I tell them I'm happy to teach them the basics so they can learn to make it themselves so they don't have to pay for anyone else's labor.
often that gets a, "I dont have time for that" to which I can respond, "neither do I, which is why I charge for that time" spent working on pieces for someone who requests them."
This is now going into its own playlist to play for choosing beggars. And I want to make sheet that says, "so you want to learn (insert skill here)!" And just have links to youtubers I follow for tutorials or book recommendations. š
oh I miss eating st Jimmy John's. hells I miss a good sandwich from anywhere. gluten free bread does nor scratch hst itch and is always disappintment (unrelated rant sorry. )ā
And then provide them with a list if the cost of each yarn type, plus approximate time spent making it in hours multiplied by minimum wage in your area, add $10 or so for customization, and show them how much your beautiful work is really worth!
this is all part of my commission contract. I price point 3 yarn costs. cheapest, most expensive, and middle ground yarns that would work for the project (and come in the colors they are asking for). I also point out the yarn I would select if I were makingnit for myself.
then I do an estimation of hours the project will take, the rate I am charging per hour (which can change based on the project and person) to give a final total for labor.
so at the bottom of the contract I spell out which yarn they selected and confirm the total labor cost. The materials cost is due as a deposit. the labor cost is due upon finishing the project before they actually receive it. that way if they are no longer interested in paying I can sell it or donate it and I'm not out the material cost.
then we both sign the contract and each get a copy.
I don't both with this if it's something tiny (like 5-15) but anything substantial.. yep. and if they don't respect that this is a business they've self selected themselves out of my customer pool, which is fine with me. the contract sets the expectations and works well for anyone on the fence to either decide or drop it.
I think my MIL is the hero. without her I would have had the confidence to stand up for mu work. she's made a 40+ year career making dolls. She's my mentor for sure!
If we don't value our time and skills no one else will. Stand up for the amazing things you can make. worse case scenario you sell fewer items, but have more time for your own projects.
Underselling ourselves isnt just hurting our own value if running a business (even if it is a side business just for fun) but actively undervalues other artists as well. Selling something cheaply might get that item out the door faster, but it also continues the expectation of devaluing what we do and even what other artists produce. Pur time and experience is worth protecting from the constant decrease in what people think someone should be paid.
whether in an office job, manual laborer, or artist your time is worth being paid for. Your skills have value. Your time has worth. ā
I like this answer.
Mine was going to be "You don't explain" I can't believe people have the audacity to say things like that. Do people not know how much work goes into it?ā¤ļø
it seems to work to shut some folks up. the only response I've heard that suggests someone wouldn't accept that answer was, "but it's your hobby. you will be doing it anyway." to which I can safely respond, "yes its my hobby, it's also my business. I may spend that time stitching anyway, but on projects I've been commissioned for or on my own projects. Your request isn't either at this point. so why should I put aside other projects for yours?"
I'm pretty lucky. my MIL helped me work out commissioned contracts and taught me to value my time appropriately and not to take any nonsense. She actually helped me train myself to say sinoly, "no" so I was more comfortable with argues which let me develop the confidence to make an argument for my time and skill.ā
Learning to say "no" is a whole thing! My therapist & husband are combining powers to teach me to respond with "I'm not able to take that on right now" (it's a start). Then grey wall. (if you aren't familiar with therapy terms, that's repeating the same answer until the person asking gives up)
My head got jumbled somewhere along growing up, but "no" is strength, not weakness!Ā
Aww! Iām so glad to hear your husband and therapist are rallying behind you and helping you learn this skill.
I had one neighbor who was terrible at saying no and one that was an absolute master at it. The one that struggled to say no was constantly being taken advantage of and it broke my heart. She was so sweet. I would often tell her she could just say, āsorry, Iām not home right now.ā and come over to my house so sheās technically not lying š But even that was hard for her. The other one would often say, ālet me tell you my favorite word. No!ā š
They have both moved away now and I miss them dearlyā¦
Yeah when they talk about that itās my hobby, just like anyone elseās hobby I make what I want in the spare time I have and my list of projects is already full.
A coworker showed me a picture of a handbag made of that thick polyester tube yarn and told me she'd pay me $20 to make her one. I told her I'd give her a ball of yarn for that price lmao.
People don't seem to realise good quality yarn that isn't even high end can be on the pricey side, now with the world economy in the toilet and inflation kicking everything up a notch, yarn costs even more and is even more undervalued
fully! they see ācheapā yarn for say a few pounds and donāt realise to complete a project you may need 10 and it will cost even more for certain fibres too and higher end yarns
I was shocked how expensive my blanket would end up being, with freaking Walmart cheap yarn. I still made it, but that's over a hundred bucks in yarn and there is no way I would actually pay that much for someone else's blanket
This right here. I bought merino wool hand dyed yarn for socks for $30 a piece, and people are asking for a whole pair for that price. I tell them based on the yarn and time to make a pair, pricing starts at $100. Needless to say, I will never be selling anything I make, lol. Some things just aren't worth it to sell.
This is exactly that. Before I entered the hobby, I did think crochets were a bit pricey, but as a fellow artist I would still buy them cuties. After finding out how much a ball of SHIT yarn wasā¦. š„“ yāall are not charging enough !!!!!!
Where do you find good yarn? I have a local shop with decent stuff but Iām noticing some issues as time goes on. Iām willing to pay more for good stuff but Iām not sure how to go about finding it.
Have you tried spinning? You won't get good wool for a while but my favourite yarns are from when I was still learning. Drop spindles are real easy to make at home.
Drop spindle you can make with a dowel, cup hook, and a DVD you dont watch anymore, and maybe a chair to sit on :) my last flat was TINY and that's where I learned. Bonus is wool smooshes up real tiny for storage ;)
Once I made a queen size mosaic crochet blanket with an intricate design of a cow skull and some other stuff. When they opened it my SIL said āwow, you could sell these! Someone would pay like $50 for one!ā š« no thanks! I spent well over $50 in yarn alone.
This is the primary reason I refuse to sell knitted or crocheted items. People are used to fast fashion they do not understand or appreciate hand work.
They're too used to the fashion industry paying the people (often children) making cloth and outfits pennies. They don't understand how much work actually goes into shit like this.
If I ever sell crochets imma record myself so I can play a fast forwarded version on my iPad so people can visually see just how long and time consuming each one takes.
if I'm feeling very mean the response is "sorry you can't afford it!" but otherwise I usually just talk about the amount of time and work that went into it, sometimes segue into how undervalued labor is for fast fashion.
I actually put the hours it took to create an item right on the ticket with the price. When I started doing this it really put into perspective for people why the price was so "high" and honestly my comments went from being "this is expensive!" To "oh wow! You should probably charge more for that..." it was an eyeopener to them.
This is a really good idea! I think part of undervaluing is likely people not realizing how long even a smaller project can take.
I also suspect people donāt realize how expensive the supplies and yarn is. I was surprised when I first started. I quickly realized it was gonna be a hobby for fun, not to make things for cheaper than I could buy them.
Ditto. My wifeās been making a mandala blanket for over a year now (itās bigger than me, Iām 6ā3) and she said sheād never sell it, but if she did sheād ask at least $500 for it. Itās for sure going to be an heirloom at some point
Yup, I spent so long making a huge cardigan dress, boyfriend says "oh! You could sell stuff!"
Nobody is going to pay the Ā£650 I'd need to cover minimum wage alone. Sure my yarn is always second hand & I stock up on destashes wherever someone has a clear out on Depop or Facebook, but damn. Even a little cropped top would need to be like Ā£150 to meet minimum wage rates.
Yep, thousands. 500 doesnāt cover the materials, boss. Minimum wage Doesnāt account for her expertise either. I made a toddler blanket with a name and charged 300 for it. I would have charged 600 at least if it wasnāt for the friend who asked.
I've seen cute festival tops go for $125. She makes them, and she gets that price, which she deserves! They are nice tops, but even I was surprised at her prices, but happy some people get it. An heirloom blanket is both priceless, and I'd have no idea what to charge for that. $1500? $3000?
When I'm feeling salty I've been known to respond to "this is expensive!" with some variation of "that's ok, not everyone is in my target tax bracket!"
Well, Iāve never sold my stuff, but I told my FIL and MIL that I was making a baby blanket and a sweater for BILās soon-to-be baby boy. FIL joked that they donāt need to spend money, I could just make all the clothes for them. And then I was like, āI spent like $150 alone on nice, machine washable yarn. Itās not free.ā He was SHOCKED it cost that much.
Do your in-laws think you have a yarn tree that grows skeins ripe for picking when needed?
Itās only fellow crafters that understand just how much money we pour into making āfreeā clothes.
It depends on who it is. If itās a family member or friend Iād try to explain, or if theyāve said it more than once ask why they donāt want to pay me for my time, labour, material and expertise.
If itās some random, probably just āokayā because I donāt want to waste energy on them.
I made my daughter a long duster/cardigan and she wore it around and got a ton of compliments and people saying oh your mom should sell those. The piece I made her Iād have to sell for 300+ and nobody is going to pay that kind of money for it. And thatās just doubling the price for the yarn and paying myself minimum wage.
So I donāt sell my crochet. Iād like to because Iām crocheting day in and day out and I donāt know how many more shawls, cardigans, blankets, and what not I can make for me and mine before itās just straight up ridiculous lol
If you're okay with not getting paid for it, since it would be hard to get anyone who would buy at a fair price, donating the items to a shelter would probably get the items to people who would appreciate them.
Depends on how rudely it is phrased. I usually go for "*While I understand that this may be out of your budget, the price is actually on the lower end given the cost of materials, hours of work, and skill that went into this piece. Thank you for understanding!*"
If theyāre someone I like, then we discuss hours with a breakdown of time spent. If itās someone random, I tell them to go to the mall, or shop on Amazon.
Same answer when someone tries to ask why my *hand sewn* historically accurate clothing is so expensive.
Because time is money, and you clearly canāt afford my time.
I have learned that expertise is expensive, but often people do not recognize skills with your hands as āexpertiseā.
A lawyer is an expert, and is paid well, as is a doctor, or a dancer - because theyāve spent 10,000 hours getting to be an expert.
Iāve spent far more than that, learning how to ply a needle, and while I might not get paid like a lawyer, Iām paid well or Iām not picking up my thimble.
(Although I do occasionally make very valuable and beautiful gifts, and my husband thinks Iām far too generous).
I was going to say āand people donāt ask a lawyer or doctor to give their time for freeā, but on second thought you see that at social/ family gatherings all the time.š
People ask for free help all the time, but thereās a huge difference between someone who appreciates your help, and someone who demands it, or tries to devalue it, so they can justify their entitlement.
Last time someone had the audacity to say āI can buy a shirt in any store for ā¬20, why should I pay you ā¬300?!ā I told them to go to any store, and find what they wanted there. And ignored subsequent demands.
Life is too short, and thereās damn few people who know how to make what I make.
Unfortunately I canāt post a photo here, I make a lot of different things, most of it entirely hand sewn, or sometimes I use my treadle sewing machine from 1920.
Iāve posted a lot of it in r/handsew
You seem like someone Iād love to know. Those waistcoats are perfect! I love that style. You seem to have as many hobbies/skills as I do. They wax and wane in my hobby world.
Iām really not a fan of hustle culture. If itās your hobby just donāt try to monetize it. It will take all the fun out of it.
People who donāt do any crafts will never understand all the work that went into the making.
When my (now 14 yo) son was born he got a knitted jacket by my grandma. He was born in late spring and the jacket was way too warm for that season. So by the time it got colder he had grown out of it. It was also grey and I thought knit wear was super frumpy and really didnāt like it. So I donated it at some point. Fast forward 13 years, I started crochet and I really regret giving that jacket away because I can appreciate the love and labour that went into it now.
You just donāt realize how much it takes to turn a ball of yarn into a wearable when all you ever did was buying cheap clothes š¤·āāļø
If it makes you feel betterā¦ if it was knit for a newborn, it probably didnāt take too long since it was tiny.. a full size adult sweater is a totally different story
Thatās why I havenāt sold my items before. I signed up for my first ever market this fall, and Iām prepping myself mentally to sell nothing because I wonāt under value my work.
Thank you! Iām bringing a variety of things (keychains, stuffed animals, dish cloths, a few cardigans and baby blankets) and then Iām working on a HUGE (like almost life size lol) sheep to pull attention.
I had to shut my sister down once for being this way to me. I made a blanket for my first niece that cost me $100 on supplies alone (it was a double-knitted chevron blanket so it was a LOT of yarn), not to mention my time. When she had a second kid, she was casually suggesting I make another like it was that easy, plus socks for the kid she already had, and I had to explain to her how much it cost me and I didn't have the money to spend on yarn at the time.
She got really quiet when I told her I'd spent $100+ on the blanket I'd made for her and gave to her for free.
Explain to them how long it took to make the item and how much you spent on the supplies. So if a hat took you an hour to make and cost $2 in supplies, you want an hourly wage of $8, you're charging $10.
Some people also understand it better when you explain that the items are handmade, so it's more like buying a piece of art.
I tend to steer clear of selling my crochet or even offering to make things for people, because I just do not care to hear people's stupid notions of what they think is a reasonable price.
I am actually getting angry just thinking about the absolutely ridiculous things people have offered over the years.
So instead I have taken this proper annoying stance where I will say "you know it's just not really my vibe to make things on request, I tend to only make things that bring me joy. So it's a very organic and unpredictable process" people find my answer so awful that they just leave me alone after that.
I used to just say no, but people couldn't understand that meant no (ain't that just the world we live in??) So I started saying this and then giving them a long winded description of my current mental health status and honestly they gave me a wide bearth after that.
So I've found what works for me, hopefully you find yours. Please feel free to use my response if you're ever in a jam xxxx
I get technical and bring out the notebook I keep my expenses in. I break down the price (with tax) of everything and how long it took me to do it (because I record that too) and let them know that this is why my carpal tunnel is as bad as it is. š¤£ They usually look at me flabbergasted and ask 'for real?'
Thatās why I donāt sell. I make for gifts. And Iām more than happy to discuss the price of yarn & the amount of time something took if they ask. Not to mention the thought that goes into something for a specific person. Iāve been lucky that the people in my life appreciate everything I put into it.
This is what I do as well My grandkids love when I make them things and my daughters do too. However I gave my cousin a pair of crochet converse booties for her baby shower. I asked her to send me a picture of him wearing them and I never did get a picture. I also gave my daughterās friend a pair of crochet shoes, diaper cover and headband that I donāt think she used either so now Iām hesitant on giving anyone else baby gifts. I will only make baby gifts if one of my kids have a baby because they are the ones that seem to appreciate them
One of the reasons I only make for myself or close family. I was thinking the other day about how, if I was making the lace duster cardigan I'm currently working on as a commission piece, I'd likely have to charge upwards of $1000 to cover time alone. Just the yarn was almost $150 because I needed 4500yds!
I canāt find the name of it, but somebody mentioned recently that thereās a Instagram page thatās all people posting stories about people wanting their knitting or crocheting for cheap. Thereās some really great comments to help you learn how to respond to those people.
I try to explain that crochet can only be done by hand while other fiber arts, like knitting, can be done by machine. I also tell them I charge by the hour and it reflects the hard work put into the stuff I am selling
I smile and then cry in private š š I severely undervalue my stuff as is and yet still have people who will roll their eyes or make comments.
More often than not itās in passing so thereās not really room for me to respond but I try to just remind myself that those people are not my target audience. If they donāt like it then they donāt have to buy and thatās fine. Someone else will
(I have my own online shop and will occasionally do shows - it's kind of hard to stock up for those with 3 kids š )
But I've gotten a lot of commissions over the years, for crochet and cross-stitch, and after 8 years I've gotten a lot of insulting comments on my prices.
"I could make this myself for cheaper!" - then do it? š¤
"I can buy this at XYZ store for much cheaper." - then you can go there š
"Can you just give me the pattern and I'll make it myself?" - I designed this pattern. I have a few patterns for sale, but not this one. Sorry. š¤·āāļø
"That's much too expensive! Nobody will pay this!" - Ma'am, my sales beg to differ.
"Can you make me XYZ for free and if I like it, I'll pay you?" - that's not how this works. For commission work, I get half of the final price upfront, to buy materials and design the pattern. When it's done and you're satisfied, you pay me the rest and then I'll give you your item. (I've been burned before, by FAMILY of all people, so I don't play anymore) š¤·
At the end of the day, other people don't get to TELL YOU what your work is worth. You made it. You took your time to hone your skill and create the item in question. You know what materials it took, how long it took, how difficult it was to read, or create, the pattern.
If they want your work, they'll pay for it. Because how much a crocheted item SHOULD be sold for, even based on minimum wage, would make them choke.
Honestly, I donāt. If they donāt place value on handmade artisanal crafts, Iām not going to be able to change their mind. And frankly, I donāt think they have to change their mind. Theyāre right, they can get something functionally similar for much less money, and functionality is the only thing most people can afford to prioritize. Not everyone has room in their life for those types of things. People are allowed to value different things to different degrees.
I hate the way not valuing handmade things enough is treated as some Severe Moral Failing That Must Be Admonished And Corrected here. Itās very solipsistic/main character syndrome. They donāt value the 100 hours I put into a blanket? Well that makes sense. It was 100 of my hours, why should anyone else care about them? I specifically value them because they were mine, and I experienced them. Weāre not entitled to people valuing our time and effort (outside of an agreed upon labor contract).
This is refreshing to see written out. I'm one of these Terrible People and squarely on both sides of this debate depending on context, but it is sadly why I don't buy other people's art in general (unless it's beyond my desire or skill to make or really wows me) and definitely don't sell my own.
I've heard people say you're not just paying for time and materials, but also artistic talent/inspiration/insight, and that strikes me as a slick way of justifying any discrepancy between listed price and actual worth with a built-in guilt trip. As we say in writing circles, there's no such thing as a new idea. At this point, I tell myself I'm not the target audience/buyer, thank them for letting me browse, and walk away.
Don't. Ignore them. If you really MUST reply, share with them an estimate of cost of materials plus hours of your labor at MINIMUM WAGE to show how expensive it is just to do, let alone the pay you'd deserve for your expertise and knowledge.
If you wanna be rude āI made it there for I chose how to price it.ā And if you wanna be nice , āthank you for your feed back. Iāve put a lot of work, time and effort into my projects and I do feel I am being reasonableā
For most ignorant things ppl say around such hobbies (you get to save money! Why is it taking you so long?) I genuinely urge them to learn it themselves! So idk send them beginner tutorials. They won't even try.
I dont sell my crochet, but i would say āthatās how much it costs something unique, originalā. I donāt know If helps, but i get the some comments about my regular work - journalism.
It's their choice. There are things I look at when shopping and think they're expensive, so I understand from the consumers' perspective. I don't have to give a full response or justify the price. If they want it, they'll buy it
Yarn used to be more affordable, and the choices (brands, colors, fibers) more limited. Simpler times (I'm talking the 70s, 80s, 90s). Now, even Red Heart Super Saver is pricy. To make the most profits, make desirable things, and smaller things that use less yarn and take less time to make. Buy yarn on sale or with a discount coupon. No one is going to make, for instance, a chapstick cozy and charge $20; no one would buy that, not even a crocheter. On the other hand, almost no one wants to spend $100 for a baby blanket and $500 for anything larger, even when it is absolutely exquisitely made and a fabulous pattern, regardless of what the yarn cost and the time to make it. No one cares. Find the niche in your area.
I'm always amazed when a "designer" crochet purse is listed for $495 at a luxury store - and I wonder, how many of them even sell? And, the person buying that has unlimited disposable cash. I certainly would never buy it--I can make it if I wanted it.
Lastly, a person must ensure their work is good, professional, and worthy of purchase. I see so many posts "how much would you sell this for" and "I'm not getting any bites" and the work is generic at best, and crappy at worst, and they wonder why no one is buying. And, yet, the replies are 3 Xs your yarn, plus $15 an hour. So a skein of RHSS at the high price of $8 (3x$8 = $24), plus the hour (or 2 if you're new/slow) making it, prices a generic hat at $39 if you're quick, and $54 if you're slow. No thanks. Priced way too high, and that has zero to do with crochet hats sold at Walmart in comparison.
It's a very hard niche to make profit at crochet - it really is a hard "business." When I crochet, and I have sold some things over the years, I don't care about my time - it isn't my full time job, I work for a living - I crochet as a hobby. I priced things accordingly, or perhaps even under priced considering the time to make - but with the yarn amounts used, I've profited.
Always remember - the people who crochet - love crochet. The general public does not share our passion.
In a nutshell, none of us have to sell anything. If someone asks for something and they think it is too expensive, just say ok and walk away. Alternatively, say you can teach them and they can make it themselves, or...explain the price of that yarn, how much is needed, and the time it will consume from your otherwise very busy life and your precious little crochet time....and unless they are willing to pay the premium, make them nothing.
I once went to a craft show and saw a sign that said, āSure, you could make itā¦but will you?ā
Calculate how much your hourly time is worth and break it down. Sometimes, people just canāt see the āserviceā part of a product that is sold so they somehow assume they should only pay for the thing they can touch.
Creativity, designing, experience, etc., all have a value beyond the simply tangible.
Itās most annoying when Iām vending and someone asks if I have anything cheaper š
For reference my cheapest items are $5USD which doesnāt even cover material cost or time but they do sell and itās mostly stash busting keychains
People will pay if they want. People who donāt want to pay will try to get it for as close to free however they can
I don't sell anything I make. At work my time's worth at least $50 an hour and I can just go to work and make that money. I don't need to crochet something for somebody unless they're going to pay me the same. The only things I make for others I just give away as gifts and are made from love and because I truly wanted to. People think because you made it it's cheap. They forget that the cost of materials is insane and our time is valuable!!
My take is if they don't want to pay for it, they aren't my target market. Don't take it personally. The people worth marketing to and seeking out will appreciate your products and won't mind the prices. They'll see the value and the worth and will be happy to buy your items.
Give them the price of the yarn total and then say and thatās just the yarn no even the time making it and I wouldnāt spend my time on something for free
I tell them I don't sell anything. You have to get knocked and I might make you a blanket. I tell them what I make an hour at my day job and how many hours it's gonna take me to make whatever. They don't ask again.
I would think the people who complain about the prices don't know good quality when they see it. If the want a cheap piece of crap that will last 6 months tell them to go on Amazon and order it.
You can start by saying how long it took you to make the thing. Nobody's actually said it to me since I started to steel myself to defend the prices, but that was my go-to: Okay sorry you think $10 is too much money to spend on a one of a kind handcrafted item that took me 6 hours to make. If I was pricing it more fairly I really ought to be charging $50 for it.
We had people in our first few years of doing a craft fair dismiss my mom's sewing stuff with "Oh I can get that cheaper at Toys R Us" and my mom was always like "Oh okay, good luck with that." It was especially stupid in her case because she'd be charging $20 for something that costs $50 in retail stores.
Sometimes it helps to assign a base hourly rate based on years of experience or capability, as an artist (which you are) your work is valued at much more than minimum wage, materials, etc. add up. If they fail to understand ask them if they feel that the price professional artists choose to sell their work at is unwarranted? Because textile arts are still arts, and require similar or more time expenditures.
"Ok"
I also believe that not everything is owed explanation. If they don't want to spend, they don't get to buy my stuff and that's ok.
People say this to everyone in every industry because they don't understand. In the era of fast fashion, they have no reason to want to understand.
The average person will barely value the difference between machine-knit and hand-crochet things.
The people who do get it are amazing.
It's ignorance, and I use that in the non-judgmental way. They literally just have no idea. If I respect someone I will explain the real cost of yarn and how many hours are involved. If not I just find a passive-aggressive way to call them poor and move on with my life.
I tell people āIām sorry, I donāt sell my work. But if I ever feel like making (that thing you asked for), you might get it as a gift.ā If they ask me why I donāt sell, I usually just say that with the cost of materials, Iād never be able to make a profit.
I agree with Redditors here. My crochet items are produced as a hobby. I have given things I crocheted to friends and family. One time an acquaintance asked a mutual acquaintance who could crochet his daughter two cartoon character caps. My name was given so I made the caps for him but way undercharged him as he insisted on paying.
Would these people want to be told to accept a 95% pay cut because someone wanted to save money?
Tell them to crochet it themselves and come back to you on if the price is fair. They donāt understand the amount of time it takes to make something.
I used to make jewelry, and someone once messaged me a long, āhelpfulā dm about the price being too high. I pointed out the neat as a pin, tiny, wire wrapped gemstones, the sterling silver wire, and how many stones there were.
Of course I never counted my time spent on it, and I kindly suggested other shops with similar pieces for price comparisons, but also that she could find shops that used colored wire and glass beads for something closer to her budget.
She responded with something airy fairy about not even wearing jewelry, it was just that, gosh, she saw me making such a huge mistake in my pricing and thought a friend would point out such a glaring error.
I messaged back that I had not asked for her opinion, that we are not friends, and to not message me again.
The same would go if I sold crochet creations. Iād kindly highlight the yarn, the stitch, if said stitch is a yarn eater, the evenness of tension, that it took way more time than the price reflects, (maybe Iād say thatās itās discounted?).
I might add that this is not fast fashion, itās made to last, ā¦ etc.,
But if they got rude about it, Iād direct them to shop elsewhere.
If you're selling your work, people who say this are not customers and not worth your time. If you're at a show, you can simply tell them you have priced the item based on your own research, and the person who asked is obviously not your target market. Do not spend more than 30 seconds on this question. Your time is worth money.
If you're selling online, ignore the question entirely. They are obviously not your target market
I don't sell, but if I did, I'd simply say "If you find it too expensive, you're not my target audience."
My target audience would be people who can afford quality, handmade items and appreciate the value of art (because that's how I view crochet and knitting).
In the past at fairs Iāve actually said nicely maybe you can find something cheaper at a garage sale or similar hand crafted items are valuable in more ways than one
Tell them that itās only too expensive because theyāre being exploited by the system and not actually being paid a fair wage. You could help them redirect their anger/frustration to the appropriate outlet, which is their exploitative employer.
This is why I pretty much only sell my crochet items at charity fundraisers. My sister and I raise money for cancer research. If people complain about the price I'll say, "These items are priced competitively, and all the proceeds go to charity. We have items at all price levels, so there's definitely something to fit your budget, and if you want to just mske a donation the jar is over there."
That usually shuts them up. Only once have I had someone who kept pushing. She seemed to think the charity was supposed to be directed towards her because she was a cancer survivor. I caved, gave her a small discount, then hustled her on her way.
If they're nice, I offer to teach them, send some resources, and maybe send them off with a starter kit. If they're rude, a "your budget doesn't determine my pricing," always suffices.
The simple answer is, I don't.
But also, I'd ask what your local minimum wage is. When they can give it to you, pull out a calculator and figure out your time to make said item at minimum wage. Show them the total, then explain you're adding the cost of materials..... show them the new amount. More than likely, it's more than you're charging, so ask them again what they expect the item to cost......it usually shuts them down.
If I did craft shows, I'd make a sign for it. "Minimum wage here is $15/hr, it takes me XXX hours PLUS supplies at $$$ for this item." Handmade pricing shouldn't be WalMart pricing.....
My own mother has said that she couldnāt believe how high prices were for hand made items. (Crochet, embroidery, Cricut, knitting, etc.,) but I explained to her and every other person that has something to say about it that itās the artists time theyāre using to craft something. If you donāt like the prices, donāt buy from them.
I simply say āitās not for you. Thanks for your interest. Have a nice dayā Our pieces and prices are not for everyone and thatās ok. They can move on find another crocheter with cheaper prices or learn to crochet themselves. If they donāt see the value in the craft I dang sure will not be trying to explain it to them
I donāt sell my stuff. I make what I like, on the timetable I want. If someone really likes it, I MIGHT think about gifting it to them. If they insist on giving me money (when I gift it to them), Iāll take it.Ā
For meāpersonallyāselling it and worrying about pricing, etc. takes all the fun out of it.Ā
sometimes yarn arts groups will help you if you ask for guidance
also, try looking up something close to what you're selling on etsy and/or ribblr and see how much people are trying to sell theirs for. Maybe take a look at how many sales and reviews they have too, so you're basing those prices on something that's actually selling with an idea of the quality.
I sorta feel that way too, i donāt wanna rip people off but i donāt wanna rip myself off either lol. In my head i like to start with materials, like how much yarn you use and how much that would cost. Itās how much my labor costs that makes me have trouble decidingā¦..
āHi, i appreciate your interest and iām sorry it is out of your price range, if you would like the understand the pricing breakdown i can explainā
āCrochet is a skilled labour, its taken x years/months to polish my craft and it is a skill that cannot be replicated by a machine and therefore takes a long time for example this product took x amount of hours to finish. I also use because of xyz and have to account material costs tooā
I usually lead with, "let's look up some yarn for that project, for you to buy." if it's someone I socialize with. That alone is pretty deterring to people.
Thatās why I refuse to do craft shows. There are people that will pay what you ask. I made a set with a hot pad, 2 potholders, 1 dishcloth, and 2 bowl cozies and was paid $40 for it. I have made a puzzle animal and paid $30 for it. My baby afghans are $50. When my grandkids were little, I made mittens that looked like the Ninja Turtles. A person on the west coast saw my mittens in a Facebook crochet group and ordered a pair, saying she could see quality in my work. She said I didnāt charge enough. This person was a professional crocheter that made a living with crochet.
I describe the effort I put into each project. For example, they also pay for the wear and tear of my fingers and hands. I also mention minimum wage per hour and so on.
Then you make it and get back to me.
If I know them well enough, Iāll compare luxuries. You can have my handmade crochet item or something from Zara, a company noted for their exploitative practices.
Itās up to you!
I treat them to a lecture on the value of labor. Weāre over here in a (fairly) free country (the U.S.) opining about the humanitarian disaster of work camps and sweat shops, but people asking a fair price for a quality, handmade item is a rip off. Condemning genocides and other unfairly treated ethnicities but then wanting a $50 coffee table off TikTok shop. The sheer audacity of it all.
Iāve found itās people that donāt craft that complain the loudest about prices. If I see handmade things that are out of my price range I always compliment them on their items and the hours of work theyāve put into them.
People really should learn if they canāt say anything nice then donāt say anything.
I use marketing jargon that I've seen on bogus expensive items before. Some nonsense like "I totally understand how in today's expensive and fast moving world, this price seems like a lot. My items are hand made and are a traditional slow fashion, not mass produced fast fashion. This means the cost to make them is greater for me than it would be for a factory."
My job pays $$$/hour, and this took/will take me ___hours. (Which also is at least how you should price things you donāt want to makeš; you can ask for their earnings to calculate with if you donāt make an impressive amount).
And if they counter that youāre doing crochet as a fun thing, you go āyeah, itās fun to make things *for me*ā
ā¦but I also have no time for bs anymoreš¤·āāļø
Iām making a baby blanket for a young man who is our sushi chef at our fav restaurant.. heās expecting his first baby in a few months.. they had a gender reveal and he was decked out in pink cause he wants a baby girl ( he has just boys in his family) and heās having a son.. so Iām making him a crochet baby blanket.. Then thereās a waitress there who is also pregnant and I asked her what sheās having and sheās also having a boy. Hereās the difference between the two- Johnny said anything you make will be cherished and loved because my mom and grandma are no longer here and they would be the ones who would make something like that and he said Iāll pay for the yarn and your time..( cool) then he gave me a huge hug and told me he loves me and my hubby..( tears.. that young man is so sweet) the other one.. looked at me and said I donāt want a baby blanket.. but you can make me a king sized quilt for me to use instead. No one is getting me any gifts even though Iām the one pregnant everyone is giving me baby gifts so I want something for me..I was so shocked at her response. We knew she was a bit of a narcissist but daaaang .. Iām not spending all that money on a king sized afghan..I donāt even make that size for myself.. and no she didnāt offer to pay for the yarn or the time it would take to make it.. when I told her the cost of the yarn and my time she said.. why should I pay for it.. Iām pregnant and you have more than enough money to make it for me.. yeah.. she actually went there.. so sheās not getting Jack you know what.. can you imagine having someone saying that to you?!!!?!!! My hubby and I are still in shock.
My friend sells her stuff for a fairly expensive price. Because she's good and uses quality yarn. If someone complains, she offers to teach them for a slightly lower price.
God same! I'm sorry, I hope you can find a way to continue. Haven't done it since January (some ppl got late Christmas presents haha) and I still get those nerve zaps and numbness/pain, although better than it was. Do you do any physical therapy to preserve/help any damage that's already done?
As an experienced crocheter myself, I will 100% judge some crochet āartistsā who make little things with cheap looking yarn but charge an obscene amount. Like NO that little kinda misshapen bee you made with a derpy smiley face didnāt take blood, sweat, or tears bffr. You worked that up super fast and it barely used up any materials so WHY you think you should charge $30 and beyond is delusional.
OR you have artists who arenāt ready to sell because they havenāt practiced enough, and theyāll try to sell bad quality pieces or patterns for far too much. Again, bad case of the delulu.
Same as I do at work, when customer complains that our prices are too high. āSorry we canāt work togetherā or āsorry you feel that wayā. I donāt even try to justify because the person that says something like that doesnāt care about your time or effort.
If you are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on overpriced fast fashion clothes & items (zara, new yorker, h&m etc) that supports big corporations, you can spend that money on small & local businesses.
And in my opinion if someone complains about handmade item prices, chances are itās better off if they donāt purchase it because they wouldnāt appreciate it anyways.
I tell them I'm happy to teach them the basics so they can learn to make it themselves so they don't have to pay for anyone else's labor. often that gets a, "I dont have time for that" to which I can respond, "neither do I, which is why I charge for that time" spent working on pieces for someone who requests them."
Great answer actually. It makes them think a little
[I just start singing...](https://youtu.be/NGR20B2cEBQ?si=j9du_oWGt44T8zps)
How is this not the subs theme song? Thanks for the link!
This is so perfect and how come I've never heard it beforeeee!!!!
This is now going into its own playlist to play for choosing beggars. And I want to make sheet that says, "so you want to learn (insert skill here)!" And just have links to youtubers I follow for tutorials or book recommendations. š
Can I just put a QR code link to this at the bottom of my price list??
Yes. Please do š
I love this sentiment.
š¤£ š¤£
OMG - brilliant.
Every artistās theme song.
This reminds me of the sign I saw at Jimmy Johnās yesterday that said, āIf you want it faster, make it yourself.ā
Not me here, eating a Turkey Tom in a hotel on vacation. My mechanic has a sign that says āYou can have it cheap, right, or fast. Choose two.ā
oh I miss eating st Jimmy John's. hells I miss a good sandwich from anywhere. gluten free bread does nor scratch hst itch and is always disappintment (unrelated rant sorry. )ā
And then provide them with a list if the cost of each yarn type, plus approximate time spent making it in hours multiplied by minimum wage in your area, add $10 or so for customization, and show them how much your beautiful work is really worth!
this is all part of my commission contract. I price point 3 yarn costs. cheapest, most expensive, and middle ground yarns that would work for the project (and come in the colors they are asking for). I also point out the yarn I would select if I were makingnit for myself. then I do an estimation of hours the project will take, the rate I am charging per hour (which can change based on the project and person) to give a final total for labor. so at the bottom of the contract I spell out which yarn they selected and confirm the total labor cost. The materials cost is due as a deposit. the labor cost is due upon finishing the project before they actually receive it. that way if they are no longer interested in paying I can sell it or donate it and I'm not out the material cost. then we both sign the contract and each get a copy. I don't both with this if it's something tiny (like 5-15) but anything substantial.. yep. and if they don't respect that this is a business they've self selected themselves out of my customer pool, which is fine with me. the contract sets the expectations and works well for anyone on the fence to either decide or drop it.
You are my hero, lol
I think my MIL is the hero. without her I would have had the confidence to stand up for mu work. she's made a 40+ year career making dolls. She's my mentor for sure!
Holy shit, you conduct business with the confidence of a mechanic. Well done, you! This is downright inspirational.
If we don't value our time and skills no one else will. Stand up for the amazing things you can make. worse case scenario you sell fewer items, but have more time for your own projects. Underselling ourselves isnt just hurting our own value if running a business (even if it is a side business just for fun) but actively undervalues other artists as well. Selling something cheaply might get that item out the door faster, but it also continues the expectation of devaluing what we do and even what other artists produce. Pur time and experience is worth protecting from the constant decrease in what people think someone should be paid. whether in an office job, manual laborer, or artist your time is worth being paid for. Your skills have value. Your time has worth. ā
This take is it ^
Great answer š
I like this answer. Mine was going to be "You don't explain" I can't believe people have the audacity to say things like that. Do people not know how much work goes into it?ā¤ļø
I think a lot of people really don't know how much work goes into a lot of things they buy.
Good point
Great answer!
it seems to work to shut some folks up. the only response I've heard that suggests someone wouldn't accept that answer was, "but it's your hobby. you will be doing it anyway." to which I can safely respond, "yes its my hobby, it's also my business. I may spend that time stitching anyway, but on projects I've been commissioned for or on my own projects. Your request isn't either at this point. so why should I put aside other projects for yours?" I'm pretty lucky. my MIL helped me work out commissioned contracts and taught me to value my time appropriately and not to take any nonsense. She actually helped me train myself to say sinoly, "no" so I was more comfortable with argues which let me develop the confidence to make an argument for my time and skill.ā
Learning to say "no" is a whole thing! My therapist & husband are combining powers to teach me to respond with "I'm not able to take that on right now" (it's a start). Then grey wall. (if you aren't familiar with therapy terms, that's repeating the same answer until the person asking gives up) My head got jumbled somewhere along growing up, but "no" is strength, not weakness!Ā
Aww! Iām so glad to hear your husband and therapist are rallying behind you and helping you learn this skill. I had one neighbor who was terrible at saying no and one that was an absolute master at it. The one that struggled to say no was constantly being taken advantage of and it broke my heart. She was so sweet. I would often tell her she could just say, āsorry, Iām not home right now.ā and come over to my house so sheās technically not lying š But even that was hard for her. The other one would often say, ālet me tell you my favorite word. No!ā š They have both moved away now and I miss them dearlyā¦
I'm so glad you've embrace the power of NO. It is an absolutely strength and an entire sentence on its own!
Yeah when they talk about that itās my hobby, just like anyone elseās hobby I make what I want in the spare time I have and my list of projects is already full.
āCooking, fishing, and woodworking are all hobbies, but people have to pay for meals out, furniture, and fish, soā¦.ā
Yup! It's my go-to answer.Ā
A coworker showed me a picture of a handbag made of that thick polyester tube yarn and told me she'd pay me $20 to make her one. I told her I'd give her a ball of yarn for that price lmao.
People don't seem to realise good quality yarn that isn't even high end can be on the pricey side, now with the world economy in the toilet and inflation kicking everything up a notch, yarn costs even more and is even more undervalued
fully! they see ācheapā yarn for say a few pounds and donāt realise to complete a project you may need 10 and it will cost even more for certain fibres too and higher end yarns
I was shocked how expensive my blanket would end up being, with freaking Walmart cheap yarn. I still made it, but that's over a hundred bucks in yarn and there is no way I would actually pay that much for someone else's blanket
That's what made me rethink my blanket project š even $2 balls of yarn really add up after a while.
Haha this is how I ended up spending between $360-$420 nzd on my first project š„²
This right here. I bought merino wool hand dyed yarn for socks for $30 a piece, and people are asking for a whole pair for that price. I tell them based on the yarn and time to make a pair, pricing starts at $100. Needless to say, I will never be selling anything I make, lol. Some things just aren't worth it to sell.
This is exactly that. Before I entered the hobby, I did think crochets were a bit pricey, but as a fellow artist I would still buy them cuties. After finding out how much a ball of SHIT yarn wasā¦. š„“ yāall are not charging enough !!!!!!
Where do you find good yarn? I have a local shop with decent stuff but Iām noticing some issues as time goes on. Iām willing to pay more for good stuff but Iām not sure how to go about finding it.
Have you tried spinning? You won't get good wool for a while but my favourite yarns are from when I was still learning. Drop spindles are real easy to make at home.
That sounds neat but I live in a tiny apartment so I donāt have room for anything requiring substantial new equipment lol
Drop spindle you can make with a dowel, cup hook, and a DVD you dont watch anymore, and maybe a chair to sit on :) my last flat was TINY and that's where I learned. Bonus is wool smooshes up real tiny for storage ;)
Ooh interesting, Iāll look into it
Once I made a queen size mosaic crochet blanket with an intricate design of a cow skull and some other stuff. When they opened it my SIL said āwow, you could sell these! Someone would pay like $50 for one!ā š« no thanks! I spent well over $50 in yarn alone.
$50??? I'm sure it was at least double that
Lol I bet she was thinking she was doing you a favor too. Some people I swear.
This is the primary reason I refuse to sell knitted or crocheted items. People are used to fast fashion they do not understand or appreciate hand work.
They're too used to the fashion industry paying the people (often children) making cloth and outfits pennies. They don't understand how much work actually goes into shit like this.
If I ever sell crochets imma record myself so I can play a fast forwarded version on my iPad so people can visually see just how long and time consuming each one takes.
if I'm feeling very mean the response is "sorry you can't afford it!" but otherwise I usually just talk about the amount of time and work that went into it, sometimes segue into how undervalued labor is for fast fashion.
I actually put the hours it took to create an item right on the ticket with the price. When I started doing this it really put into perspective for people why the price was so "high" and honestly my comments went from being "this is expensive!" To "oh wow! You should probably charge more for that..." it was an eyeopener to them.
This is a really good idea! I think part of undervaluing is likely people not realizing how long even a smaller project can take. I also suspect people donāt realize how expensive the supplies and yarn is. I was surprised when I first started. I quickly realized it was gonna be a hobby for fun, not to make things for cheaper than I could buy them.
Yes, you soon realize the $60 department store sweater just might be worth it afterall š¤£š¤£š¤£
And that anything that's actually crochet in a retail environment might legitimately be made via slave labor...
I meant more knits, but definitely yes!
I love this idea.
I like mean you. Lets be friends!
Ditto. My wifeās been making a mandala blanket for over a year now (itās bigger than me, Iām 6ā3) and she said sheād never sell it, but if she did sheād ask at least $500 for it. Itās for sure going to be an heirloom at some point
That should be thousands honestly if you count even minimum wage
Yup, I spent so long making a huge cardigan dress, boyfriend says "oh! You could sell stuff!" Nobody is going to pay the Ā£650 I'd need to cover minimum wage alone. Sure my yarn is always second hand & I stock up on destashes wherever someone has a clear out on Depop or Facebook, but damn. Even a little cropped top would need to be like Ā£150 to meet minimum wage rates.
I work as a doctor, and I value my free time, so if I were to sell a hat I think that a reasonable price would be ā¬250.
When I do sell a hat I sell to a friend, and ask about ā¬40-60. It should cover the cost of the yarn and then some.
Yep, thousands. 500 doesnāt cover the materials, boss. Minimum wage Doesnāt account for her expertise either. I made a toddler blanket with a name and charged 300 for it. I would have charged 600 at least if it wasnāt for the friend who asked.
I've seen cute festival tops go for $125. She makes them, and she gets that price, which she deserves! They are nice tops, but even I was surprised at her prices, but happy some people get it. An heirloom blanket is both priceless, and I'd have no idea what to charge for that. $1500? $3000?
500?! Nah, her time is worth way more than that!
Thousands!
Was gonna say, maybe add another zero!
Way too cheap. She should ask for at least $5000.
A blanket like that is honestly 'firstborn child' price!
When I'm feeling salty I've been known to respond to "this is expensive!" with some variation of "that's ok, not everyone is in my target tax bracket!"
Well, Iāve never sold my stuff, but I told my FIL and MIL that I was making a baby blanket and a sweater for BILās soon-to-be baby boy. FIL joked that they donāt need to spend money, I could just make all the clothes for them. And then I was like, āI spent like $150 alone on nice, machine washable yarn. Itās not free.ā He was SHOCKED it cost that much.
Do your in-laws think you have a yarn tree that grows skeins ripe for picking when needed? Itās only fellow crafters that understand just how much money we pour into making āfreeā clothes.
It depends on who it is. If itās a family member or friend Iād try to explain, or if theyāve said it more than once ask why they donāt want to pay me for my time, labour, material and expertise. If itās some random, probably just āokayā because I donāt want to waste energy on them.
I made my daughter a long duster/cardigan and she wore it around and got a ton of compliments and people saying oh your mom should sell those. The piece I made her Iād have to sell for 300+ and nobody is going to pay that kind of money for it. And thatās just doubling the price for the yarn and paying myself minimum wage. So I donāt sell my crochet. Iād like to because Iām crocheting day in and day out and I donāt know how many more shawls, cardigans, blankets, and what not I can make for me and mine before itās just straight up ridiculous lol
If you're okay with not getting paid for it, since it would be hard to get anyone who would buy at a fair price, donating the items to a shelter would probably get the items to people who would appreciate them.
Depends on how rudely it is phrased. I usually go for "*While I understand that this may be out of your budget, the price is actually on the lower end given the cost of materials, hours of work, and skill that went into this piece. Thank you for understanding!*"
well they said do they shoot????!!!! - being sarcastic about my price.
My sarcastic response would be āno, but I doā¦ā š
If theyāre someone I like, then we discuss hours with a breakdown of time spent. If itās someone random, I tell them to go to the mall, or shop on Amazon. Same answer when someone tries to ask why my *hand sewn* historically accurate clothing is so expensive. Because time is money, and you clearly canāt afford my time.
āBecause time is money, and you clearly canāt afford my time.ā I love that line!
I have learned that expertise is expensive, but often people do not recognize skills with your hands as āexpertiseā. A lawyer is an expert, and is paid well, as is a doctor, or a dancer - because theyāve spent 10,000 hours getting to be an expert. Iāve spent far more than that, learning how to ply a needle, and while I might not get paid like a lawyer, Iām paid well or Iām not picking up my thimble. (Although I do occasionally make very valuable and beautiful gifts, and my husband thinks Iām far too generous).
I was going to say āand people donāt ask a lawyer or doctor to give their time for freeā, but on second thought you see that at social/ family gatherings all the time.š
People ask for free help all the time, but thereās a huge difference between someone who appreciates your help, and someone who demands it, or tries to devalue it, so they can justify their entitlement. Last time someone had the audacity to say āI can buy a shirt in any store for ā¬20, why should I pay you ā¬300?!ā I told them to go to any store, and find what they wanted there. And ignored subsequent demands. Life is too short, and thereās damn few people who know how to make what I make.
I would love to see this hand sewn clothing you referenced!!
Unfortunately I canāt post a photo here, I make a lot of different things, most of it entirely hand sewn, or sometimes I use my treadle sewing machine from 1920. Iāve posted a lot of it in r/handsew
You seem like someone Iād love to know. Those waistcoats are perfect! I love that style. You seem to have as many hobbies/skills as I do. They wax and wane in my hobby world.
Iām really not a fan of hustle culture. If itās your hobby just donāt try to monetize it. It will take all the fun out of it. People who donāt do any crafts will never understand all the work that went into the making. When my (now 14 yo) son was born he got a knitted jacket by my grandma. He was born in late spring and the jacket was way too warm for that season. So by the time it got colder he had grown out of it. It was also grey and I thought knit wear was super frumpy and really didnāt like it. So I donated it at some point. Fast forward 13 years, I started crochet and I really regret giving that jacket away because I can appreciate the love and labour that went into it now. You just donāt realize how much it takes to turn a ball of yarn into a wearable when all you ever did was buying cheap clothes š¤·āāļø
If it makes you feel betterā¦ if it was knit for a newborn, it probably didnāt take too long since it was tiny.. a full size adult sweater is a totally different story
Thank you š„°
I think they see it for the item rather than everything that went into the item (yarn, work, etc). Its frustrating
Thatās why I havenāt sold my items before. I signed up for my first ever market this fall, and Iām prepping myself mentally to sell nothing because I wonāt under value my work.
There's a booth at our local Ren Faire every year that prices things appropriately, and they do sell! I wish you luck at the market. š
Thank you! Iām bringing a variety of things (keychains, stuffed animals, dish cloths, a few cardigans and baby blankets) and then Iām working on a HUGE (like almost life size lol) sheep to pull attention.
Iām sure youāre going to be pleasantly surprised ā„ļø
"prices are non-negotiable, sorry!"
I had to shut my sister down once for being this way to me. I made a blanket for my first niece that cost me $100 on supplies alone (it was a double-knitted chevron blanket so it was a LOT of yarn), not to mention my time. When she had a second kid, she was casually suggesting I make another like it was that easy, plus socks for the kid she already had, and I had to explain to her how much it cost me and I didn't have the money to spend on yarn at the time. She got really quiet when I told her I'd spent $100+ on the blanket I'd made for her and gave to her for free.
Explain to them how long it took to make the item and how much you spent on the supplies. So if a hat took you an hour to make and cost $2 in supplies, you want an hourly wage of $8, you're charging $10. Some people also understand it better when you explain that the items are handmade, so it's more like buying a piece of art.
I tend to steer clear of selling my crochet or even offering to make things for people, because I just do not care to hear people's stupid notions of what they think is a reasonable price. I am actually getting angry just thinking about the absolutely ridiculous things people have offered over the years. So instead I have taken this proper annoying stance where I will say "you know it's just not really my vibe to make things on request, I tend to only make things that bring me joy. So it's a very organic and unpredictable process" people find my answer so awful that they just leave me alone after that. I used to just say no, but people couldn't understand that meant no (ain't that just the world we live in??) So I started saying this and then giving them a long winded description of my current mental health status and honestly they gave me a wide bearth after that. So I've found what works for me, hopefully you find yours. Please feel free to use my response if you're ever in a jam xxxx
Youāre hilarious, thatās fantastic.
"I understand it's not within everyone's budget".
"It's too expensive." "OK, then don't buy it."
I get technical and bring out the notebook I keep my expenses in. I break down the price (with tax) of everything and how long it took me to do it (because I record that too) and let them know that this is why my carpal tunnel is as bad as it is. š¤£ They usually look at me flabbergasted and ask 'for real?'
Totally understand that and the carpal tunnel.. my right hand is killing me this morning
Thatās why I donāt sell. I make for gifts. And Iām more than happy to discuss the price of yarn & the amount of time something took if they ask. Not to mention the thought that goes into something for a specific person. Iāve been lucky that the people in my life appreciate everything I put into it.
This is what I do as well My grandkids love when I make them things and my daughters do too. However I gave my cousin a pair of crochet converse booties for her baby shower. I asked her to send me a picture of him wearing them and I never did get a picture. I also gave my daughterās friend a pair of crochet shoes, diaper cover and headband that I donāt think she used either so now Iām hesitant on giving anyone else baby gifts. I will only make baby gifts if one of my kids have a baby because they are the ones that seem to appreciate them
One of the reasons I only make for myself or close family. I was thinking the other day about how, if I was making the lace duster cardigan I'm currently working on as a commission piece, I'd likely have to charge upwards of $1000 to cover time alone. Just the yarn was almost $150 because I needed 4500yds!
I canāt find the name of it, but somebody mentioned recently that thereās a Instagram page thatās all people posting stories about people wanting their knitting or crocheting for cheap. Thereās some really great comments to help you learn how to respond to those people.
I try to explain that crochet can only be done by hand while other fiber arts, like knitting, can be done by machine. I also tell them I charge by the hour and it reflects the hard work put into the stuff I am selling
Non crocheters have zero understanding of the time and skill required to make high quality crocheted pieces.
I smile and then cry in private š š I severely undervalue my stuff as is and yet still have people who will roll their eyes or make comments. More often than not itās in passing so thereās not really room for me to respond but I try to just remind myself that those people are not my target audience. If they donāt like it then they donāt have to buy and thatās fine. Someone else will
(I have my own online shop and will occasionally do shows - it's kind of hard to stock up for those with 3 kids š ) But I've gotten a lot of commissions over the years, for crochet and cross-stitch, and after 8 years I've gotten a lot of insulting comments on my prices. "I could make this myself for cheaper!" - then do it? š¤ "I can buy this at XYZ store for much cheaper." - then you can go there š "Can you just give me the pattern and I'll make it myself?" - I designed this pattern. I have a few patterns for sale, but not this one. Sorry. š¤·āāļø "That's much too expensive! Nobody will pay this!" - Ma'am, my sales beg to differ. "Can you make me XYZ for free and if I like it, I'll pay you?" - that's not how this works. For commission work, I get half of the final price upfront, to buy materials and design the pattern. When it's done and you're satisfied, you pay me the rest and then I'll give you your item. (I've been burned before, by FAMILY of all people, so I don't play anymore) š¤· At the end of the day, other people don't get to TELL YOU what your work is worth. You made it. You took your time to hone your skill and create the item in question. You know what materials it took, how long it took, how difficult it was to read, or create, the pattern. If they want your work, they'll pay for it. Because how much a crocheted item SHOULD be sold for, even based on minimum wage, would make them choke.
Honestly, I donāt. If they donāt place value on handmade artisanal crafts, Iām not going to be able to change their mind. And frankly, I donāt think they have to change their mind. Theyāre right, they can get something functionally similar for much less money, and functionality is the only thing most people can afford to prioritize. Not everyone has room in their life for those types of things. People are allowed to value different things to different degrees. I hate the way not valuing handmade things enough is treated as some Severe Moral Failing That Must Be Admonished And Corrected here. Itās very solipsistic/main character syndrome. They donāt value the 100 hours I put into a blanket? Well that makes sense. It was 100 of my hours, why should anyone else care about them? I specifically value them because they were mine, and I experienced them. Weāre not entitled to people valuing our time and effort (outside of an agreed upon labor contract).
This is refreshing to see written out. I'm one of these Terrible People and squarely on both sides of this debate depending on context, but it is sadly why I don't buy other people's art in general (unless it's beyond my desire or skill to make or really wows me) and definitely don't sell my own. I've heard people say you're not just paying for time and materials, but also artistic talent/inspiration/insight, and that strikes me as a slick way of justifying any discrepancy between listed price and actual worth with a built-in guilt trip. As we say in writing circles, there's no such thing as a new idea. At this point, I tell myself I'm not the target audience/buyer, thank them for letting me browse, and walk away.
Don't. Ignore them. If you really MUST reply, share with them an estimate of cost of materials plus hours of your labor at MINIMUM WAGE to show how expensive it is just to do, let alone the pay you'd deserve for your expertise and knowledge.
If you wanna be rude āI made it there for I chose how to price it.ā And if you wanna be nice , āthank you for your feed back. Iāve put a lot of work, time and effort into my projects and I do feel I am being reasonableā
"My handcrafted items aren't for everyone. People that want a handcrafted item at a fast fashion price are welcome to look elsewhere!"
For most ignorant things ppl say around such hobbies (you get to save money! Why is it taking you so long?) I genuinely urge them to learn it themselves! So idk send them beginner tutorials. They won't even try.
I dont sell my crochet, but i would say āthatās how much it costs something unique, originalā. I donāt know If helps, but i get the some comments about my regular work - journalism.
I would tell them It's not my Crochet but My time. Then I would ask if they work for less than they are worth??
I sell stuff at xmas markets. Usually have no problem about my prices. But if someone complains I tell them to shop at Walmart
It's their choice. There are things I look at when shopping and think they're expensive, so I understand from the consumers' perspective. I don't have to give a full response or justify the price. If they want it, they'll buy it
Yarn used to be more affordable, and the choices (brands, colors, fibers) more limited. Simpler times (I'm talking the 70s, 80s, 90s). Now, even Red Heart Super Saver is pricy. To make the most profits, make desirable things, and smaller things that use less yarn and take less time to make. Buy yarn on sale or with a discount coupon. No one is going to make, for instance, a chapstick cozy and charge $20; no one would buy that, not even a crocheter. On the other hand, almost no one wants to spend $100 for a baby blanket and $500 for anything larger, even when it is absolutely exquisitely made and a fabulous pattern, regardless of what the yarn cost and the time to make it. No one cares. Find the niche in your area. I'm always amazed when a "designer" crochet purse is listed for $495 at a luxury store - and I wonder, how many of them even sell? And, the person buying that has unlimited disposable cash. I certainly would never buy it--I can make it if I wanted it. Lastly, a person must ensure their work is good, professional, and worthy of purchase. I see so many posts "how much would you sell this for" and "I'm not getting any bites" and the work is generic at best, and crappy at worst, and they wonder why no one is buying. And, yet, the replies are 3 Xs your yarn, plus $15 an hour. So a skein of RHSS at the high price of $8 (3x$8 = $24), plus the hour (or 2 if you're new/slow) making it, prices a generic hat at $39 if you're quick, and $54 if you're slow. No thanks. Priced way too high, and that has zero to do with crochet hats sold at Walmart in comparison. It's a very hard niche to make profit at crochet - it really is a hard "business." When I crochet, and I have sold some things over the years, I don't care about my time - it isn't my full time job, I work for a living - I crochet as a hobby. I priced things accordingly, or perhaps even under priced considering the time to make - but with the yarn amounts used, I've profited. Always remember - the people who crochet - love crochet. The general public does not share our passion. In a nutshell, none of us have to sell anything. If someone asks for something and they think it is too expensive, just say ok and walk away. Alternatively, say you can teach them and they can make it themselves, or...explain the price of that yarn, how much is needed, and the time it will consume from your otherwise very busy life and your precious little crochet time....and unless they are willing to pay the premium, make them nothing.
"K"
"Oh, thank you, but I don't take commission work." If there is any but, blah blah blah...." my rate would be $20 per hour"
Much less expensive than therapy at $240 per hour.
Honestly Iād probably stick with a simple āokay,ā you dont really owe them any excuses or apologies
I once went to a craft show and saw a sign that said, āSure, you could make itā¦but will you?ā Calculate how much your hourly time is worth and break it down. Sometimes, people just canāt see the āserviceā part of a product that is sold so they somehow assume they should only pay for the thing they can touch. Creativity, designing, experience, etc., all have a value beyond the simply tangible.
"it's out of your budget, it's not overpriced"
Itemize the price of the yarn plus $15 an hour for the number of hours to make it. A potholder now costs $50
Itās most annoying when Iām vending and someone asks if I have anything cheaper š For reference my cheapest items are $5USD which doesnāt even cover material cost or time but they do sell and itās mostly stash busting keychains People will pay if they want. People who donāt want to pay will try to get it for as close to free however they can
I don't sell anything I make. At work my time's worth at least $50 an hour and I can just go to work and make that money. I don't need to crochet something for somebody unless they're going to pay me the same. The only things I make for others I just give away as gifts and are made from love and because I truly wanted to. People think because you made it it's cheap. They forget that the cost of materials is insane and our time is valuable!!
My take is if they don't want to pay for it, they aren't my target market. Don't take it personally. The people worth marketing to and seeking out will appreciate your products and won't mind the prices. They'll see the value and the worth and will be happy to buy your items.
My work is not for everyone. I base my prices on my work, time, and materials.
Depends how they say it. Usually I just donāt answer. But sometimes I smile and say āIām sorry Iām out of your price rangeā and move on
Give them the price of the yarn total and then say and thatās just the yarn no even the time making it and I wouldnāt spend my time on something for free
Answer āits too bad that you canāt afford itā.
I tell them I don't sell anything. You have to get knocked and I might make you a blanket. I tell them what I make an hour at my day job and how many hours it's gonna take me to make whatever. They don't ask again.
I would think the people who complain about the prices don't know good quality when they see it. If the want a cheap piece of crap that will last 6 months tell them to go on Amazon and order it.
You can start by saying how long it took you to make the thing. Nobody's actually said it to me since I started to steel myself to defend the prices, but that was my go-to: Okay sorry you think $10 is too much money to spend on a one of a kind handcrafted item that took me 6 hours to make. If I was pricing it more fairly I really ought to be charging $50 for it. We had people in our first few years of doing a craft fair dismiss my mom's sewing stuff with "Oh I can get that cheaper at Toys R Us" and my mom was always like "Oh okay, good luck with that." It was especially stupid in her case because she'd be charging $20 for something that costs $50 in retail stores.
Sometimes it helps to assign a base hourly rate based on years of experience or capability, as an artist (which you are) your work is valued at much more than minimum wage, materials, etc. add up. If they fail to understand ask them if they feel that the price professional artists choose to sell their work at is unwarranted? Because textile arts are still arts, and require similar or more time expenditures.
"If you're broke, just say that"
"Ok" I also believe that not everything is owed explanation. If they don't want to spend, they don't get to buy my stuff and that's ok. People say this to everyone in every industry because they don't understand. In the era of fast fashion, they have no reason to want to understand. The average person will barely value the difference between machine-knit and hand-crochet things. The people who do get it are amazing.
It's ignorance, and I use that in the non-judgmental way. They literally just have no idea. If I respect someone I will explain the real cost of yarn and how many hours are involved. If not I just find a passive-aggressive way to call them poor and move on with my life.
I tell people āIām sorry, I donāt sell my work. But if I ever feel like making (that thing you asked for), you might get it as a gift.ā If they ask me why I donāt sell, I usually just say that with the cost of materials, Iād never be able to make a profit.
I agree with Redditors here. My crochet items are produced as a hobby. I have given things I crocheted to friends and family. One time an acquaintance asked a mutual acquaintance who could crochet his daughter two cartoon character caps. My name was given so I made the caps for him but way undercharged him as he insisted on paying. Would these people want to be told to accept a 95% pay cut because someone wanted to save money?
Tell them to crochet it themselves and come back to you on if the price is fair. They donāt understand the amount of time it takes to make something.
This is why I don't sell stuff. Also I suck at actually keeping to a timeline for anything.
I used to make jewelry, and someone once messaged me a long, āhelpfulā dm about the price being too high. I pointed out the neat as a pin, tiny, wire wrapped gemstones, the sterling silver wire, and how many stones there were. Of course I never counted my time spent on it, and I kindly suggested other shops with similar pieces for price comparisons, but also that she could find shops that used colored wire and glass beads for something closer to her budget. She responded with something airy fairy about not even wearing jewelry, it was just that, gosh, she saw me making such a huge mistake in my pricing and thought a friend would point out such a glaring error. I messaged back that I had not asked for her opinion, that we are not friends, and to not message me again. The same would go if I sold crochet creations. Iād kindly highlight the yarn, the stitch, if said stitch is a yarn eater, the evenness of tension, that it took way more time than the price reflects, (maybe Iād say thatās itās discounted?). I might add that this is not fast fashion, itās made to last, ā¦ etc., But if they got rude about it, Iād direct them to shop elsewhere.
āAt work I make $22 an hour, and this is work. So at $22 an hour the cost is $902.00.ā
If you're selling your work, people who say this are not customers and not worth your time. If you're at a show, you can simply tell them you have priced the item based on your own research, and the person who asked is obviously not your target market. Do not spend more than 30 seconds on this question. Your time is worth money. If you're selling online, ignore the question entirely. They are obviously not your target market
I just say āoh, okā.
I don't sell, but if I did, I'd simply say "If you find it too expensive, you're not my target audience." My target audience would be people who can afford quality, handmade items and appreciate the value of art (because that's how I view crochet and knitting).
I don't crochet, I knit, but when people say stuff like that to I say, "This piece took me 25 hours to make. Would you work for $1 an hour?"
In the past at fairs Iāve actually said nicely maybe you can find something cheaper at a garage sale or similar hand crafted items are valuable in more ways than one
Does it also drive you INSANE when people go to craft fairs and act like it's ridiculous that everything at the craft fair costs more than like $1?
The market is the market. If it costs more than people will pay, it won't sell. Simple. Ive been selling since 2017, I know this well.
Tell them that itās only too expensive because theyāre being exploited by the system and not actually being paid a fair wage. You could help them redirect their anger/frustration to the appropriate outlet, which is their exploitative employer.
This is why I pretty much only sell my crochet items at charity fundraisers. My sister and I raise money for cancer research. If people complain about the price I'll say, "These items are priced competitively, and all the proceeds go to charity. We have items at all price levels, so there's definitely something to fit your budget, and if you want to just mske a donation the jar is over there." That usually shuts them up. Only once have I had someone who kept pushing. She seemed to think the charity was supposed to be directed towards her because she was a cancer survivor. I caved, gave her a small discount, then hustled her on her way.
If they're nice, I offer to teach them, send some resources, and maybe send them off with a starter kit. If they're rude, a "your budget doesn't determine my pricing," always suffices.
"Wow, that's expensive!" "Well, no pressure to buy!" with a friendly smile
I donāt because I make it clear itās my hobby.
Just because itās out of your budget doesnāt mean itās overpriced.
The simple answer is, I don't. But also, I'd ask what your local minimum wage is. When they can give it to you, pull out a calculator and figure out your time to make said item at minimum wage. Show them the total, then explain you're adding the cost of materials..... show them the new amount. More than likely, it's more than you're charging, so ask them again what they expect the item to cost......it usually shuts them down. If I did craft shows, I'd make a sign for it. "Minimum wage here is $15/hr, it takes me XXX hours PLUS supplies at $$$ for this item." Handmade pricing shouldn't be WalMart pricing.....
My own mother has said that she couldnāt believe how high prices were for hand made items. (Crochet, embroidery, Cricut, knitting, etc.,) but I explained to her and every other person that has something to say about it that itās the artists time theyāre using to craft something. If you donāt like the prices, donāt buy from them.
No need to reply!
I simply say āitās not for you. Thanks for your interest. Have a nice dayā Our pieces and prices are not for everyone and thatās ok. They can move on find another crocheter with cheaper prices or learn to crochet themselves. If they donāt see the value in the craft I dang sure will not be trying to explain it to them
Thank you, have a nice day.
Crochet some tears and send them a picture of you crying them.
I donāt sell my stuff. I make what I like, on the timetable I want. If someone really likes it, I MIGHT think about gifting it to them. If they insist on giving me money (when I gift it to them), Iāll take it.Ā For meāpersonallyāselling it and worrying about pricing, etc. takes all the fun out of it.Ā
I really want to sell stuff but i have no idea how to priceš
sometimes yarn arts groups will help you if you ask for guidance also, try looking up something close to what you're selling on etsy and/or ribblr and see how much people are trying to sell theirs for. Maybe take a look at how many sales and reviews they have too, so you're basing those prices on something that's actually selling with an idea of the quality.
I sorta feel that way too, i donāt wanna rip people off but i donāt wanna rip myself off either lol. In my head i like to start with materials, like how much yarn you use and how much that would cost. Itās how much my labor costs that makes me have trouble decidingā¦..
āSo is the cost of living and someoneās timeā
āHi, i appreciate your interest and iām sorry it is out of your price range, if you would like the understand the pricing breakdown i can explainā āCrochet is a skilled labour, its taken x years/months to polish my craft and it is a skill that cannot be replicated by a machine and therefore takes a long time for example this product took x amount of hours to finish. I also use because of xyz and have to account material costs tooā
I usually lead with, "let's look up some yarn for that project, for you to buy." if it's someone I socialize with. That alone is pretty deterring to people.
It's cheaper than doing crack soo....
Thatās why I refuse to do craft shows. There are people that will pay what you ask. I made a set with a hot pad, 2 potholders, 1 dishcloth, and 2 bowl cozies and was paid $40 for it. I have made a puzzle animal and paid $30 for it. My baby afghans are $50. When my grandkids were little, I made mittens that looked like the Ninja Turtles. A person on the west coast saw my mittens in a Facebook crochet group and ordered a pair, saying she could see quality in my work. She said I didnāt charge enough. This person was a professional crocheter that made a living with crochet.
I describe the effort I put into each project. For example, they also pay for the wear and tear of my fingers and hands. I also mention minimum wage per hour and so on.
Then you make it and get back to me. If I know them well enough, Iāll compare luxuries. You can have my handmade crochet item or something from Zara, a company noted for their exploitative practices. Itās up to you!
I treat them to a lecture on the value of labor. Weāre over here in a (fairly) free country (the U.S.) opining about the humanitarian disaster of work camps and sweat shops, but people asking a fair price for a quality, handmade item is a rip off. Condemning genocides and other unfairly treated ethnicities but then wanting a $50 coffee table off TikTok shop. The sheer audacity of it all.
āFor youā If they look confused, emphasize. āItās too expensiveā¦ for you~ā
Iāve found itās people that donāt craft that complain the loudest about prices. If I see handmade things that are out of my price range I always compliment them on their items and the hours of work theyāve put into them. People really should learn if they canāt say anything nice then donāt say anything.
I use marketing jargon that I've seen on bogus expensive items before. Some nonsense like "I totally understand how in today's expensive and fast moving world, this price seems like a lot. My items are hand made and are a traditional slow fashion, not mass produced fast fashion. This means the cost to make them is greater for me than it would be for a factory."
My job pays $$$/hour, and this took/will take me ___hours. (Which also is at least how you should price things you donāt want to makeš; you can ask for their earnings to calculate with if you donāt make an impressive amount). And if they counter that youāre doing crochet as a fun thing, you go āyeah, itās fun to make things *for me*ā ā¦but I also have no time for bs anymoreš¤·āāļø
I think a lot of people donāt realize how expensive yarn can be, and how much time it actually takes
Iām making a baby blanket for a young man who is our sushi chef at our fav restaurant.. heās expecting his first baby in a few months.. they had a gender reveal and he was decked out in pink cause he wants a baby girl ( he has just boys in his family) and heās having a son.. so Iām making him a crochet baby blanket.. Then thereās a waitress there who is also pregnant and I asked her what sheās having and sheās also having a boy. Hereās the difference between the two- Johnny said anything you make will be cherished and loved because my mom and grandma are no longer here and they would be the ones who would make something like that and he said Iāll pay for the yarn and your time..( cool) then he gave me a huge hug and told me he loves me and my hubby..( tears.. that young man is so sweet) the other one.. looked at me and said I donāt want a baby blanket.. but you can make me a king sized quilt for me to use instead. No one is getting me any gifts even though Iām the one pregnant everyone is giving me baby gifts so I want something for me..I was so shocked at her response. We knew she was a bit of a narcissist but daaaang .. Iām not spending all that money on a king sized afghan..I donāt even make that size for myself.. and no she didnāt offer to pay for the yarn or the time it would take to make it.. when I told her the cost of the yarn and my time she said.. why should I pay for it.. Iām pregnant and you have more than enough money to make it for me.. yeah.. she actually went there.. so sheās not getting Jack you know what.. can you imagine having someone saying that to you?!!!?!!! My hubby and I are still in shock.
My friend sells her stuff for a fairly expensive price. Because she's good and uses quality yarn. If someone complains, she offers to teach them for a slightly lower price.
lol say you're saving up for the wrist surgery you'll need from crocheting so much š
yes!!!! i stopped crocheting for 3 months bc of my injury, i started crocheting a couple of days ago but its hurting again
God same! I'm sorry, I hope you can find a way to continue. Haven't done it since January (some ppl got late Christmas presents haha) and I still get those nerve zaps and numbness/pain, although better than it was. Do you do any physical therapy to preserve/help any damage that's already done?
As an experienced crocheter myself, I will 100% judge some crochet āartistsā who make little things with cheap looking yarn but charge an obscene amount. Like NO that little kinda misshapen bee you made with a derpy smiley face didnāt take blood, sweat, or tears bffr. You worked that up super fast and it barely used up any materials so WHY you think you should charge $30 and beyond is delusional. OR you have artists who arenāt ready to sell because they havenāt practiced enough, and theyāll try to sell bad quality pieces or patterns for far too much. Again, bad case of the delulu.
Same as I do at work, when customer complains that our prices are too high. āSorry we canāt work togetherā or āsorry you feel that wayā. I donāt even try to justify because the person that says something like that doesnāt care about your time or effort.
āIt can be expensive for some.ā
.... Well it saved my life. Suffering from Cptsd it literally saved my life. Point blank šš¼š«
If you are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on overpriced fast fashion clothes & items (zara, new yorker, h&m etc) that supports big corporations, you can spend that money on small & local businesses. And in my opinion if someone complains about handmade item prices, chances are itās better off if they donāt purchase it because they wouldnāt appreciate it anyways.