For example, I've been working on fingerless mitts like these:
This particular pair is Fingerless Mittens (Rav Link) from One-Skein Wonders, which I've blogged about before. I've been turning these things out regularly because there are some people I want to gift them to. In a sense, they are stealth knitting, but I don't think anyone destined to receive a pair reads this -- at least, none are knitters. But just to be safe, I'm not going to name the recipients!I didn't blog last week for three reasons:
First, working from 7 to 5 (or later) makes it impossible to take decent photos. It's dark when I leave and dark when I get home.
Second, I was slaving away on jewelry in preparation for a mini craft fair yesterday, where I sold exactly one bracelet! At the end of the day, it was clear that people are looking for low prices. Lower-priced items sold. Anything over $20 was likely to sit on the shelf. It was a really fun day with a super nice group of people (I met two awesome knitters!), but it made me realize that I have to think more seriously about where my jewelry will sell -- and how low I'm willing to go.
Third, my head was full of work. I could write a truly gripping blog about my work life. As a special ed teacher in a very diverse school, I have action-packed days. The stories are humorous, aggravating and heart-breaking. But federal law fiercely protects my students' privacy -- as it should. The students own their stories, and even without the law, it wouldn't be right for me to tell them. What I can say is that every year I am amazed by how attached I become to my students. At the beginning of each year, I think, "I can never be as attached to this group as I was to last year's." Each year they prove me wrong. And that's a good thing.
7 comments:
Valuing your handwork is always an issue for craftspeople I think - it's hard to get the balance between the cost of the materials, and more particularly your time, and what people are willing to pay. I think if you get to a point where you are not getting anything for your time, it's not worth it (unless perhaps you are truly doing it for love).
Craft sales always seem tricky... I've never sold at one but the $20 mark seems to be the limit for a lot of people.
I'm not a teacher but my work so sometimes the same way - craziness or excitement that I can't share. The special ed kids that I went to school with were some of the best people in the whole place, they'd be hard not to love.
A crafter I know says double your prices. It might be worth a try; if they won't buy it at $20, they're unlikely to buy it at $19 (so you haven't really lost any sales by the experiment.) For some weird reason, my friend says, they're more likely to buy it at $40. If not, you can always mark it down 50%...
It must be really frustrating to have people not want to pay what your work is worth - I'm not sure I could do it.
I love the mitts - what a great gift!
Same problem with the photography. I'm not anywhere near my knitting when there's sunlight, and vice versa.
The fingerless mitts look pretty though!
I think it's wonderful how you enjoy your teaching position! People who work in special ed and enjoy it are amazing people in my book...so I'm sending you a hug of thanks and encouragement in all you do with/for those kids!
The sweater looks very pretty (love the color)...but I know what you mean about seed stitch being tedious. Hope it goes swimmingly over holiday break!
Kim
ps...the fingerless mitts are wonderful too!
Good to hear from a teacher so positive about it all.
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