The True Cost of Crochet

Some of you know I enjoy to crochet, mostly on the bus to and from work (if I'm not napping, that is).  I picked up this habit back in March 2012, so I haven't been doing it that long, but I've completed several small projects along the way.  I find it relaxing.  It helps me de-stress and decompress, especially at the end of the day and before I pick the boys up from school.

I think of it as my "Xanax."  :-)

So anyway, I happened to be looking at a blog post the other day about crochet, and someone had asked a loaded question:  How do you fairly price your completed items for sale?

*chuckle*  Two words:  You don't.

Why do I say that?  I had a long conversation with Hubby about this yesterday actually. In truth, people who like to knit or crochet do it because of what THEY get out of it.  You make an item with your own hands, and you get a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction.  Further more, if you then donate those items to charity or some other good cause, the feeling is amplified.

But people who choose to BUY handmade items often have no idea how much time and effort goes into these one-of-a-kind works of art.  They think of the sweater they can buy at a big box store for $30 and think that your painstaking project should fetch the same amount.  Often, that $30 doesn't even cover the cost of the materials, let alone any kind of compensation for time!

Let me give you an example relevant to myself.  Here are a couple of pictures of one of the larger projects I've completed thus far.  I just call it my purple afghan, but it's an adaptation of a pattern I found online last year:

Ok, now try and decide what you'd pay for it if you wanted to buy it from me?  $40?  $50?  It's made from a soft acrylic yarn, so it's not even what I'd consider a high-end material.

My cost in materials:  12 skeins of yarn at $4.50 per skein plus state sales tax = $59.27
My cost in time:  Approximately 40 hours over 6-7 weeks.

You see where I'm going with this?  :-\

Some people sell small items and make a little money here and there...baby clothing, hats, scarves, bookmarks, household knick knacks, etc.  Blankets and afghans?  Mostly for gifts because people aren't really going to pay what it's worth.

Why am I ranting about this?  No reason really.  But just keep in mind if someone gives you a piece they have made, or if you're quoted a higher price than what you initially planned on paying when wanting to buy, keep this in mind.  You are getting a truly unique piece, one that a machine cannot duplicate (knitting machines are out there, but there isn't anything that can duplicate crochet that I know of).  You're getting something that can be passed down as an heirloom.  And finally, you're getting something that was made with care and--most importantly--LOVE.

Much love and respect to my fellow crocheters and knitters out there!!  :-)

P.S.  If you want to see some of the other projects I've completed, check out my FB page:  https://www.facebook.com/CrochetByNabela