After such a large project like Falkor was, I usually tend to go into a crochet slump of sorts. A little lost in the sauce with no real direction so to speak. So if you’ve been wondering where I’ve been, that’s it. Just needed a bit of a break. But break is over!
Last year I was requested to make a custom Jack Skellington, and this year apparently is no different!
So he is what I’ve been up to recently!
This is exactly why when I design something custom from scratch I write down everything I do. So I can easily go back and do it again and again if needed.
So far I’ve got the head and body done on this remake.
His Legs, Arms, and Jacket are all done in several different pieces in order to do the pin striping on his clothing.
This is because I actually use my sewing machine to get nice clean and legit looking stripping! So once I get that part done I can meticulously put him all together!
Then after he’s together I just need to give him shoes and hands and he’ll be off to his new home!
I’ve got about 7hrs of work into this guy so far. As I do have the pieces for his arms, legs and most of his jacket done. Just didn’t get a picture!
Well lately, yet again, I’ve been daydreaming about having my own brick and mortar storefront. Not necessarily to sell my finished makes (cause duh of course!)
But a place for all crafts and hobbies. A place for ONLY handmade items to be sold from other local artists. A place for meetups for different crafts. A place for workshops. A place for sharing, learning, and loving the different ways to create art.
A local place for all hobbiests, with paper and paints. Stickers and beads. Printers and sculptors. And of course yarn and fabrics. And all the tools that go with them.
What’s stopping me? Well the kids is the biggest hurdle honestly. And secondly it’s a HUGE financial risk and that’s not a burden I’m will to rope Hubs into. And it definitely not something I’m capable of taking on myself 😅
So yea, that’s what’s on my mind. My biggest Pipedream ❤️
In case you missed it… I have decided to remove all my 3D files from Etsy and will be slowly adding them to Bambu MakerWorld!
It’s going to take me some time to get everything moved over, so please bare with me.
I’ve decided to make the move as Etsy really isn’t meant for files, and well, MakerWorld is full of users with printers! So the reach is to get more of my work out there is better.
YOU CAN STILL ORDER FINISHED PRINTS ON ETSY! My Etsy is still fully running for those that need Eyes/Addons printed! I have simply just moved the files for those that would rather print things themselves.
This is going to be a long winded breakdown of how I go about pricing, and since I just finished Falkor…We’re going to use him as an extreme example. I’ll go through a few different ways I’ve heard/seen how many do their pricing, plus my own way. So strap in…Cause here comes lots of math and of course, more Falkor!
Next to, above, or below (however you view this post) you’ll see the photo with the pricing for all my materials used. Only thing not listed is the small amount of tulle I used. I had the tulle on hand and honestly have no idea where or what brand it even is to get a price, so we will just ignore that 🫣 I also never include stuffing in my pricing, as I buy this in bulk and just don’t care to weigh out what I use.
Beyond the tulle, I used 65.22g of TPU filament, 2.92g of White PLA filament, 5.12g of Black PLA filament, one full 3.53oz skein of Nako yarn, and a total of 13.5oz or 2 and 1/4 skeins of Big Twist yarn. Also not pictured are the specialty safety eyes from Darkside Eyes that cost $3.
Now here is where I see a LOT of people say to charge 3x the cost of materials going off their retail values. Basically as if I had to buy everything initially. So if I follow this rule, the “price” for Falkor based on what other’s believe would be…$227.55. Now while that does sound reasonable, it’s really not. Remember I spent 56 hours making this guy. Not to mention, I don’t really find it fair at all to charge full retail cost of the materials when I didn’t use every last bit of them. I personally only include actual USED material cost when it comes to my pricing. So I’ll break that down for you on the chart below in how I figure that out.
White PLA filament=$15.99 for 1000g… I used only 2.92g
$15.99/1000=$0.02 per gram… $0.02 x 2.92g Used=$0.06 actual material cost
Black PLA Filament=$13.99 for 1000g… I used 5.15g
$13.99/1000=$0.01 per gram… $0.01 x 5.15g Used=$0.05 actual material cost
TPU Filament=$24.90 for 1000g… I used 65.22g
$24.90/1000=$0.02 per gram… $0.02 x 65.22=$1.30 actual material cost
Big Twist Yarn=$4.49 per 6oz skein (x3 =$13.47)… I used 13.5oz or 2 and 1/4 skeins
$4.49/6=$0.75 per ounce… 2 full skeins=$8.98 3rd skein=$0.75 x 1.5=$1.13 $8.98+$1.13=$10.11 actual material cost
Nako Yarn=$4.50 per 3.53oz skein…I used a full one Safety Eyes=$3
$4.50+$3=$7.50 actual material cost
Following “Usual” Rule…Cost=$75.85 $75.85 x 3=$227.55 “material cost”
Following “My” Rule…Cost=$19.02 actual material cost…and even if I x3 that’s still only $57.06 which 100% does not cover the work put in.
Hopefully my breakdown chart makes sense, I know not everyone enjoys doing the math. Yet, I really feel it necessary to STOP people from doing the 3x material cost “rule” because it’s just wrong.
In my opinion you’re OVERcharging your clients for materials you don’t use all the way. I still have plenty of filament for several other prints, and more than enough of the big twist yarn for quite a few other things depending on what I choose to make.
It’s not right! So stop doing it this way…please! Just do the math. It’ll honestly keep your prices more affordable in the long run, and people more than likely to buy. ESPECIALLY for the quick makes that almost never use a full skein and you can make several of something from just one skein!
Anyways!! Moving on…Now that we’ve figured out my true material cost ($19.02) it’s time to figure out pricing my time to actually make him! This again I’ve seen several different ways of going about it. Charge by your local hourly minimum wage, minimum hourly tipped wage, or by number of stitches. So lets break each of those “rules” down shall we?
Where I live the Hourly Minimum Wage =$12.48hr. Hourly Minimum Tipped Wage =$4.74hr. As for by number of stitches, most I’ve seen that use this rule charge $0.01 per stitch.
Let’s first start with the $0.01 per stitch. By my math…Which took forever to add up By the way 🥴…Falkor has a total of 17,930 crochet stitches.
$0.01 x 17,930 =$179.30 total JUST to crochet him. That doesn’t include my time to attach his nostrils, eyelids, the scales or the time to brush all of him out.
That is strictly just crocheting him…
This method could work for simple things or no-sew items, but simply does not really work for the more intricate makes that take more than just crocheting. Which takes us into the next two methods. One I see a lot, and the one I use personally.
I put 56 hours and 18 minutes of work into making this beasty (I did NOT include my 3D Printing time separately as it was running on it’s own WHILE I was crocheting.) Based on the “wages rules” and again where I’m personally located with Full Minimum Wage being $12.48hr and Tipped Minimum Wage being $4.74hr.
That would be $702.62 at full minimum wage or $266.86 at tipped minimum wage.
Now many people will tell you to “charge your worth” or “don’t work for free” yadda yadda. While Yes I do agree with charging your worth, however I do NOT agree with charging for More than its worth.
And charging a Full Minimum wage just doesn’t work in my opinion. While yes, I do consider this my job…It is not very demanding by any means.
Which is 100% why I personally go by following my local Tipping Minimum Wage. I’m not sitting in an office answering phones, or a mechanic working on cars, or any other job you would consider a “normal 9-5” job. I am in my opinion providing a service with the skills I have available to me. So I will price my things as such, and I’m sure there will be several that don’t agree with this way of thinking. Which is totally fine by me, I’m not here to please everyone, just here to spread help and awareness.
Anyway, everyone loves a good chart, so here’s another one to put all these different methods into perspective and hopefully help you decide on your own way of pricing things in the future.
Method Used
”Retail” Material Cost $75.85×3 =
$227.55 Total
“Actual” Material Cost $19.02×3=
$57.06 Total
+”Retail” Material Cost ($75.85)
+”Acutal” Material Cost ($19.02)
17,930stiches x $0.01 per Stitch
=$179.30+$75.85=$255.15 Total
=$179.30+$19.02=$198.32 Total
Local Minimum Wage $12.48hr x 56hr18min
=$702.62+$75.85=$778.47 Total
=$702.62+$19.02=$721.64 Total
Local Tipped Minimum Wage $4.74 x 56hr18min
=$266.86+$75.85=$342.71 Total
=$266.86+$19.02=$285.88 Total
With all that, we’ve reached the end! So what will it cost to order a custom made Falkor of your own? $285.88 (Plus shipping as that changes depending on your location.)
If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to ask! Either in the comments, message me on Insta, or email me directly at C3Fiberarts@gmail.com
I’m always happy to help, or explain something further ❤️
Now if you’re wanting your own Falkor you can reach out to me in the same way! As he does take quite a bit of time I won’t be going through Etsy for this one. Only direct requests to me via email or Insta will be accepted.
If you’ve made it this far…THANK YOU! Figuring all this out took far more time and effort than I expected it to and I really hope is does help someone!
And just look at him, look at that face!! He is absolutely amazing and I honestly can’t believe I did that!
The imposter syndrome is strong with this one. I did that! ME and my full bore chaos brain actually pulled it off!
Now IF I were to make him again there are some slight changes I’d make to how I did a few things. But THIS gloriousness being the final outcome on the very first go…THRILLED doesn’t even begin to cover it.
I’m working on getting a full “cost/pricing” breakdown figured out to hopefully help others figure out how to better price their own works. And also have a price for anyone that might just be interested in having their own Falkor made.
Next on the list of “to do” requests, another custom Jack Skellington!
Ignore my kids toys 🫣 Hahahaha!! Here’s some good “behind the scenes” or “in the making” of the process.
I decided to do one side of his body at a time, just to really show off the difference between not brushed vs brushed.
It’s honestly hard to get good pictures to really show it off, but I hope you can see the difference well enough.
I’m honestly not really sure how long it took me to just brush him out, I set the timer and just let it go while I worked…I should’ve done a separate timer for this bit and I’m sorry I didn’t 😅
After what felt like ages of brushing came the time to add his scales. Again I should’ve done a separate timer for this part also 🤦♀️
His scales turned out to be an even BIGGER headache than the brushing was. I totally wasn’t prepared for the amount of time it was going to take.
Nor the amount of patience I was going to need. They were like a puzzle that I needed to cut the pieces for myself AND THEN also place just right.
A headache for sure, but one that was totally worth it in the end! The side by side honestly just 🤯 I surprised even myself with how well this worked out.
Well I have definitely failed at this update 🫣 So I’ll keep this one short and sweet…
Falkor has a fully finished body! All that needs to be done here forward is final detail work. Which sounds easy, but will for sure be very time consuming!
Not me originally thinking his feet/legs wouldn’t give me much issue…🤦♀️…Jokes on me! Hahahaha
After spending a couple hours making the first version to realize once I felt “done” I totally hated it..So back to the drawing board it was.
With some help from my mom while complaining, she helped me research a bit and we learned that while most drawings and models have Falkor with several “toes” he is ACTUALLY only supposed to have 3 on each foot. He was modeled after Chinese dragons. So knowing that I decided it was best to follow that guideline. Boy am I glad that I did!
Sorry photos aren’t the best this time around. With his size, it’s getting a bit harder to get all the angles properly while still working on him 🫣 Two more legs to go! Then scales, and yep, all the brushing!
Quite a few months back someone in my neighborhood was going through recently passed moms things and clearing out a lot of crochet related items. She had thread, hooks, notions, just about everything a crocheter would need. Not only that, she had an INSANE collection of very old/vintage magazines and pattern books. I collect them and JUMPED at the chance. My collection is now incredible thanks to her daughter’s generosity.
However, when having a little chat and learning a bit about her mother and all the things she’s made, she told me about a tablecloth she was unable to finish. Rather upset over it never getting finished and not knowing what to do with it, but not wanting to get rid of it. I offered my skills. As a thank you for the books/magazines I told her I would finish the tablecloth her mother started and was unable to finish.
I brought the beautiful work home and after some inspection I found that she did in fact finish the tablecloth! All that was needed were ends to be weaved.
So will some back breaking effort and sitting on the floor for some hours, I got all the ends wove.
I am seriously in awe over this magnificent woman’s work. The Pineapple stitch is one of my personal favorites, and seeing it used for something this large scale was amazing. Her stitches are perfection, and I can tell how much care went into this piece of art.
This tablecloth seriously is an absolutely incredible work of art.
It was an honor and a privilege to finish this for not only the daughter, but also for her mother.
Take care of those around you, and if you have the skills to help, never shy away from doing something meaningful ❤️
Getting his body just right has been one hell of a process. Not to mention getting a good amount of “movement” into him but still keeping a natural look.
I’m honestly very thrilled with how he’s turning out as a whole! I’d say I’m confidently halfway finished with making him. What’s left to do are both his front and back legs, adding the scales on his sides, and then brushing ALL of him out for his true furry look.
And yes…I’ve still being time tracking this whole time. Enjoy the updated time into this 🫣
Just for an added bonus look into how big he is, cause pictures don’t always give a good visual on sizing.
This is Falkor with his muzzle starting at the very tip of my middle finger…
PART of me wants to do this again with plush or even blanket yarn BUT that also sounds incredibly awful for my hands, not to mention my wallet 😅
C3Fiberarts 
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