Handmade HeavenHow much does a hand-knitted sweater cost, and why — behind the scenes of the workshop
· The Handmade Heaven workshop
A hand-knitted sweater in real wool usually costs between 600 and 1,500 PLN. For comparison: a “wool” sweater from a high-street chain is 150–300 PLN. Where does the difference come from? We’re opening up our costing notebook.
What goes into the price of a handmade sweater
1. Wool — 200 to 500 PLN
A sweater in size M needs about 800–1,200 grams of yarn (10–15 skeins). Certified merino wool costs 25–40 PLN per skein, baby alpaca 40–60 PLN. Chain stores cut this cost by blending wool with acrylic — which is why a label reading “80% acrylic, 20% wool” is the norm in shopping malls.
2. Labour — 40 to 80 hours of knitting
A simple stocking-stitch sweater is a minimum of 40 hours of work. A sweater with cables, colourwork or in size XL — up to 80 hours. This is the most undervalued item: at a price of 900 PLN and 60 hours of work, the knitter earns about 8–10 PLN an hour after deducting the cost of the wool.
3. Finishing and preparation
Sewing the pieces together, weaving in ends, blocking (wet-shaping), washing and preparing for shipping takes another 3–5 hours.
How much does a hand-knitted sweater cost — by wool type
| Yarn type | Indicative sweater price (size M) |
|---|---|
| Sheep’s wool (Polish, undyed) | 600–900 PLN |
| Merino wool | 800–1,100 PLN |
| Merino with cashmere | 950–1,300 PLN |
| Baby alpaca | 1,000–1,500 PLN |
On top of that come the modifiers: a cable or colourwork pattern (+10–20% of working time), sizes XL/XXL (+15–25% of yarn) and a button-up style (a cardigan needs a button band and finishing around the buttons).
Why it’s still worth it
- Longevity: a well-cared-for sweater in 100% wool is worn for 10–20 years. An acrylic high-street sweater pills and loses its shape after one season.
- Fit: a made-to-order sweater is knitted to your measurements — sleeve length, chest, neckline.
- Repairability: a hand-knitted sweater can be unravelled and reworked, and a moth hole can be darned invisibly.
- Ethics: you know who made your clothes, and in what conditions.
How to spot an honest price
If a “hand-knitted sweater in 100% wool” costs 250 PLN — something doesn’t add up: either the wool isn’t wool, or “hand” means “machine”, or someone is working for free. The realistic floor for genuine handcraft in natural yarn is around 500–600 PLN.
Want to see what this looks like in our workshop? Browse our collection or ask about a made-to-measure sweater — we’ll prepare a quote for your project with no strings attached.