Why Handmade Crochet Costs What It Costs

People are sometimes surprised that a crochet tote costs more than a mass-produced one. The honest answer is that there is no machine that can crochet. Knitting can be automated; crochet cannot. Every stitch in every piece on this site was made by one person with one hook. That is where the price comes from, and we would rather explain it than hide it.

The hours

A granny-square tote is about ten hours of work: twelve squares, joining, handles, a lining and finishing. A baby blanket is fifteen to twenty hours. Even a small keychain is half an hour once you count stuffing, embroidering the face and fixing the ring. When you divide the price by the hours, handmade crochet is one of the lowest-paid skilled crafts there is.

The yarn

We use good cotton for bags and wearables because cheap acrylic stretches, pills and goes limp. Baby pieces use anti-pilling baby yarn that is soft and washes well. A tote bag uses four to five balls; a blanket uses eight or more. Good yarn is a real part of the cost, and it is the reason a piece still looks right after years of use.

The extras

Lining fabric, wooden buttons, florist wire for flower stems, terracotta pots, gift wrap, and the courier. None of these are large on their own, but they add up, and we would rather use a proper wooden button than a plastic one that cracks.

What you get for it

A piece made to your colours and your size, that nobody else has. Repairs if something ever goes wrong. And the knowledge that the money went to a person, not a factory.

We keep our prices as fair as we can and we never charge for a handwritten card. If a piece is outside your budget, tell us: a smaller size, a simpler stitch or a different yarn can often bring the price down without losing the charm.