Doing so gives me an excuse to make them, and they won't pile up around our house, waiting to be used. I've made this decision multiple times, mostly because I felt like I was just being lazy if I didn't try to sell them. I sold one blanket years ago. And I've got 2 friends who have ordered a hat and a scarf recently. So I've sold some stuff. But now I'm wanting to sell because I want to contribute SOMETHING to our household funds. Both The Man and I know, that, while getting a job would help immensely with paying our bills, it's not what Heavenly Father wants me to do right now. I need to stay home and take care of our baby. With all the financial stress that's been put on our plate recently, it's a hard decision to stick to. Especially since The Mother-in-law is moving in with us soon. Built in baby sitter! But nope, it's not for us. So, the only option I have is to sell things I make.
Biggest problem? If I make a blanket, I have a hard time asking for even the cost of the yarn back. (Scarves and hats are cheap and easy.) The blanket I sold a few years ago? I sold it for 25 dollars. The yarn to make it cost me 75. If I charged 25 dollars for labor, that's 100 bucks I would have had to charge. Would someone really pay that much for a blanket? And it wasn't even that fancy yarn you can only get at specialty yarn shops that cost 80 bucks a skein. It wasn't plain old Red Heart, either, but still. I was pretty disappointed in the sale.
I'm very picky about my projects too. At least for blankets. With how many millions of patterns there are out there, I never like to make a blanket twice. One reason is so that if someone does have a blanket made by me, they won't run into someone else with the same blanket made by me. Keeps it unique. Another reason is because by the time you finish a blanket, you generally don't want to ever look at that pattern again. I get thrilled when it's done, I don't want to start another one. I want to start a different one.
I'm also not good at selling myself. I feel guilty saying "Hey! Look at how amazing I am! I am the Amazing Crocheter! You want to spend money you probably don't have on what I can do! You totally do! Because I'm AMAZING!!!!!" I don't feel amazing. The Mother-in-law, she's amazing at crocheting. Me, not so much. And yes, plenty of people have told me multiple times that I really am good at it, but shut-up, all of you, because I don't believe you. I know I'm good, but only because I keep doing it. I'm not so sure I'm good enough to sell it.
But I want to.
Another problem is what my options are for selling. Ebay takes a percentage of the money you get. While I understand that, I don't like it. Plus, it goes to a PayPal account, not my bank account. Doesn't really help me there. I'm not sure how Etsy works, but I feel like I would have to be much more prolific in my project making to justify having an Etsty shop. Since I watch TV while I crochet, I feel pretty lazy when I do it. It doesn't feel like work to me. So, if I'm not making something that someone specifically asked for, or that I'm planning on giving to someone as a gift, I don't work on it very hard. I'm not sure I would build much of an inventory. And I would much rather keep it as close to home as possible. I'm not good at getting things shipped out.
At any rate, I guess I'll pimp myself now. If anyone wants me to make them something (don't ask for clothes, like sweaters. I've only made one. I'm not good at them yet), I'm selling it. Little things, like hats, probably about 10 dollars, depending on yarn type and complication. Blankets have to be negotiable, because of size (baby blankets would be cheaper than regular blankets), cost of the yarn, complication of the pattern, etc. It would help if you already know what pattern you want, and in what colors. If you want something, but don't have a pattern picked out, I have tons. Let me know if you want something.
I would stay away from larger items like blankets. Start selling your smaller items like baby blankets, scarves, hats, codpieces, thong underwear, etc. Go to some of the quilt shops around town and see what other people are charging for their xреново wares. Price your higher quality crotcheteering a little lower and laugh yourself silly all the way to the bank.
ReplyDeleteНи пуха ни пера! :)