[Raynaadi]

I have a friend who asked me to crochet her a blanket. She wants a new one for her couch. Next Tuesday we're going down to the arts district where there's a blanket she likes, so that I can get an idea of what she wants, and then we're going to go get the yarn (she's buying the yarn).

Anyway, she said she'll pay me. How do you figure how much to charge? I have no idea how long it will take or how hard it will be until I see the one she likes and the yarn she wants.

I googled this and found a forum and it said a good way to decide is to charge 40% of the price of materials. But say she wants worsted weight yarn and it only takes 8 skeens? Thats not a lot.....I'd end up charging like 10 bucks.

She's a friend, and I love to crochet, and I'm glad to have yarn to crochet since I can't afford to buy it myself so......any ideas?

[seeker1950]

Ray...This is a tough one, isn't it!
I have crocheted shawls and given them away, and I have also sold the same shawls for $100, which meant having spent approx. $50 on the yarn, I was getting $50 for my labors. Since I enjoy crocheting, I felt this was okay. Crocheting a shawl, throw, or blanket is going to be even more time-consuming than a shawl. I've done both. I wouldn't want to do such for less than $50, but since she's your friend, you will have to decide, and see if she's willing to pay that.
For the past 15 years or more, I've sold a lot of my art as "craft," and I try to gauge it at $10 per hour. I have sold my "artrox" at shows, in galleries and shops (where the price is doubled), and most recently on Ebay. (Crocheted items don't sell well on Ebay, by the way.) In my exp., one doesn't get much for their creative efforts, but it's a pleasant pasttime, and I enjoy it.
Patty

[Raynaadi]

Yeah I just enjoy doing it. I crochet in meetings and it helps me concentrate. I can always pick up my hook at home when I'm feeling restless and its like a meditation. So I almost feel weird charging, but it was all her idea and she insists on paying me.

I've told her I have no idea what to charge. Maybe I'll have her come up with a dollar amount. I don't know! I don't even know yet what exactly she wants. It sure is flattering though, that she likes what she's seen me working on in meetings and wants a custom blanket for herself!

[Gemstone]

I make a lot of beeded jewelry. I mostly do it just for fun, but then people have asked me to make them stuff after they have seen mine. I never know what to charge. I normally just figure materials plus a per hour fee. I normally figure about $10 per hour too.

I would come up with an amount yourself for her. Since she is your friend use your judgement. The first time I made something for a coworker I told her to give me whatever she thought was fair and she gave me $300 for a piece that took me 2 hours to make and maybe $20 in materials. I felt really bad about it (still do). I told her it was way too much but she wouldn't take it back. I even tried to make her some other stuff to be included with what she had already paid me, but she wouldn't take it unless she paid me for those pieces too.

[seeker1950]

These things we do are from the heart, so it really is hard to put a dollar amount on them, especially for friends, but remember you are creating something unique!
Love
Patty

[Raynaadi]

$300!!! Wow haha. I guess I'm just gonna see how it goes and see what she wants and all that stuff, and then play by ear. I honestly would just do it for something to crochet.....I can't afford to buy yarn so I'm just excited that someone is going to by some yarn lol!!!

[snowflake_48888]

I have heard that you triple the price of the cost of materials....but I don't know. I hate having to decide what to charge. Like others have said I like to do my craft so it is theraputic and not really work. This last weekend my sisters and I decided to do an arts fair in a local town. We made bags (like purses) and my sister said we need to sell them for $30 each. I thought it was an outrageous price and didnt think we would sell one...ended up we sold 5 in the 4 hours we were opened. So I guess it depends on the crowd, what they value, what they like...etc.

Still a hard decision....
Snow

[Raynaadi]

Yeah I don't really even feel comfortable charging her but she's insisting. Maybe I'll ask for a gift card to the craft store haha!

[tranquility]

Hi Ray,

I crocheted alot of baby outfits. I kinda looked at how many pieces were in the set and how complex it was. Most of my sets were a sweater, booties, and hat and I charged $35.00. I did some christining gowns that I priced at 75.00 because they took alot longer.

If this is a friend I think you just need to see how long it takes you. I'm not sure if this is a big blanket or just a lap blanket, but if it's a lap blanket I would say $25.00 is a good price
(+ materials).

Tranq

[snowflake_48888]

hey rayna....dont laugh..that sounds like a wonderful idea...then you could buy more yarn!! I think that is a good idea...
Snow

[Raynaadi]

Its going to be a couch throw. I don't know quite how big yet.

I think the gift card to the craft store might be the way to go....

[Busysdizzy]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Raynaadi said:
Yeah I don't really even feel comfortable charging her but she's insisting. Maybe I'll ask for a gift card to the craft store haha!

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i think this is great "out" for deciding what to charge her. this was your freind will be deciding what the afghan is worth to her. Since it is a freind after all. I would ahve said charge her $25, but the gift card to a craft store is great as it supplies you with more yarn to make more afghans.

[Raynaadi]

Exactly, thats what I'm thinkin!!! I think its the perfect solution!

[January]

Rayna, ask for a card to the craft store or to the grocery store. That way you can buy the groceries you need.

Hugs,

Jan

Ray, I agree with Snow, Its usally 3x your money. 1 to repay yourself. 2 for your time 3 foryourself.

I make things all the time or order and resell them. With ordering its 3 xs your money.

In the end it amounts to what ppl will pay you for your item.
I like Jan Idea.
But maybe have the person buy the yarn for you first.

[Raynaadi]

She is actually gonna buy the yarn....so maybe a good number would be the cost of the yarn x's 2?

I like the gift card idea too. My grandma said I should name a price though.(Believe me, even if she gives cash, food WILL be boughten hahaha)

Your Grandmother maybe right. Name your price. That way you are ready for the next order. Plus you get what you want for it.

[Raynaadi]

Yeah.....when I asked her what she thought of the gift card idea she was concerned. She said the woman could go get me a ten dollar gift card and that wouldn't be enough.

The woman and I are going Tuesday to look at one she likes and get materials. I think it will be easier for me to come up with a price once I know exactly what I will be making.

She is right Ray.....hope it works out.

[cafegrrrl]

Figuring out how much to charge for something you enjoy doing IS really hard.

I like the gift card idea, too.

Or, since she's buying the yarn, maybe just figure out an hourly rate...

[Raynaadi]

Its hard to do hourly because I never know for sure how many hours I'll crochet a day...so I'd have to keep track of how often I work on it. I think I'm just gonna have to wait and see what she wants and what kind of yarn she wants. Its just especially hard because I love to crochet and I'm just grateful I'll have yarn provided for me. So to ask for more....but she's insisting. We shall see! When I find out what she wants and stuff, I'll bring it here for more feedback.

[SeptemberMorn]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Raynaadi said:
She is actually gonna buy the yarn....so maybe a good number would be the cost of the yarn x's 2?

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Times 3, Hon, unless it's really elaborate then x4. That's what I do.

[Raynaadi]

So we finally got the yarn. She picked out southwest colors and we got a solid maroon and a verigated in desert colors. We had decided to do a granny square blanket, but I didn't like the way it was looking in the squares AT ALL. So yesterday my best friend taught me a new stitch. Its definitely more complicated to learn than the squares and at one point I even threw my hook lol!! Its hard to explain it but it has a look like this ^^^^^^^^^^ kinda......its done in rows, so I'm doing 2 rows of the maroon and 6 rows of the verigated. Its coming out MUCH better!! It fits with the southwestern colors much better than the squares. Its called Painted Desert in the Red Heart Super Saver worsted weight. The materials costed about $20 and my friend bought it. I'm only 4 rows in, but it crochets pretty quickly.

The hardest part is the tension....this is the first piece I've done where tension is really important, because I have to go into the stitch just right to keep from getting lines, so if its too tight its really hard.

I still have absolutely no clue what to charge her!!!

[nothemama8]

sounds like your doing the zig zag sticth, this is going to be beautiful, colors sound wonderful, please take a pic when done don't forget to keep a photo book of your finished work so you can show around for more orders

[DocClyde]

I myself would like to be your agent, Raynaadi, and only take .90 of your profits ;P

Yeah, show a picture for sure!