Samantha
Another one of my favorites...CROCHET! I had a little etsy business at one point. I did pretty good, had fairly consistent orders. The thing about that is...taking something you do to relax and turning it into a business was a mistake. Putting absolutely ridiculous time frames for completing on myself was my first mistake. The second, not valuing my time and my commodity. I often priced myself so low that I was "earning" like $2.50 per hour I spent on the projects, or less! And so, I let the etsy business fizzle out and go dark. Will I ever sell my creations again? Maybe. But my love for crochet will be forever...even if my arthritis has other opinions. LOL!

#Crochet #SmallBusiness #Skeleton #Newlyweds #MrAndMrs #Etsy #Hobby #Craft #Crafting #DIY #ThingsILove #Texas #Dallas #Handmade #AmericanMade #Relax #Arthritis #Mistake #LearnFromYourMistakes #Favorite #Fave #Fiber #FiberArt #Cotton #MadeInAmerica #FiberArtist
Feb 5, 2025 at 10:21amWeb
Show threadMichelle / The Giddy StitcherFeb 5, 2025
@XxSamPOWPOWxX I think just about every crafter learns this lesson the hard way!
Show thread🇩🇰Blue.Feb 5, 2025
@XxSamPOWPOWxX This is why i say, that hobby crocheters kills the business for people trying to earn a living. They sell to cheap and customers expect low prices.
Show threadSamanthaFeb 5, 2025
I'm not sure that it's the sellers fault that customers expect low prices. I think that would be more of a consumerism issue with our society. Thanks for sharing your opinion. 😊👍
Show threadMorgan ⚧️Feb 6, 2025
@mutter01 I don't think customers expect low prices because hobbyists don't charge enough, at least mostly. Customers expect low prices because most stores get clothes made wherever it's cheapest, even if it means not paying the laborers at all. So now customers expect low prices, and "hobby crocheters" literally cannot sell their work for a fair price because no one will buy it. Also like, if someone is selling their crochet that's by definition not a hobby lol
Show thread🇩🇰Blue.Feb 6, 2025
@raphaelmorgan I seen a lot selling their products just to cover the price of yarn. When I ask them why it’s “ohhh, I’m not in it for the money. I just like crocheting.” Time and time again.
Show threadMorgan ⚧️Feb 6, 2025
@mutter01 I'm not saying they don't undercharge. I'm saying they're not the main reason why crocheters cannot sell their work without undercharging.
If they're just trying to make up the cost of materials tho I guess I understand why you would call them hobby crocheters
Show threadSamanthaFeb 6, 2025
@raphaelmorgan Yessssssss!!!! Lol that last part tho!
Show threadMorgan ⚧️Feb 6, 2025
@XxSamPOWPOWxX I think it's especially hard with crafts like fiber arts, where the average person has no idea how long it takes. If we were to charge enough to pay ourselves like, half of minimum wage, people who are used to buying from corporations that use slave labor will just go "what the fuck that's way more expensive than it has any business being!" And opt for supporting slavery instead  but they probably don't even understand why it's usually so much cheaper
Show threadSamanthaFeb 6, 2025
Yes! EXACTLY!! They have no clue all the little things that it took to actually make these. The yarn, hooks, my time and creativity, then afterwards posing them for photos, editing and uploading them. It really adds up and most people don't see the value in something that is handmade these days.

Luckily!! I have seen a trend in more people appreciating the fiber arts and other handmade arts. If I had started the little etsy business today, and not like forever ago, I would price and value myself MUCH differently!