The Gift of Hard Work

This is dedicated to the ones who don't understand the work that goes into a knitted project.

Now, you can pretty much go anywhere and get a cute thing that's been machine knitted by some cold machine that works tirelessly for hours on end. The machine never gets sore wrists, the machine never drops a stitch, and the machine never has to be paid. Thus, you can go to Target and get a cute pair of socks for under $10. Or a nice knitted poncho at Walmart for under $5.

Or...you can go with handknit. Handknitted objects are works of love, care, devotion--who am I kidding? They're works of frustration a lot of times. There's swearing involved, dropped needles, wrists that refuse to work somedays, and boy does it take some time.

It took Kit two weeks to make one sock. She doesn't steadily knit, but if she did, it would've taken about 8 hours if she was a freakin' cold-blooded machine without friends, family, or a job.

So, consider 8 hours for one sock. At minimum wage, depending on the state, that is between $40 and $50 dollars. Then factor in the price of yarn. Kit just bought a skein for her birthday of Mountain Colors Bearfoot yarn for $20. Or Knit Picks has yarn for under $5 per skein. 1 skein makes one sock, so $10. And then the needles. If she gets the cheap sort, the Boye needles, it's about $2-$3. If she fancies needles that don't squeak and that glide lovingly through yarn, the price can go up to as much as $20.

So, grand total: time x min. wage = $40-$50 x 2 = $80 - $100. Plus yarn = $10-$20 = $90 - $120. Plus those needles = $3-$20 = $93 - $140.

There you go, a price range of what a pair of socks can cost if you want to pay fair for it. Want it for free? That's what Kit gets hit with.

Imagine if you wanted a sweater.