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1. Sell your finished projects online

This is by far the most common way to make money knitting. Once you’ve completed a project, you can take a few pictures and list it on an online marketplace such as Etsy.

It’s free to sign up for most online marketplaces, and you’ll only pay small fees for listing and selling items. However, you’ll need to factor in the cost of materials and shipping when setting prices. You should also keep in mind this method of monetization has its limits, because knitting is a slow process. There’s only so many hours in day, and thus there is a limit to the number of items you can reasonably knit and sell every month.

Resources for selling knit items:

• Sign up for Etsy
• Create a Shopify store

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2. Sell knitting patterns

If you have the ability to create unique knitting designs, perhaps you should consider selling PDF patterns online. Creating digital content, such as knitting patterns, is a great way to make money knitting.

However, writing knitting patterns is not as easy as it seems. It requires design knowledge, years of knitting experience, and an eye for detail. It also requires a significant time investment to write, edit, and proofread patterns before selling them.

That being said, there’s no limit to the income you can make from selling knitting patterns. The more you write, assuming your patterns are unique and well-written, the more money you’ll make.

Resources for selling knitting patterns:

• Use MyBodyModel to flesh out designs
• Sign up for Ravelry
• How to sell digital resources on Etsy

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3. Start a knitting blog

Blogging allows you to share your knowledge with the knitting community, without charging them a dime. Instead, you’ll earn money through advertising, such as Google ads or Amazon affiliates.

It should be noted that blogging isn’t free. Anyone interested in starting their own blog should research the cost of domain names and hosting. It also requires significant technical knowledge, and the learning curve is steep for first-time website builders.

However, the income potential from blogging is high. If you can publish consistent, high-quality content and bring in enough readers, blogging could potentially replace a full-time income.

Resources for starting a blog:

• Learn more about Google Adsense
• Learn more about Amazon Affiliates
• Check out Bluehost for hosting
• Build a site with WordPress
• Use a beginner-friendly website builder

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4. Affiliate Advertising

Affiliate advertising is a good choice for those with a large following on social media. You can partner with producers of yarn and knitting products to promote their items. They’ll get exposure for their products, and you’ll get paid for the number of views or interactions your posts receive.

If you don’t already have a significant social media following, it may take some time to get interest from affiliate advertisers. You’ll have to commit to posting regular, high-quality content over several months to increase your following. And because knitting is a niche hobby with a limited audience, the income earned will likely never replace a full-time salary.

Resources for affiliate advertising:

• Check out this list of knitting-related affiliate programs
• Build your social following with Tailwind Scheduler

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5. Start a YouTube channel

If you’re interested in creating videos, a YouTube channel is a great way to make money knitting. YouTube content can include how-to videos, yarn reviews, and anything else knitting-related. Once you have over 1,000 subscribers your videos will begin being monetized (assuming you meet all other monetization requirements).

Obviously this option is only for knitters who are interested or skilled in video production. If you aren’t already familiar with filming and editing videos, you’ll face a steep learning curve. This monetization method also takes a lot of patience and consistent posting to build up a following of 1,000+ subscribers.

Resources for starting a YouTube channel:

• Create a YouTube Channel
• Start editing videos with ClipChamp (Free)

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6. Sell online courses

Online knitting courses can turn into passive income. This means you create the content once, and knitters can purchase your course for years to come. But be warned, this method of monetization requires a significant investment of time and effort in creating the course materials. The return on investment will be slow, so you must have the dedication to stick with it until the end.

The income potential from online knitting courses is moderate. Even with strong promotion and refreshed content, course sales will likely slow after a year or two. If you’re interested in making a full-time income from online courses, you’ll likely need to create multiple courses for various skill levels and project types.

Resources for selling online courses:

• Sign up for SkillShare
• Become a Udemy Instructor

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7. Teach live classes

If you enjoy connecting with other knitters in-person, consider offering live knitting classes. You can teach from home virtually, rent out a community space, or hold a workshop at your local yarn store. This can be a fun way to connect with people in real-time and earn some extra cash.

Live classes can have varying levels of initial investment. Consider whether you’ll be providing materials to the attendees, and how the price of the class will be calculated. Also consider the cost of traveling, and the amount of time you’ll need to prepare the content.

The income from teaching live classes is moderate. Unlike recording videos or publishing online content, live classes require you to maintain a strict schedule. Because there are only so many hours in a day, and a limited pool of people interested in attending knitting lessons, it would be difficult to turn teaching live classes into a full-time job.

Resources for teaching live knitting classes:

• Use Ravelry’s Yarn Shop Directory to connect with local yarn stores (and discuss hosting a workshop)
• Contact your local community center to discuss hosting a class
• Find inspiration from TheKnittingClass

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8. Publish a knitting book

If you have unique ideas and a passion for writing, consider writing a book about knitting. Self-publishing is more accessible than ever, and you can earn residual income for years to come.

Writing requires dedication and patience, but you’ll have an endless number of topics to choose from. Compile your knitting patterns, create a stitch dictionary, or write a how-to book on specific styles of knitting. The more you write, the more you earn.

Resources for publishing knitting books:

• Check out Kindle Self Publishing
• Self publish physical books
• Submit your book to a craft book publisher

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9. Design for magazines

Knitting magazines are always looking for new designs. You can submit your designs to magazines for publication, and you’ll be paid whenever one of your patterns is published. This one-off payment might not replace a full-time salary, but it provides a decent compensation for less effort than self-publishing.

Resources for submitting patterns to knitting magazines:

• Use MyBodyModel to flesh out designs
• Check Ravelry’s Designer Board for “Call for Submissions”

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10. Create knitting kits

Knitting kits can be a great way to introduce new knitters to the craft. You can build and sell kits that include all the necessary materials, tools, and instructions to create beautiful knit projects.

However, this is not a very easy way to make money knitting. It requires a significant initial investment to buy all the materials, boxes, and postage. It also takes a lot of physical space to hold inventory, so it’s not a good option for anyone with limited storage space.

Resources for creating knitting kits:

• Buy wholesale yarn from Ice Yarns
• Create a Shopify store

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11. Sell knitting-related merchandise

If you have an eye for design, consider selling knitting-related merchandise such as t-shirts or mugs. With dropshipping sites such as Printful, you can get started with no upfront cost.

To get started selling knitting-related merchandise, you’ll need some graphic design skills. Your designs don’t have to be mind-blowing, but they have to at least catch the eye of the average knitter. This monetization method requires consistent creation of fresh designs and a decent promotion strategy.

Resources for selling knitting merchandise:

• Dropship with Printful
• Create stunning designs using Canva (free)

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12. Become a Yarn Reseller

If you’re interested in selling physical items, you might consider becoming a yarn reseller. Through Wholesale / Reseller programs you can buy yarn at ultra-cheap prices and resell it for a profit. Some wholesale providers even let you change the packaging to match your own brand. Just make sure you read the terms and conditions for any wholesale program you join.

This is a fun way to feed your knitting hobby while also making an income. If successful, this side hustle could quickly replace your full-time job. However, it requires a significant amount of space for inventory and an efficient shipping process.

Resources for becoming a yarn reseller:

• Buy wholesale yarn from Ice Yarns
• Join the DarnGoodYarn Wholesale Program
• Apply to open your own DROPS store

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13. Sell Stock Photos of your Knitting

If you have an artistic eye, taking knitting photos can be a great side hustle. Everything you knit is unique, and stock photo sites are prepared to pay for unique content. Just upload your photos, and get paid every time one is used.

However, taking high-quality photos requires good technology. You might have to invest in a high-quality camera and photo editing software to meet the quality standards of certain stock photo websites.

Resources for selling stock photos:

• Sign up for Shutterstock
• Sell photos on iStock Photos
• Check out other stock photo sites

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14. Become a Test Knitter

If you’re interested in knitting and nothing else, test knitting might be a good choice. Serious knitwear designers are ready to pay knitters to test out their newest patterns and provide feedback.

Unfortunately, test knitting is not going to replace your full-time job. Compensation is usually a flat rate per project which covers materials and a small portion of your time. Designers are also selective about the test knitters they choose, so make sure you’ve built up a good portfolio of finished projects to increase your chance of being selected.

Resources for becoming a test knitter:

• Build test knitting experience on YarnPond
• Search the Ravelry boards for “test knitters”
• Sign up for newsletters on sites that often use test knitters

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15. Knit Custom Items

If you’re a skilled knitter and you have a unique style or idea, you can monetize it! Just set up a social media account or website to display your work, and begin taking commissions.

This is a fun way to make money knitting, and you can charge more for custom work. However, the income potential is limited because knitting is slow (and there’s only so many hours in a day). You should also be prepared to put effort into building your following and promoting your items.

Resources for selling custom knits:

• Sign up for Etsy
• Create a Shopify store
• Increase your social media reach with Tailwind Scheduler

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In conclusion, there are so many ways to make money knitting. Each method requires different levels of investment, skill, and effort, so you should choose the one that best suits you. With a little dedication and hard work, you can turn your knitting hobby into a profitable venture.