How To Make Money Crocheting When You Have Been Charging $15 For 5 Hours
Ellen, 44, is an office manager at a small insurance agency in Lansing, Michigan. Every evening she crochets: little animals, blankets, gifts for everyone she knows. Last fall she sold a few plush toys at a church fair for $15 each.
Each toy took her about five hours. When she did the math later, she had earned about $1.40 an hour after yarn. She almost gave up on the idea of earning from crochet at all.
Her work was good. People loved it. The problem was the price, and she had no idea what was fair.
Why most people lose money crocheting for others
Handmade work takes hours, and most crafters price it like a store-bought item. Friends say “that is so cute, how much?” and the crafter names a small number to be polite. Then every order feels like a favor. The fix starts with a simple formula and a clear offer, not with working faster.
Her daughter found it online and sent it to her. Ellen started a hobby to freelance plan with a pricing guide and first client scripts.
Five questions and three ways to earn
The plan asked five questions. Hobby: crochet, mostly small animals. Income goal: $200 to $500 a month, enough for her car payment. Time: about 5 hours a week. Materials: she already had everything. Biggest fear: not knowing what to charge.
What her plan showed
custom plush toys made to order, beginner crochet classes, and printable patterns. For 5 hours a week, the first two fit best. Patterns are slower and can come later.
materials plus $15 to $30 for each hour of work. For a 4-hour plush with $8 of yarn, that is about $68, not $15.
a short post for friends and neighbors, a polite pitch for local places, and the 5-try rule: send five, expect four no’s.
portfolio, prices, a few early orders for reviews, then posts and pitches. With only 5 hours a week, stretched to 90 days.
Seeing $68 next to her old $15 was the moment she stopped feeling guilty about charging.
How she made money crocheting, step by step
Weeks 1–2 · Portfolio and prices – she took good photos of 12 pieces and put them in a free online album. Three offers: small plush $45, custom pet plush $65, class seat $25.
Weeks 3–4 · Early reviews – two friends ordered custom plush at a discount in exchange for honest reviews and photos.
Weeks 5–7 · Five pitches – she posted in her neighborhood group and pitched a beginner class to five local places. Four said no. The public library said yes.
Week 8 · First class – six people, two hours, $25 each. $150 for one Saturday morning.
The four no’s did not hurt the way she expected. The plan had told her they were coming. She just kept going to number five.
What changed when she charged a fair price
Ellen makes fewer toys now, and earns much more from each. Customers did not complain about $65. Several said it was cheap for something made by hand for their pet.
- Count your hours and price them
- Offer three clear packages
- Collect reviews and photos early
- Teach what you know in small groups
- Pitch five places, not one
- Pricing like a store toy
- Saying yes to every custom idea
- Waiting for orders to come to you
- Giving up after the first no
- Working more hours to earn more
In her third month Ellen earned about $480: two library classes and three custom orders. Her car payment is covered, and she still crochets for fun in the evenings.
What it costs next to other options
Ellen looked at a few other ways to start. Here is how they compare.
| Option | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Guessing prices | Free | Hours of work for very little |
| A craft fair table | $25 to $75 per day | One day of sales, no plan after |
| An online craft business course | $150+ | Many lessons, not about your skill |
| Hobby to Freelance Income Starter | $10 | 3 ways to earn, a pricing guide, client scripts and a week-by-week plan |
“Will people really pay that much for crochet?” Not everyone. And that is fine. Ellen’s buyers are people who want something special, like a toy that looks like their dog. They are not comparing her to a store. The plan helps you find those buyers instead of selling cheap to everyone.
Two more people who turned a hobby into income
“I make wooden cutting boards in my garage and used to sell them for the cost of the wood. The pricing formula changed that. Now each board sells for $55, and I have a waiting list before the holidays.”
Martin G. · retired mail carrier, Fort Collins CO
“Hand lettering was just doodling for me. The plan suggested signs for small weddings and showed me what to say to planners. My second pitch turned into three paid weddings this fall.”
Debbie L. · dental hygienist, Asheville NC
Not sure which side business fits you best? See the Side Business Niche Selector. Results vary, and most hobby businesses start small.
Ellen did not need to crochet faster. She needed to stop working for $1.40 an hour. A fair price, a clear offer and five honest pitches turned her evening hobby into a car payment.
*Individual results may vary.
How can I make money crocheting?
How much should I charge for crochet items?
Where can I sell crochet items locally?
Can I teach crochet classes as a beginner business?
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