Has Etsy killed off the generous crafter?!

56 replies since 13th February 2008 • Last reply 13th February 2008

I can confirm that Lipthink makes beautiful jewellery.

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I want to know why this

http://www.cucumberpatch.co.uk/mi_mi.htm

is £58.95 and that excludes p+p when all you get is the wool and the pattern! and it's not fair because now I have to make up a pattern for it and it will look shit and I've searched and can't find anything similar for adults.

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It's because it's an original design and the wool is good quality.

I bought a Rowan pattern book with this gorgeous pattern in it:



and to make it I need 13 balls of Rowan Country (100% wool) and it'd work out at about £60.

Wool, 100% wool, is really expensive.

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It is lovely both patterns, but it's just a lot of money for what it is!

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Maybe you could bargain with her and ask for just the pattern for about £12?

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it's a website that just sells her patterns and the wool needed for it she's not part of it if you get me

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I don't sell my stuff because that would turn my hobby into work. I have posted a tutorial for something and later found someone turned it into a pdf and sold it on etsy. Now as far as food recipes go I am all good with people making it and then telling their so that they invented it lol. I wont lie I have bought stuff from the deli and put it in serving dishes and totally acted like I made it from scratch.

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I used to be on etsy and loved it for a while. There began to be many, many things I started to dislike about the site. I finally came to the conclusion that it was way too much of a pain to try and sell my work when there was just too many others trying to do the same thing. Now I have this small paypal widget on my blog with just a few things on there. The rest of my creations I give away or wear myself and share my tutorials with others.

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I sometimes agree, I even find people questioning whether or not tutorials are good. I still find the generous crafter on occasion on sites like this and livejournal - check out Ninjatoshiba she has amazing tutorials! - But it always seems like everyone just wants to promote their things now, and I am all for DIY, but I have to question all these DIYer's selling all their things on sites like Etsy, I find rarely that the things they sell are unique, and its great that its DIY but why should I buy something that is DIY when I can DIY it myself? Often what I find myself doing, is I find an idea I like, then I work at modifying it to make it into something I really really want and then I make the pattern myself. I'm sure some people would have issue with that, but at the same time as a poor student I"m not going to spend $50+ on something I can make for under $10. Wasn't the whole idea of DIY was to do it yourself? From my views I think its great if you make a pattern yourself and want to sell it, and if you don't feel comfortable sharing your pattern than why not sell the patterns and still make money off of it? I guess since I am not selling my things I am far more liberal giving tutorials when people want them, it just makes me happy to see someone who likes something I made so much that they want to imitate it. Plus I love making things and giving it to family and friends for crhistmas or birthdays, it means a lot more to people!! I don't think the generous crafter is dead...just hidden under layers of DIY sellers.

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Thats tough that someone else sold your pattern, I guess that is a risk with posting tutorials, at that point it seems kind of good to "copyright" your work so that you are free to do with it what you please but others can't take it and sell it.

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i think you should do what you love when crafting and love what you do
however when it comes to etsy in particular i beleave its a great opportunity for aspiring artist jewlery makers and clothing designers to get their names and products out their and be recognized if they can make a little money on the side good for them if they make more then me thats fine it gives me something to aspire too
when my mom and grandma were little they didnt have all these malls like today they had dress makers and taylors now you have babyphat etc which is taking alot of opportunitys away from ppl in their house with a sewing machine and note pad that could be produceing just a s brilient work if not better and for a lot cheaper then some of these name brand clotheing designers so no im not mad if ppl want to capitalize on their talents and make a little money and get a little recognition after all it does cost to craft and these ppl have been around way befor our time they havent had the opportunnity to stand out because of big bussiness over shadowing them so im happy for sites like etsy that give the little man a chance to make his money too

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im not saying anything bad about baby phat either i love kimora lee simmons
but on another note yes i have seen ppl charge rediculous amounts of money for things on etsy other then that i think its a great site

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