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Hi Stitch and Unwind readers! Maggie here from Creative Income Blog. I know that many of us who like to make often make too much because we love doing it so much! Giving away your creations to family and loved ones can be rewarding, but sometimes you even have too much to give away. If you do, maybe you’ve thought about signing up for a local arts and crafts show to sell some of your items. Craft shows are a great way to make a little extra pocket money and to loosen up your stash of finished crafts.
However, as much as we would all love to sell our biggest pieces, sometimes that’s just not practical – especially when it comes to yarn crafts. You may be most proud of the hand-knit angora cardigans you make, but sometimes the cotton coasters hiding in the back of your closet will be the best sellers at a big craft show. What it comes down to is pricing your crafts. You don’t want to price anything too low, but too high might keep people from buying. To help you pick out the best items to sell at a craft show, we’ve pulled together a list of items that will help you make some money and still keep customers happy!
Craft Show Best Sellers:
Home Decor
When picking or making items to sell at a craft show, think small. Yarn can get expensive and that means that larger items can start to cost a lot as well. Try sticking to smaller items like coasters, hand towels, and tea cozies!
Watermelon Knit Coaster
Flower Power Tea Cozy
Crochet Circles Hand Towel
Peacock Crochet Tea Cozy
Lace Hand Towels
California Roll Coasters
Kid Friendly
Lots of people go to craft shows with their families. This means kids and grandkids will be walking around and “shopping” too! If you don’t have something for the kiddos at your booth, you’re missing out!
Crochet Lion Finger Puppet
Knit Bluebird
Knitting Monster
Crochet Dollhouse Rug
Child-sized Crochet Beard
Organizational
Coin purses, make-up bags, and tech cases are all things that people need and are on the look out for. Plus, they’re small and easy to make – a definite benefit for the seller!
Crochet Owl Coin Purse Pattern
Knit Pacman Phone Cozy
Multicolored Kindle Cover
Crochet Watermelon Coin Purse
Knit Envelope Coin Purse
Remember, keep it small and simple. The best sellers are gift ideas and most things under $10. If you’re interested in learning more about selling your crafts, check out all the fun articles on Creative Income! Oh, and we have a weekly newsletter too that makes it even easier to keep in touch (8th one down on this list)!
Have you ever sold anything at a craft fair?
Stitch&Unwind
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I have sold potholders, crochet edged kitchen towels, slippers nothing real big though.
I’m in the works for a show in Aug. I’m making a lot of bags out of plarn. Making scarfs, hat, slippers and jewelry. Hope it goes well.
I’ve never actually sold anything knitting-related, but I have to say that I’m seriously thinking about it now. These projects would be great ways to get rid of various stashes that I have lying around, and they’re absolutely adorable. I love the tea cozy and the PacMan case especially- I can’t wait to try these out when I get the chance. They look like a lot of fun to make.
I have had luck selling slippers, scarves, and washcloths.
Dianne, what price did you put on your wash cloths?
I have tried to sell my crocheted hats on Ebay and Etsy, but they have not sold. I also tried to sell some wash cloths that I crocheted on Ebay, and those didn’t sell, either. I thought these would be items that would sell. I guess not. Looking for another market to sell my items at. Any suggestions? I do crochet a lot of hats and afghans for charity. The people appreciate it, and it keeps me busy giving hats away! = ) I’m unemployed and need a source of income. Any suggestions on how to sell crocheted items would be appreciated.
To Marcee:
for Etsy its is a lot about o how many listing you have because each one has tag words which will lead someone to see your store, and then if you have only a couple of items or all the same they do the turn pretty fast and might go, so the key word is: 1- list many and frequently! add all the 13 keyword on each listing, pretty pictures, nice details etc… equivalent price from competitor with similar items, promote on your Facebook etc… create treasury list, favorite many items from many different shop to create traffic, this all will bring you VISIBILITY on Etsy which will bring you customers as well! 🙂 Good luck and wish you the best! Christina
Do you have local yard sale groups on facebook in your area that is how I get alot of my sells
I’m getting ready for my third year selling crocheted items at the local farmers’ market. Last year’s season was pretty dismal for everyone because of the heavy rains we had here in NC for weeks on end. Even the farmers suffered because of the storms on market day and the crops, like tomatoes, that were ruined by too much rain. So, we didn’t have a lot of customers.
However, the market is still a newer one (this is the 4th year) and in a small, rural area, and it takes about 5 years to really “grow” a solid market. I have repeat customers, and what sells best are kitchen items, like dishcloths and scrubbies, small stuffed toys, cat toys (basically colorful crocheted balls), and, after September, I sell a lot of winter hats and scarves, especially if I make unusual ones, like a pumpkin hat and such.
The space fee is only $5 (which I’m not charged because I build and send out an extensive weekly newsletter), and I get a lot of my yarns for free from a Canadian friend who get the yarn from a high-end thrift shop in Ontario and sends it to me. So, my supply costs are minimal. Still, some weeks, I make very little while others I make a good amount. Clearly, I can’t make a living doing this and don’t really want to, but it helps my grocery budget each week, and I often get discounts on the lovey produce and fresh eggs from my fellow vendors.
I don’t know how anybody sells much of this sort of thing on Etsy…there are hundreds of sellers with the same stuff. I think Etsy might have been great in the beginning, but they’ve grown so big that I think the competition is just too big.
Never sold one item on Etsy… Did a craft show at a local high school and had some luck, made these cute ballerina slippers that I sold for $5.00. I know – not much of a profit but, people don’t want to pay much. My winter hats did very well at $15.00. I guess it just depends. I’m buying my yarn at thrift stores, it’s amazing what people give away. I just add it to my store bought yarn and mix the two!
I am fairly new to the craft fair thing. I am still trying to find my nitch in what sells well and fast. Can you give me some ideas on what sells well and quickly? I know owl toys are popular, anything to do with owls are also popular.. how ever I want to get some ideas on other things to look into making. I have noticed that people seem to like things that look unique or brightly colored. I am still going through a trial and error stage. I am kind of upset though. I paid $80 for a craft booth and only made $50. That did not even cover the cost of food and gas.. Ah well. Like I said, trial and error. If anybody has any good ideas or wants to chit chat with me about craft fair how-to’s.. Or tips on display too, feel free to email me!
I’m really new to the craft fair scene also. I did one last year. My aunt and I made a huge tub full of hats, scarves and dishcloths. She crochets and I knit. She sold two dishcloths and I didn’t sell a thing!! We both just got frustrated and haven’t done another one since I’m really wanting to do like more than one this year though!!
Cute shoe! Recommend seller; thanks for fast shipping & delivery!
Was surfing and found this site! Looks like several are in the same boat as me! I tried a flea market and made $4. All Weekend. Was so upset. Do people use cotton yarn? What about your potholders? Going to try smaller things next time. Pricing is so hard
I am getting ready for my very first craft show next month! I would love to hear some ideas, advice, etc. I live in the Midwest.
Thanks
I did a couple of craft shows 4 years ago. I made $100 at the November one, and $300 in December! To my surprise, what I sold mostly was a basic cabled beanie that I crocheted with Bamboo spun yarn. I sold a lot of slouchies and head warmers too, but that cabled beanie was the most popular. I sold them at $15 and $20 each. I did the happy dance every time I sold one! It was gratifying, and shocking that people were paying me for my hobby that seems so easy to me! I’m working on stocking up for this spring and doing it again.
I have done a few craft shows with my crocheting. Each show varied how well i did and the westher played a big factor too. Last summer I set up at the local flea market and most of my sales came from crochetrd topped towels two othet vendors also had them but i madr mine with a loop in centrr and the towrl could be changrd out samr with my scrubbirs i did mine different mine had netting on one side and cotton on othrt. I found the longer i had my booth i started getting repeat businrss but also had days i made nothing or bearly covered cost of gas all week but looking forward to a ftesh syart from the beginning necy month. I haf one lady suggest i should set up a page on facebook with my crocheting so i did and am vrry glad i did. It brought many new customers who gave me new ideas and i now enjoy many custom orders still not enough to be ahead with orders plus have zome for making for craft shows but hoping it groes this year. I have learned to keep the popular hats stocked like tmnt,frozen character hays and the scrubbies and dishcloths to match same with any hsys with matching svarves.
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I have not started selling at craft shows, but is something I want to do. I’m still considering what to make. My medium of crochet is quite different as no one does it. Interlocking crochet isn’t seen very often and when done well, it’s stunning.
If I made scarfs/cowls/bags, do you think they would sell well?
I’ve sold crocheted coin purses, baby blankets, softies, amigurumi dolls and animals. What I found out interesting and it took a friend to show me, was being a personal window dresser for my 8 foot table. I had mine so uniformed and laying flat on a table. My friend took a stripped baby blanket and draped it over a stump she had and fanned out the bottom a little. It was eye catching and the blanket sold. I learned a lot… Her table had a nautical theme with a full hula hoop she made that fit the full 8 foot table. Being this was her own table, drilled holes at each end to place the ends of her hoop and used a connector to connect the hoop under the table and adjust it on top how high she wanted it. When setting up there were, dried seaweed and fairy lights wound all around it, a few needle felted seagulls, wood burnt sign with her business name and e-mail address. There were stumps different sizes that set from one end to the other inside the hoop to display her crochet wire jewelry.