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How to Turn Your Knitting or Sewing
Talent into a Career

For those who can sit and sew or knit for hours on end, and who start sizing up relatives months before Christmas to get that perfect sweater completed on time, a career sewing or knitting textiles may be the perfect way to turn an engrossing hobby in to a full time job.

Time was when the knitting and sewing industry was a thriving one in the US, but nowadays the number of jobs is plummeting as more and more handmade clothing jobs get outsourced overseas.
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Hobbyists may have a better chance of finding a career knitting or sewing by becoming entrepreneurs and selling their wares as crafts at craft fairs, local shops, and even over the Internet, on websites such as etsy.com.

Doing these kinds of jobs, of course, means that a good business sense is required in addition to sewing and knitting skills. By displaying their work at craft fairs and studios (and increasingly in online crafts directory sites and galleries), a professional crafter's salary is almost entirely dependent on knowing what sells, with the ability to present original well-made work before appreciative audiences.

This may entail networking with other professionals in online craft forums, for instance, or joining professional organizations like PAAC or the The Knitting Guild Association, or sharing your expertise on your website to establish your credentials (and subsequently bring visitors in to show your work!)

Starting up any kind of small business carries with it lots of time and hard work, but the upside is that independent owners have much more control over their success, and there is something very liberating about being one's own boss by doing what you love...

More about starting your own sewing or knitting business around the Web:

Knitting and Crochet Start work at home business - Been-there guide to making money from your knitting skills with tips and advice on buying materials, what sells, preferred venues, plus a how-to library of knitting and embroidery projects.

How to Price Your Knitting to Sell - Helpful advice on scouting out your competition, keeping start up costs low, and pricing for profit, plus scroll down for more articles with related tips on the home knitting business.

How to Start a Sewing Business - eHow.com guide with step-by-step instructions and advice on launching an independent sewing career with related tips and resources.

Sewing as a Home Based Business - Good overview with advice on the pros and cons including related resources and suggested reading.

also see -> Make Your Own Wedding Dress | Sewing Curtains & Drapes

How to Start Your Own Crafting Business

also see in Shopping -> Online Craft Galleries