[NFB-Blind-Crafters] Craft selling tips

Thu Sep 3 15:34:11 UTC 2026

This sounds like good advice.

If you don’t have a very honest person handy, I find Be My AI pretty ruthless.  It’s always remarking on dog hair, for instance.

Tracy

From: NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Becky Frankeberger via NFB-Blind-Crafters
Sent: Thursday, September 3, 2026 10:15 AM
To: 'List for Blind Crafters and Artists' <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Becky Frankeberger <b.butterfly at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] Craft selling tips

Just a warning. You need someone who will tell you the truth not just pat the little blind girl on the head. I don’t have anyone ruthless like this now. This is true what I am telling you. If they are not telling you this is odd, why is this tail sticking out, you did not trim the tail you tucked in enough, you have hairs on your piece, they are just patting you on the head. Truly don’t bother with them or if they are open tell them you want the truth. No one sighted or blind does things perfectly. I bought something from Joyce. I had to send it back, because to my hands it was not finished. I asked my ruthless one and they made me send it back to her. She remade it but used the same person to check her work, sad face. No one is perfect. My mom who was a very good crochet lady always had her teacher check her work. She was fully sighted and an artist.  

Warmly, 

Becky adding more to Traci’s list 

From: NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> > On Behalf Of Michelle Hyliard via NFB-Blind-Crafters
Sent: Thursday, September 3, 2026 5:26 AM
To: nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org> 
Cc: Michelle Hyliard <michellehyliard at gmail.com <mailto:michellehyliard at gmail.com> >
Subject: Re: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] Craft selling tips

I thoroughly enjoyed and agree with all the selling tips that y’all have given so far I was asked to do some research on selling online and so far it’s pretty disappointing. I think the wrestling for me to do it’s find out how easily it would be to create a website using ChatGPT to take pictures of my items and maybe talk about them a little bit but I’m lying. I think the best I can do is crochet live while singing and show people. What are you doing and do similar things on YouTube with links to my website or even sending out an email address to people who are trustworthy for me that seems to be the best option. I also like to carry my crochet backpack wherever I go I’m always crocheting because I love it and I’m pretty good at it. I make sure to have someone excited look at every piece I make before I attempt to sell it so that I know it is sale or I’m hopefully going to get some help from the women’s course I just yelling because they have at least one truck show every year. I’ve also gotten books from Ward, the Morrell and audio in from Brookshire. I have one that has 24 patterns for golf items. Reading sheet of heaven was actually kind of creepy, but I can’t wait to start making them as well as other things. I’m also making Christmas ideas for basically everyone because that’s all I can afford happy crushing all and I wish you all the best.

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 2, 2026, at 7:20 AM, Tracy Carcione via NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

Becky and Terry had some very good tips for people who want to sell their work.  I thought some people might have missed them because of the subject line, so I put them together and I’m pasting them here under my signature. 

I also saved the little doc, so I can add to it if others have more tips.

Tracy Carcione

Becky:

One of the best ways to sell your crafts is word of mouth. Your family sees how beautiful and neat your work is and wants one or more of your pieces for themselves or to give as gifts. Sitting, for example, anywhere where you have to wait and some of your pretty scarves happen to be hanging over the side of your bag, plus you are making a pretty scarf will get you noticed. Have cards to hand out for a special colored scarf. Also have a way to record that person’s order, color, phone number, their name. Be prepared another words. Going to Bible study or lady’s get together, be prepared for comments for and against. Do not take anything personal, be pleasant.  Have a coffee shop nearby, go crochet there and be prepared for orders. Maybe not the first time you are there but be friendly and you will get orders.  someone may want to know what you make, aka, what you make well have that thirty second sells pitch ready. Now, I would not include afghans in my thirty second pitch, just because they take me forever and people are impatient. So you may want to keep them updated on the progress of their order.  At the bottom of your emails put a way to get in touch with you, what you crochet, your choice your beauty, a little ketch phrase 

Crochet with Michelle

Way to get in touch with you

Then the ketch phrase

I had a web site I paid hundreds of dollars. Really truthfully the numbers did not work out. I got more by word of mouth, the bottom of my emails,  and showing what I do in public. Do not put out yourself at junk sales. I put thirty dollars’ worth of yarn alone into one of my ponchos and someone down the row will get there’s from El Cheepy place and sell them for thirty. Not worth my time nor energy. I was somewhere selling my stuff and the lady down the row had nicer winter scarves then I did. But I did make money with the purses, bags, pretty scarves I make. I made money, not much more then my expenses, so I don’t do those unless I am assured I am the only one going to be there. 

Make sure your stuff does not stink. They don’t stink with perfume, they don’t stink of cat, or in my case don’t stink like my dog. Put your stuff in bags. Make sure you have someone who cares to look thoroughly at each piece for flaws, animal hairs, color and mark each bag as appropriate, “Red winter scarves.”

Hey Christmas is coming and people want quick gifts they can just pick up. I had a real-estate lady here and she picked up a quilt looking afghan for a wedding present. I just washed it and laid it out to block. I didn’t even sew on my business name. She handed me a check and I said thank you, smile.

My husband business partner asked if I made baby things. Well he comes from a big Italian family. He spent hundreds of dollars buying things from me. He wanted an afghan and pillow covers to match his decor in his living room. I found the perfect yarn. He even tipped me he was so pleased with my work.

Just some tips to help your thinking.

Becky    

-------

Terry P:

I used to craft in the lobby, at work, at lunch and make items, like a tissue box, for my desk!

People saw my work and asked me to design items for them!

They were surprised that I could craft!

Terry Powers

Needle Creations

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