Have you ever wished you could travel in time and give your past self something?  Well, that’s the case for me with this book by Virginia Lindsay, Sewing to Sell.
Sewing to Sell is a book for anyone who wants to begin, or is currently trying to make money sewing. Â Virginia has a successful Etsy shop Gingercake and has been selling patterns and finished sewn items for years. Â I received an electronic copy of the book to review and I devoured it!
This book is unique in that it includes 16 projects for you to use in your own sewing business! Â So take your own ideas, sprinkle in some of Virginia’s and you’re ready to set up shop.
There are sections on
- Finding Your Sewing Style
- Identifying Your Customers
- Essential Equipment
- Buying and Using Fabric
- Sewing
- Selling
- Pricing and Packaging
I think my favorite part of the book were the pullbacks showing how products could be staged for photographs and how to put them in the best light.  In that spirit, above you’ll see how I set up to take pictures of the project I made from the book, the Classic Insulated Lunch Bag.  It was a very gloomy and rainy day, so I had to get a little creative to make the most of the available light.
Since we just moved from Michigan to New Jersey, I used materials I had on hand.  Michael Miller Fabrics had sent me a selection from their Petit Paris line for my Summer Craft Camp Camper Cowl so I gratefully used a variety of fabrics to create this black and white and French all over lunch sack.  Arden can use it to take her snack to Kindergarten this year, and lunch when she is in school all day next year.
While using what I had on hand, and with Virginia’s encouragement to change the projects to suit your needs, I used a magnetic clasp instead of hook and loop tape as the closure.  Honestly, this will probably be a better method for this, as Arden is not always gentle with things and I think the magnet will hold up to abuse better.  I also used fusible fleece on the lining instead of regular batting and I think that worked beautifully.
The little pocket on the front is perfect for stashing a little love note from Mom, or something small like a snack pouch.  She gives tips for making several of these at once, which is the way you’d want to go if you were making them to sell.  After the first one, I know I could whip these out in no time!  The directions were very clear and easy to follow with ideas for customizing your products to suit your style.
Another of my favorite sections are the tips for packaging – particularly for selling at craft shows where people will be walking around with their purchases. Â Free advertising, anyone? Â I know I’m guilty of not prettying up my packaging when I ship my products. Â If I get back to selling custom nautical flag banners, I’ll change that for sure!
Virginia talks about pricing and how to calculate a price based on materials and time, and even gives suggested price points for the projects in the book.  This is a tough area for many people, so I found that super helpful.
**Giveaway Closed**
You get the chance to win a copy for yourself – just leave a comment on this post stating what you’d most like to learn about starting your own sewing business, or wish you had learned sooner. Â I’ll close comments on Monday, December 15. Â ** Open to US residents only**
And be sure to check out the rest of the tour participants to hear their reviews and more chances to win a copy.
Definitely how to set up for better photos and pricing.
Soooooo, I kind of need this book! I have done ONE craft fair, and it was a total bomb. I don’t know how to stage things – definitely need help there – but the fair was a new one and not well advertised. Next year I want to do another one with a friend (at least if it is a total bomb, I will be able to have someone to commiserate with??), and I am looking at any/all books that are helpful to help me in this area! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!!
As a stay at home mom, I would love to be able to make a little extra cash by selling my handmade items. This book looks like it has some great advice! Thanks for a chance to win!
I struggle with pricing and getting the word out there about my product.
I love this lunch bag! So pretty. Thanks so much for the wonderful review Jenn!
I would love to learn how to take better photos! I have always wanted to try selling things I make, but I really have no idea where to start. This book would be great!
I would love to read this book and find out better ways to photograph my products. Although I’ve been selling items for a couple years now, I know I still have so much to learn. 🙂
I use to sew and sell civil war reproduction clothing …wish this book was out 10 years ago..I would love to win this book andapply it all…pricing has always been hard for me.
Pricing and packaging would be the deciding factor if I can make money selling the items I make. The photography tips are a close second – I take crappy photos! Terrible for the granddaughter of a professional photographer! Thanks for the chance to win! jacklynnsteven at netzero dot com
I really need help with choosing the right items to make and with pricing for profit. Looks like a great book.
I would like to know what venues are most accepting of homemade goodies other than just Etsy. The book looks great. Thanks for the giveaway and chance to win. I’ve also shared your giveaway on my Giveaway List for sewers & quilters at wowilikethat.com. Thanks again.
I need to learn just about everything about this subject. I would like to start selling some of my handmade stuff though I just don’t know if I can keep up with demand if I had any.
i could defiantly use a book like this to help with my etsy shop.
I’ve been sewing and selling for 18 months. I’ve done ok but would like help with pricing, how to target different customers, and fresh ideas for some things to sell that would be desireable for a wide range of people. I don’t currently do “Pretty packaging” as I feel it would cost me more. Maybe I can learn some inexpensive creative ways to do that.
I wish I’d started sewing sooner. Love it and so many things I want to make and sell.
I would love marketing tips.
I think the finding your own sewing style would be super helpful to learn about- wait- actually everything in the book would be super helpful! I want it so bad!! 🙂
Very cute lunchsack!
I’d like to learn how to calculate how much inventory to have on hand when you’re just starting and how people keep up with demand. Thanks for the chance to win this helpful book!
This book looks great. I’m definitely most interested in the info on pricing, as that’s where I struggle the most with the idea of selling my goods. Thanks!
I always struggle to price items and find items that will sell. I need this book! Thank you.
I want to learn everything! I’m about to open an Etsy shop and the more I get into it I feel like I don’t know anything that I need to know.
Almost ready to close up shop cause I can’t seem to figure out how it works. Maybe this book is exactly what I need.
I’d love to know how to get my stuff noticed so it will sell!
I need help on all areas of selling my projects. This book would point me in the right direction to be successful.
I really need help with all of it. I have been sewing for years but only recently wanted to start selling my handmade items. I think this book would help me so much.
I have sold some things in the past and just want to try it again, and would like more info and tips on it.
I need help staging for photos for sure. A little guidance on pricing would help too.
I would LOVE to win this book – not for myself, but for my very talented daughter. She is so very talented and creative and is trying to create items to sell.
Financial problems prevent her buying this for herself – as ‘necessities’ eat up all available income Since I am on ‘fixed income’ and not that well off (financially) myself, I cannot afford to buy it for her at this time (though if I don’t win, would try to buy for her in the not-too-distant future!
I don’t sew myself – but she is very talented and some patterns she has designed to date have been very creative and beautiful….including dresses she has made for her youngest niece – my one and only granddaughter (six grandsons!)
If I take up sewing again myself, I will certainly remember your site (I’ve sent the link to her, so please use screen name if you post this comment.)
Thank you for the opportunity!
I’d like to know about costs, pricing, and marketing. What a great offer!
I”d love to learn more about batching things out, photography and some ideas for fast projects that don’t cost too much to make but yield a good return. I love to make clothes but they take me so long to make compared to what I would have to charge!
I want to learn more about how much inventory to accumulate, pricing and especially shipping.
I’d love more information about taking photos of items.
I would most like to learn how to keep track of sales, cost of goods and more.
I’d love to learn how to optimize etsy
Thank you Jenn for sharing I wish I’d known how to calculate selling price, determining what is more valued, time vs. materials. This book is on my wishlist.
This looks like a very practical book!