Either way you go, just be honest.
If you want to make every single stitch of your costume, DO IT! But don't shame those who don't or can't. If you want to make your wigs from scratch, DO IT! But don't claim to be a bigger fan than the person who makes use of the many available resources to purchase one. If you want to make the shoes for your costume so they'll be perfect, DO IT (because seriously, that's awesome)! But don't call out the costumer wearing boot covers.
Everyone is working with different levels of skill, time, and funds. Do whatever makes YOU happy, and keeps you enjoying the art of cosplay. The important part of cosplay is to HAVE FUN. 'Cause if you're miserable about it, what's the damn point?
2015 Holiday Order Deadlines November 23 2015
Happy Holidays!
With the holidays, of course, comes an increased order volume. As you can understand, this means even more work for crafters who personally create every item they sell. In order to ensure that your gifts can be delivered on time for Christmas, please make sure you place your order by the dates below.
USA: December 14, 2015
Canada: December 4, 2015
Due to the varied delivery times and efficiency, international orders other than Canada cannot contain any delivery guarantees.
Due to increased order volume, your orders may be delayed in processing, but WILL be shipped by the dates provided by USPS in order to guarantee December 24th delivery if ordered by the above dates.
If you need your order before the 24th, please contact Gromidez to discuss BEFORE placing your order.
Please understand that the guarantee provided by Gromidez is only that your orders will be SHIPPED by the dates provided by USPS. Gromidez cannot be held liable for any delay in shipping once the item has been delivered to the post office.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Gromidez!
Thank you for your understanding and have a wonderful holiday season!
Ideas Formed in Fiber: The birth of an original design from concept to completion June 09 2014
It has come to my attention recently that some people may believe that the items I create and sell are from patterns found on the internet. And due to this assumption, that my prices are higher than they should be. In trying to figure out how to address this concern, I realized that an in-depth look into my creation process may be exactly the right thing for my first blog on this page.
While I work in quite a few mediums, today I will be discussing yarn crafts; Knitting and crocheting.
Coming up with an idea
Deciding what to create happens any number of ways. Sometimes it’s watching an episode of a great series and thinking, “Oh! A little plush of that character would be so great!” Sometimes a customer asks me for something specific. Sometimes a friend suggests something. And sometimes I see something else someone has created and it sparks the idea to try my own.
Regardless of how the idea comes to me, my usual goal is to create something great. If I got the idea from something someone else has done, I only try my own if I think I can improve on it or change it in some way to make it unique, more recognizable, etc. For wearable items, I want it to be something useful as well as attractive. A scarf that won’t keep you warm or be comfortable is no good! In fact, I have had hundreds of ideas that I haven’t followed through on, because I didn’t think they were practical.
Once I come up with an idea, I continue into:
The planning stage
Before I ever pull out my yarn and hooks/needles, I do a little research. I do a Google image search on the character/item and decide what, exactly, I want to create. What aspects of this character will make it recognizable? Which aspects are less important? Should it be more realistic or amigurumi-style? Should it be 3D or 2D? And so on…
Then I look up to see what, if anything, others have done. Is the idea I have in my head something that has already been done to death? If so, how can I improve upon it? Or, does it look as good as I expect it will? Sometimes, I realize that the idea I had just isn’t practical. Maybe the detail necessary to make it recognizable is too time-consuming and thus would cost more than most people would be willing to pay.
I also look up to see what others charge for similar items. Is my idea, and what I will probably charge for it, comparable to what’s already available? And I decide from there whether certain things should be improved upon or altered.
Once I’ve pretty much nailed down the direction I want to go in, I move onto
Creating a pattern
Now this can be quite a process.
Sometimes, I can just start crocheting/knitting and work out the details as I go along. Pulling out stitches and trying again when a shape isn’t working out as I want, writing down what I do as I go (when I’m smart – sometimes I just completely forget to do this and then I have to try to remember what I did! :P ). The first of any design usually takes at least three times as long as it will once I’ve worked out the final pattern. This means that it may possibly take hours to come up with a simple hat or plush.
Other times, if I will be creating something with a shape or technique I’m not 100% familiar with but that is not uncommon, I will look for patterns that utilize these to find the best way to approach it. And I don’t mean looking up the pattern of a specific character. For example, if I am doing something that should be perfectly round, I will look up patterns for balls, globes, etc. This cuts down on the time it would take me to figure it out through trial and error.
Using the knowledge and experience of thousands of others is especially helpful when it comes to items that need to be a certain size, like hats. Instead of creating a bunch of random sizes and hoping they fit someone, I look up average head measurements. Utilizing gauge, I can then determine how many stitches I need the hat to be. This is especially helpful when creating a design with color work. If I only have 50 stitches, I certainly can’t create a design that requires 100!
When creating patterns, my desk is littered with yarn, hooks/needles, stitch markers, a sketch book, scissors, and my computer screen with Word, Excel, a calculator, and dozens of tabs with various pictures to click back and forth between to make sure I’m getting it just right! It is by no means a clean, simple process.
Once I’ve finished making an item, and am happy with the final product, I
Finalize the design
Finalizing the design is probably the easiest part. I edit the pattern to reflect the final decisions made regarding the design, so that I can duplicate it over and over again. Sometimes this means including the simplest things because, when you make hundreds of items, it’s easy to forget.
I decide on the price. This usually means making another one from the final pattern and timing how long it takes to make. Calculating cost of materials, time, difficulty of the pattern, etc.
Even when I’ve finalized a design, I will sometimes change it after a while for any number of reasons. Sometimes I discover a technique that would look better. Other times I may realize that the technique I use is just too tedious or time-consuming. And sometimes I just don’t like the way it looks anymore and I think I can make it better! That usually means starting the process all over. But I think it’s always been for the best.