Selling what you sew – how to price your work
Some people don’t recognize the value of ‘hand-made’ goods these days, but many people still do, it’s just a matter of finding the right venue to sell to. Sewing to sell, or selling what you sew, either online in marketplaces like Etsy, or locally at craft fairs.
How to price what you sew
What are the expenses involved in making a bag?
Consumables and materials expenses:
Wear and tear on your machine, lighting, and other factors to consider as you work are also factors to consider.
Selling fees – online:
Items sold online incur a variety of expenses, including mailing costs and gas to get your packages to the post office. A percentage fee when your item sells. Website and newsletter expenses. Payment gateway fees, such as PayPal fees.
Selling fees – craft fairs:
Gas to get to the fair, table or display equipment, signage, etc. Bags for your customers’ purchases. Promotional materials u2013 business cards or leaflets. Phone calls with organizers.
Costing for your time
If you enjoy sewing, you should expect to be compensated for your efforts. In the industrial sewing industry, you may be compensated in one of two ways: piecework, which pays a flat wage based on the number of garments/items you produce that pass quality inspection.
How to work out a selling price
You can figure out your selling price in a variety of ways, depending on whether your products are labor-intensive or materials-intensive. Look at what others are charging for similar items and charge the same if you can make a profit from that price.
What do other sellers say?
Sell via Etsy:). I also factor in Etsy/Paypal fees, and charge at cost postage (although I do occasionally get that wrong!) u2013 personally, I despise being charged more postage than the postage and packaging materials cost!! On Etsy, you not only have to calculate the costs, but also all the Etsy fees.
The sewing chat group threads
Check out some of the recent threads in our sewing chat group – it’s a closed group to keep spammers out.
Further suggested reading
It has excellent Amazon reviews and appears to be a fascinating read for anyone interested in selling sewing crafts or any other crafts.
Coming up:
We’ll be putting together a round up of sewing projects we think are ideal for selling, either because they use smaller or more reasonably priced materials, or because they are so darned cute they are always in demand.
What do you think?
Do you sell your creations or do you just do it to cover your material costs?
How much should I charge for pattern making?
The pattern maker will charge anywhere between $80 and $750 per pattern, depending on the complexity of the design. The more seams, separate pieces, pockets, collars, sleeves, and design layers you have in a garment, the more the pattern will cost.
How much do patterns cost?
Yes, it varies greatly depending on the garment, but pattern makers typically charge between $150 and $250 per pattern, which is a bit pricey, but they may charge that for the first pattern and give you better pricing if you do multiple patterns.
How much should I charge for making clothes?
In general, it’s best to charge per hour because you never know what might come up in the meantime; therefore, aim for $10 to $15 for an hourly wage; however, if you want to charge per panel, $20 should suffice, depending on the type of fabric and design.
How do you price handmade garments?
This is the absolute minimum you should charge for your handmade items, as the math goes: Time Materials = cost x 2 = wholesale x 2 = retail. Take, for example, a 16×20 painting.
How much does it cost to grade a pattern?
While prices vary widely, the typical range for a 1-6 piece pattern is $15 to $25 per size; therefore, if a grading service charges $125 to $250 per size for a 1-6 piece pattern (total cost of four sizes is $500-$1,000), you should probably keep looking.
Where can I buy clothing patterns?
The best places to buy sewing patterns are listed below.
- 3 KwikSew Patterns. KwikSew Pattern store.
- 4 Butterick Patterns. Butterick Pattern store.
- 5 Vogue Patterns. Vogue Pattern store.
- Jalie Patterns. Jalie Pattern store.
- Victory Patterns. Victory Pattern store.
Are old sewing patterns worth money?
However, if the design is fantastic, unusual, or rare, condition may not be as important; however, poor condition and incompleteness do affect value, so pay accordingly; and for an ordinary design, it may be better to wait for a copy in better condition.
Are old Mccall’s patterns worth anything?
And this Nina Ricci pattern went for $192.50, so if your pattern is old, rare, in good condition, and has a designer name on it, it could be worth a lot of money.
Does Walmart sell dress patterns?
Walmart.com has dress sewing patterns.
Is sewing clothes cheaper than buying?
While the short answer to the question “Is sewing cheaper than buying clothes?” is no, the long answer is yes: if you embrace slow fashion by sewing clothing, you will make fewer clothes, but you will wear them for longer, and they will last longer.
Is sewing good for your brain?
Sewing requires concentration and hand-eye coordination, which aids cognitive development and motor skill development. Sewing keeps the mind healthy and active, allowing it to stay sharper for longer periods of time, and the creative thinking required during sewing encourages the growth of new brain cells.
How can I make money from home sewing?
Make money sewing at home with these sewing business ideas.
- You can open your own Etsy shop, create your own website and online store, list your sewing projects on Amazon Handmade, sell at craft fairs, open your own local shop, sell on consignment in a local shop, do alterations from home, and sell at farmer’s markets.
How do you price handmade bags?
Prepare a cost estimate that is both honest and realistic.
- Multiply the cost of materials by 2 or 3. For example, materials x 3 = retail, or materials x 2 = wholesale, wholesale x 2 = retail.
- Multiply the cost of materials by a percentage. For example, 40 u2013 60%.
Is clothing a good business?
Of course, there are failures, and there are plenty of clothing stores that aren’t performing well, primarily due to a lack of proper planning or, more likely, no planning at all.
How do I start my own crafting business?
- If you want to start a craft business, make sure there’s a market for it.
- Differentiate Your Product Line.
- Know Your Customers.
- Choose a Name with Strong Brand Potential.
- Reserve Your Online Assets.
- Source Quality Materials.
- Develop a Selling Strategy.