Whether you are a Crochet Water Balloon veteran or this is your very first time hearing about them; you can make money selling this fast and easy toy this summer at craft fairs, on Etsy, Facebook and more. This free crochet pattern is easy enough for beginners, and it is so fast that you will be able to make complete sets for selling in no time. Keep reading for more information about this hot summer toy, tips on where and how to sell them, and see some inexpensive packaging ideas I have for you! Want to purchase pre-made Crochet Water Balloons? Get some here!
Make Money Selling Crochet Water Balloons
So for those of you who may be new to the concept of Crochet Water Balloons, here is a quick rundown:
- I published the original free crochet pattern on my blog in 2016 - it is still available for free here!
- Crochet Water Balloons are made with small amounts of super absorbent yarn. They essentially work like a sponge: dunk in water, throw the balloon, get wet, repeat!
- Crochet Water Balloons are reusable and will last all summer long: machine wash/air dry
- Crochet Water Balloons are eco-friendly/mess-free: no harmful scraps left in the yard/pool/beach like you have with classic water balloons
- Crochet Water Balloons are easy: it takes zero time to fill these with water. Just dunk them in a bucket and you are good to go!
- Crochet Water Balloons are latex-free: latex allergies should not be a concern with these (when using the recommended yarn)
- If you are a visual learner, I have a complete video tutorial (both right and left handed) to demonstrate how to make these from start to finish
FAQS:
Will these hurt? I have had questions from some about whether these will hurt upon contact. I bit the bullet and let my husband throw one at me TWICE. I personally didn't think that it hurt. I would use the same rules as I would advise with regular water balloons: don't throw at the face/head and don't throw TOO hard. Make sure they are clean and free of debris. This free pattern is published for inspiration purposes only. Make/use these at your own risk and encourage your children to use them carefully 🙂
How do you fill them? You don't! Just soak them in water-they work like a sponge 🙂
Can I sell these? Absolutely! I just ask that you don't reproduce the pattern in any way (in print or electronically) and that you use your own pictures for your sales. Come back and let me know how they sell for you!
Can I used a different yarn? In this instance I am not sure other yarn would work quite as well as the Bernat Blanket yarn. You can use any kind of Bernat Blanket yarn (big ball, stripes, baby blanket, brights) but I can't guarantee that water balloons made with an entirely different yarn would work the same way.
My balloons look much bigger/smaller than yours! No worries! That's just a difference in tension. If your balloons are turning out too large, you can go down in hook size. If your balloons are too small, go up in hook size or loosen up your tension. I also have a pattern for Mini Water Balloons available here.
Where should I sell my Crochet Water Balloons?
Are you looking to make a few extra bucks this summer? I have heard TONS of stories from my readers about their success at selling these - especially during the summer months. If you decide you’d like to try to sell them, here are a few places you can start:
Facebook: local buy/sell groups and Facebook Marketplace have made selling on Facebook pretty darn easy! Even if you don’t have a business page, you can still list items for sale in groups and on the Marketplace. Of course making a business page is also an option. Just remember that when you are selling products (however you decide to sell them) you will need to keep records for tax season!
Instagram: If you can get some really nice pictures of your Crochet Water Balloons - try promoting them on Instagram! Instagram is also a great way to reach a wider audience (not just local). You can link to an Etsy shop in your profile, or take orders through direct messaging. If you use #crochetwaterballoons on Instagram I may just share your post through my account, too 😉
Etsy: And speaking of Etsy, if you want to ship your products, Etsy is a great place to start! It takes care of a lot of the “administrative” work so you can focus on making and shipping your product easily. Selling on Etsy definitely allows a farther reach for your products; however it is also very competitive. If you decide to list on Etsy, I suggest also promoting on Instagram, a Facebook business page, and/or creating Pins for Pinterest directing people to your Etsy listing.
Would you rather sell locally? That is absolutely an option, too! Make some inventory and sign up for a summer craft fair in your area. Check with your city’s Parks and Recreation Department, your local library, churches or even local boutiques to find craft fair opportunities. You could also consider donating sets of water balloons along with a business card to local fundraisers or raffles to help get the word out. Once people try these Crochet Water Balloons - they are usually hooked (pun intended)! Word of mouth can be one of the best ways to sell your product locally!
Crochet Summer Fun for Kids and Adults
These water balloons are great for all ages - so go ahead and market them for:
- backyard play
- neighborhood parties
- birthday party favors
- boy/girl scout camping trips
- family reunions
- vacations at the pool/beach
I can’t tell you how many stories I have heard from readers telling me that the adults enjoyed these just as much as or more than the kids. They truly are classic summer fun in a more eco-friendly way.
How to Sell Crochet Water Balloons
So we have already discussed where to sell your Crochet Water Balloons, now let’s talk about the “how”. I’ll be honest - these confuse people until they see them in action! So I always recommend having a video of them in use or a shot of them splatted against the ground with water to give people the idea (again, please use your own photos in any of your product sales! Mine photos are only for use on my personal distribution).
I also recommend packaging the water balloons into sets. Cute and functional packaging can really add to the appeal of these - whether in your product photos or at a craft fair setup. Check out these cute inexpensive options I found for packaging Crochet Water Balloons - they are all from the Dollar Store!
- Buckets and Baskets: I found many different bucket/basket options that would work well to sell these! The wire mesh basket would be great for a small set and can be used for storage/drying as well. The large blue bucket holds a nice sized set, and it could easily be used at the “water re-load” bucket during a water balloon fight. Finally, the shovel and pail are such a cute way to package a small set of water balloons for kids!
- Mesh Laundry Bags: I have had a lot of readers tell me that they package their sets of Crochet Water Balloons in mesh laundry bags. After the water balloon fight, the balloons can be placed in the mesh bag and brought inside to be washed and dried. My dollar store had a package of 3 for $1 - so it is also a very inexpensive way to add some packaging to your product. If you don’t have a dollar store nearby that sells these you can also find mesh laundry bags on Amazon.
- Small Cellophane Bags: when you are selling sets of Crochet Water Balloons, I recommend that you make sets of different quantities and have them priced accordingly. While some people may want larger sets, others may just want a few water balloons to try out. These small cellophane bags were in the party section at my dollar store, and they are perfect for holding two water balloons! Add a cute printed tag to the top of the bag and you’re bound to sell several.
Other Miscellaneous Tips for Selling Crochet Water Balloons
- Have a product demonstration or demonstration video
- Decide on bulk pricing ahead of time
- Include a tag with washing/drying instructions
- ALWAYS include a disclaimer that these should be used with care and never aimed at the face or head or when sandy/dirty.
- Offer a variety of colors - allow your customers to mix and match if possible
I hope you found this information helpful, and I hope that you have great success with your sales! I want to hear your success stories. Email me and let me know your best tips and tricks for selling Crochet Water Balloons.
More Free Crochet Patterns You'll Love
Find all FREE CROCHET PATTERNS here
Now the legal stuff...You may sell items made from this pattern, but please credit me as the original designer. Also, please do not share the written pattern in print or electronically. The photos on this webpage belong to Megan Meyer of Left in Knots and may not be used for product sales/product listings. You may share a link back to my blog if you would like someone else to see or work with this pattern. Thank you for your cooperation and if you have any questions please feel free to contact me!
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting free patterns and yarn deals from Left in Knots!