Keeping a Handmade Business Afloat (When Everything Costs More Than It Should)
If you’re wondering how to make money from crafts in the UK without losing your mind (or your scissors), you’re not alone.
You know that moment when you look at your stash and think, "Lovely fabric, shame I can't afford to put petrol in my car?” Welcome to running a craft business during a cost of living crisis. It’s like being handed a zip tie, a tea towel, and a deadline, then told to “just be creative.” Let’s stay calm. Screaming might make you feel better, but let's not scare the neighbours.
Make Do, Mend, and Make It Work
Being resourceful isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential. Most of us crafters are already borderline hoarders with a heroic ability to see ‘potential’ in a torn curtain. Let’s lean into that:
- Upcycle like a pro: Those off-cuts, swatches, and "I’ll use that one day" bits? Today is that day. Give them a second life.
- Stash diving challenge: Before you hit ‘add to cart,’ ask yourself: could I make something weird and wonderful from what I already own?
- Treasure hunting: Keep your eyes peeled in charity shops. It’s amazing what people give away – including entire metres of fabric and, occasionally, their sense of reason. Some of those forgotten finds have even made their way into our Tote bags – each one stitched with a proper backstory.
Price Like You Mean It
Pricing feels like a weird game where you guess what your time is worth and hope nobody laughs.
- Be honest about your costs: If your materials cost £10 and it took you 4 hours, it shouldn’t be selling for £12. Unless you're planning to pay yourself in compliments.
- Explain the value: Don’t just tell people it's handmade – show them why it matters. They’re not just buying a thing; they’re supporting a human.
- Know the market: You don’t have to be the cheapest. Just don’t be wildly off the scale unless your tote bag also makes tea and walks the dog.
Community is Your Cushion
This journey is easier when you’re not doing it solo in a sewing cave. People get it. Talk to them.
- Go virtual: Can’t leave the house? That doesn’t mean you can’t share your skills. Personally, I’d rather host a craft night for tax inspectors, but if teaching from your kitchen in pyjamas over Zoom appeals, you do you.
- Social media with soul: Share the real stuff – the mess-ups, the good bits, the coffee-fuelled triumphs.
- Buddy up: Other makers understand the struggle. Find them. Befriend them. Moan artistically together - It's good for your creative soul.
Tell the Story – The Honest One
That bag? It was a curtain. That cushion? It used to be a posh upholstery swatch someone threw out. People love a good transformation story, especially when it’s real. The frayed edges are part of the charm – like your sanity by Friday. Same goes for our embroidered notebook covers – nothing mass-produced, just scraps with a second act.
Learn Stuff – Even if You’re Skint
If you’re hoping to sharpen your skills or get formal support without breaking the bank, have a look at the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST). They offer scholarships and apprenticeships to help craftspeople in the UK develop their skills and keep traditional crafts alive – no sales pitch, just real backing for real makers.
You don’t need fancy courses to improve. YouTube exists. So do blogs, podcasts, and free resources galore. Try a new stitch. Learn how to write better listings. Or just watch someone else do it and pretend that counts as productivity.
FAQs
Can you actually make money selling crafts in the UK?
Yes, but it helps to be part maker, part marketer, part spreadsheet warrior. If you're hoping for a quick win, this probably isn’t it — but with strategy and consistency, it can become a proper income stream.
What are the cheapest crafts to make and sell?
Anything that starts with "I found this in a charity shop" and ends with "no one else has one like it." Upcycled fabric projects, zipper pouches, and notebook covers tend to be budget-friendly to make — and higher margin if done well.
Do handmade items sell better on Etsy or your own website?
Depends who you ask. Etsy has traffic but also competition, fees, and the occasional moment of Etsy-induced regret. A personal website takes more work upfront but gives you control, branding, and fewer random rule changes. I went the DIY route — and I’m still here.
Final Thread
Yes, times are tough. But you’re still here, still stitching, still trying – and that matters. Keep showing up, even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard. One project, one post, one coffee at a time.
Tried any of these survival tactics? Got your own tips for dodging financial doom with fabric scraps and blind optimism? Share them – we’re all ears (and bobbins).
And if you’re now eyeing that stash of forgotten fabric with renewed purpose — same. Just don’t ask how many half-finished projects I’ve got tucked behind the sewing machine. #CraftingOnAPrayer #StillSewing
