17 Crochet Items That Sell + Tips for Pricing Products

Grandmas know best: Crochet has always been cool. A new generation of makers has taken simple stitches under their wing and created a veritable paradise of handmade crafts, featuring anything and everything you could ever want, rendered in yarn.

Once you take the leap from crochet hobbyist to entrepreneur, choosing which crochet items to sell in a saturated market can feel overwhelming. Read on for expert strategies for selecting profitable crochet products, pricing them effectively, and building a thriving handmade business—with insights from successful crochet entrepreneur and author Genna Tatu.

How to create a product catalog for your crochet business

1. Choose items
2. Showcase your products
3. List your products
4. Experiment with social media content
5. Consider investing in paid ads

Transforming your crochet hobby into a business requires thoughtful planning. Below, find five tips and techniques from crochet artist Genna Tatu for selecting, spotlighting, and selling your crochet products and patterns:

1. Choose items

Your product portfolio will often reflect the crochet projects you enjoy most, and that’s perfectly fine. Genna gravitated toward plushies and now her online store, CrochetByGenna, specializes in crocheted plushies and downloadable patterns. “I always jumped from hobby to hobby, but with crochet, I was like, this feels right. I had so many plushies because I was just crocheting all the time. So I kind of started my business by accident,” Genna says.

If you’re not sure which direction to take when deciding what to sell, here are three strategic approaches to consider:

• Specialist. Taking a specialized approach means carving out a niche in one corner of the crochet world, be it plushies, throw pillows, or scrunchies, and developing a signature style. Focusing on one product or genre allows you to build up a reputation as a go-to source for it and provides an opportunity to create unique depth in your portfolio.

• Evergreen. Maybe you want to be a one-stop shop for crochet customers, eliminating their need to visit other vendors for products, supplies, or patterns. The benefit of evergreen products, like baby gear, apparel, and home décor, is that they will always be in demand. Dedicating your crochet business to these essentials still offers space for creativity, like holiday collections or personalized order options.

• Trending. Specializing in trending items requires a close eye on the industry and a willingness to quickly learn something new when interest starts to build (but before it hits its peak). For forecasting insights, you might follow crochet blogs, popular social media accounts that analyze greater trends from the fashion industry at large, and online crochet communities (like Club Crochet on Discord) for clues as to which way the trends are going.

“Keep producing the things that are showstoppers, that get people’s attention,” Genna says. “When Moo Dang was popular, that baby hippo? I made a Moo Dang pattern. Continue thinking outside the box and show people something that has never been made before.”

2. Showcase your products

High-quality product photos are critical to your online store and social media channels, and there are many different ways to go about getting them. You can get fancy with equipment and staging, or you can use your phone along with some natural light and a makeshift backdrop to great effect. Experiment with a mix of studio photography (your products on a simple backdrop with bright lighting) and lifestyle photos (your crochet ornament on a Christmas tree) to see which style suits your brand best.

3. List your products

How you release your crochet products depends on your personal preference and how much time you want to spend making orders versus managing your online (or in-person) business. Here are a few examples of different setups and their implications:

• Drops vs. on-demand. A drop is a batch of products you make and release, selling the drop until items run out. On-demand means you make a new product whenever you get a new order. “A lot of crocheters do drops, because you don’t have to constantly make orders,” Genna explains. “When I first started out, I was a made-to-order shop. That got too crazy and burnt me out. Especially when you become more popular, but you’re only one person, you have to limit it. Now, whatever products I’ve made over two months, I’ll list them on the website, and people can buy them.”

• Finished products vs. crochet patterns. Crochet patterns are downloadable instructions for making crocheted items. Genna sells both products and crochet patterns through her Shopify store and Etsy page, but she also hosts a Patreon, CrochetByGenna, where supporters receive one or two free patterns each month, depending on their tier. “At least one pattern or one new product each month will keep you competitive,” she says. “People who don’t put out new patterns or new products frequently kind of get lost in the sauce.”

• Online vs. in-person. Selling crochet items at craft fairs and local makers’ markets can be a great way to meet your customers in person, get a feel for what products catch people’s eyes, and build community. An online store allows you to sell crochet patterns at scale and reach customers beyond your local area. Consider which method appeals to your lifestyle and whether you could do a little bit of both. 

4. Experiment with social media content

Crafting a visual marketing strategy can feel intimidating when you’re just starting out, but Genna’s advice is to start small and experiment with different channels and content types. She initially built her audience by posting a steady stream of finished product shots, but things really began to take off once she stepped in front of the camera. “Because it’s such a fun hobby, I thought I should document my process. There weren’t a lot of crochet YouTubers a few years ago, and I wanted to break into that space,” she says. Showing off her crochet skills behind the scenes became a pivotal moment in her business, but first, she had to overcome her natural shyness.

“It’s hard and awkward when you first start out,” she says. “Try to incorporate it slowly. It doesn’t have to go from never touching social media to starting a YouTube channel and talking to the camera for an hour. Slow increments are fine. If you’re showing off a pattern or a new plushie that you made, share one shot of you and then you pan to the thing. Eventually, over time, it will get easier.”

5. Consider investing in paid ads

To get your business off the ground, paying for exposure can make sense. “Once you start your shop, you’re amongst thousands, so you really need to prioritize getting those first few sales,” Genna says. She credits her decision to invest in Etsy’s paid marketing tool with jump-starting her customer base. “Once you start getting those first few sales, you also get those first few reviews. That’s how you start building your shop’s reputation and drawing customers in, because [otherwise] they’ll look at your shop and say, ‘Oh, Genna has zero sales. I’m not buying from her.’”

Consider placing paid search ads, social media ads, display ads, or other types of paid advertising depending on where your target audience spends their time.

Tips for pricing your products

• Research the competition
• Cast a wide net
• Use strategic discounts

Crochet prices can appear to vary wildly from shop to shop, but there should be logic or reason behind how you price. You don’t need to overthink it—here’s what Genna suggests:

Research the competition

One of the primary influences on your prices should be competing shops and makers creating similar crochet products or catering to a similar audience. “I like to go see what the competition is doing and then place myself within the average,” Genna says.

Cast a wide net

There’s no shortage of crochet shops out there, which can make accurate pricing challenging. You don’t want to go so high that you’re passed over by the majority of your audience, but you also don’t want to go so low that you’re barely covering costs or paying yourself for your time. Genna’s tactic has been to play to the middle, finding price points that align with customer expectations and competitors.

“I’ve learned that making a very expensive pattern, while you are earning more money per pattern, is not going to capture as many people because it’s such a high price point. I like to make my items more accessible,” Genna says. “Even though people are coming to me specifically for patterns, and I probably could go higher, I like to go average to really cast my net wide and keep myself within a nice price point.”

Use strategic discounts

Try not to think of discounts as undervaluing your work. Instead, think of them as powerful incentives you can use to catch the eye of potential customers. Avoid relying on them simply as a way to clear surplus inventory.

“In the beginning, it’s not about profits, it’s about making sales,” Genna says. She opted to sell many of her early products for 25% or 30% off to appeal to bargain-hunters. “Did I make a lot of money in terms of profit in the beginning? No. But the whole point was to just start building up my shop’s reputation, the sales, the reviews. Over time, I was able to increase the prices, take away the incentives, and then really just ride out the shop’s demand for my products.”

This strategy can help if you’re looking to grow your business long-term. If you’re launching a readily profitable side hustle instead, you might focus on making fewer sales more slowly, but at a larger profit margin.

Top 17 crochet items that sell

1. Amigurumi
2. Keychains
3. Hats and headbands
4. Sweaters and cardigans
5. Shirts
6. Ponchos
7. Wall hangings
8. Blankets/throws
9. Pillows
10. Coasters
11. Plant hangers
12. Holiday decorations
13. Bags
14. Scarves and gloves
15. Scrunchies
16. Baby gifts
17. Face scrubbies

Looking for ways to join the crochet craze? Here are 17 of the most popular items to sell:

1. Amigurumi

Amigurumi (from the Japanese “ami,” meaning knit or crocheted, and “kurumi,” for wrapped or stuffed) are the plushies currently stealing hearts across the internet and come in all shapes and sizes. Many amigurumi take the form of various animals, but fruits and vegetables are popular, too.

2. Keychains

Smaller amigurumis, mini-patterns, and geometric shapes can be fashioned into decorative keychains.

3. Hats and headbands

Hats and crochet headbands require a good eye for sizing and gauge—how many stitches and rows per inch—to guarantee a good fit. You can create simple, solid crochet headbands or get creative with twisted or plaited designs and use any of the basic stitches to do so.

4. Sweaters and cardigans

Outerwear like sweaters and cardigans can be more time-intensive than other projects, but they’re wardrobe staples that you can price higher than most, especially if you feature unique designs and color schemes.

5. Shirts

Crochet shirts, like summery tank tops and crop styles, are flattering, breathe easily, and can be marketed in various ways, whether as part of an everyday warm weather outfit, as swim cover-ups, or fall layering staples. You can use either single crochet stitch or double crochet stitch for the overall structure and drape.

6. Ponchos

Ponchos, halfway between a sweater and a blanket, are excellent creative canvases thanks to their size and versatility. Go retro with oversized granny squares, fringed for a classic boho look, or modern and minimalist to suit your target audience or personal style.

7. Wall hangings

Crochet wall hangings, like macrame or hand-woven pieces, offer an opportunity to show off your stitching, textural additions like beads, and color work without worrying about complex patterns or sizing. Plus, they can command higher prices the more extravagant and large-format they get.

8. Blankets/throws

Crochet blankets can be chunky and oversized, or delicate and lightweight, depending on the stitch and style of yarn you use. Add pompoms, fringe, or intricate patterns to set yourself apart.

9. Pillows

Crochet throw pillows offer the same pop of color and texture as a blanket, with far less time invested upfront, allowing you to build up inventory quicker.

10. Coasters

Because they’re small, uniform, and relatively easy to build, you can create batches of coasters fairly quickly to add items to your drops. Create matching sets in different colors, or offer customers random surprise sets for a charming, mismatched display on their coffee table.

11. Plant hangers

Crochet plant hangers can be less heavy-duty than macramé hangers made from thick rope or cord, but they’re still capable of cradling delicate house plants. Crochet hangers are often solid, basket-style shapes, while macrame knots resemble open nets.

12. Holiday decorations

Ornaments, festive table runners, napkin rings, menorah cozies—the holiday universe is ripe with opportunities for decorative crochet.

13. Bags

Crochet bags and knit market totes are versatile and stylish alternatives to standard canvas or nylon bags—perfect for beach days and farmers market trips. Sell them in an array of colors, or pair them with matching amigurumi keychain charms.

14. Scarves and gloves

Knit scarves are a universe unto their own: a rite of passage for every new knitter and crochet enthusiast. The key to standing out is immaculate, consistent stitching and clever colorways. Gloves, especially the chunky-knit fingerless variety with attachable mitten hoods, are the ultimate cool-weather statement piece.

15. Scrunchies

Scrunchies are easy to make and popular with both Etsy creators and high-end brands. Many crocheters sell them in packs of multiple scrunchies to justify slightly higher price points.

16. Baby gifts

Baby hats, rattles, tiny plushies, or baby blankets are perennial favorites among crochet customers and make thoughtful handmade keepsakes. Offering custom colors or personalized designs can be a way to set yourself apart from the competition. Just be sure these pieces don’t have buttons or embellishments that can be choking hazards.

17. Face scrubbies

Face and shower scrubbies are an eco-friendly alternative to make-up remover cloths, and are often gentler than standard cotton washcloths, which become rough over time. You might even sell them as part of spa sets, with full-size crochet washcloths, face towels, or hair wraps.