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How to Sell Crochet Patterns
Imelda @ Payhip

How to Sell Crochet Patterns Online for Free [Ultimate Guide in 2024 for Crochet Pattern Seller]

Last updated: January 23, 2024

If you are passionate about crocheting, creating and selling crochet patterns can be a great way to establish additional income sources from the comfort of your own home. Once you have created your crochet patterns for sale, you can sell them on various online platforms that we’ll go over in this article. These online platforms provide automated instant delivery of your crochet PDF files every time your customers make a purchase, so sales can literally occur while you sleep without you having to do anything – say hello to passive income!

In this article, we’ll go over the step-by-step guide on how you can get started on making and selling crochet patterns online with little to no budget.

Here’s a quick list of things we’ll cover:

What is a Crochet Pattern?

A crochet pattern is a set of written instructions and visuals that detail how to create a specific crochet item, such as a garment, accessory, or decorative item. A crochet pattern typically includes information on the materials needed, gauge, stitch abbreviations, and a step-by-step guide to making the item. Some patterns may also include additional information, such as tips for adjusting the size, variations on the design, or suggestions for customizing the item.

How to Make a PDF Crochet Pattern to Sell

make crochet patterns

The first step in selling crochet patterns is to write or create your crochet patterns. For this, we recommend learning from other experienced crocheters. Here are a few guides that might help:

As a general guideline, before you start writing your crochet pattern it’s important to have a clear idea of what you want to create. Consider the type of project you want to make, the skill level required, and the materials needed. Once you have a clear vision for the project, you can begin writing the pattern.

When writing patterns, be sure to include clear step-by-step instructions, diagrams or photos for reference, and write in a way that’s easy for people to read and understand your instructions. Once you’ve finished writing, it’s a good idea to test out the pattern yourself or have someone else test it for accuracy and clarity.

Once you have finished creating your crochet patterns, convert them into a PDF that you can sell online. At this point, you can pat yourself on the back as you have just created a digital product that’s ready for sale! Now it’s time to learn more about the various places where you can sell crochet patterns online.

Where to Sell Crochet Patterns

There are a number of ways to sell crochet patterns online including selling from your own website as well as selling on online marketplaces. There are pros and cons to each option, but the best part is that you don’t have to choose one or the other. In fact, it’s probably a good idea to spread your wings as widely as possible by selling your crochet patterns on multiple platforms.

Here are some benefits of selling from your own website:

  • Get paid faster: Online marketplaces tend to only payout with specific time intervals such as monthly or after you’ve reached a specific income threshold. In contrast, most ecommerce platforms will pay out instantly as orders come in when selling from your own website.
  • Control over branding and presentation: You can create a unique look and feel for your business with your own website. This will allow you to have more control over pricing, design, and branding as well as give customers a place where they can easily find all of your patterns in one place without getting distracted by other crochet pattern sellers. Many eCommerce platforms provide a beginner friendly website builder so you can create professional websites without any technical coding skills.
  • Launch unique marketing campaigns: You have full control over your website and can launch marketing campaigns such as referral systems, affiliate programs, and more that can set you apart from your competition.
  • Data ownership: You own your customer data and can use it for future marketing efforts – no one can pull the rug from underneath your feet. Anyone who has been unfairly banned by online marketplaces might be able to attest to the pain of over-reliance on online marketplaces.
  • Higher profit margin: You’ll tend to pocket more money when selling from your own website as online marketplaces tend to charge higher fees in exchange for bringing traffic to marketplaces.

Payhip

where to sell crochet patterns

Payhip allows you to create your own website or online store for free. No technical coding skills or design skills needed!

Here are some notable features of Payhip that’ll help create a successful crochet pattern business:

  • Generous forever-free platform. You can create a professional online store and sell your crochet patterns for free, and Payhip will only charge a 5% fee when you make a sale. If you don’t make any sales, you won’t be paying anything but you’ll still get to keep your beautiful website permanently
  • Instant delivery of digital files to your customers. The pattern PDF file can be downloaded instantly after your customers make a payment on your website. They’ll also receive the file in their emails
  • Whenever your crochet pattern is updated, you can send your customers an updated download link using Payhip’s Email Updates feature
  • Free fully-hosted domain + ability to connect a custom domain
  • Simple drag and drop website builder that can be fully customized to match your branding aesthetics. No coding skills or design skills required
  • Instant payouts through Paypal and Stripe
  • Automatic collection and remittance of UK & EU VAT
  • Built-in eCommerce tools so you can sell a range of product types such as digital downloads, online courses, coaching, subscriptions or memberships, and physical products
  • Advanced marketing features such as referral system, affiliate program, upselling, cross-selling, coupon codes, email marketing, and more

Payhip is well-known for having a beginner-friendly and intuitive user interface. Payhip also provides a lot of guided video tutorials to ensure your success in setting up your crochet pattern business.

PRICING:

Payhip has a generous forever-free plan that gives you permanent access to their entire platform’s features for free! You have a choice between these pricing plans:

  • Free-forever: No monthly fees + 5% fees per sale
  • Plus: $29 per month fees + 2% fees per sale
  • Pro: $99 per month fees (no other fees per sale)

Regardless of which pricing plan you choose, you will get the same unlimited access to Payhip’s amazing features.

Ravelry

Ravelry

Ravelry is an online marketplace for crocheters, knitters, weavers, and fiber artists. It was founded in 2007 and has since become one of the largest online communities for fiber arts enthusiasts. Members can join groups, sell patterns or share patterns for free, and connect with each other.

You won’t have much control over the look and feel of your Ravelry profile or “online store” within Ravelry, so if branding is your priority, then Ravelry isn’t the right platform for you.

Note that Ravelry’s online marketplace also consists of a large collection of free patterns, so Ravelry users might not necessarily be looking to purchase your crochet patterns unless they are extremely compelling. Additionally, Ravelry only offers PayPal payouts, whereas an eCommerce platform such as Payhip integrates with Stripe so you can get paid directly into your bank account.

PRICING:

Ravelry charges a transaction fee as well as a payment processing fee based on your monthly sales totals.

  • If you’re making below US$30 per month, you won’t be charged any Ravelry fees
  • If you’re making between US$30-$1500, you’ll be charged a 3.5% fee per sale
  • If you’re making below above US$1500 per month, you’ll be charged a 3% fee per EU sale

Please note that regardless of which tier you’re on, you will have to pay the 2.9%+$0.30 Paypal transaction fees per sale. This is in addition to Ravelry’s fees.

Please check Ravelry’s website for any updates on their pricing structure.

Etsy

etsy

Etsy is an online marketplace that specializes in handmade, vintage, and unique goods. It was founded in 2005 and has since become a popular platform for artists, designers, and makers to sell their products to a global audience. You can find a wide variety of items, including clothing, jewelry, home décor, art, and craft supplies. In addition to physical goods, Etsy also allows the sale of digital products, such as patterns, printables, and graphics.

Selling on Etsy could be quite lucrative given that the website receives a large number of monthly visitors on a regular basis. If you’re able to get tons of visibility from Etsy’s search results, you won’t have to work hard to drive traffic to your own store.

However, bear in mind that Etsy does not specialize in crochet patterns, or even digital products. Many of Etsy’s visitors may be looking for handmade goods that have nothing to do with crochet patterns.

You’ll need to learn how to optimize your Etsy product listings for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to “fight” for visibility so your crochet patterns can be discovered by potential customers. Given that Etsy has a large number of sellers, it can make it difficult for you to stand out. Your shop’s success largely depends on the platforms’ overall traffic and search algorithm.

Similar to Ravelry, you’ll have limited control over the look and feel of your Etsy shop and your product listings as they have a standard template that applies to all sellers

The last disadvantage of selling your crochet patterns on Etsy is perhaps the fact that you still have to pay Etsy’s listing fee of US$0.20 per listing every 4 months even if you don’t make any sales.

PRICING:

Etsy is the most expensive option out of the 3 platforms we have listed in this article.

Etsy charges a listing fee of USD$0.20 per listing, plus 6.5% of the price you display for each listing. If you happen to also sell any physical products, the percentage fee also applies to the amount you charge for delivery and gift wrapping when an item sells.

You’ll automatically be charged USD$0.20 every four months for maintaining your Etsy listings as an Etsy seller. You can choose to disable automatic renewal for a specific listing or your entire shop.

How to Sell Crochet Patterns Online for Free (Step by Step Guide)

crochet pattern seller
Source: https://payhip.com/IraRott

1. Create an online store

The first step to selling your crochet patterns online is to create an online store so your customers can find all of your patterns in one place. You can sign up on Payhip where you can create a beautiful website / online store and start selling your crochet patterns for free.

You won’t have to worry about paying for any third-party platforms or expenses as Payhip provides a free all-in-one tool that allows you to launch your pattern online store within minutes!

Payhip provides a beginner-friendly and intuitive interface so anyone can create an online store without any technical skills. Payhip also provides guided video tutorials so you can customize your online store to reflect your brand aesthetic.

Sign up for a free account on Payhip to create your own free online store/website.

SELL CROCHET PATTERNS ONLINEJoin over 130,000 sellers who have launched their online businesses with Payhip

2. Set the price

When setting the price for your crochet patterns, there are a few things to consider for pattern pricing including the time taken to create your crochet pattern, complexity of the pattern or the finished product, as well as your experience and brand establishment as a crochet pattern designer.
If this is your first time selling crochet patterns, we recommend researching what other similar patterns are selling for so that you can price your patterns competitively. Additionally, think about your target market and what price range they’re likely to be comfortable with. If you have multiple patterns, consider offering discounted packages or bundles to encourage customers to buy more than one pattern.

If you really can’t decide what to price your crochet patterns at, you can utilize Payhip’s pay-what-you-want pricing tool so your customers can pay you what they want (you can set the minimum price that they need to pay).

3. Upload as product listing

crochet pattern product listing
Source: https://payhip.com/b/Bq0Nw

By now you should already have an online store, so it’s time to upload your crochet pattern file PDFs and publish them as your product listings so your customers can start purchasing them!

Payhip has a comprehensive tutorial on how you can upload your crochet pattern as a product listing here. But generally speaking, the process involves:

  1. Uploading your pdf pattern file on the product listing
  2. Setting up your crochet pattern product title, description, and price
  3. Uploading some pictures as your product listing photos
  4. Publishing your product listing

One last tip for when you create your product listings is to provide plenty of information to the customer so they can decide whether or not your pattern is right for them. Be sure that the listing includes detailed descriptions of the project, clear images of the finished product, accurate sizing information, and any other relevant information such as skill level or materials required. Remember that website visitors don’t just magically purchase your crochet patterns, you’ll need to provide them with compelling reasons to do so.

4. Promote and drive traffic to your online store

It’s time to start promoting your patterns online to start getting sales! Here are some marketing ideas that you can do without spending a dime:

1. Make the Most of Social Media Platforms

Social media is a great way to reach new customers and promote your crochet pattern business. Build a following on as many social media channels as possible including TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and more.

Nowadays, short-form videos on social media are popular as they are very engaging and can encourage comments from potential customers. Create content that will grab people’s attention, such as tips for crocheting, stories about how you got started, behind-the-scenes of how you created the crochet patterns, a closer look at the finished products, testimonials from other customers who have created crochet items using your crochet patterns, and more! Make sure to use relevant hashtags so that people can find your posts easily.

2. Write Blog Post Content to Get Traffic from Search Engines

Blogging is another great way to reach potential customers. Any content that you create on your website provides you with opportunities to rank on search engines such as Google. This means more website visitors who will see (and potentially purchase) your crochet patterns!

You can write blog post content to share stories about the process of creating your crochet patterns, showcase your finished work, and offer advice or tutorials for beginner crocheters. You can also use it to promote any special offers or discounts that you have available. Make sure to post regularly and interact with people who comment on your posts.

3. Build an Email List for Your Crochet Business

Having an email list is an important part of growing any business. You can use it to keep customers up-to-date on new crochet pattern releases, specials offer, and upcoming events. You can start building an email list by offering a free crochet pattern in exchange for website visitors signing up on your email list. Once you have a list of subscribers, use email campaigns to promote your crochet business or share content about your crochet activities on a regular basis.

4. Offer Promotions on Your Online Store

You can also consider offering short-term discounts or promotions to encourage people to purchase your crochet patterns. This is especially effective when you launch new crochet patterns. Be sure to take advantage of Payhip’s free marketing tools such as coupon codes, referral system, affiliate program, mailing list, cross-sell, upgrade discount, and more. This allows you to launch effective marketing campaigns on your social media and elsewhere.

5. Partner with Crafters or Influencers in Your Niche

Consider reaching out to knitting influencers or bloggers to review your patterns and share them with their followers. Instead of paying them a set of fees, offer to share the revenue from your crochet pattern sales instead through your affiliate program. You can easily create your own affiliate program using Payhip.

Other Ways to Earn More Income with Crochet

Sell Crochet Online Courses / Teach an Online Class on Crocheting

teach crochet

Selling online classes or workshops on crocheting is another great way to make some extra money from crocheting without having to actually make physical items. The best part about this is that online courses are also digital products and therefore could be a great source of passive income!

If you’re using Payhip, you can bundle your crochet pattern with your online course so your customers can purchase both of them together.

Sell Subscriptions/Memberships for Crochet Content

This involves charging your subscribers on a recurring basis in exchange for providing exclusive members-only content such as crochet patterns, crochet tutorial videos, and more (think Patreon but on your own website).

Payhip has a short video tutorial on how to sell memberships online (it also includes a preview of your members’ experience to get your creative juices flowing in terms of how you can take advantage of this feature).

Write and Sell Ebooks on Crochet Techniques and Projects

Writing e-books about crochet techniques and projects can be a great way to share your knowledge with others and make money at the same time. Think about topics that would be helpful for beginning crocheters—patterns for specific items like hats or scarves, techniques for creating different stitches, tips for creating more complex pieces—and create content around those topics.

Frequently Asked Questions – Sell Patterns for Crochet

Can you make money selling crochet patterns?

Yes, you can make money selling crochet patterns. The potential for earnings depends on factors such as the popularity of your patterns, your marketing efforts, and the platforms you use to sell your patterns. Selling digital products like crochet patterns is a great way to earn passive income online!

Do people buy crochet patterns?

Yes, people DO buy crochet patterns. Crochet enthusiasts are always on the lookout for new patterns, and are often willing to purchase crochet patterns that are enticing or created by their favorite crochet designers.

Other than crochet Items and patterns, should I also venture into knitting patterns?

If you’re passionate about both crafts, there’s nothing stopping you from being a crochet pattern seller and also a knitting pattern seller at the same time (although generally sellers would create two separate online stores). Check out Payhip’s guide on how to make knitting patterns and sell them online.

Final Thoughts – Selling Your Patterns Successfully

In conclusion, selling crochet patterns online can be a rewarding and profitable venture for anyone with a passion for crochet. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create and sell your patterns for free, reach a global audience, and build a successful business. Whether you are a seasoned crocheter or just starting out, the potential for earnings is there. With the right combination of creativity, effort, and determination, you can turn your love of crochet into a profitable business. So, grab your hooks, get started, and start earning money from your crochet patterns today!

Join over 130,000 creators who have successfully created their online businesses with Payhip. Sign up for a free account on Payhip to start your dream crochet pattern business within less than 5 minutes.

Payhip

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