I have always loved knitting as a hobby since I was young but I never knew I could make money knitting. I have since learned that knitting is a great way to earn money as a side hustle or as a business.
It doesn’t require any special skills or a master knitter certification for you to start knitting, although you may need the certification later on if you want to take your hobby to another level.
That being said, not everyone will have an easy time finding ways of knitting to make money. If you’re looking for some creative ways to make money knitting, then this blog post is for you! We will discuss some ways to make money knitting: real-world scenarios with reliable cash-earning potential.
Find out other profitable crafts to make and sell for money.
What is knitting and what can you make?
Knitting is a textile craft that is done using a knitting needle and yarn. Using the needles’ metal point, the knitter manipulates loops of yarn to create different designs and products. It’s usually done with needles, but it can also be done by hand.
The most common type of knitwear is jumpers and sweaters but there are different products that can be created from this craft, including clothing, dishcloths, toys, and home furnishings like throws and mats.
Knitters can also create textured patterns or other effects by manipulating the tension on their yarn by pulling it tighter or loosening it.
The best way to start knitting is by looking at some small things to knit and products you already use like socks and scarves and start from there. With time, do some research to find out what knitted items sell best and then start creating customized products that people need. They might be baby clothes, sweaters, hats, blankets, gift bags, toys, and more.
Related: 36 at Home Business Ideas for Moms (Without Investment)
How to make money knitting from home
With the popularity of crocheting, knitting, and crafting in general, it’s no surprise that many people are interested in starting a home-based business with this type of product.
To start your own crochet or knitting business you will need to consider how much time you have to dedicate to the endeavor each day. If you work outside of the home, you will need to make sure that your schedule will allow for some downtime each day where you can work on your craft.
The first thing you need to do is find a niche or create your own. There are many different niches in the world of knitting and you can specialize in one of them.
For example, if you love knitting children’s clothing then you can focus on making items for babies and toddlers. Or if you like designing clothes for adults then maybe try designing sweaters and cardigans.
If you’re on the fence about starting to knit from home, start with a few simple patterns. You don’t have to tackle complicated patterns at first.
Some simple patterns are perfect for beginners and can be completed in an hour or less. You may also look for free knitting pattern sites online. You can find many tutorials and patterns using resources on YouTube.
You will also need to invest in supplies and accessories like needles and yarn. Start with cheap ones and as your business grows, you can buy higher quality ones.
Knitting for money: Top ways to make money knitting
When I was young, knitting as a hobby was often associated with old ladies who knitted fluffy baby things in their spare time.
However, there’s more to knitting than just sweaters and socks. You can start knitting as a business and start knitting for profit as opposed to doing it as a hobby.
If you love knitting then you probably already know this. But if you’re new to the hobby, maybe you’ve just never really thought about how to sell knitted items.
Well, turns out there are more ways than you think to make money from your knitting. In many cases, all it takes is a little creativity and willingness to try something new… or old!
Here are the best ideas on how to make money knitting.
Create and sell your knitted creations offline
If you’re not interested in making money off your hobby by selling your handmade items online then you can still make some money from your craft! Simply sell your knitted items to friends and family members who will love receiving unique gifts.
Also, consider holding a knitting meet-up where people can drop by to buy your work for a reasonable price. You could also sell any extra knitted pieces at local flea markets or at a garage sale and cash in on the experience.
Sell knitting items at craft fairs
Another way to earn money knitting is by visiting craft fairs that feature handmade products. This will depend on what kind of products you make, so be sure to check out the different types of events that run in your area.
For example, if you’re good with intricately designed knitted items, then there are plenty of craft fairs where people will pay handsomely for something like that.
If you want, you can also set up a table outside a shopping mall or in a town square where people will come throughout the day. The more frequently people buy from you, the more money you make!
Open a knitted products physical shop
If you want to start a knitting business, you could consider opening up a cute shop that sells handcrafted goods. Of course, this isn’t for everyone but if you have plenty of knitted products and don’t mind dealing with people, then why not take the plunge?
In addition to selling hand-knit items, you could also sell knitting supplies like needles and yarn.
Create and sell custom handmade knitting items and services online
You may also make money knitting by selling your handmade items online. There are a lot of great sites out there where you can sell your knitted goodies.
With just a few clicks, you can upload your pictures and descriptions of what you’re selling and get the word out that you’ll be willing to ship your items.
Below are some ideas on how to sell knitting items and services online.
Sell knitting items on Social media platforms
If you make a lot of knitting projects, consider taking photos of them and posting them on Instagram or Facebook. You can also post the finished items on your blog.
This will not only serve as a visual reminder of how much you’ve made, but it will also allow more people to see and purchase the completed pieces from you.
Offer to teach online knitting lessons
Another brilliant way is by teaching knitting classes. You can teach these classes online from your home. You can even take it further by using platforms such as Craftsy to teach about knitting. Eventually, create knitting courses and host them on platforms like Teachable and Udemy.
If you love teaching but don’t want to go solo, why not find a group of knitters that need a teacher? A lot of churches have knitting groups that would welcome someone with your skill set.
Another option is to teach people how to knit for charity organizations. This would help you teach others how to give back while also getting paid for your skills.
Sell knitting items through online platforms
To sell your hand-knit items on online platforms, you should create a listing with the following information: A photo of the item, a description of what you’re selling, your price, the shipping costs and estimated delivery time, and how customers can contact you.
Here are examples of places where you can set up your listing.
Sell hand-knit items on Etsy
If you have a knack for making knitting items, the best place to sell them is on an Etsy store. Since its launch, Etsy has helped foster the growth of the craft industry by providing a platform for artists to sell their handmade goods to consumers all over the world.
They also provide resources like tutorials and classes that help new crafters learn how to make more valuable products and grow their businesses. The idea is simple: upload your designs and set up an Etsy shop with your knitted items for sale displayed for audiences to browse through.
One of the most important things about being successful on Etsy is ensuring that your designs are eye-catching enough for people to love them. You need to focus on keeping your audience interested so that they continue browsing through your page.
Another critical thing to do is to add text descriptions to photos of each item in your store so they can see what they are buying without having to click on any links.
Another thing you should do is familiarize yourself with all the different search terms and keywords related to your knitting so you can optimize your listings accordingly. This will help increase the visibility of your shop and allow it more chances of getting discovered by new customers who might not know about you otherwise.
And if you are wondering what knitted items sell best on Etsy, start with unique custom items that are hard to find anywhere else, for example, handknit customized gift items.
Check out examples of knitting patterns on Etsy.
Sell knitted items on Instagram
Another popular place for people to buy handmade items is Instagram. If you’re an avid Instagram user, then you should definitely consider setting up shop on Instagram. This will allow you to sell your knitted items without having to leave your house.
Sell handknit items on other platforms
The other way to turn this hobby into a profitable one is by selling handcrafted goods on eBay, Facebook, and other similar sites that have specific markets for handmade goods.
You could also sell your hand-knit items and designs on a website like Ravelry (a resource for all things knitting). To avoid copyright issues, be sure to add watermarks to any patterns that you share with third-party shops so that they know you created them first.
Sell photos of your knitting
There are so many individuals and companies who are always buying good-quality photos to use for their blogs, for advertising, and for other purposes. Take good photos of your knitted products and advertise them for sale on your website and on social media platforms.
You do not need to be a professional photographer to do this, anyone these days can take good pictures with a phone.
In addition, you can also sell your photos on stock photography platforms like Shutterstock, Pexels, and others.
Become a knitting freelance writer
Freelance writing is one of those side hustles that anyone can start without any experience. You just need to start writing about your passion and look for people who may be interested in buying your articles. One of the best places to advertise your freelance writing service is Fiverr.
You can also approach knitting magazines and publications and offer to write for them for a fee. Other places where you can offer your writing service are freelancer marketplaces like Upwork.
Set up a knitting blog
Set up a blog for promoting your knitting business so that people can find out more about what you do and the services you offer. Use your website to enlighten people on knitting and also promote your knitting classes, courses, patterns, and products.
Write and sell knitting books
If you already have your own knitting patterns or designs, you can write and publish knitting books showing other people how to make them. Many people would be interested in your skill and knowledge.
Make and sell knitting patterns
One way to make money knitting is to design and sell your own knitting patterns. This is helpful if you have some spare time, are constantly coming up with new ideas, and need to turn them into cash.
Depending on the type of yarn you use, you can create a unique pattern and sell your knitting creations.
You can also sell your knitting patterns online through your website or through various online shops.
Donate your knitted goods
A great way to make money with your knitting is by donating your completed projects. People love handmade items and will happily pay good cash for them. If you don’t want to give away all of your handiwork, consider donating it as a tax write-off.
Use affiliate marketing to promote others’ products
By promoting other people’s knitting products, you make money by sharing your knowledge about these products with your audience through your website. You earn a commission every time someone buys a product through your link.
You can use this as a way to promote online courses on knitting, knitting patterns, and knitted products. For example, you could sell digital downloads of knitting patterns by using affiliate marketing on Etsy.
Create and sell printable products
You can create simple printables like knitting cards, knitting planners, knitting journals, etc, and sell them on places like Etsy and Pinterest.
This is a great passive income stream as you only need to do this once and you can keep selling your printables for a long time.
Find out other ways you can make money with Pinterest.
Keep learning new skills and explore other opportunities
There are other opportunities that come with being a knitter. If you’ve already explored all the different avenues we have discussed above, then it’s time to learn new skills and explore other opportunities.
This can be done by joining a knit camp, taking classes, or taking a master knitter certification in order to expand your knowledge and skills. The possibilities are truly limitless, so don’t settle for having a small side hustle off your hobby; take it to the next level.
How to become a paid test knitter
Some companies hire paid test knitters to test out new designs before they are released to the public. As a paid test knitter, you get paid for knitting depending on the company hiring and the design’s complexity, usually about 20 cents per yard. In addition, you get free knitting supplies like needles and yarn to use for the designs.
Many of the people who are looking to get paid as a test knitter are often sewing and quilting experts. If you have one or more years of experience in a sewing/ quilting-related field, then becoming a paid test knitter could be an option for you. However, some companies also like to add some newbies in the mix, so don’t shy away from this if you are not an experienced knitter.
You can find many paid test knitter jobs online. Start your search on platforms like Ravelry, a website always looking for paid test knitters. Other places to check are Reddit, Fiverr, and Instagram. A simple Google search for “paid test knitters wanted,” will bring you a list of companies that are looking out for test knitters.
The numbers. What you came here for!
Is knitting profitable? How much should I charge for handknits? Can I get paid to crochet at home? These are questions I hear from people all the time.
For those in need of creative income, and wondering how much to charge for hand-knitted items, I’m here to assure you that knitting can be a reliable source of income.
Depending on your skill level as well as the type of yarn you use, you can make anywhere from $5-$200+ per project. You can start out with simple things like scarves and hats, but be sure to go the extra mile and take your knitting skills to the next level.
With planning and a good business mind, you can your hobby into a huge business and the dollars will come rolling in.
Final thoughts on how to make money knitting and crocheting
Knitting is a wonderful hobby and a great way to make money. There are many ways to make money knitting, from selling your creations to teaching others how to knit and even making your own knitting patterns.
If you have the time and the patience, you can turn your hobby into a profitable business. If you’re ready to start knitting for money, I believe I have given you enough ideas for how to start a knitting business.
You’ll need to put effort into it. So, if you’re going to be investing time and energy in this hobby, make sure your efforts are worth it and can result in a profit for you.
There you have it – how to make money from hand knitting explained.