MYTHS BUSTED: You Can't Make A Living As A Crochet and Knit Designer?!

MYTHS BUSTED: A Follow Up

 "You Can't Make A Living As A Crochet and Knit Designer?!"

My blog post, You Can't Make A Living As A Crochet and Knit Designer?!  really resonated with a lot of people. Thank you to those who sent emails, tweets, and blog post comments.

I heard from so many of you. Some messages from knitters and crocheters thinking about dipping their toes into design part-time as a side hussle, and those already designing on the side, thinking about making the leap into taking designing side-hussle to full-time.

Either option is perfectly fine! You'll be Fine!

I think this post touched a nerve for a lot of designers. On one spectrum are ther designers who are not making a true sustainable living from their design. After You Can't Make A Living As A Crochet and Knit Designer?! launched, I heard from a couple designers (go check out my twitter feed @KnitDesigns to see comments from November 11th).

Don't get me wrong, I am a realist. I understand being a crochet and knitwear designer can be a struggle and that not all designers make a profit.

 

But let's be honest, it can be profitable.

There are designers making a living, contributing to their family's budget, paying for more than just more yarn. You have to be strategic. You have to treat is as a business. For a long time I struggled to figure it out. I have a process that works, now. But maybe in a year something might change and I have to figure it out again. But that is business. You are always testing and tweaking some part of the business to see what happens. You can't just do one thing and expect it to work forever.

If you want to make a living as a designer, the key is to offer more than just self-published patterns on Ravelry that sells for $6. That isn't going to make you rich, heck, that won't even be enough to buy decent yarn. But, providing additional offerings, selling designs to publishers for $300-500, adding sample knitting/crocheting services, write articles, etc, and building a strong foundation, can lead to a business that can provide a good living.

There are ways to build a business that can lift you above the poverty line and build wealth. In my business, I look to other industries to see how those entrepreneurs are growing their business and building wealth. Women are turning small business into full-time jobs everyday. As long as there are others out there making a real living as a craft business owner, I hold belief that:

 

"If They Can Make It Happen, There Is No Reason That I Can't."

Now, it's your turn. Bust the myth. Stop listening to nah-sayers. This isn't a whoo-whoo hippie stuff about "if you have the passion, it will all fall into place." This isn't that. This is about thinking outside the box. Taking all your life experiences, and figuring out how to make money doing the thing you love. There will be lots of trials and errors.

 

You will have failures!

Pick yourself up, brush yourself off. Trust that you can do it. Because, you can and will figure it out. You can do anything you set your mind to do. Remember, look to other industries for inspirations. Find people that you respect that are doing it and identify those key components that make them successful.

You will figure it out!

FOLLOW WHAT MAKES YOU TRULY HAPPY! 

Harwinton Easy Lace Boomerang Shawl



     

Freeport Cardigan

 

 

 

  

 

  

 

Go, check out the Pattern Page to get your copy here:



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