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There is no denying that crocheting has become increasingly popular in recent years. In times of mass consumption, many of us prefer handmade products over manufactured ones, as they guarantee good quality and high customization.
The growing interest in handicrafts made more and more people think of crochet not only as a mere hobby but also as a potential source of income. If you’ve been crocheting for a while, I’m sure such a thought has crossed your mind too.
In this article, we will explore the best ways to make money crocheting. Whether you are planning to earn extra bucks or set up a home-based business, this guide will help you turn your crochet hobby into a side hustle.
Benefits of Turning Your Crochet Hobby into Extra Income
Before we dive into specific ideas, let’s see what advantages you can expect by turning crochet into an income source:
- Flexibility: You work on your schedule without conforming to the time associated with a traditional job.
- Remote working: Most of the time, it involves working from home, for example, running a crochet blog or selling products online.
- Creative Satisfaction: If you’ve dreamed of taking a hobby job, now you can earn money doing what you love.
- Financial Boost: It can provide additional support for your budget or become a full-time income.
- Skill Enhancement: Continuous work on crochet projects means continuous improvement of your crochet technique and expanding your portfolio.
On the other, you should be aware that, like any other business venture, numerous challenges will come with it. Time management, competition, and continued effort are necessary to grow your presence and income.
Is It Difficult to Make Money with Crochet?
If you’re wondering whether making real money with crochet is difficult, it all depends on how much time and energy you wish to devote.
Running a well-rounded crochet business will require a specific level of commitment to earn a good income, especially at the early stage. However, if you think about crochet only as an after-hours job, selling your crochet items occasionally on online platforms will always put extra money in your pocket.
Remember that you don’t have to start a full-scale business right away. If you’re unsure whether you’d like to devote all your time to crochet and make it your primary source of income, start by taking small steps.
There are options to make money with crochet that can be managed alongside your regular job or other commitments. For instance, selling handmade items or creating crochet patterns can be done in your free time without overwhelming your schedule.
How to Make Money with Crochet
If you haven’t yet figured out how to make money crocheting, don’t worry. Below we have gathered 10 creative ideas with useful tips to help you start your crochet business.
1. Sell Handmade Crochet Items
Selling finished products is one of the most direct and rewarding ways to monetize your crochet skills. It allows you to use your creativity to design and make tangible items that your customers can cherish. High-quality and unique items will help you build a loyal customer base and develop a reputable brand in the handmade market.
Choosing the Right Products to Sell
Before you start selling crochet items, think about the need and demand in the market. Some of the best-selling crochet items include the following:
- Blankets and Afghans
These items can vary drastically in size, style, and intricacy, meeting the needs of a large number of customers. Usually, the rate for selling afghans and blankets varies from $100 to $500, with very complex items reaching thousands of dollars in value. Offering variations in color schemes or patterns can increase the final value.
- Toys and Amigurumi
The Japanese art of creating adorable yarn creatures has gained immense popularity around the world. These cute figurines make lovely gift ideas or valuable collector’s items for both kids and adults. Typically, amigurumi toys are priced around $40 to $150, depending on the size and intricacy of the design.
- Scarves and Shawls
Scarves and shawls are accessories that go with any outfit and can come in various styles. These items can range from $30 to $100. An intricate lacy shawl might be priced higher than a chunky, textured scarf with little design details.
There are plenty more crochet items you can sell. Think of stylish beanies, warm gloves, seasonal decorations, or functional home items. Making products in colors and patterns chosen by the customer will make your products even more appealing to them.
Where to Sell Crochet Items
Once you have your products ready, the next step is to place them on appropriate selling platforms. Etsy is one of the most popular online shops for handmade goods. It provides a large volume of customers specifically interested in purchasing handcrafted pieces.
According to statistics, the most successful Etsy sellers make an average annual revenue of $46,000. Amazon or Shopify is another ideal place to sell your handmade items.
In the digital age, online shopping is the first thing that comes to mind, but you can also sell your crochet products in person. Craft fairs and market shows are great places to do so while building your brand among the local community.
Promote Your Crochet Products on Social Media
A good marketing strategy lies behind the success of every profitable business. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer an excellent way to promote your crochet products. Posting your Etsy shop offer or high-quality photos of your handmade products will help you reach a wider audience and attract potential customers.
If you want to promote your work in person, consider participating in various crochet events held locally. It’s also an ideal opportunity to connect with fellow crochet lovers who can share their experience with you.
Read more about Crocheting Events Across US and the World in 2024.
2. Design and Sell Crochet Patterns
If you have a flair for design, creating and selling crochet patterns can be a very lucrative pursuit. You can design both simple and more difficult designs. The more complex the design of a pattern, the higher its price will be.
It’s also important to note that, unlike ready-made items, selling digital crochet patterns requires less ongoing effort. Once designed, you can get paid for the same pattern over and over again. In other words, a well-promoted pattern can generate earnings for many years. This is a great way to turn your crochet talent into a passive income.
A go-to place where you can sell your patterns is Ravelry, a platform devoted entirely to handicraft projects. Once you start designing more, think about starting a crochet blog where you can share your designs. A popular practice is to publish some patterns for free with an option to buy a printable version. This will encourage users to visit your site.
3. Teach Crochet Classes
If you are well versed in the craft, think about giving crochet lessons. With the growing popularity of handicraft hobbies, you are sure to find people who want to learn how to crochet.
If you prefer to have direct contact with your students, you can teach locally in schools, craft stores, and community centers or privately in organized groups.
Teaching crochet lessons can also be done online. For this purpose, you can use platforms such as YouTube, SkillShare, or Udemy.
If love sharing your crochet expertise and would like to earn money online, consider creating an entire video training or ebook course, which you can sell to people hungry for knowledge.
Earnings for in-person classes typically range from $40 to $100 per class, depending on its length, number of participants, and level of complexity. Advanced digital courses designed with several modules and unique content can cost up to $200.
4. Crochet for Commissioned Work
Providing custom crochet services allows you to meet individual customer needs. Handcrafted customized items typically fetch higher prices owing to their uniqueness and personalized character.
Popular crochet projects for personalization are baby items used for gifting, such as baby blankets, clothes, or toys customized with specific colors or a personal message. Costumes are another great idea that offers a lot of room for creativity. Think about customized dresses for Halloween, cosplay, or even theatrical outfits.
Of course, making personalized decorations for all kinds of special occasions like weddings, baby showers, and birthday parties also comes into play. These can include table runners, centerpieces, and party favors that enhance celebrations.
5. Start a YouTube Channel or Crochet Blog
Building an online presence through a blog or YouTube channel can open up multiple income streams. By running your own site, you can earn money from ad revenue, affiliate advertising programs, or publishing sponsored posts.
Setting Up a Crochet Online Blog
Starting a blog will help you build your brand as an expert in the crochet industry and eventually have a loyal customer base. Setting up your own website through WordPress costs from $5 to $63 per month, depending on the subscription plan.
Once you have your blog live, sign up for an advertising program (AdSense or Monetag) to place ads on your page. You will make a little commission with every person who clicks on the commercial banner.
Bloggers get on average between 0.01 and $0.50 per click. Therefore, if your site attracts 100 clicks per day, you will earn anywhere from $1 to $50 per day. Averages of 1,000-1500 views per month should bring in ad revenue and let you earn actual money.
In order to attract users to your blog, it is important to skillfully promote your site and build a strong community around it. Content that you can create on your page can include tutorials, free patterns, roundup posts, yarn reviews, or behind-the-scenes.
Running a YouTube Channel
Launching your own YouTube channel is another way to make money online. It’s the perfect place to share your free tutorials.
Each of your videos can be monetized through commercials. 60% of the ad revenue goes to you, and 40% receives YouTube. Before that happens, however, you need to gain 1000 subscribers and reach 4,000 viewing hours. Good-quality video tutorials will gradually increase your number of viewers, allowing you to monetize your content.
Running a blog and a YouTube channel at the same time will allow you to reach more people, but it will also require more time and effort.
6. Collaborate with Yarn or Craft Companies
Another way to make money from crocheting is to collaborate with companies in the crochet industry. Not only does this build an extra income stream for you, but it also extends the reach of your brand.
Companies often run ambassador programs through which you promote their products on your blog and social media. This may include such things as unboxing videos, tutorials, or product reviews.
If you are a crochet designer, you can create an exclusive pattern or item that can be made using their materials. Thanks to such cooperation, you will reach a wider audience, gain prestige, and earn a pretty good income.
Interested in partnerships? Check out our Work with Us page for more details and explore exciting collaboration opportunities for crochet designers, pattern testers, and more!
7. Sell Crochet Kits
Crochet kits are packages with the supplies required to finish a particular crochet project. Such toolsets make it easier for beginners to gather materials essential for making a specific item.
The sale of such kits can be a good business if you come up with very attractive packages. These can include patterns, yarn, hooks, and any extra materials required for the project. All components should be of high quality and carefully arranged.
photo source: littleconkers.co.uk
You can sell crochet kits on your own, but such an approach requires more dedication, as everything will be on your side. In this case, consider teaming up with yarn suppliers or online stores to source materials and handle distribution. Eventually, the collaboration will streamline the production process and reduce costs.
8. Offer Crochet Repairs and Alterations
By specializing in crochet repairs and alterations, you can hit a niche market with minimal competition. Many people have beloved crocheted items that have become frayed or torn and may need repair or customization. Therefore, there is a ready demand for such services.
Repair dropped stitches, rejoin pieces, or rejuvenate worn items. Redesigning to fit better or to update designs will convert old pieces into something new and functional.
Pricing for repairs and alterations varies based on the complexity and time required. Typically, $10 to $30 is charged for basic repairs, while changing sizes or redesigning will demand a higher price of up to $100.
9. Start a Crochet Subscription Box
Make money selling crochet subscription boxes! This concept has become a popular trend in the crafting world. Crochet subscription boxes are carefully selected kits with the materials, such as yarn, hooks, and patterns, needed to complete a given project.
Unlike traditional crochet kits, they are sent out monthly, often refer to a specific theme, and are exclusively personalized.
Selling crochet subscription boxes is a great way to make a steady income while having fun by surprising your subscribers with new and exciting projects each month. The monthly subscription boxes typically cost $20 to $50, depending on the contents.
10. Crochet for Charity or Fundraising Events
Crocheting to support a good cause where you earn income at the same time can make a significant positive impact on your community. Charitable work builds your reputation and may draw socially responsible customers to your work.
Collaborate with charitable organizations to help produce and sell crochet items for fundraising. While you make income from sales, a portion of its proceeds may directly go to the charity. Use platforms like Kickstarter or GoFundMe to create campaigns and raise funds through crochet projects.
If you already have a well-built online presence, you can arrange crochet sales events where a percentage of sales can be donated to a cause of your choice.
How to Crochet for Beginners
If you would like to make money from crocheting but your crafting adventure began quite recently, start with the basics. Mastering the fundamental crochet techniques as well as constant skill improvement will help you make quality items or share your experience on your blog.
Our crochet guide for beginners is a great place to start for anyone looking to hone their skills. It provides helpful tips and crochet know-how, while the step-by-step video tutorials will help you learn basic crochet stitches. With these resources, you will be taking your first steps into building your very own crochet business very soon!
Conclusion
Turning your crochet hobby into a thriving handmade business is completely possible with creativity, determination, patience, and skill. You may choose to sell crochet goods, write digital patterns, teach, or combine several ways to make money with crochet – there is an option for every crafter.
Remember, don’t expect outstanding results right away. Be patient and persistent, and don’t let any stumbling blocks discourage you. Build your success step by step, taking advantage of the benefits offered by online platforms as well as the local community. All that will help you successfully monetize your crochet passion and enjoy both financial gain and personal fulfillment.