Table of Contents

Introduction Finding Your Sewing Style Authenticity Using Sewing Patterns to Get Started Interview: Jessica Rider from A little Grey Identifying Your Customers Be Selective Sewing for Kids and Babies Sewing Fashion Accessories Sewing for the Home Sewing for Fundraising Essential Equipment Your Sewing Machine Machine Accessories Thread Cutting Tools Additional Tools Serger Computer Camera Interview: Vanessa Hewell from LBG Studio Buying and Using Fabric Have a Plan Use What You Have Building a Stash Making Smart Fabric Buying Choices Quality Counts Coordinating Fabrics Try Something different Interview: Monica Donohue from Little Pigeon Crafts Sewing Change Your Favorite Patterns to Work Even Better For You Keep Good Notes Organize Your Pattern Pieces Organize Your Workspace Selling Selecting a Name Selling Online: Setting Up an Online Shop Taking Good Photos for Online Sales Selling at Craft Shows: Setting Up Your Booth Making a Plan Consignment Sales Promoting Yourself: Business Cards / Postcards Using Social Media Keeping a Mailing List Pricing and Packaging Pricing: Materials Time Price Show Pricing Packaging: Packaging for Show Sales Packaging for Online Sales Interview: Candace Todd from Sparkle Power PROJECTS Projects That Are Useful Boxy Pincushion Craft Apron Lunch Bag Oven Mitt Placemat and Napkin Projects That Make Best Use of Materials Drawstring Backpack Grocery Tote iPad Sleeve Trimmed Messenger Bag Half-square Triangle Quilt Projects That Are Great Sellers Baby Set Handy Organizer Great Big Tote Professional Pillows Slouchy Purse Zippered Pouch Appendix: Business Basics You're In Charge Keeping Your Look Fresh Inventory The Legal Aspects of Setting Up a Shop: Doing Business As (DBA) Get a Tax ID Set Up Bank Accounts How to Pay Sales Tax Income Tax Making it Work For You Resources About the Author

About the Author

Virginia Lindsay is a self-taught sewist and lover of all things fabric. She is the author of the popular sewing blog, Gingercake, and the designer behind Gingercake Patterns. She has had several patterns published by Simplicity. Virginia lives in Freeport, Pennsylvania. Visit her at www.gingercake.org

Reviews

A practical and valuable guide for those who wish to make a living from their sewing, this new book from sewist and pattern designer Lindsay includes all you need to know to start sewing for profit. The book covers everything from finding your personal sewing style to creating a product line, identifying customers, equipping your studio, pricing, selling, and marketing your work, designing your own patterns, and managing the business and legal side of sewing. Also included are 16 projectsaprons, totes, messenger bags, tablet covers, baby quiltsthat you can begin sewing and selling right away. Quilts Inc., February 2015 This practical guide covers everything you need to know to start sewing for profit, from finding your personal sewing style to creating a product line, identifying customers, equipping your studio, pricing and selling your work, marketing yourself, designing your own patterns, and handling the business and legal side of sewing. Also includes 16 projects (with pullout patterns) that you can start sewing and selling right now. American Sewing Guild Notions Magazine, February 2015 Much of the book's content is a series of 16 tried-and-true starter projects that wannabe craft-based business owners can adapt or usean alluring idea, since Lindsay sells her version of several of the projects in her own online store. Interviews with successful craft-based business owners provide additional perspective on what it takes to be victorious in this increasingly crowded field. Library Journal, January 2015 This is a must-read book for any sewist who is toying with the idea of taking their home sewing to the next level. Not only does this book provide you with 16 starter projects - it covers the basics from finding your sewing style, identifying your customers, essential equipment, buying and using your fabric to sewing and selling. There are also interviews throughout the chapters from talented sewists who have taken the leap and created their own craft business. What I really enjoyed about this book was each pattern included a cutting guide for a single item and then a cutting guide for multiples - an excellent time saver for stock building. Each project also included a sample price guide - perfect for any first time seller who is unsure of what to price their precious sewn items. Make Modern Magazine, 11/3/14 The author's expertise in running Gingercake Patterns, an online pattern business, is put to good use in a book that's half-helpful suggestions for those who want to start a home-based sewing business and half a selection of 16 sewing patterns that can be used to make projects to sell. The first section contains valuable information on everything from identifying potential customers to taking good photos for online sales and setting prices for craft shows. Lindsay doesn't offer much advice about the less glamorous and more practical aspects of setting up shop, such as incorporating a business or figuring out a profit margin, but there's enough to be worthwhile. The projects are cute, too, including a simple boxy pincushion and an appealing, reversible grocery tote, all clearly explained with step-by-step diagrams. None of the patterns are revolutionary, but - this is key - Lindsay grants permission for all 16 projects to be sewn and sold, an important consideration for those starting a sewing business, and quite possibly making the book worth the price just for those. Full-color photos, pattern pullouts. Publishers Weekly, 10/20/14