When I created a self portrait in 11 colors of yarn, gave up 14 days just to knit (and I’d already spent time graphing out the map/plan, so to speak, plus more time collecting appropriate yarns)… people wanted to know how long it took. If I only knew, and why is that such a repetitive question when it comes to handwork?

Then I have strangers chasing me down the street wanting to pay me to make a shawl or pair of socks for them. They would like to offer me the large sum of $20 which I realize is more than most commercial socks cost.

I tell them that good sock yarn starts at $12 a pair, and then I need to start knitting. There are perhaps 10,000 stitches in a pair of women’s socks. Even if it were only 10 hours to knit that many stitches, and even if I only got paid a dollar an hour, I’m already over their budget. I am sure that a few pairs have taken me over 40 hours, and of course I do not want to be paid below minimum wage.

When I make polymer-clay coated Art Kazoos, grandparents are surprised they cost more than a few dollars because they see them as toys. However, musicians consider $45 a really good deal for a handmade instrument.

Brian bought a kazoo from me a year before we started dating. We’ve been married 11 years. He still values my handmade works… including the socks I knit for him happily. He shows them off whenever he can.

Lynnie