I Tried to Make Money Selling Crochet — Here’s What Actually Happened

If you’ve ever sat surrounded by colorful yarns, finishing a project and thinking, “I wonder if I could actually sell this?” — you’re not alone. Many crocheters reach that point where they start wondering if their passion could become something more than a hobby. I did too. After years of crocheting for fun, I started selling my creations at local flea markets and street fairs on weekends. And yes — you can absolutely make money selling crochet. But success doesn’t happen by accident.

There’s creativity involved, of course, but there’s also strategy — choosing the right products, setting realistic prices, and understanding who your buyers are. What I’ve learned is that crochet can be profitable, but only if you work smart and understand the market. Some products sell out every time I set up my booth, while others — usually the time-consuming, higher-priced ones — tend to stay unsold no matter how beautiful they are.

So, in this post, I want to share what I’ve learned about turning crochet into a real source of income: how to price your work fairly, which products actually sell well in 2025, and how to make your creativity sustainable.

The Reality of Turning Crochet Into Income

Let’s start with the truth: making money with crochet isn’t as simple as posting a few photos online or opening an Etsy shop. It takes time, consistency, and a clear understanding of your audience. Crochet is a labor of love — every stitch takes time — and that’s both its strength and its challenge.

The beauty of the handmade world is that people are drawn to authenticity and craftsmanship. The challenge is that we’re competing with mass-produced items, often made by machines and sold for impossibly low prices. That’s why handmade sellers need to stand out with originality, personality, and smart pricing.

In my experience, it’s all about choosing the right kind of product. Crochet clothing, for example, rarely sells well unless you’ve gone viral online or have a loyal customer base. The hours invested simply can’t compete with fast fashion prices. But smaller, more affordable pieces — especially those that appeal to kids and teenagers — tend to sell much faster. They’re fun, trendy, and within an impulse-buy price range.

My Experience Selling Crochet Locally

I’ve spent many weekends participating in local flea markets and street markets, and they’ve been a great way to connect with real people, get feedback, and understand what sells. There’s something special about watching someone fall in love with a handmade piece, asking how it’s made, and then happily walking away with it.

But not every product performs the same. Some of my pieces that took hours to make didn’t get much attention, while small, cute trinkets sold out in a matter of hours. That’s when I realized how important it is to choose the right items for the right audience.

Crochet appeals strongly to kids and teenagers — they love playful, colorful, and whimsical things. Items like hair accessories, mini amigurumi keychains, festive pins, and wearable mini accessories fly off the table. These are products that parents are happy to buy because they’re adorable, affordable, and perfect as small gifts or treats.

That’s the golden formula: make something people can buy without overthinking it.

How to Make Money Selling Crochet Successfully

To make money selling crochet, you need three things: smart product selection, fair pricing, and consistency. Let’s start with the one most crocheters struggle with — pricing.

Pricing Your Crochet Work (and Why It’s So Important)

Pricing handmade crochet items can be tricky. You want to be fair to your customers, but also fair to yourself. Crochet takes time, skill, and patience — and every stitch deserves to be valued. When I first started selling, I made the mistake of underpricing my items because I was worried that higher prices would scare people away. But all that did was burn me out and make me feel like my time wasn’t worth much.

Now, I approach pricing with both logic and emotion. I want my work to be accessible, but I also want it to be sustainable for me. Here’s how I balance it:

First, I calculate the material costs — yarn, stuffing, safety eyes, glue, ribbons, packaging, everything. Then I track the time I spend on each product. Even if you crochet while watching a show, your time still counts. Next, I assign myself an hourly rate — think of it as paying yourself for your skill and effort. Finally, I include a small profit margin to cover market fees, online listing costs, or the occasional unsold item.

A basic formula I use is:(Materials + (Hourly rate × Hours worked)) × 1.2 (profit margin) = Final price

Let’s say I make a cute amigurumi bunny keychain.

• Materials: €3 (yarn, eyes, stuffing, keyring)

• Time: 1.5 hours

• Hourly rate: €10/hour

That’s €3 + (€10 × 1.5) = €18, and with a small margin, around €22. That feels fair — affordable for the buyer, but still respectful of my time.

Now, if I tried to make a full crochet sweater, the materials alone might cost €25, and the hours could easily reach 20 or more. That would mean a fair price of over €200 — but most buyers won’t spend that when fast fashion offers crochet-style tops for €25. That’s why small, quick-to-make pieces often bring better profits overall.

The Emotional Side of Pricing

It’s okay to charge what your work is worth. Handmade items aren’t “just yarn” — they’re hours of your time, creativity, and energy. The people who truly appreciate handmade will understand that. What I’ve found is that when I confidently state my prices — and explain that everything is handmade, from start to finish — people don’t question it. They see the value when you believe in it yourself.

If someone tells you “I can get it cheaper online,” let them. Those aren’t your customers. The people who love your work will pay for authenticity, not mass production.

Crochet Products That Sell Well in 2026

The crochet market is evolving fast, especially with social media trends influencing what people buy. Based on what I’ve seen both online and in person at markets, here are the products that consistently perform well right now:

1. Amigurumi Keychains and Mini Plushies

These are still bestsellers. They’re small, affordable, and irresistibly cute. Teenagers love hanging them on backpacks, and parents love buying them as small gifts. If you design your own characters or seasonal animals (like bunnies at Easter or reindeers at Christmas), they sell even better.

2. Hair Accessories

Crochet hair scrunchies, bows, and hairpins are perfect impulse buys. I’ve sold themed ones — like tiny witch hats for Halloween or Santa Claus hairpins in December — and they always disappear quickly. They’re fast to make, cheap to produce, and easy to display.

3. Festive or Seasonal Items

Anything that feels special for a holiday tends to sell well: mini pumpkins, heart pins for Valentine’s, Easter chicks, or small Christmas ornaments. They make perfect gift add-ons or decorative pieces.

4. Wearable Trinkets

Tiny, pretty things that can be worn — pins, brooches, or small earrings — attract both teens and adults. They’re personal, affordable, and easy to carry home. Or wearables for pets, as crochet collar for dogs and cats.

5. Small Wearable Pieces Under $50

While large crochet clothing items rarely sell because of their price, smaller ones like bucket hats, fingerless gloves, or summer tops in simple designs do surprisingly well. These are the kind of items that feel trendy and handmade but still stay within a comfortable price range.

6. Decorative Minis for Kids’ Rooms

Mini garlands, hanging stars, and rainbow wall decorations remain very popular among parents. They add a personal, cozy touch to kids’ rooms and often sell in sets.

7. Pattern Sales and Digital Downloads

If you design your own crochet patterns, selling them digitally on Etsy or Ravelry can become a passive income stream. Once a pattern is written and formatted, it can be sold unlimited times without extra work.

The trick is to focus on small, fast, cute, and affordable. Those are the key words that drive sales, especially among younger audiences and gift buyers.

Understanding Your Audience

When you sell at local events, it becomes very clear who your main customers are. In my case, I’ve noticed that kids and teenagers are the biggest fans of my work — and that’s a huge advantage. They’re drawn to cute, colorful, and fun pieces that stand out. They want something unique to show off or collect.

Parents, meanwhile, are often the ones paying — and they’re much more willing to spend on something small and handmade for their child than on a larger, expensive piece for themselves. So when you plan your inventory, keep them in mind: what would make a teenager’s eyes light up, and what would make a parent think, “That’s a nice little treat”?

That’s your sweet spot.

The Power of Presentation

Even the best crochet products need good presentation. The way you display your items can make a huge difference — both in person and online.

At markets, I like to use small baskets, pastel tablecloths, and cute price tags that match my brand colors. I group products by theme — for example, all the festive hairpins together or all the animal keychains in one spot. The goal is to make people stop, smile, and take a closer look.

Online, photos are everything. Use natural light, clean backgrounds, and show your products in use — for example, a scrunchie in someone’s hair or a keychain hanging from a bag. Customers need to visualize how they’ll use it.

Good presentation makes your prices feel justified. A €15 item looks like a luxury trinket when displayed beautifully, but like a €5 craft if presented poorly.

Building Momentum Over Time

The first few months of selling crochet can feel slow. Don’t get discouraged. Every market teaches you something new — which products sell fastest, which colors attract attention, how to talk to customers, and what kind of display works best.

I’ve found that returning to the same markets helps build recognition. People start remembering you. They might not buy the first time, but the next time they see your booth, they stop, chat, and often make a purchase. Regular presence builds trust.

Online, the same principle applies. Be consistent with posting, even if engagement feels low at first. Every post, every story, and every new product helps you grow visibility.

Final Thoughts

So, can you really make money selling crochet? Yes — and I’m living proof of that. But it takes strategy, patience, and love for what you do.

The handmade world is full of possibilities, but it rewards those who understand both sides of it: creativity and business. If you focus on smaller, affordable items that appeal to kids and teenagers, price them fairly, and present them beautifully, you can absolutely turn your crochet hobby into a profitable side business — or even more.

The key is to enjoy the process. Every time someone buys a piece you made with your hands, it’s a small victory — a moment of connection between your creativity and their joy. And that feeling, honestly, is worth as much as the profit itself.

Also check:

I published my first crochet book!! (christmas festive themed)

13 crochet items that will make you rich

Thanks for reading and happy crocheting!!