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Is it regular quilting cotton?

Turns out this is the only vlogmas episode I got around to making! Oops!

Hi! Fellow small business owner and creator of many things in many mediums. I subscribed to your channel as we all need to stick together and support one another in this world. I do have some advice. It sounds like your wax melts are your mainstay as a crafter. Use that item as your focal point and expand from there. You said it yourself, you need some cohesion in your shop. Well, I am not sure cohesion in a shop is needed but it is needed at a stand alone event. So in a shop you can have multiple items from different genres because you have multiple ways to draw people in to your on line shop. But when you have a limited, 10x10 space or smaller to draw people in you need a cohesive focus. So ask yourself, what do I use wax-melts for? Do I use them to relax or rejuvenate? Then perhaps put together other items both seen and crocheted that help you relax. Maybe you crochet packs of cotton facial pads for removing makeup, and a headband for holding your hair back while you wash your face or take a bath. Sew sleep masks or hair bonnets to reduce hair breakage as we sleep. Sell the idea of relaxation. They are different items but they tie together with a theme. Put those together on one table with wax melts used for relaxation or rejuvenation like Lavender, eucalyptus, ylang ylang. Do you use your wax melts in the kitchen? To give your house a clean crisp smell or a cozy smell? Use that and make towel holders or reusable dishcloths and maybe an apron for cooking or cleaning. You can have a separate table for that and include scents for the kitchen. Put together gift sets or gift baskets, and do it so they get, for instance a basic relaxation basket that comes with 3 wax melts or one wax melt set of their choice of scent(s) (invest in some inexpensive wax melt hardware. Either plug in melters or candle operated ones) include one of those, a set of 3 cotton facial rounds, a cotton and elastic sewn headband, and a cotton crocheted face cloth. Then offer a deluxe version where they get additional wax melts, additional facial rounds, an extra washcloth, and a sleep masks and bonnet. Something like that can bring cohesion. Just some ideas. Hope they help. Happy Holidays

I see a comment on here saying that common stitches “shouldn’t and wont” command higher prices. I disagree. If someone is going to buy a blanket from you and it is a “common stitch” like a granny stitch they are buying it because they dont have the skill to make it. The type of yarn is also irrelevant as many people prefer acrylic yarn because of wool allergies and acrylic is very warm and now-a-days it is also fairly soft and lasts for years. I have been crocheting for many years and I don’t do a whole lot with some of the super fancy stitches because I prefer tried and true, ones. but when called for I will use more complex stitches. I just recently decided that all of my friends and loved ones have plenty of slippers and hats and cowels and amigurumi etc. so I just started selling. I think what you said about having a bit of an explanation of the cost breakdown is very important. I hate when someone sees one of my pony tail hats for sale for 35$ and looks at me like I have three heads. Now I am not a super fast crocheter but I am exceedingly accurate and consistent. I make about $25 an hour doing my job, which after spinal surgery last year has gone to part time. I use ILTY from hobby lobby or loops and threads and it costs about 5$ per skein and a hat uses almost a skein and takes me between 3-3.5 hours to make. So If I wanted to make that same $$ per hour I would have to charge between $80-92.50 for that hat including the materials. So what I tend to do is cut my hourly price (I would like to make 20 an hour but sometimes based on what I am making I lower that to about 15. I cant make less than that per hour, and assume I am about 1 hour slower than some of these other crocheters I see on here. I also do most of my crochet at night when I get interrupted a lot so I figure if I was crocheting straight through it might be 2.-2.5 hours. So I think that $35 is a fair price and one that the market can bear. I also see others selling hand crocheted or knitted or even machine knitted for the same price for a simple beanie. I think that we people who do this as an actual profit forward business need to stick to our guns about charging our worth. When you go to a craft fair and someone who is just trying to make back the booth fee and pay for their yarn so they can make more projects aka a hobbyist is there charging $10 for a similar hat they are doing themselves and the rest of the crochet community a disservice. So I like the idea of educating the consumer on the ins and outs of the product. I also like the idea of educating them on the fact that crochet is the ONLY fiber art in existence that cannot be reproduced by a machine. I would like my tag to say something like (probably never will say this buy I would like it to) Crochet Granny Stitch blanket 45x60 Price $180.00 Costs: Materials: $60.00 Hour to complete: 8 Hourly wage earned: $15 Profit margin 0% Crochet is the only fiber art that cannot be produced by machine, and it is a skill that takes months to hone and years to master. Appropriate price including an industry low of 30% profit margin is $234 Thank you for valuing my dedication to my craft and the unique handmade item I have made. It truly was made with love. I hope it brings you joy. I will go with a less cumbersome tag but dang it would feel good to attach a tag like that so people could understand.

Thanks for your video. I like your packaging and wax melts. Where are people finding warning labels?

Hello! Thank you for tuning in for this chit chat. Hope you enjoy it! Leave me your comments below on your ideas and plans for 2025. Happy Holidays everyone!

Thank you for being here :)

I’m not selling any of my crochet pieces but I calculate how much time I spend on each piece so I can immediately quote people who ask me to labour for them. This makes them leave me alone. People who care about me tell me my pricing is under the value. Selfish people who don't care what I go through tell me it's unfair and they don't deserve my labour anyway. My cost is calculated per stitch + materials. If you want it cheaper it will have to be a smaller project.

You don’t ramble at all! I love your video style, all of your tangents made perfect sense and fave great context.

I can relate - I did explore crocheting for work, then realised it wasn't going to happen and would take the fun out of it for me - also you didn't over explain things - well I kept up with you lol :) - put your time into the activities that you enjoy, that way you will want to keep at them like the wax melts or art work etc - all the best as you settle into your other creative areas :)

I probably do a little too much over explaining in this video but ummm yeah! Lol hope you enjoy it :)

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe: www.theroastedroot.net/the-best-gluten-free-banana-bread-recipe/

You can buy precut wax paper at restaurant supply stores. The size that goes between hamburger patties before they are frozen should be close to the size.

Absolutely love this! Do you have a link on those wax molds?

ADHD friend here! I can relate so much to your struggle with your business. I feel you just need one or two things to sell well and then you will know what to make. I use a planner to map out my week so that I get to the things that must be done and then find time to do the things that you love, such as the guitar, etc. Trade the YT time for this, etc. But, somehow putting pen to paper really helps me organize my brain and keep me on task. But, most of all just be you and know that you are enough!

Golly - the type of show makes a huge difference - where your people / those that appreciate craft are excited for your things - whereas some just fun events you have the mainstream going for what smells good and overlooking all your handy works 😊

We are our harshest critic 😊 your booth looked great to me - love the selection - I would think your vibe is “handmade” and as long as you stay true to your aesthetic you can provide a variety - although you want to make sure to have enough stock/variety of each - which may have been your point - we need to have our fun though 😊

I love your calm energy! Excited to see where the channel goes.

There will be an wax melt advent calendar coming to my shop soon! ❤

Thank you for watching! I do realize I repeat myself a few times in this vid, it's something I'm working on when it comes to speaking in front of a camera. Anywho... have a great day and thanks for being here :)

I need help selling on Etsy

What kind of tart wax do you use to make your wax melts

I am a small business owner where I also make wax melts my Etsy shop name is Serene Sensations Wax Co

Hello everyone! I made a quick change toward the beginning of this video so this is a re-upload. If you already watched this, thank you so much! Enjoy and leave me any questions here in the comments :) --Rachel

My crochet items have always been gifts, or are just sitting around my house because I love to crochet. Time to sell! As you spoke about sales I need to let others I am not accepting personal orders off the street. I need to make what I like, used with the yarn I have and set up my first table either in Dec. or Jan. .I have trouble considering prices and not feel like I'm guilty of chargeing too much. You helped me there! Thnanks.

What kind of wax is that?

How do you price these?

Where do you get your product photos from

It is a wine/champagne

90% no one will pay that much for a granny stitch blanket. Common stitches shouldn't and won't command higher cost, especially acrylic fibers.

This question has always bugged me. I aways give my blankets and projects as gifts. Im not a fast crocheter, but i love it and have considered possibly crocheting items to sell. I do think most people i know would not pay so much for a blanket, though, which means it would not come out as profitable between materials and time. Thank you for attempting to help answer this question. Its tough! So, for now, I'll just keep making things as gifts!! ~Liz

Do you think there is a market for blankets??

Where do you live?! 19$ an hour is a LOT for a part time job. Someone else made a video and said the minimum wage were they lived was 16$. The minimum wage where I live is 7.25$. I worked a part time job and only made 9$ an hour.

It’s so pretty. I can’t wait till I finish my blanket, this is my first big crochet project. Im using black, white and a rainbow wool for my colours.

Beautiful !!!

Love it

Beautiful! I love all those colors!

Beautiful well done!

Lovely!

Thank you for sharing! I didn’t have a tennis ball, but I was able to stick a hook through a stress ball. It’s taking some getting used to but I do feel like it has relieved a lot of the strain and pain that can come with crochet.

Could you please do a tutorial it looks soo good