Over the years I’ve had many people ask about different aspects of my quilting career and how they can get started turning their passion into a business. With the start of a new year, I thought it would be a fun to write up a series based on my personal experiences, with occasional tips and pointers from some of my friends and colleagues in the industry.
Although I am by no means an expert, I will be happy to share my thoughts and encouragement for any of you thinking of making quilting your business. After all, don’t you agree that sharing makes the (quilting) world a better place?
My plan is to blog about this topic on a regular basis, exploring the subjects below. Click on each underlined link to go to that post.
Choosing a Career Path- Owning an online Quilt Shop
- Running a Physical Store
- Professional Quilting
- Selling Your Quilts
- Teaching Classes
- Designing Patterns
- Entering Quilts in Shows
- Monetizing Your Blog
- Getting Published
- Designing Fabrics
- Marketing Your Brand
This list may grow as the series develops. If you have other ideas you’d like me to discuss, or specific questions you have, please ask away. I may not reply directly, but will definitely incorporate your thoughts into future blog posts.
A quick word about the “business” side of things. Keeping records, filing taxes and setting up your business entity are probably the hardest things to do to get started. If you can handle the paperwork, you can handle anything!
I’m not going to business legalities in detail other than to encourage you to take the first step by setting up a separate bank account and contacting your local tax office to file the appropriate business documents. It varies by state or country, but most states’ governments have a wealth of information online and can walk you through the process.
For a quick definition of the different types of US business entities to choose from, you can read this post that I found online after doing a quick search. For specific business questions you may have, be sure to google it and you can literally spend hours online learning everything you need to know!
Once you’ve made the plunge to decide to create your own business, treat it as such. Set realistic goals and working hours for yourself. If you take yourself seriously, so will those around you. 🙂
I’ll be back with this series next week, sharing my thoughts on choosing a quilting career!
Christa Quilts 
Well on wanting to check out your latest quilt market post, I stumbled onto the original version, which I will have to properly read later, and your lovely website, I love the changes you have made. Reading in WP reader sometimes ruins things, not seeing all the lovely eye candy on someones web page and their lovely quilts, that they are not currently posting about. In any case, these topics in this post really interest me as I have been wanting to get into the quilty business rather than the quilting business, but after determining what was really important for me, process not product, I am realizing that it doesn’t mean I can’t be in the quilty business altogether or that sometimes I can’t maybe dabble in the ‘quilting’ business.
I love it when experienced quilters share more about their working side of their business.
Thanks for sharing Christa!
Jodie
HI Christa, How do I go about getting involved with the “Sewing Summit”??
Sadly, they aren’t running that anymore 😦
Maybe you can help me. I would love to find (and purchase) a fabric that seems to have disappeared now (Veranda by Amanda Murphy for Robert Kaufman Fabrics). I’m trying to find a jelly roll and a layer cake with NO success. Perhaps you know how I could go about this? Is there a way to contact someone besides fabric shops and online sites that show it but don’t have it? Maybe a way to contact the designer or something? Someone must have some around. Thanks and Happy New Year.
I just read the tenth post and need to start from here; valuable advice. Thanks for putting it together!
Great series.
SewCalGal
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Great Christa..I look forward to this series.
This sounds awesome! Love to see how the magic happens:)
Very interesting…looking forward to this. I love writing patterns and have just started to put some up on Craftsy. As this develops, I have come across the issue of getting templates I have drawn in a drawing program into my write up…currently researching this. So would be interested in the topic of pattern writing and what sorts of programs would be useful.
Very much looking forward to your series!
Can’t wait to see more of your posts Christa!! This is a subject that interests everyone. I did craft shows and stores for over 7 years which was a lot of hard work but it also felt very rewarding! I remember at the time reading every book I could find on how to run a home based business and don’t forget your account is a great source of information. Thanks for sharing.
Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday
Oh, yay! I’m looking forward to this series. Thanks for taking the time to write down your thoughts on the topic.
thank you!
This is a fabulous idea. Looking forward to reading your posts!
I’m looking forward to following along – thanks for sharing your knowledge about this, Christa!
So glad I found your blog last week. I’ll look forward to your business perspectives.
Thanks for taking the time to blog about this! I know I can’t break away from my full-time job just yet, but I’d as I look down the long road to the future, I’m interested to see if quilting could at least become some supplementary income.
That sounds really neat – I’m looking forward to hearing more. I would also be interested in hearing about your blog design and how to you make graphics, logos, etc.
What a great topic. Thanks for sharing your insight with us. I cant wait to read all about it!
Great idea, Christa! Looking forward to reading your posts on this series!
What a wonderful set of topics, I can’t wait.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You’ll be helping a lot of people (especially me) in a tremendous way by doing this series.
Great idea for a series!!! I had my own sewing business (bridal/formal wear) for many years. Located, at first, in a downtown (small town) location and then from my home. Both had pluses and minuses. I’ll wait to comment more as each topic unfolds. Hugs………………
Obviously from our past emails you know that I’ll be very interested in this series. Thank you for writing it. After owning one business in the past, I know that I can do this and with time I know that my dream will become a reality.
What a great idea Christa! Personally, I would love to get into pattern writing. I’ve started designing quite a bit, but I just don’t know how to start that part of it!
🙂 Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation
Good idea Christa! I know these are things a lot of quilters think about.
Christa
This is a wonderful series to do. Selling my quilts is something I would like to build upon. One of the hardest issues is to price the articles for sale. I find it hard to really get back the full investment of time and creativity. I would love it if you could address this problem in this series. I will be following your blog on this with great interest!
great idea! glad you are doing this and look forward to it.
This is a great idea, Christa. While I am a long way from trying to trun my sewing from hobby to business, I am looking forward to hearing all your insights. And soem of those tricks and tips I can start to do now, even beofre it becomes a business (like settign up a seperate bank account – even if it’;s just to keep track of what I’m really spending on fabric related purchases 🙂 )
E xx
What a great series to blog about! I’m excited to learn more!
Very interesting topics. I am looking forward to your blog posts (as always). Thank you Christa!
This should be an interesting series. While I am curious about owning a quilt shop, I don’t plan to actually do it. It would cut into my stitching time. Thanks for doing this, I’ll be looking forward to each post.