Charging for Knitting?

So, at the end of last year, I knit something that wasn't a gift for someone else for the first time. I charged him a total of 15 dollars or so - enough to buy the yarn, plus a little extra. That was so not enough.
How do other people charge for their knitting? I know there's a quote, "Knitting is like sex. If I like you, and you appreciate it, it's free. Otherwise, you couldn't pay me enough."
I'm not sure if 15 wasn't enough because the pattern was confusing, and I waited until the end of the semester to finish the project, which wasn't the commissioner's fault, really. Or was it because 15$ just straight-up wasn't enough? I've been told to charge for yarn x 2 or 3. But is this what I should do across the board?

Right now, I'm knitting two pair of fingerless mittens for my dad. They're incredibly simple, and by the time they're done, I'll have made 10 total gloves, all things considered. Should I charge my dad that much, though? Especially considering they're a V-day gift for my stepmom? I dunno. Argh.

In Progress Update

Howdy.
I've only been working on one project lately, partly because of school, and partly because I really like working on it. I'm making a longcat scarf for my boyfriend!




I'm actually considerably farther (further?) than this, but it's at the point where it would be sort of silly to take a picture, since it would look like some sort of weird racing stripe with feet. I'm having a lot of fun making it, following this pattern. It's about as long as my arm now, actually. I'm still having a great time making it!

I'm also about to start my first (second, technically, after my own) of three (again, four technically) of my modified version of these glitzy fingerless mittens: one for my mom, one for my stepmom, and one for someone that she works with, I guess? I am so not excited to do all that ribbing again. But my mom is so excited for them, and my dad is paying me double the yarn cost to keep them a surprise, so I suppose it's alright.

Picture Post Four: St. Paul Ripper's Secret Santa

These gloves were made as part of a Secret Santa exchange with my knitting group.
Not the best pictures, I know, but I only finished the gloves an hour before the exchange! She loved them, though, so it was worth it.

Picture Post Three: Colorwork Fingerless Mittens

My first attempt at colorwork! I am really proud of these gloves and how they came out. Take a look!




































And my cousin loved them. <3

Picture Post Two: Half-Gloves

'Nother pair of gloves! These ones were commissioned by a friend at school, and followed this pattern. I'm pretty happy with how they came out. I made them in solid black, since that's what he asked for.

Picture Post One: Fall Fingerless Mittens

Remember those fingerless mittens/gloves I talked about last post?
Well, here they are!








Modeled by my wonderful boyfriend.
This is my first successful attempt at armwarmers, and I really love them. The pattern was easy, but not boring. The gloves are warm, and the yarn I picked for them looks really nice. I did modify the pattern, though. First it was on accident, but then I realized that I actually liked it better. On the first gloves, I skipped 17 rows. On the second one, I skipped 15, because I couldn't remember which ones I had skipped for sure. Next time I make them (and there will be a next time: both of my parents have asked for some (One as a Christmas present, and one as a commission for my stepmom), as well as a family friend. I'll never escape!), I'm going to skip the short rows, I think.