This week I'm going to be talking about how to turn your craft projects into pattern instructions that you can package, market, and sell online. Whether you sew softies or do another type of craft, creating patterns is a great way to add an income stream to your handmade business. Pattern sales produce small bits…
Pattern Review: Polar Bears by Betz White
One of the best ways to learn to design your own sewing patterns is to sew from other people's patterns. The more patterns you use, the more you learn. Sometimes I go long stretches just doing my own design work and forget that this is true. Last week Betz White sent me a copy of…
5 Simple Tips for Writing Sewing Patterns Your Customers Will Love
This is a post I wrote for the November 2012 Craftsy Designer Newsletter. Sewing a project from a poorly written pattern is such a frustrating experience. Instructions that are error ridden and hard to follow can make you throw your hands up in frustration, leaving you with a pile of wasted materials and hours of…
Book Review: Storybook Toys by Jill Hamor
I first knew that Jill Hamor was a good toy designer when I saw the Lisa and Corduroy set she made on her blog. This doll and bear so perfectly capture the nostalgic sweet look of Don Freeman’s illustration I was really blown away. It’s simply stunning work and I’ve been reading Jill’s blog, bybido,…
How Writing a Tagline for Your Business Can Help You Define Your Mission
I got Kari Chapin’s new book, Grow Your Handmade Business: How to Envision, Develop, and Sustain a Successful Creative Business, for my birthday in August and read it cover to cover. This book is a follow-up to Kari’s first book, The Handmade Marketplace. Seven years into my handmade business I have lots of ideas for…
Book Review: How To Make Stuffed Animals by Sian Keegan
How to Make Stuffed Animals is one of the only new softie books on the market this season (perhaps the only sewing-based softie book?). It was written by Sian Keegan, who has made a name for herself creating plush pet portraits, and is published by Quarry. 3D Pet Portraits of Long-Haired Pets by Sian Keegan…
A Timeline of Producing a Craft Book
It arrived Friday night and I'm overnighting it back tomorrow. It's been a marathon few days of editing, but it looks amazing. Just a little recap of the process of writing a craft book. I pitched this book to publishers in February of 2011 and it was acquired by Lark in March. It took a…
How Patterns in Sewing Books Go Untested and Why That Should Change
It's Saturday afternoon and you've got a lovely pile of fabric, all washed and pressed, sitting on your work table and a few hours of time to yourself. It's time to crack open that new craft book and sew the adorable tote bag on page 33. As you start cutting and sewing the pieces together…
5 Tips for Improving Your Softie Patterns
You’ve been designing some original sewing patterns for stuffed animals and some of them are really good! You know you’re capable of creating awesome patterns that turns out three-dimensional toys. You’ve also worked really hard on a few designs that have been total flops. I’m talking about misshapen heads, legs with an awkward stance, proportions…
Book Recommendation: The ABCs of Making Teddy Bears by Linda Mead
I feel like there is a whole intimidating world of artist teddy bears makers out there that I can't compete with. They have conventions with juried competitions and participate in super active message boards and only use the finest materials to make their bears. I admire this community, though, for their high standards and their…
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