Pricing on a scarf?

#1

I’m brand new to knitting, to this forum…would love some advice and suggestions!! :slight_smile:

I finally finished two different scarves I’ve been working on. A couple different people have seen them and want to know what I charge for my scarves…and I’m thinking, “I’ve barely managed to finish these two for myself!! LOL”

So my question is, what is customary for figuring what to charge someone for a scarf? Do you charge double the cost of the yarn, to cover labor? Any suggestions are much appreciated!

Thank goodness I found this site! I taught myself to knit from a book, but found an easier way to cast on, and learned how to bind off from this website! Love it!! :slight_smile:

#2

Ugh, scarves…lol…I’m so tired of scarves that I’d charge at least $100 for one! :teehee:

I know when I sold things I undercut myself, but, I had to because at the time I needed every penny I could find and a lot of people won’t pay what a handmade item is really worth. I’d have people asking me how much I charged for such and such and I’d tell them then never hear about it again so I figured if I was going to make any money, I had to be incredibly reasonable.

It’s really up to you though…I mean definitely charge enough to cover the yarn (and any other supplies you may need) and then whatever you think is fair for the time you put into it. At least that’s how I would do it…

#3

Thank you! I figure if I spend $10 for the yarn, then charge no less than $15-$20?

Of course, if I could get away with it, I’d absolutely charge $100 for a scarf! LOL

#4

I thinks it depends of what the yarn is made of, like wool, alpaca, acrylic… also the time you spend making it, difficulty of pattern… or just multiply 2.5 to the $$ you spent on materials.

#5

It’s difficult to sell any knit items for what they are really worth. If you’re happy with that price go for it though.

#6

Definitely recover the cost of the materials and then the tough part is labor… I know I saw some ridiculously priced scarves at a ‘sample’ sale at a local yarn store… and those samples were priced at $65-$80US… one was for a garter stitch, fun-fur type boa scarf… and I was thinking no-way would I pay $65 for a scarf that I can make for only $10

#7

I sell other arts and crafts. I usually triple my materials cost. Of course there’s some leeway there, if something is more labor intensive, I will go up a little and likewise if its pretty simple, I may go down a little bit. Try not to sell yourself short. The hard thing is, if you start out to cheap, then its really tough to raise your price.

#8

I would say it depends on the individual pattern you are using. The type and price of yarn you are working with. For example. I made a stole that was about 6’ x 18" for my sister with a pretty detailed lace pattern. I paid about $15 for the yarn and spent about 35 hours working on it.

Now I gave it to my sister as her Christmas present, but if I was to have made it for someone and had they been paying I probably would have charged about $75 for it. If the stole had been garter stitch or stockinette, I’d probably only charge about $30. But in garter it would have taken me no time at all to get it finished.

The funny thing is that it really only works out to less than $2 an hour.

I think you have to look at the money you are investing yourself, how difficult the yarn is to work with, how much time you are putting in, how difficult is the pattern. In the end, you have to look at it and say I’m comfortable with giving this to someone for the time you’ve put into it. But you also have to be reasonable and get someone to pay what its worth. And its only worth what someone would be willing to pay for it. So its definately a balance.