Selling Knitted Items

Finefoot

do some research with trading standards about the toys, to see what the requirements are regarding safety, all the best!

bobblymosh

I sell on folksy and etsy. I mainly make sock monkeys and also some small knitted toys.
Id be really careful about what patterns you use however as there are loads of copyright issues regarding the patterns themselves and whether you use them for retail purposes. Id recomend buying patterns from etsy or folksy where you have permission from the seller to resell toys made from that pattern.
If you want any more help ill happilly do so, you can contact me through folksy, my names giraffecraft.

laura16_2

How do you know if there is copyright on a pattern that you use?

bobblymosh

Usually it says it in tiny print at the beginning or end of the pattern, something usually along the lines of selling for buisness purposes or sometimes it is as clear as to say dont sell toys made from this pattern. Although most dont mind if your selling them and giving the money to a charity.


Jean Greenhowes patterns are all copyrighted so you shouldnt really sell toys made from those.
Alan Dart doesnt seem to mind if you sell one or two on his designs as long as you dont go into big buisness with them. Although your not supposed to sell ones of liscenced toys eg, bagpuss, shaun the sheep etc.
Debi Birkin says she doesnt mind if "you sell some of the toys you make, especially to raise funds for charity BUT do not use my patterns for business purposes"

It all depends on the individual designer, usually you can just email them through their websites etc. and they will let you know their policy.
Hope this helps

laura16_2

thank you for your help

Dundunbanza

Lionbrand.com has a large amount of patterns that the items made from can be sold the site says this:

Can I sell something I made using one of your patterns?

You may sell any item you make using a Lion Brand pattern.

You may not sell our patterns; they are copyrighted. If you would like to give someone a copy, please use the option on our site to send a pattern to a friend.

You have to register with the site to access their patterns.

kazkaz

Think I will start off with scarves as they do not really need a pattern so no problem with copyright.
May look into knitting baby blankets, the patchwork square types, pretty sure I could design some patterns of my own for these

simone1

You could also try and knit a very nice tablecloth. The idea of knitting baby blankets is very good as those items are popular christening gifts.

[Deleted User]

I began by selling hand-crafted items on ebay. (We’re talking a couple of dozen sales here – not thousands). However, when the fees (and hassle!) became too much, my daughter made a website for me. I now make & sell about 3 items per week. (I’m a pensioner, so it’s more of a home-based hobby than a cash-earning incentive)
However, I noticed a post on one of the large craft-based forums saying that everyone who makes an item then sells it at a profit needs to register as self-employed with the Inland Revenue for tax and N.I purposes (regardless of how few items are made & sold – even if it’s just one single item per year).
Another post said that if a room in the house was used solely for the purpose of producing hand-crafted items, then the Council would need to be informed so that a ‘business charge’ could be levied on the property, in addition to the ‘normal’ Council Tax. I use my spare room solely for the purpose of working with my sewing & knitting machines, and storing yarns and fabrics – so presumably I’ll be billed for this extra ‘business charge’.
Secondly, my website offers PayPal as a payment method. Along with many others who use PayPal for buying and selling, I recently received an email about ‘changes’ to our accounts. From what I can gather, payments which are made to the account holder for ‘business transactions’ (which presumably includes payments for single hand-crafted items) will no longer be transferred into an ‘ordinary’ personal bank account – ie: PayPal will only transfer money into a business account. Which suggests that anyone selling anything at a profit will now be obliged to open up a business account.
With the hassle of filling out a self-assessment form every year; paying extra Council Tax charges; and paying the fees associated with running a business bank account, I wonder whether selling a few hand-crafted items is really worthwhile?