I have a pattern in issue 29 of Mollie Makes. It’s a punk
and pretty topsy turvy doll (I call them Roxy and Rachel).
The idea for this doll came from the
magazine’s editor and it was fun to have an assignment. I spent some hours
studying British punk girls and the fabrics they wear, than searching for
something similar on a small scale at Fabric.com. Hot pink faux fur that I’d
originally bought to make monsters with became Roxy’s hair, and then I tripled
up a chain to go around her neck. Sweet Rachel’s dress is a vintage print I
found last year at a church rummage sale. The pattern and templates for this
doll are all in the magazine. I’ll release it as a PDF in a few months as well.
+++++
Recently I’ve been reflecting on this magazine project, and
on all of the design work that I do. I didn’t go to art school. I often
hear other crafters and designers say, “I can’t draw,” so I know that I’m not
alone in feeling like, despite being in an artistic field, I don’t draw all
that well.
I’m really good at achieving three-dimensional shapes from
paper pattern pieces, but after selling my own patterns for a year and half
I can see that the patterns that sell the best aren’t those with the most
accurately shaped bodies, or most clever construction methods. Nope. The most
important factor is the visual appeal of the sample.
A softie is, in it’s essence, an illustration come to life.
- It needs to make you instantly say, “Oh, how
cute!” - A smile helps a lot.
- It needs expressive eyes.
- Baby-like proportions help (big head,
wide-spread low eyes, big hands and feet) - The fabrics need to have a good interplay of
colors.
In other words, the art has to be good.
I spend some time each week looking at the most successful
softie and doll pattern designers on Etsy and thinking about what makes them
successful. How is it that they sell 30-40 patterns, at $10 a piece, each and
every day? Here’s my answer: the art is great.
It’s funny because it’s really the same answer I give when
people ask me how to grow their blog audience or get more comments,
how to attract more followers on Facebook and Twitter. The most fundamental
answer holds the most truth: write better blog posts. Really good content drives traffic and, over
time, builds an engaged readership.
Learning to write great blog posts is very much aligned with
my formal education. I get it. I know how to do research, write, and rewrite. I
can find topics nobody is writing about, pull information from lots of sources
and come up with a post that’s wholly new and interesting. I’ve got a point of
view.
What’s harder for me is to learn to make the art better. I
loved what Lilla Rogers wrote in her book, I Just Like to Make Things (you can
read my review here).
“There is an easy answer to
how to make more money, and I’m going to tell you! Make your work great. In any
field, the better you are at your work, the more you can give; the more you can
give, the more people want what you have, and the more money you can make.”
In a later chapter she says,
“Every square inch of the piece should be of the same high quality. If you look
from corner to corner to corner to corner, the whole piece should have the same
level of professionalism throughout.”
You can sell a sewing pattern with the promise of
it being easy to follow. You can beef it up with supplemental tutorials or
instructional videos. In the end, though, a lot more people would buy it if the
art was better.
Here are some art books I’ve been exploring this summer.
Join me in becoming someone who draws.
- 20 Ways to Draw a Cat by Julia Kuo
- Illustration School: Let's Draw Cute Animals by Sachiko Umoto
- Illustration School: Let's Draw Plants and Small Creatures by Schiko Umoto
- Drawing Manga, Chibis, and Other Adorable Creatures by J.C. Amberlyn
Links in this post are Amazon affiliate links
Betz says
I agree, the product design is paramount, but let’s take it one step further. The cover shot/art has to rock it as well! Just look at that Mollie Makes cover up there! Gorgeous!
I know some of my pattern covers are more successful than others. It takes a lot of work to make them great. You’ve got one chance to make a first impression and that cover (product + photo + graphics + everything!) has got to be awesome!
Abby Glassenberg says
You are so right. Selling online is really a photo contest when it comes down to it. That image has to be amazing. The cover image is what convinces people to click “buy”, especially new customers. It’s got to hit it out of the park.
Vanessa says
I’ve been teaching myself how to draw too! I highly recommending Carla Sontheim’s Drawing Lab. She’s got great projects to help expand your skills and eye.
Also, thanks for distilling what makes a softie great. Big eyes and a small, expressive mouth seems to make people say “aww, I have to have that.”
Abby Glassenberg says
Thats a great book recommendation, Vanessa!
riverweaver@yahoo.com says
Hi Abby – I used to think I just had no talent for drawing – then I read, and did the exercises, in a book called “Drawing For Fun” that I found in my library – and I discovered that absolutely anyone can draw! Find the book – it is not a huge one – and is extremely helpful to all of us who thought they couldn’t draw. It changed my artistic life. I’ve loaned it out and can’t recall the author’s name, sorry.
Rhonda
Abby Glassenberg says
Hi Rhonda,
That book sounds really great! I just did an Amazon search for the title and wasn’t able to locate it. Could you double check the title for me? Thanks a million!
Abby
Amie Plumley says
yay for you! Can’t wait to try out pattern. I L-O-V-E Mollie Makes!
Abby Glassenberg says
Me too! What a beautiful magazine. Im so happy that Mollie Makes exists. Its truly gorgeous.
TeacupLion says
Fantastic post, and I agree absolutely. Refining your original art design so that it matches your vision in your head is worth it in the end result. I recently took a creature design class, and it really improved my designs. I have sketchbook full of plush ideas, and only a few make it into fluffy form. I’m still not there 100% for where I want my plush to be – always learning 🙂
To anyone wishing to improve their designs, I’d recommend drawing studies from real life. If you make plush of human dolls, then draw children from real life. Practice your own art style, and it will show in your plushies as well 🙂
Casey says
It’s so felicitous that you posted this today, because Pattern Observer just emailed me a link to a similarly-minded post about artwork in the surface design industry: http://patternobserver.com/2013/08/15/its-all-about-the-artwork-why-visibility-probably-isnt-the-problem/
Personally, I’m fascinated by how interconnected all the elements are in the crafting industry. Obviously, the quality of work is paramount. But visibility (through various channels that are themselves interwoven) is also important. And visibility is only as good as what you make visible (i.e. your original artwork, as well as your product photos, as others have pointed out above). I’m still trying to master all of the above, but it’s great to read what others think about the topic!
Sara says
I’m on the same quest too, I’ve just got books from the library but I’ve been eying up some titles on Amazon as well. I recognise some of yours – I really want the Schiko Umoto ones. I had a little play around with look inside and it was fun. I have realised that in order to learn I have to enjoy the things I am drawing. I actually used to be good as a teenager but I gave up and I’m not all that good anymore.
It’s absolutely right that the visual appeal is all. I really agree with this post.
Abby Glassenberg says
Thank you, Sara. I also used to draw and was quite good at it as a teenager. I think this is a great goal!
Abby Glassenberg says
Casey, Thank you so much for turning me onto Pattern Observer, and for pointing me to this post. How truly funny that the two are so aligned! I really enjoyed this.
It’s clearly a dance between the two, but when it comes down to it, if the work is truly good the visibility will be easier to get.
Tiffany Harvey says
Is the picture of the dolls supposed to be flipped (like a mirror reflection, not upside down)? Wasn’t sure if it was a mistake or I was missing something!
Abby Glassenberg says
Ha! I think that happened when I scanned the image from the magazine 🙂
Stacey (FreshStitches) says
I’ve been looking at that book on drawing Chibis!!!
Tiffany Harvey says
Awww. I was wondering if maybe it was a play on the title ~ “Reflecting”, haha.
Shirley says
Abby when you say “In the end, though, a lot more people would buy it if the art was better.” what are you referring to exactly? The cover art or the quality of the templates (if hand drawn)…? Just curious & wondered if you’d mind clarifying your thinking there. 🙂
Abby Glassenberg says
Hi Shirley,
I’m not referring to the quality of the templates here. I’m not even referring to the quality of construction of the finished sample (although that is part of it). I’m talking about the aesthetic appeal of the design itself.
Think about a doll you’ve seen that’s just okay in the way that it looks, and think about one that makes you go, “Oh my goodness, that’s really cute!” or “Wow, that’s gorgeous.”
In my analysis the pattern designers whose work sells the best have patterns that are very aesthetically pleasing. In this post I’m talking about working on improving yourself as artist in an effort to improve yourself as a pattern designer. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.
Shirley says
Thank you for the clarification. I was thinking too literally and I can see now, exactly what you mean. Naomi at NimblePhish, Pauline at Funky Friends Factory, Shelly at Gingermelon, Katie at SweetEmmaJean and of course you Abby, are some of my favorite designers for that very reason. You all create fabulous designs that make me want to whip out my credit card! I hadn’t really thought about the “art” aspect in quite this way before. My photography really lacks imagination and I know I need to work on that quite a bit. It’s a very weak area for me and I wonder now, if my sales would be better if my photos were. Lots to think about here.