How to make money in the quilting business

how to make money in the quilting business

This site contains affiliate links from which we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support! Last year I came across the Write 31 day project, and was crazy enough to join in! I had no gow if I could do it, or even if I knew enough about one topic to be able to write about it every day for a whole month. It was a fun month for me, and mame great time to organize my UFOs … and make a plan to start finishing them! I very nearly decided on this one. Fun, informative and good for expanding my own skills. Not what I wanted. Then I got to thinking. I was finishing UFOs, and a lot of them how to make money in the quilting business class samples and items for selling in the shop and at markets… so I was thinking a lot about planning for classes, markets and craft fairs. I spoke to some other ladies and they were also thinking about selling their handmade items at the markets before Christmas and asking me lots of questions…. If you have ever thought of trying to earn some money from your hobby of sewing or quilting, then Quiltinb hope this month will give you a lot bksiness motivation and food for thought!

Start making plans to open your quilting business and operate from your home, a rental location, or a commercial building which you own. Make money quilting a personal stash to sell, represent other quilters, sell quilting services, and retail quilting supplies. Through time you have built an inventory of your quilts. Do continue to quilt and accept custom orders. Some people have a problem representing others; however, it is good business to open your doors to other merchandise made by other quilters. Their products can be a welcomed asset to your business. Purchase wholesale or do consignment. Have rules, regulations, and contracts to avoid any misunderstandings. Monies are made from quality merchandise and reputable quilters. Teach quilting classes or have out-of-town guests teach. This will attract more customers to your location. Have available quilt machine repair services, sharpening scissors, and other professional sewing services available for your customers. It pays to have a section of quilting supplies, cloth, tools, and accessories. This will be additional income from classes and customers. All of the above or part of it can also be duplicated online. Own an online quilting business. It can be used as a great starting point from a home based business or as a complement to a brick and mortar location. If you are passionate about your quilting and this is the lifestyle for your next career then also be enthusiastic about your business. Start part-time or full-time. The choice between these two is your decision. You are the boss. It is exciting owning and operating a business with products that you have a passion to share with others. Start your own quilting business today. If you continue to hesitate for any reason it will never be done.

Definitions & Context

The quilting industry is full of independent quilt entrepreneurs. I was awarded best in show at QuiltCon this year, and within 24 hours I was approached to license the pattern for my best in show quilt at the going rate for licensing. Many conversations about business opportunities followed, including where there is earning potential, how much effort is involved, and what drives the current ecosystem. A lot of these conversations were between Caroline Hadley and myself. Is anyone making a living wage working as an independent in the quilting industry? How many years does it take to get there? There are small businesses built around the concept of helping you grow your own business — but is the reality to earn a living wage as an independent feasible or possible and when does it make sense to outsource services? While a small portion of prolific quilt entrepreneurs with a very diverse revenue stream appear to be successful, is the reality that they worked for many years without earning much to get where they are now? Are they supporting themselves with a living wage? You can see salaries for jobs relative to location on Salary. Is the wealth distribution rewarding the manufacturers or distributors? Is it in the hands of big box corporations or large distributors? Is it on the side of local quilt shops closing quilt shops suggest that is not the case? All that being said, I started to look into revenue streams available to an independent quilting entrepreneur, and summarized those below to be informed on my own journey. Jen of Patterns by Jen recently wrote about the economics behind her pattern design here. A couple of my sources noted that this estimate was high, but nevertheless writing a pattern can cost at least hundreds of dollars of investment. Most pattern designers I talked to confirmed a range of 10 — 40 hours for writing the pattern like Jen, confirmed sewing the quilt could take 20 — 40 hours. That puts the total at a range of 30 — 80 hours for writing a pattern, making a quilt, but not including time and money spent on outsourcing services e. Pattern licensing means getting paid for the license of a pattern to a publishing entity magazine, website, etc. The publishing entity then releases your pattern. An exclusive license means that you can not release it yourself, but a non-exclusive license allows you to release it at a specified later date although some non-exclusive licenses allow reprinting on their end. In some cases, the publisher will provide editing and photography services. Investment: Materials, Time design, implementation , Quilting time or outsourced , Photography if applicable , Software, Shipping. In addition to loss in the form of opportunity cost, you may be expected to pay the direct out of pocket expenses to travel to Quilt Market to sell your book. Sponsorships can go two ways: a company lists you as an artisan or ambassador, and you are listed on their website reaching their audience through their marketing channels, and you receive materials in exchange for providing the company with services such as blog posts, in-person events, or other projects. In my own experience, I spend anywhere from 2 — 10 hours to write a blog post and I provide my own photography, so that could mean a very wide range of hourly pay e. Investment: Materials partial , Time design, implementation , Quilting time or outsourced , Photography. Abby Glassenberg did research on this and reported it in , available here. And of the examples provided in that post, 3 out of 4 of the fabric manufacturers required that designers pay at least a portion of airfare and hotel accommodations to attend Quilt Market. The anecdotally accepted evidence of making quilts is that you will likely not recoup value on a quilt by selling it.

1. Start with a business plan

She is an amazing quilter and embroidery expert. Stephanie shares her experience with you on how to get started below. I needed something to keep me busy so I started quilting and embroidery as a hobby. How did you go about starting your business or arranging a work at home position? What are some tips you would like to share with others who are interested in doing something similar? Gift a few items so people can see what you do, I made a very simple embroidered baby quilt to give at a baby shower and received 3 orders for bed sized quilts at the shower! Also, take classes to stay on top of new techniques.


Your business plan acts like a road map for your company. It should include a description of your business, an outline of how you will manage it, a list of services you will provide e. Look for someone who specializes in small businesses to help you decide what type of business structure is best for you, such as a sole proprietorship, limited liability corporation LLCor S-Corporation. Each type has a different tax impact and liability risk. You may also need help from an accountant and insurance broker, along with a financial institution. Find out about quilting in your area. How many quilt guilds are there? How far do the members travel to the meetings? This will tell you whether they may be willing to travel farther to bring you their quilts. What piecing and quilting styles are popular in your area? This will help you discover how to create a niche for your business. Talk with the quilt shops and fabric shops in your area. What do they see as trends? Where do they get their store samples quilted? Can you create a cooperative arrangement that benefits you both? Learn about your competition. What other longarm businesses are in your area? What types of machine quilting do they do? Find ways to differentiate yourself from your competition by looking for needs you can. For example, can you offer a faster turn-around time? How about machine binding services?

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