Hard to deal with that kind of thinking. Practice by making things for yourself to keep those skills.

I refuse to pay $8 for a head of cauliflower, and most everyone that I know feels the same way.

Oldschool, mastering a skill is always commendable, especially from a prepper standpoint. Most people have moved away from purchasing handmade stuff, whether it is clothes or furniture. It probably has to do with a mix of convenience, lower cost and fast gratification (I can buy something at the store now instead of waiting weeks for you to finish knitting). I agree that handmade with good quality products would outlast any made in China junk by a long shot, but then again, today's consumerism clashes with that concept.

Though maybe not the source of extra income you were seeking, you shouldn't despair and give up. Keep up with your skills by creating pieces for yourself, families and maybe to offer as gifts. At least you can put a relative dollar saving value by thinking you don't have to buy certain items and gifts. This is similar to many learning gardening skills; they may never sell emir produces at markets, but they keep learning while saving some money... Like not buying $8 cauliflowers.

I agree with the others, keep making for yourself and as gifts for others. Sometimes a niche is good, like homemade soap for those with allergies or sensitive skin, since you know and can control what's in it, unlike the crap from the dollar store. Not sure how this would translate to knitting...

Besides, after the zombie apocalypse, there won't be those stores and the relative value of your skills and materials will skyrocket 😉

I feel your pain old school, lots of people look at the kits and other materials that I sell via Rapid Survival and walk away at the price. I don;t think my stuff is over priced by any means but never the less for every sale I receive about three walk away claiming it's too expensive.

That being said, having a solid skill such as you've described can be put to use like others have suggested, gifts for friends and family, something for yourself, etc. Keep the skill set sharp you never know when it will become indispensable!

Part of the problem may be the market you are trying to reach. I have found that for the type of product you are offering, craft oriented sales may yield better results.
Try selling at local craft shows, church bazzars, etc. You may have better success!
Also, originality counts for A LOT! find something to make that no one else has for sale.

This doesn't really have anything to do with barter but its as good a place as any to squeeze it in. Paul Wheaton started a thread over at Permies.com on Residual Income Streams and it might be helpful to all of us here at IPN

http://www.permies.com/t/52364/ri/big-list-REAL-residual-income

I haven't fully gone over all of this yet. I just sent it to myself for some time in the near future when Im mentally up for wrestling though this all. I hope it helps

Thanks all for your input.

I went a little over board today getting some yarn (75%) off with the thought of making "expensive" stuff for me, rather then selling stuff.

It is a sad state when people don't understand quality - a disposable society is what we have become. I would like to give people a shake. Back in the day when I was selling at craft shows, I have sold out in hours with the prices I wanted. That was 20 years ago. I can't even get the same price today. 😥

One woman said to me "why the heck should I buy one of your blankets?" My answer was simple - don't. Go to the store and buy the best one that you can, and then next year do the same thing, and the year after that. Continue to do that for about 25 years. Now which way is cheaper? She got my point and I would not sell to her. 😆

Over the years, I have had exactly the same problems as you......not being able to sell my product at any reasonable price. I would have people offer me $50.00 for a table cloth that took me 300 hours and $150.00 worth of quality yarn. When I refused their money they got very upset because they thought they were "helping" me, by buying from me. The last two craft fairs I did, there were at least 6 people that had stolen ideas from me, and had the same things on display that I did. I have to admit that the quality of their product was not up to my standards. Theirs having dropped stitches, holes where none should be etc. My final straw, that made me quit craft type sales was when people would argue with me that my goods had to be machine made because nobody can stitch that well by hand: when here I was sitting at the side of the table stitching on a table cloth or wall hanging. They could see that a hook and my hands were my "machine". The last craft sale, I did not even male enough money to pay for the table rental. I actually went into the hole, as I wes expected to donate one item to the raffle basket, and it's value was set at $50.00 or more.
After all the disapointments, my husband talked me into giving as gifts, the products I make. I feel good about gifting the stuff, although I am not making any money either. That seems to be the way it is in this disposable world we live in.

I think I may have spoken too soon as I have several barters on the go at the moment with my yarn skills 🙂