Have you ever thought of selling needle craft items? Not the easy to find basic yarn that can be found at any big box or craft store but out of stock, vintage or hard to find needlework kits with interesting art or identifiable graphics that promote nostalgic memories. The appeal can vary based on themes and colors. Do your research and get to know types of patterns or kits preferred by needlecrafters. Subject matter will make a difference as well. I’ve found images with children, dogs or Christmas sell well for me.
You can pick up many needle craft kits for a few dollars at thrift stores or garage and estate sales. Ive found designs from the 70’s to 80’s are both affordable for me to pick up as well as affordable for casual collectors.
If you are having trouble finding information on a particular type of needle craft you have come across, there are crafting communities filled with buyers and sellers happy to share information. These can be broken down to crochet & knitting, embroidery, cross stitch, latch hook, just to name a few.
While needles can be easily found and inexpensive, vintage tools are always appreciated within crafting communities. There are both collectors for displaying as well as collectors that actually enjoy using them so be sure to keep an eye out for vintage needle craft tools when sourcing.
I’ve sold vintage yarn as well. Some buyers are brand loyal and appreciate when you can find a large amount from the same dye lot. Research yarn brands and top makers. Aunt Lydia’s, Anny Blatt, Madelinetosh are higher end but also look out for vintage Caron, Lion and Red Heart. These are just a few of the vintage collectibles to look for. Key words to research for collectibility are fiber content such as vintage mohair, angora, merino wools and cashmere lambs wool yarns just to name a few .
When it comes time for descriptions in your listing, do more than just list the name. Spend a little extra time describing your item. Add country of origin along with weight, yardage, gauge and maybe even add what the yarn can be used for (sweaters, accessories…).
Remember to add your finds to your social media links. This will help drive traffic to your stores for an increase in sales. It’s all about how much time and energy you want to put into promoting your store and you’ll see a difference in your sales.
Happy Hunting!