Designer Needlepoint Where can I sell my craft patterns?
I am an artistic craft designer. I design patterns for needlepoint, crocheting, knitting and quilting. I sell my PATTERNS, not the finished product. I currently have a shop on etsy, but it is not doing anything worth mentioning. Is there some place that specializes in craft pattern sales? I do not have near enough the computer knowledge to set up my own site for this purpose.
I do not wish to sell the rights to the patterns. I have had them printed at my expense and need to sell them individually to craft people.
You can sell them on etsy.com, ravelry.com, or in some cases you can sell them through knitpicks.com (they have an independent artists project and if they like your patter will sell it for you and you get all of the proceeds). You can also approach local yarn stores and see if they are interested in selling your patterns.
Part of making things like etsy work for you is how you market them. Try doing some searches here on Y!A and other fiber arts forums, as well as across the internet for people asking for patterns like what you want to sell. You see it here all the time, people wanting a pattern for this kind of scarf or that kind of hat. If you have what they want in your etsy store, then you can provide them with a link to it.
It is a violation of Y!A guidelines to advertise your products, but if someone specifically asks for something and that something happens to be available on your own etsy site, then it is permitted to post a link to it.
You can also put a link to your etsy shop in your Y!A profile and then make a point of answering questions on Y!A. If people like your answers, they may look at your profile. Once you get them to look at your profile, they are likely to click through to your etsy store.
One other thing I've noticed with etsy shops. A lot of them aren't marketing their goods effectively. Presentation means a lot. Attractive, clear photographs that show the item the pattern is for will go a long way in getting those patterns sold.
Of course all my etsy tips also apply to things like ravelry and knitpicks. Ravelry has an added advantage in that there are discussion groups specifically for designers where you can show off your work and because they have an extensive pattern search engine so people looking for a new project have a chance to thumb through thousands of patterns and may single it down to one of yours. Attractive photos are always a must.
Create a gorgeous focal point exactly where you want it in any room of your house with one of Dimensions gorgeous needlepoint kits. This kit contains 12-mesh canvas printed in full color, cotton embroidery thread, wool yarn, needle, and easy-to-follow instructions. Frame/mat not included. Finished size: 14" x 11". Design: Chickadees & Lilies. Designer: Joseph Hautman. Made in USA.
High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Needlepoint is a form of canvas work embroidery, in which yarn is stitched through an open weave canvas in which vertical and horizontal threads are formed to make precise holes between the thread and then hand painted or printed with a design. Stitchers use different coloured yarn or thread to cover each area with the corresponding colour on the canvas. The types of stitching and threads used on the canvas make it more durable than surface embroidery using fine count aida. Needlepoint worked on very fine (highcount) canvas (16 or more mesh holes per line inch) is called petitpoint. Needlepoint is often referred to as tapestry but differs from true tapestry, which is woven on a vertical loom rather than stitched on canvas mesh. Finished works may be made into pillows or upholstery, may be displayed on the wall, framed or unframed, or made into holiday ornaments, purses, stuffed standup figures, or rugs. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Timpledon, Miriam T./ Marseken, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 128 Publication Date: 2010/06/14 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.30 inches
DIMENSIONS-Needlepoint Kit. This kit includes a full color print on 14 mesh cotton canvas; presorted cotton thread; needle; and instructions. Design: Black and White Rooster. Designer: Susan Winget. Finished dimensions: 5x5 inches. Imported.
From elegant to whimsical, landscapes to still-lifes, realistic to fantasy, no matter your style Dimensions has a fabulous needle-craft kit for you. The high quality goods accompanied by the wide range of artists makes Dimensions #1. The kit contains: full color print on 12-mesh canvas, 100% cotton thread, wool yarn, needle, and easy-to-follow instructions. Finished measurements: 12" x 16". Design: Beach Retreat. Designer: Kathleen Denis. Mats and frames are not included. Made in USA.
Dimensions brings to you beautifully designed images in a vast variety of themes from baby to weddings, sympathy to inspirational, and fun and quirky to seriously sentimental. This kit contains full color printed 14-mesh canvas, cotton embroidery thread, metallic thread, Chinese coin, needle, and easy-to-follow instructions. Mat/frame are not included. Finished size: 15" x 10". Design: Asian Butterflies. Designer: Dimensions. Made in USA.
Rich, vivid colors and fabulous texture are just some of the benefits of needlepointing with wool. Make a stunning masterpiece for every room in the house. Kit includes: full color print on 12-mesh canvas, wool yarn, needle, and easy-to-follow instructions. Finished size: 14"H x 14"W. Design: Hydrangea Bloom. Designer: Kathryn White. Made in USA.
Dimensions brings to you beautifully designed images in a vast variety of themes from baby to weddings, sympathy to inspirational, and fun and quirky to seriously sentimental. This kit contains full color printed 14-mesh canvas, cotton embroidery thread, needle, and easy-to-follow instructions. Mat/frame are not included. Finished size: 12" x 16". Design: Cottage Cove. Designer: Nicky Boehme. Made in USA.
Dimensions brings to you beautifully designed images in a vast variety of themes from baby to weddings, sympathy to inspirational, and fun and quirky to seriously sentimental. This kit contains full color printed 12-mesh canvas, cotton embroidery thread, needle, and easy-to-follow instructions. Mat/frame are not included. Finished size: 12" x 16". Design: Cottage Retreat. Designer: Barbara Mock. Made in USA.
Dimensions brings to you beautifully designed images in a vast variety of themes from baby to weddings, sympathy to inspirational, and fun and quirky to seriously sentimental. This kit contains full color printed 14-mesh canvas, cotton embroidery thread, metallic thread, needle, and easy-to-follow instructions. Mat/frame are not included. Finished size: 14" x 14". Design: Classic Impressions. Designer: Lisa Audit. Made in USA.
Rich, vivid colors and fabulous texture are just some of the benefits of needlepointing with wool. Make a stunning masterpiece for every room in the house. Kit includes: full color print on 12-mesh canvas, wool yarn, cotton thread, needle, and easy-to-follow instructions. Finished size: 12"H x 16"W. Design: Stately Rooster. Designer: Kimberly Poloson.
Dimensions brings to you beautifully designed images in a vast variety of themes from baby to weddings, sympathy to inspirational, and fun and quirky to seriously sentimental. This kit contains full color printed 12-mesh canvas, cotton embroidery thread, wool and acrylic yarn, needle, and easy to follow instructions. Mat and frame are not included. Finished size: 12" x 16". Design: Lighthouse Solitude. Designer: Luke Buck. Made in USA.
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Needlepoint Project from Amybear
An African Expression of Cross-stitch Communication
The designs of Africa have a totally unique look about them, and are not typical of other designs. Their patterns are not simply "another piece of material with art designed on it", but are made and designed with the love of Africa always in mind. The people of Africa trust in their inner knowledge and fundamental beliefs, and their history is never forgotten as is clearly shown by their fabulous designs.
The material and textiles are designed with their attitudes and behaviors toward all, which is believed to be sacred. Added to their work is the recognition of their country and society, not only by themselves, but also of others. Cloths in other African regions represent their aesthetic quality, symbolism of the regions culture, or individual responsibility.
The quality that is expressed within the African look and feel is demonstrated in their culture and their material, created by their own people. And it is onto this cloth that cross-stitch weaves its powerful communication with those who feel this metaphor.
The warm and vivid colors of Africa's sunrises and sunsets are interwoven with its folklore and customs, and are impossible to separate from one another.
An excellent resource book to use in regard to Africa colors and designs, if you are not using a pre-designed kit, is "The African Cross Stitch Collection" by Trish Burr, which is for embroidery work but the projects in it are bright and vivid, letting you see how the colors work together, with folklore African stories bringing the work to the very heart. The designs vary from easy to more challenging.
An alphabet and motif library is included in the resource book, which costs approximately US$17.95/UK/£10/Canada$2 3.95. The publisher, Powell.com, has some used copies beginning at $9.95 if you are interested in them, or some used copies from Amazon.com, has an average price of $11.95 each.
If you are interested in the African animal cross-stitch designs, Janye Netley Mayhew has designed several cross-stitch hardback books with Africa in mind. One is entitled, "Cross Stitch Animal Collection" which has the Safari Collection in it, plus many other animals.
The book has the basic techniques needed to complete each picture in the book for cross-stitch design, along with many project ideas. Her watercolor illustrations and colored photographs add to the 128 pages of cross-stitch design information. She also has a book entitled, "Cross Stitch Collection Tigers" and "Cross Stitch Collection on Safari". The website Alibris, www.alibris.com, has the Safari book in a large range of prices, with the low price of $5.60 from Dave and Charles Publishing as its low bid.
Amazon.com has a price of $9.59 on it. If you plan on having a cross-stitching resource library, such as some of the books listed above, make sure it is the one you want. Check it out, read the reviews and comments. Look at some of the designs if possible. And then purchase the book for your own library.
Another item I ran across in regard to Africa cross-stitch was on one of our favorite websites, good ol' Ebay. The seller, happy_paws_haven, has a beautiful African cross-stitch pattern for $8.00 plus $2.00 shipping. The money from these patterns is for a rescue animal site for Happy Paws Haven, so you may want to check it out online. The pattern is one of a group of African animals in a headshot with beautiful "Africa" lettering below.
It is nice work and comes on a CD, with the pattern being on 16 letter size sheets. Included are a color key, DMC floss usage summary, and a finished color picture of the pattern in virtual stitches. This pattern can be used in 18, 20, 22, 28, etc. size fabric, with a stitch count of 280 x 355.
In summing up this marvelous topic, be assured you can spend a lifetime researching traditional African patterns and being enthralled by the many striking images of that magnificent continent so beautifully captured in its cross-stitch designs without ever tiring of its sheer fascination.
About the Author
John Wigham has been a professional author and editor for 20 years and is a co-founder of http://www.patternspatch.com an online cross stitch club dedicated to counted cross stitch. The website has a small team of writers who are devoted to our cross stitch club and enjoy writing about their hobby.
