When I discuss what I do for a living, people are often quite surprised. In fact, the most frequent response I get is something along the lines of “Can you crochet for a living?” My preferred response to this question –- one that is typically expressed with a not-so-subtle hint of doubt, mind you –- is, “Of course you can!” It takes time and effort, of course, and you have to develop a full range of crocheting skills, but there is no reason why anyone could not make a comfortable living crocheting.
I do, after all, crochet for a living, and I am able to live quite comfortably in doing so. I have been making a living through my arts and crafts for many years now, and I do not feel that I am any more talented than anyone else who also crochets on a regular basis. I simply set out to accomplish something, and because I worked hard at it I was able to achieve what I set out to accomplish. Realistically, it is possible to answer affirmatively to any question that asks “Can you do ‘X’ for a living?” All that is necessary to be successful in any business pursuit is to be passionate and serious about succeeding, as it is always plainly evident when you love what you do. For me, I love crocheting, and there is simply no way for me to hide it.
Crocheting is such a passion of mine that I have committed a great deal of time and energy to understanding it and making sure that I possess all of the skills necessary to create just about anything through my crocheting. Because of this, I can offer products that are of high quality and I am able to discuss the products I make better than any salesman ever could. Customers see my passion and understand that a great deal of time and effort goes into everything I make, and people are more than willing to pay a premium price for something that is masterfully made and constructed using materials of the highest standard. Even though I could, I don’t charge premium prices, and customers appreciate the value they are getting when they purchase something hand-made.
So if you want to crochet for a living, simply commit to achieving this goal. If you are just learning to crochet, work on polishing your skills first and begin selling your products on the side. As you continue to get better and continue to improve, you can make the transition from part-time to full-time so that you can make a living doing what you love, just as I do.