Wool Crafting For Profit

Are you considering wool crafting for profit? Do you love working with wool and yarn and feel that starting your own craft business might be a great creative outlet? Are you one of us who has a huge stash that you could never get through in a million years (well, not quite that long)? Do you long to finish a project so you can dive equally as wholeheartedly into the next one? Then read on for more ideas.

There are several ways you can practice wool crafting for profit.Here are a few things to consider to help you towards the best decision for you...Which part of wool crafting do you like best?

• Do you love to create, live to finish one project, meanwhile you're planning your next project or a different colorway? Are you constantly churning out item after item because you enjoy the 'creation' process?
  
  Then you may be interested in selling the items you produce, as you just can't squeeze any more stuffed toys intoyour childs' toy hammock - not even that cute little mouse you just made for the tenth time.
  
  You could try selling at craft fairs.The best way to find out which items sell well, is to visit a few fairs yourself and talk to vendors who sell similar things to those which youwant to make. You tend to need a good amount of stock to show at fairs, so customers will have plenty of choices.
  
  Another option would be to try a few sales on eBay. There you can list individual items withaccurate descriptions and pictures, but again, check out what is selling and for how much before you go pricing yourself out of the market.
  
  Yet another option is consigning your crafts to a local store. This way you have your items available locally and can stop by and check on sales, etc., easily, without you doing the actual selling. Stores will take a "cut" of sales, but you should arrange that before you leave your items.
• Do you prefer to design projects and create patterns? Do you love the design process, get excited when you create a new piece that you've had pictured inside your head? Do you delight in bringing to life a new baby toy, or creating an eye catching new felted bag you could only see in your minds' eye?
  
  Then maybe you'd prefer to write patterns or write a book to sell rather thanmaking up item after item. Learn to write patterns by reading other patterns. Try to think up new designs, different techniques or creative methods. Stretch your mind in creative ways.
  
  You may like to try building your own website, designing patterns for magazines or maybe even submitting a book proposal for publication. Wool crafting for profit can encompass all these possibilities.
• Are you the type who loves to talk about crafting with wool? Do you yearn to teach people how to make things from wool? Are you happiest when learning or teaching?
  
  

  Then your best avenue into wool crafting for profit would likely be to teach. There are many ways to set this up. You can contact local yarn stores and ask if they'd be interested in having you teach classes. You can set up classes by yourself, at your home or others' homes, in the form of parties. You can drum up interest by advertising in your local newspapers or writing a short 'press release', or just by talking to friends and have them spread the word.
  
  

• Or do you just enjoy making for the sake of making and are not thinking of wool crafting for profit in monetary terms? Do you love to see the look on a child's face when they receive that special afghan you made and donated to the local hospital? Would you rather profit spiritually from seeing that people really appreciate the heartfelt work that goes into each stitch?
  
  Then you are the one who must create for the love of the craft. Your heart profits from seeing others delight on receiving yourlovingly worked pieces. There is no greater feeling for you - the money really doesn't matter.

So - I hope I have given you a few ideas about wool crafting for profit. It's not something you should dive into without thinking. Give it some thought, decide which avenue is for you, only then should you forge ahead with your plans for wool crafting for profit.

Good Luck with your new venture and Profit Away!

Jill Wright is the owner and designer at Woolcrafting.com - a website which covers all aspects of crochet and felting. Full color pictures and clear instructions are suitable for the complete beginner, or for anyone wanting to learn the basics or improve their skills.