How to Calculate the Cost of Custom Knitting: Practical Tips
Many crafters struggle to set a price when taking on a custom knitting order. To simplify these calculations, I suggest using a proven system suitable for those who provide their own materials and purchase the yarn themselves. You will need to create a simple table to include all your expenses. To calculate the cost of custom knitting, first, let's evaluate the yarn itself. For example, let's take a wool blend intended for a women's beanie.
The total price for the work will include:
## Materials
Yarn cost - 2 partial skeins at 45 UAH each, total 90 UAH. Faux fur pom-pom - 50 UAH. Notions (if used) - 20 UAH.
Total 160 UAH for materials. Please note! Even though we used one and a half skeins of yarn, we purchased 2 skeins, so we included their full price.
## Labor
Check the label for the yarn yardage. In this case, it is 120 m per skein, meaning the hat used 120+60, totaling 180 m. We take this into account for our calculations:
180x1 = 180 UAH if knitted in simple stockinette stitch. 180x1.5 = 270 UAH if the hat was knitted with a simple pattern. 180x2 = 360 UAH if a complex ornament or pattern was used.
## Total
Summing it up: add the cost of all materials and labor. A knitted hat can cost anywhere from 270 to 520 UAH, which is a significant difference! If the yarn was purchased specifically for the order, requiring a trip to a distant store, this should also be factored into the labor cost.
Thanks, very informative!
I usually multiply the cost of materials by two, and that is the price of the finished product. It is extremely rare for me to be commissioned for something standard that can be bought in a store or online, so I consider the cost justified.
The price also includes non-obvious expenses: sharpening scissors, buying tools, hardware, time spent searching, and the client's "I changed my mind."
I would also take deadlines into account. Sometimes a client comes with an order that was needed yesterday... :eek:
From personal unpleasant experience - always announce at least an approximate cost of the item and take a deposit equal to the cost of materials!