Thanks for the link; it helped to read that this week, after someone suggested I sell a hat for maybe twice the cost of the materials, ignoring the hours it takes to crochet one-of-a-kind pieces. (And then had the gall to ask me for a pattern, so her daughter could make one for her instead.)
Ugh. I've heard plenty of horror stories like that. I suspect fiber arts get more of that than other crafts, possibly because so many people have family members who knit/crochet/sew things as gifts a lot, so it must be "free," but I've heard other crafters talk about their concerns about teaching what they do, especially when it is clear that one of the students doesn't want to pay directly for the creation.
I actually gave her a link to a leaf pattern, and she didn't even bother to thank me. Weirdly, that's the part that bothered me most; I've run into other people who think that it's not reasonable to pay more than $20 or $30 for a hat, no matter how long it takes to make.
I've wondered about 'soft' crafts like sewing, knitting, and crocheting is less durable than metal or ceramic. And, as you say, it's not valued because so many people do it (lots of people play sports; few are champions, yet those who are are paid massively for their skills). And likely some because these are traditionally women's work.
Because I don't work with patterns, I've realized I'm happy to teach people to crochet; my designs are still mine.
I suspect the people who have a firm price limit are basing that off of either their own budget and/or what they see commercial products priced at. And also maybe short-term thinking, because a hat can last a long, long time (unless you lose it). As can a lot of yarn or fabric items, if they are made with good materials, which most cheap crap from Wal-Mart is not. I think the combination of a culture geared towards "bargains" and a lack of exposure to what quality goods are good for is to blame.
That and people who sell well-made $5 crocheted potholders at church craft sales.
That's a good point about teaching technique vs. specific design. I've had 1 or 2 people ask if I teach what I do with jewelry, and I don't think it was the techniques they were interested in (and that would probably be harder for me to teach, actually).
I go to things like Art Beat and Pick-your Open Studios and am frequently astounded by how people undervalue things that obviously would only earn them less than minimum wage.
I think those are probably the basis for a lot of craft/homemade underpricing. People on fixed income who have hobbies and simply price their wares to move out merchandise and fund their hobbies.
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I've wondered about 'soft' crafts like sewing, knitting, and crocheting is less durable than metal or ceramic. And, as you say, it's not valued because so many people do it (lots of people play sports; few are champions, yet those who are are paid massively for their skills). And likely some because these are traditionally women's work.
Because I don't work with patterns, I've realized I'm happy to teach people to crochet; my designs are still mine.
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That and people who sell well-made $5 crocheted potholders at church craft sales.
That's a good point about teaching technique vs. specific design. I've had 1 or 2 people ask if I teach what I do with jewelry, and I don't think it was the techniques they were interested in (and that would probably be harder for me to teach, actually).
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My mom tells me, with horror, about the "little old ladies" at the winter craft fairs she goes to who are selling things for appallingly little money.
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