How to Sell Knitting & Crochet Patterns Online for Passive Income
Learning how to sell digital knitting & crochet patterns online is one of the best ways to create passive income.
Because once you design a pattern, you can sell it repeatedly without any additional work. This makes it an excellent revenue stream for designers and craft enthusiasts, so let's get started on your passive income journey!
In this guide, you’ll learn what's involved in creating high-quality digital patterns, where to sell them, how to price them, and how to market them effectively. Therefore helping you to maximise your earnings.
Each step will take a lot of time and effort, and over the coming months I will be writing additional posts so you can research each step further. These additional posts will provide supporting information so you can learn more about each step, and I will add in the links as and when they become available.
Sell Knitting & Crochet Patterns: Step 1: Create a high-quality digital pattern
Before you start to sell knitting & crochet patterns online, you need a well-designed, easy-to-follow pattern.
Here’s how to ensure yours is professional and appealing to buyers, so that you maximise sales, and encourage repeat customers:
- Write Clear Instructions – Use step-by-step formatting, include all materials needed, abbreviations, tension, and special techniques or stitches, with explanations suitable for beginners and experienced crafters.
- Use Professional Layout Tools – Canva, Adobe InDesign, and Microsoft Word are great for designing visually appealing PDF patterns that are easy to read on a digital device.
- Include High-Quality Images – Well-lit photos, stitch charts, and diagrams help users understand the pattern.
- Test Your Pattern – Have a few people test your pattern, and also hire a tech editor to ensure accuracy before publishing.
Actionable Step: Start by drafting a very simple knitting or crochet pattern, using a simple layout tool like Canva or Word. Choose one design and write clear instructions for it. Ask some knitting or crochet friends if they would like to try it out for you.
TOP TIP: Look at written patterns in your knitting or crochet books or magazines, so you can see how they set out their patterns.
Sell Knitting & Crochet Patterns: Step 2: Choose the best platforms to sell your patterns
There are several platforms where you can sell your digital knitting and crochet patterns. Each has its pros and cons:
1. Etsy
- Large audience, but comes with listing fees and transaction charges, which can equate to approximately 35% of your selling price.
- Best for beginners because of Etsy's own built-in traffic.
- For some sellers, there is now a small charge to set up an Etsy shop, so a very small initial outlay is now required (around £15-20).
2. Ravelry
- A niche-specific platform focused on knitting and crochet.
- No listing fees, but you pay a small commission per sale.
- Great for experienced designers with an established audience.
- A fantastic and cheap alternative to an e-commerce shop.
3. Your Own Website
- No commission fees, but requires effort to drive traffic.
- You keep 100% of your sales profits.
- Platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Payhip can help you set up a digital shop.
4. Other Options
- LoveCrafts – Another niche platform for pattern sales.
- Ribblr – A crafting platform designed specifically for crocheters, knitters and sewists.
- Creative Market – More focused on digital designs, but crochet and knitting patterns are gaining traction.
Key Platform Takeaways:
- Etsy: Easy to start with built-in traffic, but high fees and limited branding.
- Ravelry: Great for knit & crochet patterns, with built-in traffic, but no branding control.
- Payhip: No listing fees and full control over customers, but you need to drive your own traffic.
- Webshop: Full branding control and lowest fees long-term, but requires effort and knowledge to set up and market.
Actionable Step: Pick one platform to start with. Create an account then explore how to list your first pattern.
TOP TIP: Always keep a note book handy so that you can make a note of how the platform works, and to create a tick list of all the steps you need to take when listing.
Sell Knitting & Crochet Patterns: Step 3: Price your patterns for profit
Pricing digital patterns can be tricky. Here are some guidelines:
- Typical Price Range: £3–£8 per pattern, but with premium patterns going higher.
- Research Competitors: Look at similar patterns then set a competitive price.
- Offer Bundles: Sell multiple patterns in a pack at a discounted rate to increase sales volume.
Actionable Step: Research three similar shops, and note their pricing. Set an initial price for your pattern based on market rates, then adjust as you start to sell more. The more you sell, the more statistics you will have, to enable you to review and adjust your prices.
TOP TIP: Check your statistics every month so you can see which patterns are your best sellers. Make sure to design and sell more of these too.
Sell Knitting & Crochet Patterns: Step 4: Optimize your listings for more sales
To attract buyers, you need optimized listings with the right keywords and appealing visuals:
- SEO-Friendly Titles & Descriptions
- Example: Easy Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern or Beginner-Friendly Digital PDF
- Use Keywords in Tags & Categories
- “Knitting pattern PDF” “Crochet sweater pattern” “Beginner crochet pattern”
- High-Quality Images
- Showcase your finished project from multiple angles.
- Encourage Reviews
- More reviews boost rankings on platforms like Etsy and Ravelry.
Actionable Step: Write a keyword-rich title and description for your first pattern listing. Use clear, high-quality images to showcase your design.
TOP TIP: Research more about keywords and how to choose them. They will be different for each listing.
Sell Knitting & Crochet Patterns: Step 5: Promote your patterns to increase sales
Once your patterns are listed, marketing is essential, because this will drive traffic and sales. Here are some strategies so you can get started:
1. Pinterest Marketing
- Create pin-worthy images with keyword-rich descriptions.
- Use boards dedicated to knitting and crochet patterns so that Pinterest understands what your account is all about.
2. Social Media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok)
- Share work-in-progress shots and customer photos, so that you can generate interest in your designs.
- Use hashtags like #knittingpattern, #crochetpattern, #handmadebusiness so that you can find people who are interested in what you have to offer.
3. Email List
- Offer a free pattern to build your email list, because everyone loves a freebie!
- Send regular newsletters featuring new patterns and special discounts so that you keep your audience engaged and interested.
4. Collaborate with Influencers
- Reach out to craft bloggers to feature your patterns.
- Consider promotional opportunities with popular knitting/crochet influencers, but be really careful about who you collaborate with. Make sure they fit your style and ethos.
Actionable Step: Choose one platform (Pinterest, social media, or email) then create a promotional post or pin for your first pattern.
TOP TIP: Learn as much as you can about how the platform works, so that you can maximise your results.
Bonus: Turn One Pattern into Multiple Income Streams
Once you have a successful pattern, expand your revenue streams:
- Create Video Tutorials – Sell courses or use YouTube for ad revenue.
- Turn Patterns into Kits – Sell yarn & tools along with your digital pattern.
- License Your Patterns – Sell short-term usage rights to magazines or brands.
Actionable Step: Think of an additional way to monetise your pattern, such as offering a video tutorial or kit bundle.
TOP TIP: Video tutorials are really popular because your audience can see exactly what you're doing with your hands, hook/needles and yarn. They are a great way to connect authentically with your audience.
Conclusion
Selling digital knitting and crochet patterns is therefore a great way to earn passive income. By creating high-quality designs, optimizing your listings, and promoting them effectively, you can start to build a profitable and sustainable business. The main thing to remember is that it takes time to design and write up patterns, so the sooner you start, the sooner you can begin your passive income journey.
Ready to start? Pick one platform and list your first pattern today!
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