Selling Crocheted items?

[LadyyOftheOak]

Anyone do their crochet as a money maker? Just recently I've had one afghan sold for $75, another that is about to sell for $125... an order for a christening dress and an order for 4 doggie sweaters at the price of $80 (he offered.. I didn't ask that but he said that's what he would pay.. and these are for tiny chihuahuas.. hard time fitting them..)

To be honest I'm shocked.. :eek I'm Thrilled!! :day but still :eek It seems like just recently this has been the norm... I've given away so much over the years this is sure a nice turn!! :D!

Anyone else ever sell any of their items?

[gretelgrrl]

Hello,

I have just started crocheting, so I don't have enough items where I can really start thinking about selling them.

But, at the rate I'm going, :knit I think I would like to think about it as an option when I start needing a little money so that I can afford certain more expensive yarns that I want to try (ooooooooooooh... like cashmere!) :sheepjump

Where do you sell your items? Through craft fairs? Online? To co-workers? Neighboors? Do you advertise? How do you do it?
I'm curious abou the how!

I would love to see pictures of your work - I am sure that it is beautiful if it is fetching such impressive prices.
I guess that people love homemade items but don't have the patience to learn the crafts themselves. You are creating heirlooms for them - which is wonderful. Sounds like a great idea to help pay for your own hobby and to share it with others - and also, I'm sure that it makes you proud that people want to pay for your work! :yay

[threeolivemartini]

i set up a booth at the local farmers market here.. the rent is reasonable and i get good prices for my items.. i do no price my things cheaply as i believe you get what you pay for and i use really nice yarns in my things.. there isnt a set pricing range but i tell you .. i wouldnt sell an afghan for any less than 150 because of the time and effort put forth.. and that would be a simple one.. i do custom orders and let people pick what they want but i set the price.. i dont say what do you think its worth.. most people that want custom things wont blink an eye when you tell them how much something is..

my biggest advice is dont sell your self short and use the best yarns you can ..

[pidot]

I also sell crocheted items i have made, and some i have given away as gifts. My selling price is equivalent to yarn usage x 2. I have sold my items(bags & cel phone pouches) to friends and my mom's friends. This time I'm planning to sell them online, especially that crocheted tops are back and becoming trendy again, but i will need more time to do all these.:ohdear

here's a few of what i've done and which i have sold and given away as gifts.

pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/c_mafe/my_photos (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/c_mafe/my_photos)

[lillian1969]

I only sell the small items I make, the big ones like afghans and baby blankets I make them strictly for family and boyfriend and perhaps a few close friends

[LadyyOftheOak]

This has primarily been word of mouth and 1 advertisment.. but I've thought about the craft fairs, I just want to be sure to have enough stuff so if I go and do that I'll have a nice selection. Right now I'm working on doggie sweaters and baby dresses, plan on doing a christening gown etc. I should have 2 baby dresses finished this weekend (just need the crowning touches on them) and that's just for about 2 days work, so if I time it right I can get quite a bit ready for my first fair :)

My mother always tells me that I under price my work as well... I guess I make a sucky salesman lol but I'll get braver as I go and i imagine the prices will go up at the craft fairs ;)

It's just a nice change, I've given so much stuff away over time that it's nice to see a return on it :)

[Ambersafghans]

I have a web site Amber's Afghans (http://www.yourcrafts.com/Ambersafghans.htm) Where I sell things.
I've done two custom ordered afghan from that site. On was from Canada! I've sold a few other small things, but not a lot from the site.
Amber

[LadyyOftheOak]

I'm planning on getting a booth at a big fair they have here monthly.. it doesn't start until march but hopefully I'll have enough stuff to set up something nice there. If I get enough orders, I might have to try to find some help to get the stuff done... so ya'll keep that in mind if you're looking for a way to sell some items :)

[Ambersafghans]

I hope it works out for you! I'm trying to get my stuff going as well. By the way, are you doing any Cha Cha scarves? I am trying to figure out the priceing. I saw a lot of furry scarves at a craft show, and I think they were going for 2 for $20. ouch. That seems a bit low.
Amber

[LadyyOftheOak]

That seems very low.. am I thinking ur using the fuzzy fake fur yarn? If so that stuff is expensive.. wow. I'd definitely charge more than that for them.. especially since I'm getting $25 for a tiny dog sweater.. course they are custom.. but still.. :eek

[Ambersafghans]

Oh thank you! It hurt to realize that price.
I can get Cha cha for $4 a skein, (or .30 less) make a 4' with two skeins. $8. If you triple that, you have $24. for one scarf. hmmmm.
Amber

[LadyyOftheOak]

I don't think that's out of line at all.. especially for something handmade and with specialty yarns like that. If it was just normal yarn then no, but this stuff yeah... I bout swallowed my gum this morning buyine one skein to do the neckline of a ponch with... :faint

I saw mink yarn the other day... talk about drooling.. wow :oops

[Ambersafghans]

LOL. How much was it at the store?
Amber

[threeolivemartini]

i guess you will faint then amber when i tell you i sell scarves for NO LESS than 25 dollars.. and tha tis the plain ones.. i have sold a few for 50 and 75 depending on the yarns..

[LadyyOftheOak]

The yarn was $4.97 at Walmart.. I would have looked online but was in a hurry to get this one finished for the weekend.. I'm going to start shopping Ebay I think lol

[Ambersafghans]

Hey, try wwwsmileys.com and www.discountyarnsale.com
$3 plus shipping. You have to get $30 worth at a time though.
Amber

[LadyyOftheOak]

Hey that's great.. thanks!! :cloud9

Wonder reckon how long the scarves will stay in style? :lol

[Mom w/a Motif]

Also, does anyone know what a person can legally sell? For example, can I make a poncho out of a magazine, or a leaflet, and sell it?

I have sold a few things by word-of-mouth, and to family members. The farmers market seems a good way to go. It's only $9 or so per booth, craft shows are $100+.

[Ambersafghans]

Hi Pyrst. You need to have permission if you are using a pattern. I don't use a pattern for my scarves (I have my own) But I have gotten permission to sell things made out of a person's pattern. Coats and Clark will let you sell things, but you have to use their yarn. You can't sell the pattern, but normally items made from it you can get the okay on. Most that I"ve found don't want you selling on ebay.

i guess you will faint then amber when i tell you i sell scarves for NO LESS than 25 dollars.. and tha tis the plain ones.. i have sold a few for 50 and 75 depending on the yarns..

Wha..
Where do you live! Do you need another hand!? :) Wow. How often do you sell them?
Amber

[Mom w/a Motif]

Thanks Amber- I guess I should start signing my name, eh? :blush It's Tina

I doubt I will ever do a show, anyway. Just something I was curious about.

[threeolivemartini]

i am at the farmers market once a week.. and then of course there is always word of mouth that keeps me busy..

i live in NC .. but no matter where i lived that is what i would charge.. because i dont use boring yarn .. and i value my time..

i dont sell myself short.. i have a gift .. and people that dont want to learn to do this or just "cant" ( i really dont believe they cant i believe they dont want to practice) are usually willing to pay for what they get..

sure i get ppl that tell me all the time they are gonna go to wal mart and get a poncho.. good for them .. they can have the crappy machine knit poncho at walmart for 10 dollars.. i refuse to lower my prices.. i also have a couple craft fairs i go to .. i have one coming up int he spring which i have no doubt i will make between 1200 and 2000 by attending.. most of the time people dont mind paying for quality.. offer them good stuff and the ones that want it will pay it..

i always have to laugh at those people that want top quality for next to nothing.. this one lady came by early in the fall.. i had a really nice sage green and rust poncho.. priced at 75 dollars.. she commented she would come back i a few months when it didnt sell and get it "when i marked it down" ..... well no sooner did she walk away than a lady came up and "had to have that" poncho.. the first lady was back the next week and was like.. you didnt bring "my" green poncho.. i said " no i sold it last week for 75 dollars 10 minutes after you walked off.. "

you should have seen the look on her face.. the she says.. "will you make me another one" .. i said.. "sure for 100 dollars!" LOL..... jsut because.. .... because people like that hack me off.. anyway enough of my tangent..

[LadyyOftheOak]

BRAVO!! :cheer2 :yay2

[hamlette2002]

Good for you! People like that get under my skin, too. Not that I'm not a bargain shopper (I can't afford to be anything else LOL), but the way she acted was horrible! If I can't afford an item, I'll either say nothing at all or, if I feel prompted, I'll just mention that I wish I could afford it.