Is there anyone out there who’d like to team up with me?

Hey guys,
is anyone interested and available to team up with me? I’d like to expand my website but would love to post some new stuff. That means I’d love to collaborate with one of you! My partner would design new crochet patterns, and I’d make them and post them! And we’d split the profits! And if things go really well, we could even go to craft fairs! Really go big! Of course, it would be great if that person lived near Halle or Leipzig! I live in Leipzig, after all!
So if this sounds appealing, just message me—it would definitely be my biggest dream to make people happy with handmade items! : )

hello blackjack

I think your idea of a team is great. I’m not really suited for it, though, because my skills aren’t enough for that, and I’m also too far away from you.
Could you explain again what benefits your team partner would get from it? I mean, I’m pretty much a beginner, but as far as I’ve read and understood in the forum, designing already creates finished pieces anyway, which might perhaps be adjusted again if the idea changes a bit. But I believe, and that’s how I’ve always heard it so far, that the designs aren’t just created on paper. So these aren’t technical designs or anything like that that are being made, but work in progress, so to speak. Those who make designs and patterns, please correct me if I’m wrong. Or by making them, do you mean that you take a pattern and make as many items from it as possible, which are then sold at markets etc. by agreement? If you look at the details of the patterns for sale here, some patterns allow the sale of items made from them at markets. The quantity may be limited, but selling is not prohibited for all of them. If you particularly like a pattern, you could perhaps ask the respective provider whether it’s okay for you to make the items from it and sell them.

I think it’s really very nice that you want to make people happy with pretty things. Maybe you could also learn or practice designing patterns and learn everything from the first step through to selling the finished products? You could then also sell the patterns here through Crazypatterns.
I’m probably not the person you wanted to address with this thread, but I felt a little sorry that you hadn’t received any replies at all so far. Maybe someone else will say something about it.

best regards
muetzekatze

You’re right, Muetzekatz. When you create a pattern, you also end up making a prototype, since you usually have to experiment a bit yourself to figure out how and where to increase and decrease stitches, and you also have to take photos for the pattern and presentation.
Yes, the idea itself is good. I just think that selling finished items requires a lot of careful consideration. In my opinion, it’ll be hard to find customers, since you have to invest quite a bit of time on top of the material costs to make handmade items, and then pricing them so they aren’t too expensive for customers while still getting paid for the work you’ve put in seems very difficult to me.
I’d start by trying commissioned work on my own and then—once I have a customer base—look for a partner.

I wish you lots of luck and success with your project
Best regards
MellesDeZign

I’d also like to point out that there’s an EU directive on mandatory labeling for toys. This covers everything that children might consider a toy—including virtually all amigurumi (regardless of whether they’re labeled as decorations or not; that doesn’t matter anymore)—with the exception of decorative items for special occasions (though that’s worded so vaguely that I’d never rely on that exception). In principle, anyone can simply sew the CE mark onto their items, but by doing so, they’re certifying that all directives are being followed. And there are quite a few of them. If something were to happen—for example, if a seam didn’t hold up to the forces it’s supposed to withstand—it could get really expensive. That’s why I’ve stopped selling finished pieces. There are people who manufacture in accordance with these directives, but they’re rare.

Just thought I’d share this as food for thought.

Best regards,
Maike

Oh, that’s a very good point, Maike. I’d never really thought about that before. Thanks 

Hey guys,
yeah, I know it’s not easy to get something like this off the ground—I’ve been trying for almost two years now! You know, I work in a saddlery, and it just gets pretty exhausting over time! Every day when I get home, my bones ache! As a woman, it’s even more exhausting—unfortunately, it’s just a fact that women have less physical strength than men, and I feel that every day. Maybe you know what I mean! That’s when I discovered crafting for myself. I mean, I’ve always been creative—I trained as an interior decorator, after all, and creativity is important in that field too. I also sell my things at Christmas markets near me from time to time, but that’s not enough for me anymore. I make so much, and it just piles up because I’m always wanting to try something new! But I can’t keep everything, so I decided to give my website a try. Which is always a risk, of course, because there are so many other creative people out there! I also sell more privately because there are a lot of things I’m not allowed to sell online. Do you get me? I just want to make other people happy!! :(
And I know there are a lot of guidelines you have to follow… I just don’t want to spend my days like this and feel like I haven’t accomplished anything! I don’t want to be a retiree with my bones all worn out. Sure, I need perseverance, but I’m always pretty wiped out by the end of the day, and it just isn’t fun anymore! I’m 26 and already so worn out! All craftspeople know this—I know it—and I’m sure there are others who feel the same way I do. But I just want more! And ideally, I want to do it with someone who’ll go through this with me!! Someone who’s creative and just as passionate about this as I am—and who can help me! So that we can build something like this TOGETHER! And Muetekatze, I’ve thought it over again—it doesn’t matter where this person is from; we can always meet up in person when it comes to certain things! These days, with the internet, we can even do that from a distance!
Thanks for reading, guys—it really means a lot to me!

Hi blackjack
that’s very nice of you to say you’d be willing to give it a try with me, but unfortunately my skills are absolutely not good enough yet when it comes to making handmade items that are suitable for sale. I’ll still need a few more years of practice.

I read your post, and I think you’re really brave — you’re doing quite a lot.
I have an alternative suggestion: Here in the forum or over on Facebook, people sometimes say they’d like someone to make something for them based on a pattern from crazypatterns. So the pattern is already there — people just need someone to recreate it for them. Would that maybe be something for you? You could make some people very, very happy if you did that for them. And it would also be much more personal than selling at a market. At a market, you might only exchange a few words with the buyer, but if someone commissions you through the forum or via Facebook to make something based on an existing pattern, then you can discuss the quantity, price, etc., and then you make it and pass the finished product on to the buyer, and if the buyer agrees, you might even be able to upload a few photos of it. And then the buyers have a handmade item at home that they know for sure you made especially for them. That’s much more personal than selling at a market, and there would surely be enthusiasm on both sides. Would that maybe be something for you?

Muetzekatze, that’s a great idea—I’ll have to sign up for Facebook! Are you on there too, and can you help me find people who’d be interested? And help me find people here as well?

Hello Blackjack
registering on Facebook can definitely help you find new customers.
I wrote a few words about it over in your offer thread
https://www.crazypatterns.net/de/forum/topic/4010/wenn-jemand-was-gehaekelt-haben-moechte-bitte-bei-mir-melden
you just need a Facebook account, and it’s free.
and then regularly check the comments under the photos on the Crazypatterns Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/crazypatterns.net?fref=ts
that’s the link to the Crazypatterns Facebook page
If you want to get in touch with people who are looking for custom work, you’ll normally need to have a Facebook account yourself.
You can simply reply directly under the relevant comment where someone is looking for something.
If someone writes, "please send a PM (=private message) and make an offer," then you can also send a PM instead of making an offer publicly in the comment.
Facebook is very confusing at first glance, but you get used to it.
Good luck :)

I just can’t seem to figure out Facebook… help!

Just because the customer has the pattern doesn’t mean that someone else can—or should—crochet the item for money. You’re essentially selling a service in the form of custom crochet work. This is always considered a commercial activity, since there’s a clear intent to make a profit. You certainly won’t do it just to cover your own costs. If the customer provides you with the pattern and the materials and you don’t charge anything for the crocheting, there’s nothing wrong with that in principle. However, the customer may have infringed copyright by sharing the pattern, since you would then have received it for free (strictly speaking).
If this all takes place within your own circle of acquaintances, there’s no issue, but posting it on Facebook gives it a professional edge, and caution is advised.
It doesn’t make sense to crochet a figure for a stranger without making a small profit. At the very least, the pattern itself must always be regarded as profit, since you aren’t paying for it.

Any lawyer will, in case of doubt, assume that the “free” pattern constitutes profit. Furthermore, they’ll assume that you’re only taking on these commissioned crochet projects to get the patterns, provided there’s no other apparent profit. Proving the opposite is nearly impossible.
I’m not just saying this off the cuff—my lawyer is currently handling a case like this, as these custom crochet commissions are slowly getting out of hand alongside file-sharing sites.
I found someone who would crochet my own angels for me in exchange for money. The pattern was even available, but the person refused to say who the original creator was.
I found the whole thing on Facebook as an offer for custom crochet commissions. There are several more like this, and I’m going to track them all down.
I’ve already found one person who follows all the rules, has registered a business, and has the copyright holder’s permission. Just to give a positive example.

Best regards, Mario

Always clear such commissions with the copyright holders first; otherwise, it could lead to a rude awakening (for both you and your client).

@Haekelkeks
Your frustration with the people who are doing business with your patterns is understandable. But Blackjack has already received several tips on this topic over in the other thread and has already written that she will, of course, comply with copyright law. But I think your tips and advice are really good.

@Blackjack
where are you getting stuck with Facebook?

That wasn’t meant as a criticism, but rather as a statement about the status quo of my own current situation. It’s meant for anyone who’s toying with the idea of doing something like this.
I’m aware of the other thread.

Hey haekelkeks, I already know all that, but thanks anyway!
muetzkatze, I can’t get it to work with my own Facebook page via crazypatterns

@Blackjack
You can only create your own Facebook fan page independently of Crazypatterns. Crazypatterns has nothing to do with it.
The best way is to log out of your regular Facebook account first and then look into it. During the sign-up process, you can choose whether you want to create an account or a fan page. But I’ve never created my own fan page, so I can’t really help you much there. Maybe one of the others would like to say something about it? You can also type “create a Facebook fan page” into Google — there are sure to be plenty of help pages on the topic.

Do you have a Facebook account?
To comment on the Crazypatterns fan page, you only need an account — you don’t need your own fan page.

Hi!
I’m replying now, 6 years later, so I have no idea if anyone will even read this… But your post really inspired me!
So if you’re still interested in chatting with someone and maybe teaming up… Feel free to reach out! :)