When someone asks me, "How much should I charge for custom knitted character commissions at a folk festival?" my mind immediately flips between yarn choices, the time it takes to embroider a tiny face, the cost of a stall pitch, and the warm satisfaction of handing a bespoke little being to a smiling buyer. Pricing commissions is part practical math, part understanding your market, and part valuing your own creative labour. Below I lay out the considerations I use when setting prices at a festival stall — the kind of festival where people want keepsakes, stories, and something made with hands and history.

Start with your costs

The foundation of any sane price is to know what it costs you to make the piece. I break costs into three clear buckets:

  • Materials — yarn, stuffing, safety eyes or embroidery thread, buttons, wires for posability, packaging, and any labels or tags. I keep a little notebook where I list the exact yarn and notions used per character, and then calculate a per-item material cost.
  • Time — your hourly rate multiplied by the number of hours spent. Decide what your minimum freelance maker hourly rate is (I use a sliding scale depending on experience and overhead; a typical starting point might be £12–£20/hr and rises from there).
  • Overheads — stall fees, travel, marketing materials, festival lodging, taxes, and platform fees if you take payment by card or via Etsy/PayPal.

    • Example: if a character uses £6 of yarn and notions, took 6 hours and you value your time at £18/hr (6 × £18 = £108), and you allocate £6 of festival-overhead per item, the cost is £120. That’s your baseline — the price below which a commission doesn’t make sense financially.

    Factor in complexity and uniqueness

    Not all characters are equal. A tiny, simple fox with minimal embroidery and no clothing takes far less time and skill than a detailed fae queen with lacework, multiple colour changes, and hand-stitched costume. I usually have pricing bands for complexity:

  • Simple (quick builds) — small creatures, single-colour bodies, minimal dressing. Lower hourly cost and faster turnaround.
  • Standard (most of my stall work) — medium size, a couple of colour changes, basic costume elements, 1–2 weeks lead time.
  • Deluxe/Character Design — bespoke patterns, intricate details, custom clothing, accessories, longer turnaround and deposit required.

    • Charge a multiplier for complexity — for example, 1× baseline for simple, 1.5× standard, 2–3× for deluxe bespoke creations. That multiplier reflects extra time, skill, and the bespoke nature of the work.

    Consider the festival context

    Festivals have their own economies. At a folk festival, buyers often value story and craft provenance — they like the idea that the maker met the piece at a stall, heard the story, and commissioned the character. But you also have to be realistic about footfall and impulse budgets. I price a range of options on my stall:

  • Several lower-cost pieces for impulse buys — pocket-sized characters, keychains, or pattern cards.
  • Mid-range ready-made characters that demonstrate my style and make it easy for a buyer to commit without waiting.
  • A clear commissioning menu with price bands, examples, and lead times for bespoke commissions.

    • People at festivals might be more willing to pay a premium for something made and handed to them that day, or for a commission that includes a little story tag about the character’s inspiration.

    Lead times, deposits and payment terms

    Always protect your time. For commissions I require a non-refundable deposit (usually 30–50%) before starting. Deposits deter casual inquiries and cover initial materials. For festival commissions I take card, cash, or invoice through PayPal/Stripe — I mention these options clearly on my stall signs.

    Lead time must be visible. If you’re at a weekend festival and can’t finish a commission before the next local market, offer clear delivery windows: "2–4 weeks standard, rush 1 week for +30%." Rush fees are a legitimate premium to disrupt your schedule.

    Sample pricing table

    Tier Size / Features Estimated hours Material cost (example) Price range (GBP)
    Simple Mini keyring or pocket character 1–2 £2–£5 £12–£30
    Standard Hand-sized, basic clothes, embroidered face 4–8 £4–£10 £60–£160
    Deluxe Detailed costume, accessories, bespoke design 10–25 £8–£30 £250–£700+

    These ranges are examples. In busy festivals in the UK, I often see mid-range commissioned characters land between £80–£220 depending on maker reputation and detail.

    Market research — don’t be shy

    Visit other stalls, check Etsy shops, and look at the prices at nearby craft markets. I gather comparative pricing before a festival and adjust slightly upward if the festival attracts tourists or dedicated craft collectors. Remember to consider the venue’s demographic: a family-friendly village fête will have different price expectations than a national folk festival with artisan stalls.

    Valuing intangible extras

    Part of what you're selling is story and personality. I add value with:

  • a handwritten tag with the character’s name and backstory;
  • a small care card (how to wash, repair clothing, fix loose limbs);
  • a photograph for their new owner to announce the arrival on social media (people love that).

    • These extras cost almost nothing but allow you to justify a slightly higher price — people buy the whole experience, not just yarn and stuffing.

    How to present prices clearly on your stall

    Clarity breeds trust. I recommend a visible commissioning sheet with three elements: price bands (simple/standard/deluxe), deposit policy, and turnaround times. Keep examples of past commissions displayed with labels: "Made for Anna — completed in 10 days — £180." If you accept commissions via a sign-up sheet, note the next available slot and estimated completion month.

    Handling negotiations

    Buyers will often haggle. I prepare set answers: "I can adjust materials and simplify the costume to meet your budget — here's what that would look like," or "For this level of detail I can't go below X because it wouldn't cover materials and my time." If you want to offer payment plans, be explicit: "50% deposit, 25% midway, 25% on completion."

    Final thought on confidence

    Pricing is as much about confidence as calculation. When I explain why a commission costs what it does — pointing to the hours, the handmade detail, and the festival overhead — customers understand. Celebrate your craft. Set fair prices that let you keep creating, and be ready to explain the value of the tiny stitches and the story you sew into every character.