Should I Take a Chance?

Have you ever struggled back and forth with yourself on making a decision about an idea that could earn you a little extra cash and showcase your skills? Have you been so worried about the negative outcome that you almost stopped yourself from going forward with the idea?

I have.

For a while now, I have been doing an assortment of crochet projects. I have made countless baby gifts and winter presents for friends and family over the past two years. I enjoy the crochet projects no matter how tedious and time consuming they are. I absolutely love it. The joy I feel when I’m creating beautiful items with a simple ball of yarn and a hook is wonderful.

I often post my work on my Facebook and Instagram pages and get asked the same questions by my friends and family.

“Are you got to start an Etsy shop?”

“Are you taking orders?”

“Can you do this?” (“This” meaning an assortment of random knot and crochet items they found on Pinterest or Google).

I’ve been at war with myself on the topic. Part of me would love to start a small business selling to family and friends. It makes me happy when they are just as or more excited for the finished products I produce. The other part of me is not so sure about starting a small business selling my crochet items.

I receive many compliments about the things I make, but I know there are other crocheters with more skill than I have. I also look at turnaround time, which is the amount of time it would take me to make and ship an item. Currently, my turnaround time is a bit slow, but it’s getting better. I won’t say I’m a speedy crocheter, but I still have a household and two small children to care for (plus pets) during the day. It literally all depends on the day. Some days I get a lot done, other days I don’t get anything done. I also have to take breaks for a day or two to clean my house and rest my wrist (prevent carpal tunnel).

My biggest concern besides turnaround time is pricing and projects. I did a little research by snooping on Etsy pages to see the average price for the project requested and how much time it should (or shouldn’t) take. I figured I’d price at or below the average price. Sometimes I get told my prices for simple items (such as a bralette) are too high. I quoted someone $40 (shipping included) for the bralette. I accounted for materials and the time it would take me to complete the task. Based off the prices on Etsy, $40, shipping included, seemed like a fair price. You get to pick the color and material desired, and it’s tailored to fit whatever bust size is requested. In the future, I’ll try to price items at an affordable rate so I can build a small clientele.

I’m often taken aback by some of the random requests (often by family members) for items that require a set of skills I haven’t acquired yet. A perfect example is the crochet thigh high house socks. They are lovely and look very warm, but I must admit, I don’t know how to make them. I have attempted socks that only go to the ankle and it was a horrible mess. I’m not sure why, but I do have the hardest time making socks and slippers. Once winter rolls around I’m sure I’ll get more practice in once my new baby becomes a bit more independent and I have more down time.

I try my absolute best not to get discouraged, but for now, I’m only making gifts to build my skills and showcase my work. Eventually, I’ll have the confidence and time to do more elaborate projects and sell them. For now, I’ll go with my idea to make a few things for Mother’s Day and sell them cheap to get my name out there as a seller. I’m extremely excited about this new chapter I am starting! I’m going into this with a positive and open heart.

If you are like me and are having an internal battle deciding on a wonderful idea, I say go for it! Be sure to have a plan and be kind to yourself. You have plenty of time and can take as much time as you wish to sort it all out. Do what works for you.

I believe in you!