Soozcat
"Whatcha making?"
I'm #knitting a hat.
"That's really pretty."
Thanks.
"I bet you could make money selling that."
I bet you'd be wrong, but thanks.
"No really, people pay good money for--"
NO. I WON'T. YOU CAN'T MAKE ME. I WOULD RATHER GIVE THIS AWAY FOR FREE THAN EVER SELL IT. I WON'T DESTROY MY OWN JOY BY #MONETIZING A #HOBBY.
"Sheeze, I was just saying..."
Look, I know you mean well, but most knitting takes considerable time and money. And most people think a knitted hat should cost $5-$10. So no.
Mar 28 at 1:28amWeb
Show threadBrian Davis1d ago

@Soozcat folks have no clue how many hours goes into a nice knitted or crocheted piece. My wife loves it, and has tried selling them at a loss and people still won't buy them.

Just do what brings you joy.

Show threadSoozcat1d ago
@intrepidhero That's the plan. I want to enjoy my hobby for what it is. Even if I wanted to sell knitted things, I've done the math. People won't pay supportive prices, especially for knitted accessories. In almost every case, you'd actually be better off reselling the yarn than making something out of it.
Show threadHugs4friends ♾🇺🇦 🇵🇸😷1d ago
@Soozcat It sure did that for me. No more selling stuff.
Show threadDustin D. Wind1d ago

@Tooden @Soozcat If you still make them for friends, major kudos…  

I treasure my scarf from a sister in my adopted-each-other-in-college family. Considering the time and thought that goes into it, it's like a hug that never runs out of energy.

Show threadDustin D. Wind1d ago
@Soozcat "So, would you make a few of these for us for $5 each? That's how much my last one from Evil-Mart cost."
…  …
"Come on, why not?"
Show threadKerr Avonsen (she/her)1d ago
@Soozcat The next time someone says something like that to me, I want to tie them down and explain to them in Very Small Words why that is a Bad Idea. Starting with the concept of being PAID for your LABOUR.
Show threadKerr Avonsen (she/her)1d ago

@Soozcat Another question I have for this hypothetical person is: "Why would I want to make money?"

It would be lovely to see how flabbergasted they would be.

Show threadAlice in Waterdeep1d ago
@Soozcat every single time 🥲 I don't blame (too much) people who don't understand the time and money that go into handmade items, you can't know what you don't know and they usually mean well.
What makes me lose my mind is the instant "you should sell that", the mindset that sees every single thing you can do as a potential means to get money. 🫠🫠🫠
Show threadKnien23h ago
@Soozcat I've learned that people feel like it's a niced thing to say and not to rant at them about the cost of labour 😂 Just let me create and see if I'll do something with your request.
Show threadSoozcat18h ago
@Knien I do get that they mean well. The frustration in this post comes from hearing it dozens of times. I want this to stay a hobby for a number of reasons, not least of which is that I do not feel productivity is the most important thing about being human.
Show threadKnitronomicon21h ago

@Soozcat

AAARRRGGGHHH, oh *YES*.

I rarely sell things I've knitted, because I'll have already explained the time costs to whoever's buying, not to mention the yarn costs; and I'm usually 'selling' (i.e. exchanging a knitted item for money or a service, and ALWAYS at a technical loss) to a friend. I *do* often put items into an auction or raffle, when occasionally they'll raise an amount greater than the yarn cost, but nowhere near the labour costs. So if a pair of fingerless mitts goes at £25 (going to charity or other fundraiser, not me!), fair enough.

I used to make cross-stitch keyrings, taught by my brother-in-law; I could sell one just over an inch square for £2.50, easily, though if people asked I would point out that it took me 3 hours to make and would they like to pay £25 instead... (Hourly minimum wage in the UK at the time was just over £7.) I calculated prices for those at just over double the cost of the materials.

Show threadBardMoss the Bodhi Linux Guy5h ago
@Soozcat
They don't realize that a hat might take you four and a half hours to make. Go ahead, charge 10 bucks an hour for labor and see how many hats you sell.
Show threadSoozcat4h ago
@zaivala Yup. Hard pass, thanks.