Calling all designers - Lots o' questions

I need your input here. I've been thinking of starting a pattern production side line to augment the family income (which is pretty low as a SAHM). I used to have a quite successful graphic design business (pre-kids) so I have all the software tools, production experience, etc. My experiences as a quilt teacher have shown me a lot about what different levels of students can work with. I've been looking at some of the "home made" type patterns lately and, with no insult intended, I could do a much better job of production, proofing, layout, etc. (Don't worry, I can't design worth beans! LOL) I am thinking of running a little ad in our guild newsletter and maybe some cards in a few local quilt shops. Basically, I could take anyones idea (even hand drawn) and turn it into a professional looking pattern. So, here are my questions for you designers out there...

  1. How do you find resources to produce your patterns for sale?
  2. Do you produce your own work? If so, how?
  3. Would you find value in a better quality finished product?
  4. Would you be insulted or bothered if someone contacted you to "fix" your pattern?
  5. Would it be a value to turn over a basic sketch and get back a pattern fully enveloped for sale?

You see where I'm going here. It seems like lots of the smaller designers are working with hand drawn sketches and color photocopied covers. One pattern I saw yesterday was really cute, design wise, but the provided pattern was missing so many key elements that the customer had no clue how to put the thing together. Never mind the two large mistakes in the provided templates. I could potentially provide the step-by-step, cutting suggestions, etc. Do you think it would be viable? Any ideas or suggestions? Yeah, I know it won't turn me into a hundred-aire, but it would be something.

TIA, Lorraine in WA

Reply to
TwinMom
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Reply to
Taria

As one who designs and writes patterns I can also recommend EQ5. I have EQ6 but don't like it as much because it did not produce significant imrovement in the specific areas I wanted (drawing for applique designs) and because of the limit on activations. However, I have heard some people love it. Both have the advantage of allowing scanning of current fabrics to use in designs.

Quilt Pro is also supposed to be good for producing written instructions and I know there are some users within the ng, but although I have QP I never really got into it in any detail. I also used Corel Draw and a couple of other packages for diagrams, but always did my final documents in Word. It made life much simpler back then. Now I would be using pdf I think.

Because I have always done my own designing and instructions for classes (but not published for retail sale) I probably would not use the service. But I would recommend it to a lot of pattern designers who try to turn their very clever ideas into published patterns and don't understand that publishing/writing is a completely different set of skills. It is a little like people who assume that because they can DO a thing well, they can TEACH it. Teaching is a separate skill too. I have been asked by a couple of local groups to re-write their handwritten instructions into more structured handouts for weekend retreats or classes.

Following on - have you considered doing instructions and class notes to a professional standard for teachers? Some (read MOST) of the handouts that I have received in local class situations (when there have been any written notes at all!) have been pretty abysmal. I'm not sure how much of a money maker this would be, but I suspect the margin on self-published patterns is pretty low. But offering a service to quilt shops and guilds might bring in more steady work, and once you had the basics down it could be a quick turnaround service.

Offering a professional standard design/pattern for inclusion in newsletters each month to a number of guilds/groups for a small cost each would probably bring in a better return than waiting for someone to bring you one pattern and pay a minimal one-off fee for your work. And you could still offer the individual service as well.

Reply to
CATS

Lorraine, there is a Yahoo group, QuiltDesigners. There has been lot of discussion there on presenting patterns in a professional way. While I agree that many patterns have been produced that are far from good, most of the ones I have seen in the last few years are much more professionally presented. One of the problems with your idea, while it is a good one, is the cost to the designer. As a "new" designer, trying to get my patterns out there on the market, up front cost is important. I am in a holding pattern of sorts, at the moment, waiting on $$$ for some of the basics to get into (self) production. Remember that while you may pay $8+ for a pattern, the designer is wholesaling it for, probably, about half that. And if it is going through a distributor (like Checker or Brewer Supply) the amount the designer is paid goes down significantly. Up front costs to produce a pattern include: designing the quilt. Making it up for a cover photo. Getting it tested/proofread by at least one other person (yes, some designers pay people to test their patterns. There is a group called Pattern Testers or something similar.) Then getting the photos made/reproduced on the cover. As well as printing the patterns. If going through a printer trying to decide how many to have done--the larger the order the cheaper per page, but will it sell or will you have most of them unsold in your "garage"? (If self publishing, there is paper, ink, etc. plus the equipment to do the printing on.) There may also be fees for registering a name, incorporating. or what have you. Plus the plastic bags to package the patterns, and the time to make sure they are all correctly collated, stapled, folded and inserted in the bags. Shipping patterns isn't inexpensive either. And the added business expenses of banking, business cards, promotional "stuff" and,.......... There are also lots of fun expenses too. Like planning to go to Quilt Market, and having a booth at Market, both Spring and Fall. That can be darned expensive. (And a whole lot of fun--- looking forward to Oct./Nov. this year and a booth at Spring Market in a year.)

So, yeah. I would love to be able to work with someone. Especially someone who could do the graphics I need in the pattern instructions. I have no problem writing the instructions. I know exactly what diagrams I need/want and all that. It is just getting it all together, and formatted the way I want it. So I am also looking at a learning curve there.

Yes, EQ is wonderful. I use it a lot. But it does not provide step by step instruction for making anything. You can print out cutting charts, templates and so on. But exactly how to do it, and the tips/tricks to make it go together a bit easier are not there. Also, in most cases, an EQ printed quilt will not sell a pattern as well as a photo of an actual example of the quilt.

Lorraine, I do not mean to discourage you at all. Just wanted to point out some "facts" of the business. as it were. Many new designers are in a real budget crunch to get going. Some of the more established designers might really be able to use a service like this. If, and this is a big IF, you can keep the style of the individual designer. Many designers/pattern makers have a definite style that helps to set them apart from others. A very good example are the patterns from Miss Rosie's Quilts. Carrie (Nelson) has a wonderful way of presenting her patterns. Changing that would not be a good idea. She was approached by Leisure Arts about turning some of her quilt patterns into a book. She agreed, but is not happy with the way the patterns were rewritten for the book. A lot of stuff was left out, and her personality does not show in the books that have been published by Leisure Arts. Check some of them and you will see the difference.

BTW, Carrie is a wonderful teacher and speaker. As well as a really neat person. She has a Law degree, and (I think) passed the Bar, but doesn't practice. She has a lot more fun with quilts. If you ever have a chance to hear/see her, or take a workshop with her, do. You will not be sorry.

This has gotten really long, if you have more specific questions, please feel free to e-mail me privately. snipped-for-privacy@paticooks.com is the best addy to use.

Pati, in Phx snipped-for-privacy@paticooks.com

TwinMom wrote:

Reply to
Pati Cook

Yep - you really hit the target! Well said Pati.

Reply to
CATS

Yes I bought a pattern like this - a Karen Stone one, so very busy design. All that was in it was the small colour print on the front of the package, a larger layout drawing and the printed kite shaped pieces for the paper piecing. No decent instructions at all, and somehow very amateurish.

It did say that certain blocks had extra pieces in them and gave their numbers, but neglected to say anywhere else where these numbers related too.

Fortunately I knew how to paper piece or I'd have been lost - no instructions. I enlarged and printed out the colour picture so I could see it properly, and numbered the line drawing picture. Then I did my own thing with it. Half the blocks are pieced and half are from brown toners. There are three blocks which from the picture, look as though they are from multicoloured patterned fabric, but I'm not sure. I think I'm using batics that go with the pieced blocks for these. However I might piece three more,

I was going to use this for my sweatshirt jacket, but think I like it as a quilt better, so will have to re-think the jacket!

However, I think this will be the last pattern I'll buy, so I agree with Taria, the 'industry' does need sorting out, and there is definitely room for your business.

Reply to
Sally Swindells

Thanks Pati!! I will definitely check out that group. Since I used to have a graphics design business, I am quite familiar with the "upfront" production costs that go into projects like this. As a matter of fact, I know a lot about getting more "bang for the buck" which could actually cut costs. While I am still fleshing out the idea, I am thinking of incorporating a cost based on what is sold, rather than time spent in the design process. Possibly, the more work involved on my part, the higher price per sale, the less work, the lower the price. If done right, those nickels, dimes and quarters can really add up quickly. I haven't worked out the details yet, and it would depend a lot on a trusting relationship between the designer and myself, but that may be the best of both worlds. A well designed pattern would sell more, therefore the designer would sell more patterns overall, making a fee based on actual sales more logical. In my "past life" I was familiar with some graphics artists that pumped up their fees by wasting time on unnecessaries, or charging time for things that did not make sense - not good for the client! If I were to decide to spend some extra time experimenting with different ideas, that should be on my dime, not theirs. Anyway, I'm still playing with the idea. I don't expect to get rich, but it would be really nice to earn some income doing something I absolutely love and am good at. :-) (It's either that, or accounting! YUK! I'm a whiz at numbers, but that is not exactly a passion for me! LOL)

Anyway, I'll check out that Yahoo group. Thanks for the info!!!! Lorraine

Reply to
TwinMom

DS bought a pattern for me of a fall tablerunner. It was all well and good until I came to make the stems for the maple leaves. No way, no how were they going to work as written. I had already cut everything out so I had to fudge like crazy as there wasn't any extra fabric in the kit.

We did buy another pattern at the BIIIIGGGGG SSSHHHOOOOWWWWEEEEE but it has a lot of good drawings in case the written instructions are hard to follow. the LQS owner said it was a BOM class and she didn't heard any complaints on it. It will be one of the first WUH's I will do once I'm sorted out .

Butterfly

Reply to
Butterflywings

You've already been pointed to the quiltdesigners yahoo group. I would strongly suggest you find time to read through the archives before posting so you don't get slammed. (though thankfully the nasty one is finally gone) Lots of sharing of resources for printers, contacting disributers, help with market, etc.

Most designers do produce their own patterns. Corel is the program the big girls use though it's amazing how nice some patters are that are done in word. The talent of the designer with computers...

Designers would, but you have to remember that a designer is LUCKY to make a whole $1 off each pattern sold. By the time you take away printing costs, editor/graphic designer costs, packaging, photography and so on there isn't much left to pay the designer for his/her time in designing the quilt, making the samples, writing the directions, printing the patterns, shipping the patterns, storing the patterns, filing for copyright, paying for the UPC.....

After all that a paltry $1 or so per pattern does not a millionaire make. This is why we get huffy when people tell us "I loved your pattern so much that I made a copy for everyone in the guild. We all have matching tote bags now from your pattern and just love them!" This is not a compliment - it's an admission of theft and most designers don't have the big bucks to pay for lawyers to defend their copyright well. Telling a designer that quilting is about sharing just doesn't go over too well.

Given the wording of the question I would have to say yes. Nicely worded is nicely received.

There are a few doing this. Ann Anderson from quiltwoman is one. Joan Wolfren is doing this to some degree though I believe her focus is more weighted to the marketing end.

You might want to purchase a book called Publishing Your Patterns to see all the details that go into pattern writing. You have to work through what parts you can/want to do and what you think is fair pay for that work. Then you might contact some local quilting friends/teachers/designers and see if what you need to charge can fit what a designer can actually pay.

marcella

Reply to
Marcella Peek

Thanks Marcella!! You rock!! Just the kind of info I was looking for. I did join that group and intend to just lurk for a while to get an idea of what is going on. It's kinda funny - I'm a "big girl" too - been using Corel since about 1990!! Back when it was considered impossible to do graphics on anything but a Mac. How times have changed. I'm still playing around with this idea. It might turn out that it is just something that I do for friends as a favor, I'm not sure yet. I have one on the board that will be a freebie for an LQS owner that I adore. Her sis made a really nice quilt and I'm going to do it up for her. This may go nowhere, we'll see. Anyway, thanks for your helpful info.

Lorraine in WA

Reply to
TwinMom

I think friends are a great place to start. Then you will have something to show more established designers when you offer your services to a wider audience.

Best of luck marcella

Reply to
Marcella Peek

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