Behind the Line How to Price Your Crochet Project

You have made your first crochet project. You may have made some crochet items for family and friends.  You received encouraging comments and you really like this crochet thing.  So you are thinking, "Hey, maybe I can sell my hats and scarves and make some extra cash."  Your next thought is probably, "How do I price my crochet projects?"

Some things to consider:

Labor Cost: How long does it take you to make the item? How much can you reasonably charge per hour? There are a couple situations where charging solely by hour is a disadvantage. For example, crocheting a blanket takes hours upon hours. Charging by hour for this particular product can become expensive for the customer! Also, if you crochet on the slow side, you should consider another method of pricing. Labor cost is only part of the equation.

Material Cost: How many items can you make out of the supplies bought? Do you plan on being a low end, high end or middle of the road brand? If you plan on being high end, the cost of materials is going to be higher, which needs to be reflected in your product's price.

Overhead Cost: Venue fees, marketing fees, office fees, machinery costs, building bills, it all adds up!  These need to be included in the cost of the product.

Profit: What kind of profit do you want to make? Work backward; think of your end result. What do you want your yearly income to be?  How many hours do you want to work? How much time do you want to spend on production and administration tasks? Don't forget your time shopping for supplies and marketing is just as important as time spent making the product!

I hope this post acts as a springboard to get you brainstorming on how to price your crochet project. Where you are selling your product also needs to be taken into consideration.  More on that in another post. 

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Behind the Line Your First Crochet Project

Hello!  So far in my Behind the Line series we have gathered our crochet materials and done a bit of practicing.  Now it is time for our First Crochet Project!  How exciting! 

Shell Stitch Scarf

What should be your first crochet project?

 I think most people probably start out with crocheting a basic scarf.  It is straight, you don't have to sew anything together, and you don't have to worry about gauge so much.  Scarves are smaller than blankets, so they don't use as much yarn, and don't take as much time.  A skein of yarn should be plenty - no worrying about dye lots.  Pressed for time to make a gift?  This project will only take a couple of evenings to make.  You can get into a rhythm and before you know it you are finished.  Or you may find yourself enjoying it so much that it has become long enough to use as a mummy costume wrap!

The scarf in the picture is just one color light blue and one stitch.  Simple, functional and it looks nice. Simple doesn't have to be boring.

How to make a unique scarf?

You could change color.  Use your favorite sports team colors, a holiday colors, or monochromatic of your favorite color.  

Try using different kinds of yarn.  Alternate a bulky yarn and a big hook with a lighter weight yarn and a small hook.  This will put a scallop to the scarf edges and give a bumpy feeling to the scarf.  You could use sparkly yarn for a certain design element to make it stand out and plain yarn for the rest of the scarf.  

Change up the stitch.  You could make the first and last rows be a different stitch than the middle.  You could make each row be a different stitch. 

Switch design patterns.  Maybe you start out making a diamond design and in the middle go to a basic stitch making no design and then back to a diamond design.

Edging and Fringe.  You could make the whole scarf a basic stitch.  When you are finished, go back and add some lacy or furry edging, add fringe or pom-poms.  

What was your first crochet project?

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Behind the Line: Crocheting Practice Tips

Hooray! 
We have discussed and gathered what we need to crochet.  Here are my previous posts in my Behind the Line series to get caught up: crochet hooks, yarn, crochet patterns, and crochet notions.

Now it is time to sit down and practice.  Just like with any new endeavor, there is patience and practice involved with learning crochet.

Crochet Tension

Tension is how tight or loose you crochet, or how you feed the yarn from the yarn holding hand to the hand holding the hook. The goal is to keep the tension even throughout the whole project.  If you are making a blanket or scarf you may either start loose and end tight, or start tight and end loose.  The part that you crocheted loose will be wider than the part you crocheted tight.  If your project is misshaped it could be because you changed your tension in the middle of the project.

I find I have to adjust my tension from yarn to yarn.  Cotton yarn doesn't slide through my fingers like 4 ply acrylic yarn, so I find I have to loosen my tension when working with cotton yarn.  Last year I tried working with furry yarn.  It took me awhile to get used to crocheting with a huge hook and having to keep my tension loose.  So even when you know how to crochet there still is a learning curve from crochet project to project.

Crochet Stitches

I have talked a little bit about the basic crochet stitches such as chain and single crochet.  If you are looking to add a texture or a pattern to your crochet project, there are countless other stitches built upon the basic crochet stitches.  There are too many to mention and ones that I am still discovering.  I have recently come across some interesting 3D crochet stitches when browsing ideas online.  Before you begin any project with a stitch you are not familiar with I would recommend practicing the stitch first.  This way you know how hard, or time consuming it is.  Then you are not stuck in the middle of a blanket with a stitch that you don't like, or is just taking more time than you realized to make.

Crochet Pattern

Sometimes it is the pattern itself that takes practice and patience.  It may take a few reads or even different eyes to understand what it is asking you to do.  One person's way of writing a pattern can be different from another person's.  Then there is the pattern typo that can mess with your head if something doesn't look right in the product.

Crocheting Practice Tips

One good thing about crocheting is you can pull on the yarn to unravel it and redo if a mistake is made.  If you happen to get frustrated with a project though, before you unravel, try stepping away from it.  You may even want to start another project.  Sometimes something I learn from one project clicks and then when I go back to a work-in-progress with this new information, I can then continue the project.

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Behind the Line Gathering Materials: Crochet Notions

Okay so far we have gathered yarn, a crochet hook or two (as some patterns call for multiple sizes) and a pattern for the chosen crochet project.  Now let's look into crochet notions and other tools. There are all kinds of fun notions for crocheters.

Some basic crochet tools are:

1. yarn needle
2. scissors
3. ruler
4. stitch marker
5. pad of paper  
6. pen/pencil

A yarn needle is a big needle, mine is plastic.  I use it to sew on crocheted applique, for decorative surface stitches, or to stitch pieces together.

Scissors are needed to cut the yarn.  A ruler is needed to check the gauge and make sure you have a proper sized product.

A stitch marker often looks like a plastic safety pin.  I have used a safety pin to mark a stitch.  I have also just threaded a different colored piece of yarn through the stitch to mark it.  When will you need to use a stitch marker?  They come in handy for all kinds of things.  If you are crocheting in the round continuously, you mark the first stitch of the round.  Otherwise it is very easy to loose how many rounds you have done.  If you are making a blanket or scarf, you can use it to mark every 10 stitches.  

A pad of paper and pen are useful if you are making up your own pattern as you go. I recommend using graph paper if you are working out your own design for a project using filet or tapestry crochet stitch.  Taking notes while working on a ready made pattern is sometimes needed too.

Other notions/tools that make crocheting easier:

1. blocking board
2. pom-pom maker/ tassel maker
3. crochet hook case
4. project bags
5. row/ stitch counter
6. ball winders
7. skein sleeves

A blocking board is needed to finish certain products.  I will get into blocking in a future post. For now it is enough to know that blocking is a means of finishing a product.  It helps the product keep its shape.  There are several ways to do this.

Pom-poms and tassels can be used as decorative finishing touches on a product.  There are lots of do-it-yourself pom-pom and tassels makers.  If you plan on making several pom-poms or tassels however, I suggest you purchase one.

Crochet hook cases and project bags keep your tools and projects organized.  They can be fancy store bought or made from whatever you have around the house.  For example, a paper towel roll tube can be made into a crochet hook case.

A row/ stitch counter is a hand held push button counter.  It helps you keep track of ....you guessed it, rows and stitches.

Ball winders and skein sleeves help keep your yarn tangle free.

Now that you are readying to get started crocheting, here are a few practice tips.

Do you have a favorite or another crochet notion you like to use?  Have you made your own crochet notion?

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Behind the Line Gathering Materials: Choosing a Crochet Pattern

Types of Crochet Patterns

A crochet pattern is simply an instruction or recipe for how to make a finished crochet product.

Written  Have you ever picked up a family member's or friend's crochet pattern only to have your eyes go buggy and say what is this?  All those letters and numbers they make no sense!  The letters are abbreviations for stitches or other actions to make the pattern shorter in length.  An example would be ch means chain. These abbreviations, along how to make the stitch can sometimes be found in the front or back of the pattern sheet, book or magazine.

Diagram  A picture instruction of the pattern is called a diagram.  At first glance it seems like just a bunch of lines and squiggles.  These lines and squiggles however, are symbols for different crochet stitches.  So for example, a chain is represented by an oval instead of a ch.  Some patterns have both a diagram instruction and a written instruction.

Verbal Another mode of instruction would be learning from someone else weather in person or via video.

No Pattern Some people make up the pattern as they go along. An example of this would be Free Form crochet.  Look up free form crochet on the internet and you will find stunning pieces of crochet!

Structure of the Crochet Pattern

Materials  Ah, the ingredients to the recipe.  The material section of the pattern will tell you what you need to make the product.  This includes the size of hook, type of yarn, how much yarn, and other materials such as polyester stuffing (stuffed animal) or Styrofoam ring (wreath).

Skill Level  The pattern should also state the skill level needed to make the product.  Generally there are four skill levels: beginner, easy, intermediate and expert.  If you are new to crocheting, you may get especially frustrated trying to make something set at an intermediate skill level.  Be sure your pattern says beginner or easy.

Notes  There usually is a notes section of the pattern.  This can include special stitches and the gauge needed to make the product.  If the product requires a certain size as in making clothing, you will want to pay extra attention to the gauge.  Everyone crochets a bit differently, some crochet tight, some loose.  You will have to select the correct size hook to match the gauge and how you crochet.

Where to Find a Crochet Pattern

Online There are numerous resources online for crochet patterns, some are free and some you have to purchase.  A couple examples would be YouTube and websites such as AllFreeCrochet.  

Stores   You can find free crochet patterns hanging in the yarn aisles at craft stores.  Cheap patterns can be found at thrift stores and the like.  You can find crochet magazines in the magazine section of your grocery store.  Crochet books are often more detailed with added tips and ideas.  Books can be found online, and at a book or craft store.

Around the House  If you dig around your own house or that of a family member, you may find crochet patterns.  Estate sales of crafters will most likely have crochet patterns.

    

I have worked with all types of crochet patterns.  If a pattern you are working on is not going so well, try a different type of pattern.  I have crochet patterns from online, books, magazines, thrift stores, you name it!  If I feel like learning a new stitch, technique or product I will follow a pattern.  Otherwise, I just make up the pattern as I go along!  So have fun in your crocheting.  A mistake may lead to an aha idea!  Speaking of fun, check out my post on crochet notions.  If you love gadgets and accessories, you'll love this post!

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Behind the Line Gathering Materials: What Size Crochet Hook Do I Need?

 

   

Bamboo Handle Crochet Hooks

The art of crochet does require a few tools. One thing that I like about crochet is that these tools are quiet and very portable. Some people take a book with them to the laundry mat, doctor's office, airport etc. I sometimes take a book too. I have also stashed a crochet project in my bag for activities that require waiting. That's difficult to do with a sewing machine or weaving loom!

One tool of the trade is the crochet hook.

    There are five basic parts to a crochet hook: the handle, thumb rest, shaft, throat, and head. 

1. The handle is the long part before the thumb rest. 
2. The thumb rest is the flattened part before the shaft. The thumb rest, or grip reminds me of a pressed penny. 
3. The shaft is between the thumb rest and throat. 
4. The throat's shape can be tapered or inline.
5.  Last, there is the head which is the hook. 

    The look and feel of these parts can vary in design. Some crochet hooks even have lights in them to help you see when using dark colored yarn! Some crochet hooks are metal, some are wood, and some are a combination of the two. I currently prefer using crochet hooks with a bamboo handle and an inline throat. I have seen crochet hooks at thrift stores and garage sales. These are great places to purchase crochet hooks to try out a style to see if you like it.

   The size of the crochet hook.  

    Not only are there several styles of crochet hooks, there are also several sizes of crochet hooks. The size of the hook is often stamped on the thumb rest. This can include a number in millimeters, as well as a letter. The closer to Z the letter is, the bigger the crochet hook. The bigger the crochet hook, the looser the crochet stitches. The looser the crochet stitches, the more drape and less shape an item will have. Just as I could make the same pattern in various types of yarn and get a completely different look, I could make the same pattern using different sized hooks. 

    There is a recommended hook size depending on the type of yarn. This will be found on the yarn label. If I am working with crochet thread, I would probably use a size D crochet hook. If I am working with rug yarn, I would most likely use a size L hook. What size hook I use also depends on what I am making and what crochet stitches are involved. For example, I usually use a size G hook to make hats with a double crochet stitch and size H for hats with a single crochet stitch. Sometimes the same crochet pattern will use 2 different sized hooks. For example, size H for the body of the hat and size G for the brim.

If you are just learning to crochet, I would recommend using a medium sized hook such as a J.  Your stitches will be easier to see.

    If you are following a pattern, it will also state what size hook to use. However, if you crochet tightly, you may have to use a bigger sized hook for the item to turn out the correct size. There are two different kinds of patterns one can follow. Well, I suppose one could say three kinds including how-to videos.  I will discuss crochet patterns in the next post.

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Behind the Line Gathering Materials: What Kind of Yarn do I Need?

 

    I don't know about you, but grocery shopping can be so overwhelming sometimes.  This is especially true when trying a new recipe and looking for an ingredient I never even heard of before!  The same goes when it comes to shopping for yarn.  Okay, so I have my new pattern (recipe) with the cute picture or a picture in my head of what I want to make, what's next?

Now I have to find what yarn to use.

     Well first, I have to figure out where to find it.  Just like grocery stores carry different brands and specialties of food, so to do craft stores and the like carry different brands and specialties of yarn.  One store may have the brand of yarn I am looking for, but not the color or weight.  Another store that used to carry the yarn may have decided not to sell it anymore.  Also, it is possible that it is an old pattern and the yarn has been discontinued. While I sometimes order yarn online, I do prefer to purchase it from a brick and mortar. Other things that factor into finding yarn are price, if it is machine washable, and at least partly made in the USA. Once I do find the yarn I want, I check the dye lot a number on the label, that tells me these skeins came from the same batch of yarn and therefore match in shade. There are many types of yarn and which one I choose depends upon what I am making.

What do I plan to crochet?

    There are fuzzy yarns, thick yarns, soft yarns, thin yarns, it is mind boggling!  Walking into the yarn aisle or a yarn store for me is so exciting.  The balls of yarn are like candy calling me from the candy jar in the kitchen. Sometimes I just stand and stare in awe for awhile letting my eyes soak it in.
    Then I get into touch and feel mode.  If I am making a blanket, then I want something soft and cuddly.  If I am making a place mat, I head for the cotton yarn.  If I am making a light weight Spring hat, then I'll look at the baby yarn.  The fuzzy and bumpy yarns I tend to reserve for trim.  The lighter weight yarns have a better drape factor where the heavier yarns make a product stiff.  I could experiment with a small pattern, making it in various types of yarn and each would look different! Each yarn weight - ranging from 0 or lace to 7 or jumbo - has a recommended hook size. How the product looks also depends on what size hook I use.  I will discuss crochet hooks in my next post!

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