Welcome back to my “what a crochet designer makes in a month” series. If you are new to the blog, each month of 2024 I am giving you a general breakdown of my financials as a small, independent crochet designer and maker. My original goal was to make a post every month, but between summer and then starting to get into the crochet busy season, it has kind of become a bi-monthly series and will probably continue this way through the end of the year. But not to worry, I still break out each month’s info for you. So, if you are curious about what it’s like for many independent crochet designers, read on!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and make a purchase from that website, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, see my Disclosures page.
August & September Overview
While I certainly wish I was getting more crochet pattern sales, when I step back and really look at my numbers, this August was actually my best August to date and September wasn’t too far behind (#smallwins)! Combined with July also being one of the best July’s I’ve had, I’m hopeful this is setting up for a really good fall. For some reason, the last year and a half I’ve experienced a big decrease in pattern sales and in Instagram reach, and I haven’t been able to figure out why. So, fingers crossed. I also overhauled my SEO (search engine optimization) on Etsy at the end of August and while it is still early (it can take 30-90 days for your listing to index), I think my views are going in the right direction. So, we wait and see.
Pattern Releases
In July, I re-released my Gemstone Cup Cozie pattern bundle, which includes four patterns – a short hot cup cozy, a full hot cup sleeve, an iced cup cozy, and an ice cream pint cozy. It’s one of my most popular crochet patterns and it was due for a glow-up. In August I released the Equinox Cocoon Cardi, a transitional cardigan with an easy construction, and perfect for fall and spring. (Missed these releases? Want to be notified when new patterns release and get a discount on them? Be sure to sign up for my email list!)
Typically, a pattern release helps boost some sales for the month, as people are always looking for something new. I have at least 2 more patterns I’m planning on releasing this year, so hopefully that plus holiday sales helps, but more of my focus for the rest of the year is on updating old patterns and selling my handmade items at markets. I’ve not been a vendor at any markets yet, but I’m looking forward to it as I always love market and festival vibes. My first event is next week, so stay tuned for how that goes!
Now, onto the details you really want to know about – the money!
1. Etsy
AUGUST
This was my best August ever, and for the first time in a while, I sold more on Etsy than I did on Ravelry. However, there aren’t really any pattern trends that stick out this month.
Total sales: 13
Gross income: $61.60
Minus Etsy processing, listing, and transaction fees: $11.93
Net profit: $49.67
SEPTEMBER
Again, no particular trends for the month of September in terms of sales, but I have seen a significant uptick in views and favorites of my Coffeehouse Santa Hat pattern. I have a feeling this is going to be my biggest seller for the year. Also, my fees are higher this month on Etsy because I uploaded several of my handmade beanies to the platform, all with a $0.20 fee each.
Total sales: 6
Gross income: $23.14
Minus Etsy processing, listing, and transaction fees: $7.11
Net profit: $16.03
2. Ravelry
AUGUST
No big trends here either. In August I sold some patterns for beanies, some cup cozies, some bags, but no one category stuck out.
Total sales: 7
Gross income: $32.50
Minus PayPal processing fees: $4.25
Minus Ravelry fee + remitted taxes: $1.14
Net profit: $27.11
SEPTEMBER
Not surprisingly, the Equinox Cocoon Cardi was the best seller on Ravelry this month.
Total sales: 12
Gross income: $60.09
Minus PayPal processing fees: $8.02
Minus Ravelry fee + remitted taxes: $2.10
Net profit: $49.97
3. In Person Sales
No in-person sales, so I made $0 for this category.
4. Affiliate Marketing/Blogging
Affiliate Revenue: I am an affiliate for WeCrochet/Knit Picks and Lion Brand. No link clicks these months, so nothing added here.
Ad Revenue: In the middle of April, I switched over to a new ad platform. It’s better than the native ad service that came with the blog, but still not much. I won’t get a payout until I reach $50 (which will be a while), so it won’t be listed in the total until I get it.
Affiliate + Blog Profit: $0
5. Expenses
Because I am gearing up for some markets this season, I realized I needed a lot more pom poms and pom pom buttons than I had, plus I bought some yarn for future designs (hey, you have to spend money to make money!). I also signed up for a market and an Instagram course membership to see if I can boost my reach and (hopefully) sales. But, I will say, almost everything (except the booth fee) was on sale, so I feel I spent wisely.
- Yarn, pom poms, and pom pom buttons: $403.72
- Market booth fee: $50
- 6-Month Course Membership: $235
Total Expenses for August & September: $688.72
What a Crochet Designer Makes (Totals):
Total Brought In for Both August & September: $142.78
Total Profit for 2024 (Income minus expenses): -$1862.45
So while I am happy with the fact this August and September were some of my best, I’m obviously still very much in the red for 2024. I did buy a few more things for my markets in October such as a banner, business cards, and things like tags and bags, but I should be done with buying things for a while (fingers crossed). Hopefully I’ll bring in some income through my markets, but will I break even this year? Make sure to stick around to find out!
Also, make sure to follow along on Instagram as I prep for my first market! Happy stitching!
Want to check out prior months?
January 2024
February 2024
March 2024
April 2024
May 2024
June & July 2024
