Author Topic: Knitters - what do you do with your work?  (Read 6271 times)

ZiziPB

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Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« on: June 10, 2015, 02:31:01 PM »
Question for all MMM knitters out there (I know there are a number of us here) - what do you do with the items that you knit?

I love knitting and I make really nice things.  Knitting is a hobby, therapy and meditation time all in one for me.  But there are only so many shawls, hats, socks, blankets, etc. that you can use yourself.  And I think my family and friends are starting to be sick and tired of my knitted gifts ;-)  I always have one or two projects going and I knit fast.  I like trying new patterns and techniques and challenging myself with fancy stuff.  So knitting simple hats or blankets for charities would not be satisfying for me.

For example, right now I am working on a cabled cowl that I know I will not wear.  But it's a pattern I wanted to make for a while and I needed a new project, so I'm making it.  I will probably give it to my DD's flatmate as a gift. 


opah

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2015, 03:03:02 PM »
I haven't gotten to this point (I could still make gifts for a while, it takes me forever to actually finish a project) but if I were you I would sell them on Etsy. If it's a nice product and you've extracted the main benefit for you - the completion of a challenging new pattern and relaxation/meditation time (which I think are excellent benefits of knitting!) - why not make some of your money back?

TrMama

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2015, 03:32:58 PM »
As I get faster at knitting, I've been migrating towards projects that use finer yarn. I also see a lot of socks in my future.

However, you can also take this advice with a grain of salt since I cannot yet keep up with my own desire for new sweaters and socks, let alone all the items I'd like to knit for my kids (who are too young to refuse me), DH and extended family members.

You could also check out the "Will Work for Yarn" group on Ravelry. Apparently there are people who buy yarn and want knitted items, but don't knit much themselves. You can get them to send you the yarn and pattern and you knit it. You could also offer your services as a sample knitter. This is someone who knits up a new pattern for a designer and sends them the finished item.

snuggler

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2015, 03:50:26 PM »
Could you make something to sell to soon-to-be brides? Like handmade cozies/koozies for groomsman/bridesmaid gifts or something like that?

Only suggesting it because everything wedding-related on Etsy seems really successful and overpriced. Could be an awesome way to make some extra dough.

CupcakeGuru

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2015, 04:15:50 PM »
I don't knit myself (but would love to learn it one day). Churches and shelters around me are always looking for homemade baby blankets/clothes and sweaters/scarves/hats for the homeless.


asiljoy

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2015, 04:42:44 PM »
Search for charities in your area. I know my church is looking for knitters to knit caps for chemo patients right now and they seem to cycle through different places.

I'm jealous and in aw that you can knit that much! I started a blanket for my kid that I hope to finish before his second birthday in November and things are not looking good.

cityfolks

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2015, 04:45:35 PM »
I'm still at a level where I don't knit fast enough to outstrip "demand", even if that demand is imagined on my part. Plus my sister loses things I knit for her every now and then, so that keeps me in business. I don't yet knit fast enough to really consider selling things.

I also keep a few big projects in the background that will consume knitting hours - a skirt for our small Christmas tree, a blanket, etc.

My local yarn shop does annual charity knitting drives, making hats and mittens to donate to local schools, halfway houses, etc.

geekette

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2015, 05:15:43 PM »
I've been lucky/unlucky enough to get into knitting shop samples for the local yarn store.  Lucky in that my projects have a place to go, unlucky that most of the projects are not too challenging.  Plus I work for store credit, and I really don't need more yarn.

You'll rarely be able to sell for the cost of your yarn, never mind the value of your time.  But if you just enjoy knitting, the WWFY group on Ravelry is one place to go (I've knit for several people there).  You do end up just getting more yarn in return (and I usually get yarn in return that I wouldn't buy anyway).

Socks wear out, so I knit a lot of those.  Gloves take a lot of time to get right (try using Silver Spun for the index finger so you can still use a smart phone).  I love, love, love knitting lace.  Speaking of techniques - I like steeked sweaters (nothing better for TV knitting).  Bohus sweaters are lovely if you live in a cool climate (I don't).  Fair Isle is fun (I've even seen Fair Isle blankets, knit in the round, steeked, then backed with flannel or satin).  One of my favorite ever projects was a colorwork steeked vest I knit for my mom.

Join a local knitting group - many will happily swap baked goods for socks, and there always seems to be someone having a baby who could use a baby sweater.  No one appreciates knitting like another knitter!

RunHappy

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #8 on: June 10, 2015, 07:16:22 PM »
I crochet and I do sell some stuff (Etsy, word of mouth) but usually only custom work.  I donate some blankets and hats to Warm Up America and local shelters.  While I love to crochet I don't have enough output for making a lot of money on Etsy.  You can also try local craft fairs.

asiljoy

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #9 on: June 10, 2015, 08:42:55 PM »
Beware doing things for money. Fastest way to take the fun out of a hobby if you aren't careful.

ZiziPB

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #10 on: June 11, 2015, 04:50:57 AM »
Thank you all for some great suggestions. Just to clarify, I am not looking to make money of my knitting.  Just ways to enjoy challenging knitting without the stuff piling up at home. So I like the suggestions of being a test knitter or knitting things for others.

Geekette, gloves are one thing I haven't knitted yet and would like to try my hand at, so thank you for the idea. BTW, I love your work!  I'm here http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Izeve. I need to update my list - haven't posted anything in over a year...

MrMoogle

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #11 on: June 11, 2015, 06:31:16 AM »
I just came to see what the other MMM knitters had to say. 

I make things pretty quickly, but I only knit in phases, and usually when it's cool outside.  I also have a very big extended family, so I have plenty of places to send stuff. 

For people who say they don't knit fast enough, use bigger needles.  I rarely go below 8mm, and I'll use a 15mm for a lot of things.  It's in style now.  The speed is proportional to the diameter squared, so a 10mm is twice as fast as a 7mm.  And a 15mm is over 4x as fast.  I haven't tried using your arms as needles, but that would go crazy fast, and it was trendy a few years ago, not sure now.

Likewise, for the OP, you can use smaller needles, to make everything take longer. 

asiljoy

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #12 on: June 11, 2015, 06:55:50 AM »
You could try this?

http://www.fastcodesign.com/3047248/this-guy-is-knitting-every-frame-of-a-movie-into-a-watchable-scarf?partner=rss

And yeah, I know larger needles/bulkier yarn make the projects fly by faster, but for some reason I've always just been drawn to lace weight yarn in the store, so I end up making lace weight projects which take FOREVER. But I knit them. I'm procrastinating on my son's blanket because it's a heavier knit, but practical in a classical pattern that he'll be able to grow with but it's just... boring.

MrMoogle

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #13 on: June 11, 2015, 07:23:41 AM »
It took him a year and a half...using a knitting machine.  Doing that by hand doesn't sound fun to me...

asiljoy

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #14 on: June 11, 2015, 07:52:00 AM »
Ufda. Missed that bit.

Duchess of Stratosphear

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #15 on: June 11, 2015, 07:56:30 AM »
Our Humane Society sells crafts to raise money, so I donate stuff to them. I mostly knit hats.

I'm a red panda

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #16 on: June 11, 2015, 08:02:57 AM »
I wear whatever I make.
I mostly make socks as I always need socks.  When my drawer got too full (not wearing holes into them fast enough) I switched to scarves or shawls, which I wear a lot in the winter.

If I'm not going to use it, or don't have someone to give it to, I don't make it.

aetherie

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #17 on: June 11, 2015, 08:49:30 AM »
I knit mostly gifts, and some things for charity. My friend just had a baby so I have lots of tiny knitting in my future :)

ambimammular

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Re: Knitters - what do you do with your work?
« Reply #18 on: June 11, 2015, 10:24:46 AM »
Is there a farmers' market in your area?

I have a little card table and baskets of the crocheted fruits and veggies. The advantage over Etsy is that I'm the only one with items of my kind, no competition. Plus, its the right kind of crowd, the local supporting, unique seeking, Saturday browsers. Half of the people just like talking knit/crochet with me or come over to admire my work. The other half give me money. I'm delighted with either. 

I DO have a little shop on Etsy, but there is so much competition that it's hardly worth my time. And I think people like to handle the items, get a good sense of how soft they are, how big etc. It's harder to make those judgments over a computer. I'm thinking about dropping Etsy, but it's running itself at this point, so meh.

My prices are a little cheaper at the market, just because I like seeing the products move. It helps with the impulse buyers.