Comments on: Inefficient Fundraising Through Knitting http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/inefficient-fundraising-through-knitting/ Everything About Money You Were Too Polite To Ask Sat, 25 May 2013 21:15:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: amirite http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/inefficient-fundraising-through-knitting/#comment-29134 amirite Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:07:12 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20468#comment-29134 @themegnapkin So cool that you were published in Knitty! Thanks for sharing your perspective: it's consistent with what I've heard from other designers. Don't worry, I don't look at this as my ticket away from my desk job, just something that would be much more interesting, challenging and fulfilling than selling knitting objects. I would be happy to just make a little bit of extra money to supplement my yarn costs. @themegnapkin So cool that you were published in Knitty!

Thanks for sharing your perspective: it’s consistent with what I’ve heard from other designers. Don’t worry, I don’t look at this as my ticket away from my desk job, just something that would be much more interesting, challenging and fulfilling than selling knitting objects. I would be happy to just make a little bit of extra money to supplement my yarn costs.

]]> By: Punk-assBookJockey http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/inefficient-fundraising-through-knitting/#comment-28828 Punk-assBookJockey Wed, 26 Dec 2012 16:19:52 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20468#comment-28828 @themegnapkin I agree with this entriely. I have a friend who has designs that were published in interweave and a lot of other publications as well, and she still does a lot of other stuff as well (including running an etsy shop of jewelry and other accessories), and is really only able to do this stuff full time because her husband supports her financially. But if you put a pattern up for sale directly and people buy it, great! Getting money for something you enjoy is pretty cool. @themegnapkin I agree with this entriely. I have a friend who has designs that were published in interweave and a lot of other publications as well, and she still does a lot of other stuff as well (including running an etsy shop of jewelry and other accessories), and is really only able to do this stuff full time because her husband supports her financially. But if you put a pattern up for sale directly and people buy it, great! Getting money for something you enjoy is pretty cool.

]]> By: Punk-assBookJockey http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/inefficient-fundraising-through-knitting/#comment-28827 Punk-assBookJockey Wed, 26 Dec 2012 16:14:46 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20468#comment-28827 @nutmeg Haha, were you one of those talking about this over on the hairpin too? I need to do something to not fidget! @nutmeg Haha, were you one of those talking about this over on the hairpin too? I need to do something to not fidget!

]]> By: nutmeg http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/inefficient-fundraising-through-knitting/#comment-28792 nutmeg Mon, 24 Dec 2012 14:54:44 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20468#comment-28792 This becomes a lot easier if you quit drinking and realize you have to do something with your hands at AA meetings other than tear styrofoam cups into little pieces This becomes a lot easier if you quit drinking and realize you have to do something with your hands at AA meetings other than tear styrofoam cups into little pieces

]]> By: themegnapkin http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/inefficient-fundraising-through-knitting/#comment-28701 themegnapkin Fri, 21 Dec 2012 20:46:17 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20468#comment-28701 @amirite I have designed and sold a few knitting patterns (I was published in Knitty!), and at one point seriously considered trying to do it full time, but decided against it - the market for knitting patterns is saturated, and includes a glut of high quality free patterns. Even the "famous" knitting pattern designers typically have to have a 2nd or 3rd job to make ends meet. So, ymmv, but I would continue to design knitting patterns because I enjoy it and an extra $5 here and there is nice, but never because I expected to make any significant money from it. Gosh, I sound awful and pessimistic, but I don't want to discourage you - I really LOVE knitting and knitters, and support designers when I can! @amirite I have designed and sold a few knitting patterns (I was published in Knitty!), and at one point seriously considered trying to do it full time, but decided against it – the market for knitting patterns is saturated, and includes a glut of high quality free patterns. Even the “famous” knitting pattern designers typically have to have a 2nd or 3rd job to make ends meet. So, ymmv, but I would continue to design knitting patterns because I enjoy it and an extra $5 here and there is nice, but never because I expected to make any significant money from it.
Gosh, I sound awful and pessimistic, but I don’t want to discourage you – I really LOVE knitting and knitters, and support designers when I can!

]]> By: amirite http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/inefficient-fundraising-through-knitting/#comment-28670 amirite Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:25:13 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20468#comment-28670 @Punk-assBookJockey Samsies, except I knits slowly, so I wouldn't get a very good return if I wanted to sell my knitting. I have thought about selling knitting patterns though, and have been playing with creating my own designs and writing up the patterns for them. It's still a lot of work, but it's a lot more appealing to me than selling finished objects. @Punk-assBookJockey Samsies, except I knits slowly, so I wouldn’t get a very good return if I wanted to sell my knitting. I have thought about selling knitting patterns though, and have been playing with creating my own designs and writing up the patterns for them. It’s still a lot of work, but it’s a lot more appealing to me than selling finished objects.

]]> By: Punk-assBookJockey http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/inefficient-fundraising-through-knitting/#comment-28650 Punk-assBookJockey Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:19:51 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20468#comment-28650 @Punk-assBookJockey I did once teach knitting for money though, at a small yarn shop, and that was definitely much better but still not great, moneywise. @Punk-assBookJockey I did once teach knitting for money though, at a small yarn shop, and that was definitely much better but still not great, moneywise.

]]> By: Punk-assBookJockey http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/inefficient-fundraising-through-knitting/#comment-28646 Punk-assBookJockey Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:15:29 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20468#comment-28646 <i>Struggle with how much to price them, since if you calculated their price as materials plus labor, they would cost a million dollars. Settle on $30, because that is decent but not more than a reasonable person would spend on a slightly irregular scarf.</i> Thiiiss is why I don't knit for money. I buy nice yarn. I knit fast and well but I still can't price an item such that it is both affordable and worth my time. Plus, knitting for money is way less enjoyable that just knitting for yourself/gifts if you feel like it. Struggle with how much to price them, since if you calculated their price as materials plus labor, they would cost a million dollars. Settle on $30, because that is decent but not more than a reasonable person would spend on a slightly irregular scarf.

Thiiiss is why I don’t knit for money. I buy nice yarn. I knit fast and well but I still can’t price an item such that it is both affordable and worth my time. Plus, knitting for money is way less enjoyable that just knitting for yourself/gifts if you feel like it.

]]> By: Trilby http://thebillfold.com/2012/12/inefficient-fundraising-through-knitting/#comment-28638 Trilby Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:54:12 +0000 http://thebillfold.com/?p=20468#comment-28638 Hm... this sounds like it might be really specific to you, Rachel. Hm… this sounds like it might be really specific to you, Rachel.

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