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Jessica Kassebaum

@thejessthread

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🧶 Knitter, crocheter, spinner
📝 Writer
🌸 A little garden
✝️ Saved by grace through faith- God’s work, Eph. 2:8-10

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About commissions:
EDIT: This post is about complete strangers approaching me at craft shows or on the internet about a commissioned piece. Not about close friends or family.

I’ve had a couple questions over the years about making knit and crochet garments for people. I always hesitate to engage, because we are spoiled rotten as a society when it comes to valuing the time and effort of handmade work- whether it’s fine arts or crafts. The few times I’ve given someone* a fairly priced estimate for a finished garment, I’ve gotten this exact face: 😳. Let’s talk about it.

Say you want the Calathea Sweater, but don’t know how to knit and do not want to learn. I would charge you the cost of materials and $.35 per yard of yarn used for labor (thanks @sizeinclusivecollective for the suggestion). Here’s how much my sample would cost you (same yarn, same size):
Materials:
5 skeins Woolberry Fiber Co Berry DK (100% Merino hand-dyed wool, $29 per skein)= $145
Labor, because my time is worth something ($.35 per yard x 1170 yards)= $409.50
Total cost= $554.50

What about a pair of Row Socks?
Yarn: Woolberry Fiber Co Berry Sock (1 sock set + 1 skein)= $64
Labor= $102.90
Total= $166.90

Do you think that labor price is a little steep? For perspective, an American football field is 120 yards long. I’m asking you to pay me $42 for every football field-length of yarn I knit. I think that’s beyond reasonable. Would you do it for any less?

To save cost, you could absolutely choose to use a less expensive yarn or choose a pattern that uses bulkier yarn to cut down on the yardage used, but the quality and look would not be the same.

*Close friends and family are on a different price scale. 😊

What are your thoughts? I’d love to discuss this with you in the comments!

#woolberryfiberco #calatheasweater #rowsocks #knitwear #commissions #commissionedwork #knitting #momswhoknit #knittersgonnaknit #knit #knittersofinstagram #slowfashion #afteryarnglow #sizeinclusivestitches #wipitwearit #ourmakerlife #raglansweater #raglanknitwear #patternrelease #knittingpattern #sweaterweather #knittingpatternrelease #patternrelease #sockknitting #handknitsocks by @thejessthread

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3 years ago

A little mini batch of locks turned into a little mini batt using little mini carders which was spun into a little mini skein by my little mini munchkin today. What a sweet ten minutes of fun for us both.

We made a road trip to the Bloomington @woolandfiberfestival this morning. There were Angora rabbits, goats, and sheep to pet. I picked up an entire fleece to work on this winter and the little guy was given a handful of wool from @pnut_wright. He was so excited to “brush and spin his sheep” when we got home. 🥰

#bloomingtonwoolandfiberfestival #handspinning #handspun #yarn by @thejessthread

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16 days ago

These are not my normal colors. 😆

I really needed a riot of color this week and pulled out some bags of combed top remnants I had planned to group by color to spin some tonal skeins. Obviously, that was not the direction I went with in the end.

I’m not sure what I will be doing with these skeins. Maybe one of you will be interested in a trade when I’m finished?

They are definitely fun to spin though! I love seeing the different color combinations as I ply them. by @thejessthread

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24 days ago

I have a new (to me) Ashford traditional wheel! To get acquainted and work out any issues, I spun up a fade from some fiber I acquired from @saraht.handmade ‘s stash. 😍 I think I’m set to make new a shawl or scarf! What are your favorite fade patterns?

(I don’t think I’ll be spinning any more angora/surillama fiber on its own anytime soon. It’s super soft and luxurious, but finicky to spin. 😅)

#handspun #handspunyarn #knittersofinstagram by @thejessthread

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a month ago

My front porch is full of life right now.

A volunteer goose gourd popped up this summer and we’ve daily trained it to wrap around the front porch. The Black-Eyed Susans are in their second year and THRIVING. And my hanging baskets are probably my favorite ones yet. I feel like I have a piece of the secret garden right here. by @thejessthread

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2 months ago

Currently loading- Loons!

My husband said I could knit him a sweater, but only if it had loons or a northern pike on it. Loons were the cuter option. (Don’t tell him I said they were cute 😆)

I was inspired by the Loon Sweater by @cm_knits_, if you want the chart, you’ll have to buy that pattern. 😉 My loons are similar, but not exactly the same.

I’m using the Saddle-Shoulder Men’s Pullover from @churchmouseyarns to knit the sweater.

Yarn: @plymouthyarn Homestead
I LOVE the feel of this yarn and will definitely be using it again. by @thejessthread

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2 months ago

Celiosa (aka Cock’s Comb) is a special addition to my garden this year.

A year ago, my grandfather died. I was given a flower arrangement after the funeral, and a week later seeds started to show up all over my kitchen counter.

I saved those seeds and planted them this spring. There were points when I thought I was going to lose them all. A storm almost killed them and slugs ate half the seedlings in one night. Despite those nasty little slimballs, a pinch of seeds from a flower arrangement has given me enough seeds to keep for next year and share with family and friends.

My cup runneth over. by @thejessthread

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2 months ago

We’re still working through the entire Bible over on Substack. Zephaniah and Jeremiah are on the schedule for this week. To give you a taste of what the content is like, Zephaniah is free to view this week.

If you know me- we’ve met face-to-face and had a conversation in person- it’s available for free. Just send me a message to request a free subscription! by @thejessthread

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2 months ago

Women’s Vine Pullover Release day

Designer: @rountree.stitchery Head on over to her page for the link to the pattern!
Design:
•Compound raglan sweater worked from the top down
•Alteration guide with easy-to-follow instructions to calculate and complete yoke, bust, and body alterations
•Cable sleeve detail
•Size inclusive- 32-64” full bust circumference

If you are interested in trying out sweater knitting, this would be a great place to start!

Yarn: @lionbrandyarn #woolease “Blush”
Yarn Store: @woolandcompany I LOVE their selection of budget to high-end yarn. They are truly filling the void Joann’s left for knitters on a budget while still carrying those luxurious brands we also love to splurge on. ❤️

Photos: My 9 year old who just finished his first year of photography in 4h. He is now a pro at taking a billion pictures and giving some helpful directions. 😊

#handknit #sweaterknitting #knitting #knittersofinstagram by @thejessthread

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3 months ago

Hey! Long time, no see!

I’ve been doing almost zero fiber crafts over here in the soggy heat of southern Indiana for the last couple of months except for a sweater test for @rountree.stitchery. Her women’s Vine Pullover is releasing soon, so I knew I needed a sweater to match the kid-sized Vine I tested for her a couple years ago and jumped on the test.

Stay cool, my friends.

Yarn: @lionbrandyarn #woolease
Pattern: #vinepullover by Rountree Stitchery

#handknit #knitting #knittersofinstagram by @thejessthread

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3 months ago

Is Throwback Thursday still a thing? Here is the craft I was really into before motherhood. This popped up in my Facebook memories today and thought I’d share it here. 9 years ago I was really into quilting. Knitting and crochet became my focus when kids made it hard to sit down in front of a sewing machine for long periods of time and a small living space made keeping out large projects with pokey things in them a hazard for little hands. Now that everyone is old enough to respect dangerous things, I’ve been feeling the urge to get my fabric out again. by @thejessthread

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4 months ago

Look at those little buds!
Of all the flowers in my garden, these are the ones I am most excited about this year. They are the most beautiful shade of dusty pink Celiosa (aka Cock’s Comb). The seeds fell from a flower arrangement from my grandfather’s funeral last July, and I saved some from my countertop and started them this spring, with only a small hope that they would germinate and an even smaller hope that they would survive until I could get them transplanted. Seven plants survived and are thriving. I will hopefully have seeds to share with family and friends this fall. by @thejessthread

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4 months ago