5 Websites to Start a Knitting or Crochet Business

Start Your Knitting or Crochet Business – 5 Websites You Can Use

Starting an Online Knitting or Crochet Shop or Blog

If you are thinking about starting an online knitting or crochet shop where you can sell your finished handmade items or patterns, or even if you are planning to start a blog, the options can be overwhelming.  It is always an option to start your own website or sell items through Facebook.

But if you are hoping to get your shop or blog up and running quickly and easily, one of these big-name websites might be the best fit.  There are benefits and drawbacks of all of these options.  Consider what makes the most sense for you and your lifestyle, skills, and goals.

Websites to Sell Your Knitting or Crochet

1. Etsy

If you are a crafter, chances are you’ve heard of Etsy.  Etsy allows makers to sell their handmade items to a global marketplace of millions of buyers.  Etsy is user-friendly, gets tons of traffic, and provides a lot of tutorials and tips for sellers.  The main drawbacks of Etsy are that they charge a fee to list each item, and they take commission from each sale.  They are also saturated with knitters and crocheters.  So, you really have to work to stand out in what you are offering and presenting to avoid getting lost in the shuffle.

If you are planning to sell patterns rather than finished items, you can do that on Etsy, as well. Many sellers offer downloadable PDF files of patterns in their Etsy shops.  As mentioned in the 3 Types of Knitting or Crochet Businesses: Which is Right for You? article, it can be difficult to sell patterns when so many are available for free.  If you have a unique point of view and know how to present it, you can achieve success with pattern sales, however.  Someone like Heidi May of The Velvet Acorn is evidence of that with over 300,000 sales on Etsy.

2. Amazon Handmade

Amazon is the King of online retailers, but did you know they have a special division just for makers?  There is a division of Amazon called Amazon Handmade, which allows makers, such as knitters and crocheters, to sell their items through Amazon.  One of the biggest benefits of selling on Amazon is their sheer size.  So many buyers go to Amazon first any time they are looking to make a purchase, so that is a huge benefit of selling there.  A potential drawback is that you do have to apply and be accepted in order to open a Handmade shop with Amazon.  While they don’t charge a fee to list items for sale, they do take a commission of each sale.

Personally, I’ve had a shop on Etsy and on Amazon Handmade for finished items.  I’ve seen much greater success with the Amazon Handmade platform.  I attribute this to several factors, including the size of the audience on Amazon and the over-saturation of knitting and crochet items on Etsy.

Where to Sell Your Knitting or Crochet Patterns

3. Ravelry

If you’ve decided that you’d like to focus on selling your patterns rather than your finished items, Ravelry is the place to be.  While many designers have success selling patterns on other sites, including Etsy, Raverly is kind of the Grand Daddy of knitting and crochet patterns.  Many die-hard knitters and crocheters become Ravelry addicts, checking in every day.  They are on the lookout for new patterns and they are often willing to purchase a pattern if it is eye-catching, unique, or written by a designer they know and love.

Opening up a Ravelry shop is pretty quick and easy, and you don’t have to pay to list your patterns.  If you hit a certain number of sales, Ravelry does charge a small fee.

4. Craftsy

Similar to Ravelry, knitting and crochet designers can post their patterns for sale on Craftsy.  It is completely free to post and sell patterns there, so you will keep any profits earned.  You would likely need to market your patterns to drive customers to your Craftsy patterns for sale.

Start a Knitting or Crochet Blog

5. WordPress

If you decide the blogging route is more your style, I recommend using WordPress.  It is very user-friendly, and there are so many tutorials and guides on setting it up and making the most of your blog.  If this blog will become a business, you should consider purchasing your own domain, so you can have a website name like “fandomknittingandcrochet.com” rather than “fandomknittingandcrochet.wordpress.com.”  You’ll want to also think about web hosting, but that is a whole other discussion. 🙂

At this point, the next step is to take a look at these sites and see how they feel.  Does one seem to be “home” to you?  Learn about their features, fees, and fine print, and see what works for you.

Let’s Connect!

Thanks for checking out my blog! I appreciate you stopping by.  To keep connected, you can follow me by entering your email address into the sidebar, and you can find me on Instagram (@fandom.knitting.crochet) and Facebook: “Fandom Knitting & Crochet.”  I also run a really fun group on Facebook called…wait for it…”Fandom Knitting & Crochet – Group.” Clever, right. 😉