Lately in my circle of friends there has been much discussion about what knitting is worth. Everyone has different opinions, and I am here to give you mine.
A little while ago, I knit hubby a pair of socks. He has larger feet, so this was no small....feat (couldn't resist, sorry). These socks are awesome. Then, I decided that I would make him a double knit pair of socks (see this post for my dragon example, basically a reversible fabric). Hubby and I sat down and decided to see how much it would cost to buy hand knit socks if you were to pay the knitter a good wage. For a pair of plain "vanilla" socks, it takes me between 20-25 hours for a pair. If I were to make a decent cash wage, commensurate with my skill (knitting) and experience (I have successfully knit more that 1 sock), of $15/hr, you are looking at $300-375 for a pair of basic socks. But wait! You haven't bought the yarn yet! Good sock yarn averages between $20-30 a skein. You want good sock yarn as opposed to cheap stuff because you want these socks to last. So, next time you think of asking a friend/acquaintance/coworker/family member to knit you something, think about the time involved. Sure, I love knitting, and do it in my spare time for fun. However, I get to use the thing I make, or I can give it to someone I love that I find knitworthy. If I am doing a commission piece, think about the value of my time.
All this being said, I love a barter system, and both parties are usually able to come up with a mutually beneficial trade.
I think value of time is something that we often forget, especially women. I have heard many ladies say over and over that they will do something for free. Sure, sometimes friends and family need favours, and I am as willing as the next person to help out when needed. Hand knit socks/shawls/hats are NOT favours though, they are a manifestation of my time, effort and love for a person.
Just something to keep in mind.
