I've found a new love for creating crochet patterns, but they take a lot of time and effort to come up with.

I'm debating whether or not I should record YouTube tutorials and get paid through ad views. They only issue is that you need to get enough watch hours to even qualify for their monetization program.

I currently make PDF patterns and sell them on my Etsy and personal website. My prices are extremely cheap as I just want people to buy them so I can start getting reviews to look more trustworthy. I don't have many sales yet, but I did just start a month ago, so I'm not too worried.

I know some people record YouTube tutorials AND sell PDF patterns, but I'm worried people will just watch the video since it's free and I would be wasting time making the PDFs. The PDFs take me a really long time since I make them look professionally formatted and include a lot of images.

I'm just not sure whether I should prioritize PDF pattern making or YouTube. So far, I'm thinking maybe post smaller/easier pattern tutorials on YouTube and keep my bigger, more complex stuff as paid PDFs only. I'm not sure if doing both is unmanageable though...

If anyone is in the pattern making business, whether you sell PDFs or record tutorials, some advice would be greatly appreciated.

I hate making the same thing over and over again which is why I love taking custom orders. I get to take someone's idea and make it into a reality. And I'd say I'm pretty good at it too. But my only problem is I don't even know where to begin in that world, I've really only been told about selling pre-made listing. Where and How does one get people to commission them???

Edit: to be specific, I'm talking about crochet. And I've got 3 years experience (coming up on 4)