To wonder who is buying these for £30 each?

[TrialOfStyle]

Browsing Etsy just because, and came across this seller selling teeny, miniature crochet animals - measuring 3mms each.

They are adorable and the detail is very good, but £30 for something that’s falling down the sofa or getting hoovered up? Just why?

Good on the seller for finding an effective way at to make money but who in the world is buying them and what are you supposed to do with them? You can’t even just sit and look at them without holding them a few inches in front of your face.

Anyone here a secret buyer and want to shed some light on this?

@00100001 You have the gist of it. I have a small box room where all my (toys ) live. It's literally kids toys, film memorabilia, books, comics, plushes etc and the reason I have them is to mostly enjoy looking at them (and dusting the bastards occasionally).

I’m wondering if a MN’er somewhere makes them. I always ready about posters who craft niche items for sites like Etsy but they never say what they actually make.

The same people who buy other novelty (pointless) gifts. Por ejemplo, a star/Square of land on moon/Disney brick named after you

It’s impressive but I honestly can’t see the point in it.

Most collectors do fuck all with their collection.

I collect Emma Bridgewater. I’d happily pay £30 for a pretty pot. The difference is I’d actually use it for something. There are collectors who pay hundreds of pounds for a rare piece and obviously never use it in case it gets damaged but I buy stuff that I can actually use. Life is too short to save it for best.

It was definitely a fair question and I would wonder the same. I get it now though so have learnt something today! Thanks everyone!

I buy teeny tiny crochet animals but they're usually about £5 each.

£3-£4 for the patterns for those is a bit expensive as it’s got very few stitches/rows compared to larger crochet items. So also tiny and fiddly wouldn’t take that long to make.

Fabulous
But aaattchuuuu shit!

Why is a useful item better than a hobby item?

Miniature crochet is a big thing according to my teenage dd. Hence she is learning to make them.

Are you sure anyone is buying them? You can out anything on Etsy at any price but it doesn't mean people will buy it.

Dear @TrialOfStyle people who are clearly not you. Bonkers right, in a world of 7 billion + plus you’re surprised that there are people out there who collect things you can’t relate to. Clearly they’re not your cup of tea, but so what. The most surprising thing about this list is your shock. It’s ridiculous. Qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq Qi qqqqq

DD9 would be obsessed and begging me for one of these, she loves anything tiny

People value things differently. We can't always see the value ourselves but that doesn't mean it's not valuable to someone else. This has been proven time and again by the ridiculous items that go viral & everyone scurries off to buy. Who knows, a celebrity might be seen sporting one & suddenly they're sold out....

A desperate hoarder with more money than sense, who lives in a tiny bedsit and hasn't the room for full size clutter

Pixies and fairies...

There's quite a bit of judging on this thread. How is buying something that gives your pleasure for 30 quid something worthy of derision? How it it any different than buying a car you like that costs more than a cheaper one that does the same job, or an expensive handbag rather than a cheaper one that does the job?

How it it any different than buying a car you like that costs more than a cheaper one that does the same job, or an expensive handbag rather than a cheaper one that does the job?

I can see the car or handbag. With my eyes, these would like looking at a spec of dust.

If I had that to spend, I possibly would, if only because I love very unusual, handcrafted items, and I have some clue as to the amount of work that goes into something like that. They are collectibles, which means you have them to have them. And I think that creating the proper display for them would be fun, in and of itself. But that's just me.

@TrialOfStyle

How it it any different than buying a car you like that costs more than a cheaper one that does the same job, or an expensive handbag rather than a cheaper one that does the job?

I can see the car or handbag. With my eyes, these would like looking at a spec of dust.

But a bloody pretty and impressive spec of dust😁

I agree with @Throckmorton. Some people here are rather ride about someone elses hobby.

I think it would be cool if the maker made them into stud earrings or added them to invisible wire for dangle earrings

Looking at those tiny houses, and thinking about making it all sets me on edge and agitated! Like when you look at the time and realise you have another 6 hours of work.

Like others have mentioned there collectible and those who purchased will likely store them safely. And £30 may seem pricy but for the skill and detail gone into making these they’d be worth it for those who take pleasure in these kind of thing. Not for me, although I can appreciate the hard work and detail but I can think of better things to spend £30 on. But each to their own.

I’d buy one to keep in a locket perhaps.

@CrochetBug

If you don't think these are worth £30 then you clearly have no idea how much work goes into them!

This the thing. A lot of crafted items take forever to make - and it isn't worth the maker doing it unless they can recoup some costs for the time. I think this is why so many talented people are unable to make a living from their skills.

Unfortunately - a lot of similar (but cheap rubbish obvs) things can be bought which are made in bulk factories, probably in the Far East - and to a lot of people, the difference in quality isn't worth the difference in price. A small felt toy horse for £2, or a beautiful handmade one that took 6 hours to make? You do the maths.

This seller has obviously spent hours making the animals - but whether anyone buys them, we don't know. I wouldn't dream of spending £30 on one (or £2, probably) because I don't want one and can't appreciate the quality - but I can understand that they took a lot of time to make.

@Kumquatsquash Ohh my word I nearly weed laughing Tibetan singing bowels what an image! Very niche indeed!