yarnporn.com

Tied into things that I quantify there is worth, price, cost, usefulness. Pretty much in that order as it relates to handcrafts and art.

I noticed while listening to Lime and Violet that while they raved over yarns that the word “cheap” came up again and again. This is in no way a criticism against them, it just stuck out in my mind and makes a good example– that they didn’t really mean cheap as in inferior, they meant cheap as in inexpensive.

But the word association is there. Cheap really means both inexpensive and inferior doesn’t it?

Value doesn’t really reflect the cost. Nor does it always refer to the usefulness or even the investment of materials and time. Value is subjective most of the time.

Value is affected by the world around it. Which should cost more: A gallon of gas that gets you around town or a gallon of milk? It really depends on which you need more at the moment.

Is a handspun yarn less valuable than an equal yarn from machine manufacture? Some would say yes, because the machine manufactured yarn is more consistent. Some would say no because the handspun yarn is unique in having a human touch.

Is a sweater more special from a handknitter than from a machine? Should it cost more if it is knit from an original pattern? Or should it cost more because the pattern is from a world famous designer?

These things are hard to quantify. It’s also hard to decide if crafters selling their goods cheaply are undermining the value of artisans goods which are priced based on fair labor. On one hand I’m not offended by the hobby spinner that just loves to spin selling her yarn at just above material costs, on the other hand I’m also trying to make a living and find that cheap (inexpensive and inferior) does do some damage. Not just to the pricing structure of handspun yarn, but also to the reputation of handspinners.

It’s funny in a sad way. I have several yarns I felt great about making. And when they were finished I loved them. It was hard for me to get them ready to sell because I could just see all the potentially wonderful things they could make. Measure, weigh, quantify and value– plus photograph and write descriptions. The whole time I was very optimistic.

Suddenly it just stopped. No one bought anything. Dead. Nothing.

Damn.

So over time those yarns became a source of guilt for me. Why did I bother to put so much time and effort into something so lovely and carefully made only to have nothing come from it? And then to hear compliments over it just started grating on my nerves. Compliments are awesome and I really do need the recognition sometimes, but they don’t buy food or pay the mortgage.

So I listed one of my favorites on eBay for less than half of what it is worth. And it didn’t sell. I reduced the price again. Still didn’t sell.

Now the yarn is on etsy for even less. I just want to move out the old stuff to make room for the new. It might seem like a good time to be a little bitter, but bitter isn’t my best shade so I’m hopeful; even though this is pretty difficult for me to sort out.

I’m not into cut-throat business models or giving myself slave wages, and pricing down so much does make me feel like I have to justify my decision. However, I need at least the materials costs in my stock back in order to pay for new materials and keep going on.

I have to change something.