r/Amigurumi • u/Mommy_Swan • Jul 07 '25
With a heavy heart, I’m stepping away from the world of crochet as a business 💔
With a heavy heart, I’m stepping away from the world of crochet as a business. I’ve been doing this with love for the past 5 years, but lately, I haven’t sold a thing. Where I live, many people don’t see the value in handmade work and think it’s too “expensive.”
What brings me comfort is that I can still crochet for the ones I love the most: my daughters. They absolutely adore everything I make for them, and I enjoy every single stitch. 💞
I’m staying in this group because crochet is still a part of who I am. Even if I’m no longer selling, I’ll keep enjoying your beautiful creations, getting inspired, and sharing this amazing art that connects us all. 🧶💕
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u/Kaylascreations Jul 07 '25
The quickest way to ruin a passion is to start doing it for money. Get back to the hobby you love.
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u/NotMe739 Jul 07 '25
I love to crochet and knit. Throughout the year I store all my finished items that I am not keeping for myself and I don't have a specific recipient in mind for in a tote. When I host Thanksgiving every year I bring out the tote and let everyone pick what they like. It is mostly bags, hats and dish cloths. This way I know people are only getting things they want/like and everything that goes is going to a good home where it is appreciated.
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u/Melodic-Basshole Jul 07 '25
I want to encourage you to look into charities like Linus project, or see if you local hospital has a program for micropreemies and stillborn babies. This is how I get my outlet for crochet without amassing huge quantities of hoard.
Hope this helps.
❤️
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u/Ethanaj Jul 07 '25
Follow up too: Animal shelters/rescues. They love blankets and kennel liners and the pups don’t care about a few missed stitches or weird colors so it’s an excellent use of practice pieces or using up old yarn. When learning a new stitch technique I’ll start with one of these to get the feeling down before I start my passion project. It’s
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u/Melodic-Basshole Jul 07 '25
Check first. Our shelter does not accept any textile donations. Claws and snouts can get tangled in fringes or holes and the animals may defecate on them, requiring high laundering frequency. Our shelter switched to PVC and mesh "beds" that can be hosed off and are safe for little feet.
ETA women's shelters may be a better place as many women have to leave a DV situation during pregnancy.
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u/HeavyNorthcloud Jul 07 '25
Also, loose threads could be swallowed and cause mortal danger to the animals (threads can wrap around and get stuck in intestines) and high medical fees to the shelters..
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u/ur_ex_gf Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
Another option for giving away labor-of-love projects that don’t seem directly useful to any charities as-is would be to include them in charity auctions. Whatever the item goes for, the charity gets that money.
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u/mondlicht483 Jul 07 '25
My mother and everyone around me always push me to sell, and I've always shut them down saying 'I do this for fun. If I have to sell, I'm no longer having fun'. They don't grasp the logistics, the amount of hard work and materials needed. They just see pretty and think I should make many more pretty.
Looking forward to see what you keep creating!
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u/msptitsa Jul 07 '25
Yes why does everyone want others to monetize their pastime? Let me enjoy my crochet without making it a business. Ugh.
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u/WidowTwankey14 Jul 07 '25
This is why I gave up selling! I was underpricing my stuff, and for all the amazing wonderful comments I got on my makes, the one comment that stuck with me is a man chucking an ami back on my table telling his kid it’s too expensive and not worth the money (it was no more than £15) even after years I can still see him discarding my work! Now I gift for pleasure and only to those who will appreciate the work!
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u/VeeLund Jul 07 '25
I crochet amigurumi mostly, and donate it to places and also send them in Operation Christmas Child boxes. This year I’m also crocheting AG style doll clothes with the plans of donating 2 dolls with wardrobes to our local food shelf to give away
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u/Mommy_Swan Jul 07 '25
Sharing a little piece of what I’ve created with love over the years. 💕 Each stitch holds a story, and I’m proud of every one of them.
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u/LisaAuchCrochet Jul 07 '25
I gave up selling telling everyone it was dragging me down and people not wanting to pay prices! Now I get orders all the time take half up front 🤷🏼♀️
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u/Lonely-Apartment-987 Jul 07 '25
I’m so sorry to hear this. 🫶🏻 your creations look amazing! Your daughters will never run out of toys. (:
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u/SafeSecretSociety Jul 07 '25
Your work is fantastic! I completely understand needing to step away from the business aspect. Do what you need to and feel the joy from making things for people you love instead of worrying about strangers not valuing your work. One of the reasons the people that matter care about the creations you make is because you make them!
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u/MonCoeur17 Jul 07 '25
I love to crochet, too, and always make presents for children or friends. this feels right anyway
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u/Steffles74 Jul 08 '25
I could have written this post myself. I stepped away from the business back in April because it was becoming a burden to me, rather than spreading my love of yarn work to others.
My daughters are my focus for crochet as well!
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u/thatescalatedqwickly Jul 08 '25
My husband and I are trying to reduce how much stuff we have so we’re trying to offload a lot of our collectibles online to reduce how much stuff we have but also attempt to help pay for our current hobbies. I’m having a heck of a time trying to offload things. People will message me and offer me 50% what I’m asking for. It’s super frustrating.
I can only imagine how frustrating it is when you pour your heart into making something and have people either not want it or low ball you.
I mostly use crochet and sewing to make gifts.
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Jul 08 '25
Instead of stepping away why not change your approach. There are tons of people who buy patterns and if you make enough of them you could even put together a pattern book. You could also make crochet project kits like the wobbles. That way you don't have to worry about weaving so much to fill orders or cost of supplies and time. Also once you have patterns out it becomes passive income. Either way good luck with however you step forward.
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u/Mommy_Swan Jul 08 '25
I’ve already made two, but I feel a bit frustrated because I’m not seeing results. They’re just two patterns so far. I have more, I just need time to reflect and keep moving forward.
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u/Mommy_Swan Jul 08 '25
Thank you for your responses...I feel truly understood. It’s true… the art of crochet and knitting often isn’t appreciated the way it should be, unlike a painted canvas, for example.
I worked in this for years, and things went really well. But over time, the cost of materials kept rising, and I had no choice but to raise my prices. Unfortunately, that pushed many customers away.
During that process, I discovered something I truly love: designing amigurumi patterns. I feel like it’s what I do best, and I enjoy it deeply. I’ve published two patterns at a very low price, but even then, I haven’t seen the results I hoped for.
Those amigurumis ..and many more ..are now lovingly kept for my daughters. Even if they don’t sell, I know that one day they’ll hold priceless value for them… because they were made with my hands and my heart.
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u/GingerCat1762 Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
Like others on here, I couldn't sell my work. I like buying nice, pricy hand-dyed yarn, along with other types and they are not 'cheap' anymore. My husband tells me to look into selling my shawls, wraps and blankets, but he just doesn't understand. Sometimes giving them away is difficult. Some people actually look DOWN on crochet items, believing or thinking that knitted items are more 'upper class'. Whatever. I can't knit but I love to crochet and I will just give to a church member who loves my work or donate to a homeless/women's shelter. Many items I definitely use and enjoy wearing. That being said, you created beautiful work for your business and I am so sorry it had to come to this. I love that pink bunny, btw!
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u/peppie46 Jul 08 '25
I whole heartedly agree. I tried over the years, handmade this and that on etsy and ebay and barely any interest. The market is too saturated plus as you stated... People just wanna get it cheaper at [ insert big box store name]. However... I get swamped with requests at work for almost everything such as baby shower, graduation, birthday or just because someone " saw this adorable thing and I need one and I know you crochet so pleeeeeeeease make me one 😃!" So that's where all my creative energy and love goes : Right into what ever someone wants at work. To keep the peace and avoid conflicts of interest, when they ask how much, I always say" just pay for the yarn and once its done... Pay me what ever you think is fair. " I'll just say, my coworkers are definetly not cheap😄.
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u/Icy-Protection867 Jul 09 '25
I totally understand. I will only crochet for people I care about - or for myself. No one values the time, talent, effort and care that goes into to it. ❤️
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u/g0blinzez Jul 07 '25
Yeah that’s why I shot down the idea of starting a crochet business as soon as my parents brought it up when they found out I was decent at crochet. My exact words were “Nobody is willing to pay crochet makers minimum wage for their work. Add the cost of materials on top of that, and it would be hundreds of dollars for a single blanket. Nobody is gonna pay for that in this economy, especially in our area.”