Project Linus #9 complete
Annie Deighnaugh
5 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (68)
Annie Deighnaugh
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Newest projects completed
Comments (25)This looks like basically a ripple pattern. And if I understand your concern correctly, the holes are different looking in a ripple pattern. The hole in the section that seems to point up is made by making 3 stitches in the same stitch. The holes going down are made by skipping 2 stitches. So they are not an exact match, but they are consistent and look fine. I make a huge granny square baby afghan using the rainbow technique described. I use two strands of worsted, changing the colors as described above. It is one huge granny square, only one, and it looks nice. Since it has so many lacy holes in the design, I make it for summer babies....See MoreProject Linus #5 complete
Comments (10)Gorgeous! My baby was just given a double weight extremely soft minky blanket with a satin binding and it reminded me how much I loved the satin binding on my blankets as a child....See MoreWhat to do when a project goes completely SOUTH
Comments (66)Disclaimer - We are the contractors in this story who saved the day, testified in court, and established a great relationship with the homeowner. An educated consumer is our best customer. On GC's and subs- 1- Give me a good price on this job and I'll shovel you tons of work. This is an old tactic used by GC's to drive the cost down / raise profits. After the first job the sub is fired and quickly replaced. Subs who haven't been burned by this before, or are hungry, are young, or didn't know this happened to them are easy prey to this scam. If the sub stays on and wants to get paid his full amount, he is quickly replaced. 2- My subs have been with me a long time. What is a long time? Months or years? Did you speak to the sub himself? 3- Most GC's have bare general knowledge about what their subs do. They don't have the specific knowledge of the trades. If you have specific concerns about waterproofing, it's best to ask the sub directly before the job starts. Having done your homework on John Bridge, or Fine Homebuilding will help you immensely. 4- GC's are salesmen who add 25% to 35% to what the sub is charging to make their living. IMHO most GC's view subs as commodities not skilled craftsmen and are not willing to pay a skilled craftsman the rates they deserve. The best craftspeople I know around the world are all self employed and don't work for GC's. Most work aside the GC, directly for the HO. On the rare chance I do work under a GC, the HO is actively involved in the process and has usually brought us in specifically. 5- GC's prefer to price items by the square foot or some easy (brainless) method. I find this a great disservice to the HO. If I am tiling the floor of a car dealership (wide open space) the price per sf will be lower than a dentist's office (tiny rooms and hallways) IN these instances a per sf price would be useless. Then we get into prep work, access to the jobsite, working conditions, and a myriad of variables unique to each jobsite. Is there a gate that needs to be kept closed all the time? Limited hours we can be on the site? Is the building heated and cooled? There is no way a flat rate of $/sf is useful when it comes to certain trades. 6- GC's are not inclined to pay for prepwork. They pay for finished product. While we all want the finished product to be gorgeous, prep work is critical. Certainly in a shower, waterproofing is what you are really buying. Tile is just the pretty surface. This is why so many showers fail. I've actually had a GC say to me - "I don't pay you for prep work, I pay you to install tile" Prep work usually drives up the cost of a job considerably. Customers sometimes don't want to hear this or think we are adding to the scope of work unnecessarily. We don't work for such folks. 7- Why don't contractors just tell HO's they are busy and will have to wait? When a potential customer calls, asking when they want the work completed is my first or second question. This comes with a lot of risk, mainly losing the job all together. My 40 years experience has taught me that most HO's call contractors when the HO is ready to start the project and is eager to get things rolling. Telling a HO they will have to wait a few months in the first phone call is usually the kiss of death. My thought is - Would you want to hire a contractor who isn't busy? Granted there are job delays and cancellations, but a good businessman knows how to keep his schedule full and workers busy. It takes some sales skill (and empathy) to save that first phone call from going down in flames and losing the opportunity to educate a customer on the process of hiring a qualified contractor. 8- Not so news flash - Not all great contractors are great businessmen. Makes sense once you think about it though. The manufacturers have reps to show us their products, there are trade schools and unions, but teaching a contractor how to run his business is woefully lacking. Being a craftsman in any trade doesn't make you a good businessperson or a good salesperson. Some good contractors become subs as to have the business side of their job taken care of by the GC who feeds them a steady stream of work and a reliable paycheck. Pounding the pavement, making sales, maintaining a website, and giving estimates all take effort, skill, and time not everyone has. 9- Not so news flash #2 - Not all great salesmen are great contractors. This is the hard part for the average HO to sort out. A slick talking young man in a pressed shirt can have all the right sounding answers. So what's a HO to do? Start by asking; Who will be coming into my home? Will they have seen the jobsite in person or pictures before they knock on my door? Or are they just given my address that morning? Ask what products will be used and why. Talk to the manufacturer's reps for those products. It's a good sign when the rep knows your contractor. It's a good sign when the rep backs up what your contractor claims. Ask the Rep about any installation tricks/hazards to watch for. Every manufacturer has YouTube videos giving detailed instructions which MUST be followed. An educated consumer is our best customer. 10- Not so news flash #3 - There are good people on YouTube and then..... there is the rest of the crowd. As mentioned above, the John Bridge Forum and Sal Diblasi's videos are spot on. So are the videos made by the product manufacturer or a trade association. A HO will have a hard time discerning the good from the bad YouTube videos without trade knowledge or a trained ear which is why I recommend the manufacturer's videos and talking with their reps. The reps get paid for this, its their job. When you find a good contractor who provides excellent service the best compliment is to recommend them, give a good Google / Angie's List / Yelp review. This will also help other HO's in their search. I could go on for pages, but y'all are probably bored by now. If you have specific questions, I'd be happy to answer....See MoreAnother project linus complete
Comments (47)Already looking at beanie patterns. Granddaughter turns 13 today and loves beanies. I am left handed, may try to crochet right handed so I can teach her also. I am a very dominant left so will see if my brain can switch it up. Thanks Annie. Have a quilt to finish today. Have lots of yarn and a few crochet needles. Will look tonight for supplies in my “knitting room”. May have to change name of room. Will see if this works for me. Certainly giving it a try....See MoreAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agojellytoast
5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoSpringroz
5 years agojellytoast
5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agojellytoast
5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agojellytoast
5 years agoSpringroz
5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agojellytoast
5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agojellytoast
5 years agojellytoast
5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agojellytoast
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agojellytoast
5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agojellytoast
5 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
5 years ago
Related Stories
DECORATING GUIDES9 Tips for Managing Your Own Decorating Project
Keep shopping and decorating on track with this wisdom tailor made for DIYers
Full StoryLIFE9 Timely Home Projects to Tackle During School Hours
While the kids are off (hopefully) learning, create your own list of accomplishments with these opportune home improvement projects
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDES9 Cool DIY Projects and the Homes They Come From
Here are some super-savvy DIY and upcycling ideas — big and small — from homes you may have seen on Houzz
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN9 Outdoor Projects to Boost Your Yard This Summer
Consider these outdoor upgrades for adding color, enhancing ambiance and carving out more usable space in your yard
Full StoryORGANIZING9 Projects to Kick-Start Organizing for the New Year
Calm your mind and your home by decluttering cords, winnowing food containers and letting go of unloved loungewear
Full StoryDESIGN DETAILS9 Eye-Catching Baseboard Designs
Baseboards can be modern and minimal or tall and dramatic. Here's how to find one that completes the style of your home
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN9 Ways to Save on Your Kitchen Remodel
A designer shares key areas where you can economize — and still get the kitchen of your dreams
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNBefore and After: 9 Small-Bathroom Makeovers That Wow
Ready to remodel? Get inspired by these bathroom projects that come in at less than 60 square feet
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNExpert Talk: Design Lessons From 9 Stunning Kitchens
Architects share a behind-the-scenes look at the design decisions for some of their most interesting kitchen projects
Full StoryLIFEGive Yourself a Break: 9 Resolutions That Are Easy to Keep
No DIY projects, cleaning, decluttering or guilt are required
Full Story
nicole___