Start Your Own Quilting Business: Quilted Christmas Stockings
Do you love the look of quilts, but know you don't have the time or patience to create one yourself? You could still start and operate your own profitable quilting business by selling quilted Christmas stockings.
The benefit of the quilted Christmas stocking is that stockings are a much smaller project than a full size quilt. You would get the satisfaction of quilting, without investing the time needed for a full quilt.
Many traditional quilt patterns would make beautiful Christmas stockings. Try a log cabin quilt design made from Christmas reds and greens. Use a double wedding ring quilt pattern in Victorian colors. Add a beaded trim for a funky yet vintage look.
Yo yo quilt patterns also make gorgeous Christmas stockings. Soft pastels will make an adorable baby's first Christmas stocking. It will certainly become a family heirloom! Choose popular colors that will coordinate with current interior design trends to sell as home décor.
Quilt patterns for these designs are available in many books and are often found for free online. Take a look around to see what patterns you like.
Technically, you do not even have to quilt to make quilted Christmas stockings. Use existing quilts; cut them to make the stockings.
If you would like to explore this approach, try using one of your own old quilts to see how it works. Or, buy lots of old quilts at your local thrift stores and yard sales.
If you would like to personalize your quilted Christmas stockings, you will need a method of putting a name on them. Iron-on letters are available at most craft and hobby stores, but might compromise the entire look of the stocking depending on the style of both. Embroidery is probably your best bet.
You may choose to hand embroider names to your quilted Christmas stockings. If you know how to do a simple chain stitch and a French knot to dot your "i's," you should be set.
Machine embroidery offers a nice look to personalize your quilted Christmas stockings. If you do not already have an embroidery machine, the cost may be more than you want to spend. Check your local sewing centers and dealers to see what the prices are. If you just want to be able to embroider names on your quilted Christmas stockings, you might run across a less expensive machine.
Adding the name will allow you to add about $10 to $15 more to the cost of your stockings. To gauge whether the expense is worth it or not, divide the price of the machine by $10 or $15, whichever you choose to charge as the personalization fee. A $1500 embroidery machine with a $15 personalization fee, means you have to sew 100 names on stockings to break even. In the right location, you might be able to do that in one season!
More expensive embroidery machines also exist. You can expect to pay $4000 to $8000 for a new semi-commercial embroidery machine.
If you do consider buying an embroidery machine to personalize your quilted Christmas stockings, look to see how they sew. If the sewing surface is flat, you would have to embroider the name onto the stocking before it's sewn to the back side. A cylindrical arm will allow you to sew on stockings already made.
Another option for personalizing your quilted Christmas stockings is to use appliqué. Cut the letters from fabric and stitch them onto the stocking by hand or using a zigzag or satin machine stitch.
If you do decide to sell quilted Christmas stockings as your quilt business, remember the importance of being able to personalize your creations. Your product will be worth more since it will be a truly customized stocking!
About the Author
Penny Halgren http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com Penny has been a quilter for more than 27 years. She enjoys exploring all aspects of quilting and sharing her knowledge with all quilters. If you are looking for an Internet quilting club with a wide variety of resources for all level quilters, check out http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com .
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