selling washcloths

[utopia760]

i was thinking about starting to sell washcloths i make in all diffrent colors- patrterns and pictures on them do you think they would sell? and how much should i sell them for?

[Erinok]

hard to say w/o seeing them. cn you post a picture?

[utopia760]

things like this http://knitwits-heaven.tripod.com/AnimalWashcloths.htm

[Jenlaana]

I dont know about prices but those are very cute!!

[utopia760]

thanks! i was thinkig abotu $2 each and make matching hand towels for $4 think thats reasonable- im also making baby bibs and spin cloths for $3 and $4

[~Megan~]

I think that is way cheap. It would barely cover the cost of yarn and forget your time.

[Erinok]

i agree, that sounds way to cheap (good for me, bad for you).

[E.V. Lowi]

I think $12 would be a bargain for a hand knitted washcloth like the ones posted. I would expect them to be even more in a retail setting. I think if they could be personalized such as knitting an initial in the middle, kind of like an ABC wood block. People are so much more willing to pay a higher price for custom hand made. Good luck with it. I love hand knitted cotton washcloths.

[utopia760]

wow i never though anyone would pay that much, i guess ill raise my price then

[Ellien C]

You could personalize them after the fact with duplicate stitch embroidery. You just add "knit" stiches on top with more yarn. Maybe leave a block where you could add the name after the order comes in. $2 is way to cheap. $12 doesn't sound bad too me.

[utopia760]

well i was thinkg about taking orders for them and making them as they come in but not start till i have a bunch to begin with- i think $12 sounds way to higs for 1 dishcloth do you think $6 is too low?

[utopia760]

?also what about hand towel prices?

[polyhymnia]

I think those prices are way too low unless maybe you do them by machine.

I would charge $8-10 for a handknit dishcloth/wash cloth and $20-30 for a handknit dishtowel depending on the size/complexity. Even then I think those prices are kind of low but I think they are reasonable for both the buyer and seller.

One method for pricing knits I have heard is 3x the cost of the yarn. This always gives me a reasonable figure and I adjust upwards as needed I don't calculate based on an hourly wage unless it's something huge and/or detailed because usually I am multitasking.

[art4babies]

The question is whether or not people would buy them. I think it totally depends on where you try to sell them. It is my opinion, as a knitter, that people have *no* idea how much time goes into something like that, because they just buy something machine made in China - the price comparison doesn't seem to make sense to them, and they think that since they can get it for $2 somewhere, your $12 is way too much. There are a few of those people, though, who understand how much time is involved, but they are usually knitters themselves. I am just trying to be practical. I think it is a good thing to do on the side for fun, and you may just find the right market - like a farmers or "Sunday" market.

I think at one time I had big plans for making it rich with soakers... Then I got really burned out on selling them for pittance. Even though people loved them, they just didn't want to spend the money unless they were under $20.

My grandmother always knit, and when people told her that she should sell the stuff, she would say, "You couldn't afford it."

[coldfeet]

I agree that $2 is way too cheap for the amount of time that you would put into making those beautiful washcloths. You would put way too much time into making them to sell them for so little. Perhaps start off at $6-8 and if you find that they are rather popular, you could raise the price to $8-10 for the washcloths. You could probably offer a package of 3, 5, or 7 for a "good deal". And you can probably pair them up with a hand/dish towel for a package price.

[coldfeet]

wanted to sub to this thread to see what you decide.

[Tanzie]

oh those are very cute,i would sell them at least 12 or more,people love that kind of stuff!good luck with it and it is a wonderful idea!

[gnysgrl]

I see these on Etsy for $3.25 for a 9" x 9" cloth with the design in them. I agree they are very cute. i like the paws since my daughters school uses a tiger paw on everything.