Frontier Dreams: May I pick your brain?

Monday, October 9, 2017

May I pick your brain?

for baby Morgan

for Morgan

for a baby rose

baby gnome

EEK! That post title sounds a bit eerie but I promise it is nothing of the sort. I intended to post the rest of K's birthday week today but instead felt the need to pick your brains a bit. I have been toying with the idea of opening an Etsy shop of my hand knits for years. Our recent move and current situation has me reevaluating this idea. The thing is, I am uncertain of what I should offer. Baby things? Hats? I have no clue. Make and then list or knit on demand? I know there are important details I need to learn like patterns that do not allow you to sell items knit from them, etc. Then, there is the issue of five cats in 700 sq ft. Cat fur seems to get on everything - can that be stopped? I would love to hear what you think!

Pictured above (because I couldn't do a post with out photos) - recently finished knits for friends. Top two photos are mellowshorts for Baby Morgan (buttons by WoolyMossRoots), third photo is the bonnet for a baby rose and last photo is another mimipixie for Nicole's baby girl.

Comments (15)

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Marie Ruprecht · 389 weeks ago

Hi Nicole, You make such beautiful things and You are such a great photographer! Go for it!
I can recommend Etsy very much. For my Knecht Ruprecht Waldorf Dolls www.knechtruprecht.at I have both Etsy and Dawanda and I can say after almost ten years of selling Waldorf Dolls via both of them Etsy is much, much better! I can also say that I did sell more when I had custom order listings directly listed into the shops but it is also much more stressful and not so much fun because I sometimes made a lot of the same and the deadlines are also stressful. For me it is much more fun to just make what I would like to and sell it then as soon as it is ready because the deadlines especially before christmas are quiet stressful when one has little kids like we both have and especially in wintertime when they get sick sometimes and you never know when..... With all my best wishes! Marie

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Naomi · 389 weeks ago

I think opening an etsy shop would be lovely, and I am sure there would be a market. I hope it goes well. I started to write down my thoughts but realised I can see pros and cons for most of the options! Will have more of a tank rather than post meandering thoughts.

You could also offer kits and patterns for some knits perhaps?

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Fiordelisa · 389 weeks ago

With such lovely items, great photos, and prayer, I don't see how you can go wrong. Besides, why not just try it for 30 or 60 days. It's a low-risk, low-cost adventure. You can always close the shop after the first of the year if you decide it is not for you, right? The first step...just pop something on there for fun and see what happens. :-) Kind regards...

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Brandy · 389 weeks ago

I've been selling on Etsy for about ten years. My thought, knowing your time constraints but also considerations, would be to offer simpler knits than some of those above and to offer them ready-made. People do get concerned about others selling items made from their patterns and that's the great debate for home crafters, whether there's really any sense at all in offering cottage licenses or saying "no". I've heard some arguments that almost negate saying what folks can do with your pattern once it's in their hands. Me, I'd offer simple mittens, simple shorts with suspenders, simple pilot caps, etc. Folks could ask about commissioned work and you can see if you have time. I wish you luck!

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Rebecca Newman · 389 weeks ago

I guess it depends on your circumstances. If you are doing this because you love knitting and do it so often you could clothe others and make a few bucks in the process- I'd just post what I already have made. But if you are doing it because you could bless your family with some much needed funds- given as quickly as you knit, I would absolutely do custom orders. List the things that you have pictures for and can replicate- that way, you are not making a bunch of stuff that MAY not sell but working on things you already HAVE. And people will be more likely to order because they can have things just as THEY wanted them. Of course, post things you already have done too- they will be mercifully easy to fill when they are right there waiting to be packaged.

Another benefit of custom orders is that, with using photos of your many projects that you can replicate, you'll have an instantly full ETSY shoppe instead of one with just a couple/few projects.

As skilled as you are, I would absolutely see if you could create a pattern and sell it. It is those things that you work on once and then continue to sell that can make a more pleasant and prevalent dollar.

PS. I adore all the knits in this post. Lucky friends! And those deer buttons? OH my. The whole ensemble is swoon worthy.

PPS. Baby knits are a good start- as are hats. People often splurge on babies. Start small to fill up the space with options quickly. Later, when it is filled with smaller options, go for a few larger ones and see how it goes. You'll discover your market as you take the time to offer different things.

May God bless your endeavors!

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Frau Kirschkernzeit · 389 weeks ago

I'm a vivid buyer of handmade things on Etsy and I love to see what the seller is offering and enjoy getting what I like in that special moment. I think people will mail you anyway if there's an itme no longer available that they'd like to have themselves, so you could say yes or no in the actual situation when you feel like it's ok. for you or not.
I LOVE the Etsy shop of Tiny Happy and have bought LOTS of her things. She only has things to sell now and then and I feel like it's working totally fine that way and doesn' put some stress on her.
I think that many pattern makers would allow you to sell "their" things when you just ask them.
Have courage; I'm sure people would LOVE your things!

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cocoreinhart 2p · 389 weeks ago

You're work is so beautiful! I have also wondered about the logistics of selling from other people's patterns, and would be interested to hear how your journey with that unfolds, if you decide to proceed. I'm afraid I don't have much to add to the discussion other than that. All the above ladies seem to have more experience and insight than myself! But, best wishes if you decide to take this next step.

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Lorna · 389 weeks ago

Hello Nicole-
I would love to be one of your first customers. The things in the above pics would be wonderful. I hope you go ahead with an Etsy shop. You could try it for a few months and reevaluate. Should someone want a customer order, she/he could just contact you and make arrangements at your convenience.

I am really excited!!

Lorna

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Ginny · 389 weeks ago

I think it would be a great idea to open an Etsy shop. There are a few things to think about, but you already seem to have thought of most. The question of having permission to sell from other people's patterns. I started off selling at craft fairs, but soon realised that the only way to make sure that I wasn't breaking any rules was to make up my own designs.

So I only sell a few actual knitted items from my Etsy store, and in the main they are the samples I have made any way for my patterns. One of the main limiting factors is postage costs, and the other thing that I think non-knitters underestimate is the cost of wool. I think you are probably a quick knitter, but the bonnets would seem like a great place to start.

Most of my items are already made, but I do make some items to order - like my little cars, as people like specific colours and numberplates. I am not overt keen on knitting to order, as you instantly feel under time pressure.

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Stephanie · 389 weeks ago

I would love to buy from you (if I can afford it ;) ). I would also recommend you do custom knits, you have so many nice things here on the blog...I also love the knitted leave and acorn! You could also do some felted waldorf items...like the little owls you had a while ago.

I would just disclose that you have cats in the house and try to keep things as hair free as possible. So that people at least know in case of allergies etc.

Other than that I would also love if you would post on the blog more often! It would be really interesting if you would do some rhythm in our house posts again to see how things have changed know that you have older kids. And also how things are different with boys...I have two boys so I found it interesting when you mentioned that L is not interested in his doll because mine aren't either.

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Frédérique · 389 weeks ago

YES!!!!!!!!! I would love to buy some pumpkin hats from you! And some pixie ones too! That is so exciting! You should do it! Offer both pre made and made to order if you can.

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Anne11 · 389 weeks ago

I think you could always go with vintage patterns?

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Kelli Ann Wilson · 389 weeks ago

I don't know much about the ins and outs of selling on Etsy (I don't have a shop), but I do think from a practical perspective that it would be easier (and less stressful for you) to knit things and then list them. Then If the vagaries of life catch up to you, as they are wont to do, there won't be an issue of not being able to complete an order. Those little knitted shorts are totally adorable <3

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Sarah · 389 weeks ago

Definitely do an Etsy shop! I would definitely order a baby hat from you.

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Stephanie · 389 weeks ago

Oh my you make such lovely knits. I would be a great idea. I'm not sure about knitting to order though. I was trying to make a little extra money and I started taking order for socks. The knitting wasn't fun at all and why knit if it's not enjoyable? I've also seen where sellers have noted that the item comes from an animal loving home. I guess that was their way of telling the customer there may be some animal fur in the item. Good luck. I hope it goes well if you decide. "Pick Ginny's brain" for ideas. She's awesome!!

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Thank you for joining me here. My name is Nicole Spring AKA wife, Waldorf homeschooling Mama to four sweet little ones, homemaker of the radical kind, knitter, cook, seamstress, student of life as well as my children, crafter, girl of all trades... and always with a camera in hand to document our days so we may look back at these glorious yet exhausting times.

I enjoy hearing from you and would love it so much if you wouldn't mind taking the time to leave a comment. They mean so much to me (honestly, they make my day!). I appreciate not only seeing all that you have to say but also being blessed to get to know you better. If you ask a question please check back here for my response. I try my hardest to respond quickly. Thank you so much!!