Turning my hobby into a side business

[KnittedReenactor]

Thank you all for your replies. However my plans are for nought, the reenactment I was going to and much of public life here has been canceled for the next 4 to 6 weeks.

[Steve Ashton]

Have you looked into "Hand-Cranked Circular Sock Knitting Machines"?

While more expensive than the plastic "Addi" style machines they are wonderful for knitting circularly.

I have a new one. An Erlbacher Speedster.



And I knit custom kilt hose.



I have owned antiques in the past but the new machines, with "equal slot ribbers" are a total game changer which allow you to make every stitch either a knit stitch or a purl stitch just like in hand knitting.

The new machines also have the advantage that they are still making them so parts and accessories are readily available.



The learning curve to use a CSM is almost equal to learning to hand knit but well worth it.

I can now make a pair of socks like this in under a day.

[KnittedReenactor]

I would love to get one eventually, but at $1300 for a basic model, I can't justify it at this moment.

[Luke MacGillie]

Yes, the midwest, our reenacting season is pretty well toast before it got started. Are you had and fast tied to early 20th Century? I do 18th Century myself. While the market on tuques and monmouth caps is pretty well saturated, Scots Bonnets that are knit instead of being made from wool blankets are always hard to find.

[Pleater]

Some hose, hand made, the light blue are rather elderly, over 40 years I would guess since the last repair. The others perhaps ten at a guess.

Anne the pleater

[Pleater]

More hand made things. A couple of crochet caps - my first attempt at spinning fleece straight off the sheep and a crochet duffle bag - if we do have to stay at home and wait for the virus to do its worst, I will be able to occupy my time fairly well making things - learning how to spin a bit better too...

Anne the Pleater