I used to make these for my site, I think people often call them "magic balls". 

Do you have less than 50 yards?  If so, or it you want to make it go a bit farther I like to knit it in stripes with another often neutral colored yarn- ie a plain black yarn.  Works especially well for scarves knit the longways and for hats since you can continue using the plain yarn once you run out of the other for the top of the hat.

Elastic at the cuffs might help keep the chenille and other not very elastic yarns in the shape of socks.  They also sell stretchy sock yarn, though that will not be thick enough for the needles you want to use.

It depends on the type of dyes you use as to what you need, and how big you mean by production.  If I were truly going for production I would probably use large propane tanks and burners outside under a covered area (because of ventilation), which would allow me to use larger pots than I can on a stove (I can't lift anything larger than a  canning pot full of water, and even that I am not *supposed* to lift). 

Depending on the type of dyes you use, the type of pots (all the same material if you are trying to replicate colors...) will also be important, as will whether or not you mordant- my yarns and fibers have to sit for awhile after mordanting to cure, so that takes up space, for example.

Lots of rags.  Deep and tall shelves.  Fans.  Full mask.  Elbow length gloves (Reusable preferably!) , long poles for stirring and lifting.  Skein winder, scale.

I dye in my kitchen (no space for an outdoor propane tank, and again- I can't lift the larger pots.  Someday though!), so in addition to open windows there is a powerful fan above the stove.  A pantry and another closet hold much of the gear when not in use.  My fridge is largely fiber related for dyes and things being mordanted.  Same for the washer (good for spinning out yarn).  A drying rack lives in my bathtub, and is easily moved out (not allowed to hang things outside on my balcony).  My kitchen island is nice and large, so works well for production, with a nice big double sink in the middle of it.  It sounds like a lot of walking back and forth, but it's an open floor plan so it is really all right next to each other!

I would block both the swatch and the finished piece.  Yarn changes after it is blocked after being spun, and again after being knit.

I believe you do have to have one that fits you wheel, but that some might fit more than one wheel, if that makes sense?  I don't own one though (yet) so I haven't really looked in to it.

Cotton fleece should wash and wear pretty well.  I might not dry it on a super hot setting, but otherwise it is generally fine, and wears like iron!

I am making a braided denim rug, and it looks *so* cool.  I love the braid aids.  What did you decide to do?

And the great thing about jeans is that they are already  cut on the bias (at least, the kind without spandex are), so you don't have to worry about a thing!

OO, I want to see it when it is done!

Jeans are usually a twill and bias cut already as Katxena said,so I wouldn't worry too much.   I also vote for braiding because I think that will help with diffent thicknesses of your jeans and any variation in how thick they are cut...

OOO those look absolutely delicious!

If I didn't have a store discount where I worked or if I didn't eat all organic localfoods I would totally spend more money a month on yarn, easily.  As it is, the amount I spend on coffee makes the food budget higher.  I should cut down on that so I can buy more yarn (heaven forbid I need more of it,right)

But I only have a little more than 4 weeks, not a big stash and no idea if any of its worth it other than knowing I want to go in at least 1 thing I made (and would you wear more than 1 hand knit item? it seems kind of weird but I dunno)

Well once I get my handknit socks, jacket and/or sweater, gloves, hat, etc on that is more than 1!  For a dance though, maybe not so much.


What about knitting a clutch of some sort?