Happy Blogday Knitting Galore!

Knitting Galore is 1 year old Today!

Wow what a year!
A year ago today I decided to have a go at blogging, wasn't really sure how to go about it but with a much surfing the net, trial and effort I managed to work out how to open this blogging account. You see I'd just 'retired'  and had all this time on my hands to persue one of my favourite hobbies - knitting. Here in Turkey we have such beautiful yarns but I was struggling to find knitting patterns, and even on the web some of the patterns are a 'lot to be desired'! So hence Knitting Galore was 'born'.
It was a bit slow going at first and I'd little idea on how to 'share' my blog, but, I read everything I could and tried all sorts of things. Eventually I started to get a couple of followers, the 'Ultimate blog challenge' was a big help in that  and I have just completed my third. Anyway to cut a long story short, suddenly in March  this year my blog seemed to take off almost overnight  I went from having 400 page views per month to 49,000 this last month, (212,895 to date) and people are leaving comments too! It's such a thrill to see the number of people who have looked at your work but to actually see that they've left a comment ( even if it's to point out a mistake I've made in the writing of my knitting pattern). To KNOW that someone has actually really read it and is knitting it, is like recieving a gold medal!  I love it! and to see the photo's of their completed item is just amazing!
I've recently had 5 of my patterns featured on a couple of knitting websites such as Knitting on the net, knitting pattern central, all free knitting and knit picky patterns. I've had patterns  voted No 1, top pattern of the week / month and Editor's choice. I have a large following on Ravelry, knitting galore facebook page with 243 fans, knitting galore g+ page with 247 in the circle and a massive 13,241 people subscribe to this blog!
I don't want to bore you with too many statistics but I'm so proud I want share a couple with you.
During this year I've posted 204  blog posts 183 of them actual knitting patterns.
My most popular 5  patterns are : 

1. Knitted Flowers  with 24,880 page views

2. Super Easy Knit Baby Hoodie with 17,496 page views

3. Modern Miss Baby cardigan with 16,279 page views

4. Sweet Lace Baby Dress with  13,972 page views

5. Butterfly Baby Blanket with  12,079 page views

My busiest day was July 28th with 5,400 page views in just 1 day!
 I have followers in USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Soth Africa, Ireland, India, Germany, Turkey and many more counties.
 Anyway that's enough of the numbers :) The thing I am most proud of that's come out of all this is the founding of 'Lily' Love in the Language of Yarn our knitting charity. We have accomplished so much in such a short time and I couldn't of done without YOU my wonderful readers and supporters. And last but in no way least I have made some fantastic friends  both fellow bloggers and readers.
So from the bottom of my heart THANKYOU SO MUCH  for making this a VERY memorable year.


Now I'm off to work on some new knitting patterns to share with you for the next year :).


Oh nearly forgot! I will be announcing the winners of the yarn giveaway a little later today.
Watch this space! :) Good Luck !
                                           

 

The New Kid On The Blog

It’s hot today (38*) here in Kusadasi, Turkey and i’ve had a very slow start, just couldn’t seem to get going but was determined to sit down and write this post. I’ve eventually got myself organised, turned the air con up and poured myself a drink of iced water and here i go!

When i first started my blog  which was just 1 month ago, i really didn’t know what i was doing, you see i was looking into the idea of doing something to promote the lovely handmade woven bracelets that my husband makes. Then i suddenly thought i could write a blog about my passion for knitting and  before i’d actually thought it through i was signing up on blogspot and writing my first blog. That was when i realised it’s great to share my knitting but i actually want people to read my blog and enjoy it with me, but i really don’t know what to do or how to do it, so i started searching the net for answers.

I started to add my blog to directories and reading other peoples blogs to see how they did it. I signed up for numerous newsletters and aids from various Internet Marketing and Social Networking experts, i read all, some i found extremelly helpful and enlightening and some not so. I picked up many tips and found lots of plug ins, add ons and web sites i’d never heard off before.

                  I would like to mention, if i may, a few of the people that gave me the most inspiration. The first of whom is Michelle Shaeffer i’m not sure how i came across her, but, she has been such a help to me i feel like i’ve always known her. With downloads, news letter and blog posts  she has given me advice and help in no end of ways. You can find Michelle at  www.michelleshaeffer.com simplestorming.com or the facebook page’the ultimate blog challenge’ and numerous other sites. Hector Cuevas( hectorcuevas.com) who after listening to his ‘smart blogging audio’  gave me the inspiration to carry on just when i was thinking ‘this is all too much!’John Paul Aguiar (johnpaulaguiar.com) who made me feel better with his statement ‘It’s ok if you don’t know everything’ and the help with his Blog dummy blogging course. Alex whalley.com for his sense of humour and Market Samurai Bootcamp which is helping me understand keywords.  Martha Giffen who has given me a great insight with her great blogging tips on ‘How to be a profitable blogger'. And more recently Janet Callaway the Natural Networker who is just that ‘Natural’ and she seems to have the knack of blogging the right subject at just the right time ( for me  anyway) to spur you on. There are many others, i don’t want this to turn into a directory but i do believe in giving credit where credit is due.     

Although i’m still a long way off i feel i’m getting there (where ever that is). At the end of the day my blog is about my passion of knitting and being able to share that with anyone who also loves to knit. One of my main reasons for the blog is that when i came to  live in Turkey it was impossible to find knitting patterns in English (or even Turkish for that matter) the only thing was to search the net but although there’s more choice now  alot of the patterns available are old fashioned to say the least! And there’s little or no info on how to substitute a particular yarn, because ofcourse there’s only Turkish yarn available here. If i can share my patterns and help knitters and maybe make some money along the way i’ll be a ‘happy chappy’. So stand by for the New Improved Knitting Galore…. Coming Soon!

                                                                                  

http://hectorjcuevas.comhttp://alexwhalley.com/seo/marketsamuraibootcamphttp://marthagiffen.comhttp://janetcallaway.comhttp://michelleshaeffer.comhttp://johnpaulaguiar.com