Questions

spun a fine yarn with her query in message: news: snipped-for-privacy@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...

Hellow, Patricia! I'm going to jump in with an IMHO answer, between your post:

getting

work

That's entirely true. What will irk *me* the most is when someone tells me they saw "that same sweater at Walmart" or something on the order like that... and my reply/thoughts are NO, you didn't! Another thing that irks me is when I come up with a brand new original design, wear it, and not-so-close friends will say "ooh, make me one" and when I tell them how much dollarwise, they balk, as if they expected it to be free. Off my soapbox on 'that' and onward to the rest of your post....

Well, I knit, crochet, spin, tat, work bobbinlace and design... and I love it. (I also weave a bit, but only for myself) I've been knitting and crocheting since the age of six, and designing since the age of 11. K&C are extremely satisfying and calming... for ME, at least. Tatting and BobbinLace have been in my forte` of craft talents for going on 8 years now. Spinning has become my passion... and also my most recent endeavour... only going on 3 years. Personally, I'd go totally balistic if I didn't have the salve of yarn and thread crafting. Onward...

give to

LOL. I don't mean to laugh at YOU, I'm laughing at the irony. There really is no way to charge what handmade items are really worth in terms of your time investment... even at minimum wage, the prices would be unrealistic. My personal guideline is: cost of material multiply by four add 10 percent.

I don't anymore, ONLY because I've been caring for my husband through his battle with cancer. However, going to shows is profitable IF you have the right products/items, and advertise well. Juried shows are the best, IMHO.

necessarily

I only make things I don't care for when it's a request from family members only. And even then, I balk and outright bitXh about it... but then again, I AM an artist, and have that temperment, grin! It offends my sensibilities to make something that I find unappealing.

Hope this gives you ONE insight, Patricia, and good luck! I have found in MY business, that my patterns/designs sell better than actual items. Noreen

Hallo Patricia , i don`t mind answering your questions but would appreciate your explnation, for what reason you ask them , is it a dissertation of some sort? Or is it for some commercial reason?

As much as we all would like it to be so, not every thing we do is a masterpiece.

I make some of my work becuase i like to make myself clothes in reasonable prices , good quality and uniquely designed, by me for me. I like to make similar clothes for my family and some friends. I make fiberart because this is the way i choose to express my story, and my feelings about life.

Lrearn , and expertise in all technical details of Any craft you can. find your own special `thing` [ it may be color, technique embelishment a local symbo????] and see if it is marketable ???

YES .

It depends on which level one is in life.

Until this point i answered you seriously, from my point of view as a serious crafter, an aready museum shown fiberartist, curator etc,,,, somehow the above question, raised in me a very cynical answer, that you could spend the Extra time on your hands to walk the park or vulunteer somewhere. But let`s be serious,,, if you think to go into carfts with the intention of making money in your spare time, maybe you should sell something over the phone ,or find a partime job?? If you never made any craft Seriously before, in your life. How do you intend to make anything in an either proffesional or Joyful enough, so that it might attract buyers. If in that case you intend to sell some everyday stuff, and you do it only to fill in "extra time " = i.e, it isn`t necessarily needed for your bread, why compete with Those people from all over the globe, and in your country , who do it proffesionaly as their only source of living? If on the other hand you have crafted many years for yourself , and never tried to sell it, but think you are now ready ,,,, why not try some shop that sells for consigment, and see what the owners say about your work.... best of luck mirjam

Love

The only poeple I know who are making any money on this have become experts in their field and are giving lessons and lectures.

Yes, but depends how far you have to travel.

I can only answer the first question -- love of the craft and desire for a finished product that is original (even if it's from a mass-produced pattern, I still consider it original when I choose the yarn, color, fit, etc., so what I'm trying to say is, a product that someone can't find at the local store). If it's a gift, it's for the pleasure of the recipient (and this is only for those recipients that really appreciate the work that goes into a hand-made item).

I don't know anyone that makes a profit at it, unless it's from writing and selling books and patterns. Even at minimum wage plus materials, not many people want to pay the cost of a hand-made sweater.

Karen in MN

A variety of reasons - Just as there are born math wizards and born athletes, some of us are born crafters. We just can't help it, we gotta do it! In my experience, most of us fall into a few categories: the Artist, that rarified breed that creates true works of art; the Artisan, the above average stitcher who creates unique works they have designed themselves and perhaps even have created the very fibers they use in their endeavors; the Serious Crafter, (who I think many of here are) who makes works unique in their choice of fabric and fit, but uses commercial pattern and fibers, the Hobbyist, who occasionally makes something and the Neophyte, who is just starting and on the way to one of the abovementioned.

I don't sell my knitting or other needle arts. I do mine for myself, family, friends and charity.

Abi

Hi Patricia

Here are my answers and welcome to the group.

1. For the love of it.

1. I don't sell my crafts

2. I have travelled to local fairs to compete even with the current gas prices.

1. No.

Most of my crafts are for myself, family and also charity. I tried to sell some of my craft items years ago but decided that I would rather enjoy doing the craft and not have the demand of meeting deadlines to please others.

Darlene in Toronto

getting

necessarily