just had a family friend ask for a handknitted...

the-fibre-stuff:

jingerbunny:
knittingfromthevoids:
just had a family friend ask for a handknitted jumper commission, told me they’d “pay whatever it costs, i know knitting a jumper is expensive” and when i quoted them £100 (heavily discounted tbh) they were like uhh no, what about £50? like nah. absolutely not. the materials alone cost £45! wtf!! you just said you’d pay me whatever it cost!!
like i know £100 is expensive for people whose only experience is fast fashion, but you’re asking for something that you knew will take me about a month of work!! not to mention the cost of the materials, choosing a pattern, choosing the colours…. i get not wanting to pay that, i can’t be angry with that, but i really hate how undervalued knitting and other arts are. it makes me feel like people don’t value our labour and aren’t willing to pay us for our time. this would have been a really big project i’d have invested a lot of time and love into. you’re literally coming to me for this special handmade garment that you can’t get anywhere else. in sum: value independent makers’ labour!!
Ugh. It’s precisely this reason why I never take commissions from friends or family. If you want something, we will work together and I will make it for you if it is within reason and near a time when I’d be giving you a gift anyway, like for new babies or birthdays or holidays or special occasions. It’s a gift of my love through my knitting.
But I never, ever negotiate prices for items like this. If I quoted you what it was actually worth, you’d never buy it. And if I let you tell me what you think it’s worth, I’d be insulted. So gifts only, and only to those people who deserve the work.
“If I like you enough, it’s free, and if I don’t, you couldn’t afford it.”

(via nonasuch)