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All images in this post by Stacey Trock, used with permission.
I think a lot of us crafters have a dream of making our living selling some kind of PDF craft patterns or tutorials. And that would indeed be a dream job, wouldn’t it? I can tell you from experience that in reality, this can be a tough way to make your living, but I’ve always thought that knitting and crochet pattern designers had it made. Since it’s pretty hard to reverse-engineer these kinds of patterns, I figured anyone selling them must have an easily sustainable business.
Well, like any business model, the reality is a little more of a grey area than that. But I was excited to talk with Stacey Trock, who actually does make a sustainable full-time living designing and selling crochet stuffed animal patterns under the name Fresh Stitches. I learned a lot from our conversation: that pattern design and sales require a tremendous inventment of time, that designing is only a tiny portion of how a designer spends that time, and that the tone of your online presence can really drive sales.
If you want to develop a business selling PDF craft patterns of any kind, I think you’ll gain a whole lot of insight from this interview.
Cute Links:
• Visit Stacey’s website, which is the gateway to all things Fresh Stitches.
• We talked quite a bit about the Fresh Stitches blog and how Stacey uses this channel to both support her existing customers and attract new ones. You can also find Stacey on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
• We also talked about all the places Stacey sells online, so check her presences out on, Etsy, Ravelry, and Craftsy.
Just wanted to say how much I loved this podcast. Your podcasts are always informative and interesting… this one especially hit home for me.
I don’t crochet. Don’t knit either, actually! But, I sew. And I have considered, every now and then, if I would want to get into pattern designing for quilting. A little different, but it sounds like there is a LOT that would be the same! Thanks for a glimpse into the real life of a pattern designer.
Thank you for commenting, Carolina! I’m glad you enjoyed this show, and I so agree – Stacey’s thoughts on making a living as a pattern designer apply to just about any crafty medium. The rigors of production and promotion are pretty much the same. And the smarts Stacey is bringing to her business would benefit any creative business!
This is a great podcast! I was particularly happy to see you featured Stacey. I follow her blog, and man she is always hustling! I aspire to be that productive and consistent.
So do I!! Thanks so much, Katie – I’m really glad you enjoyed this show.
This was a great podcast! Loved all the information. Her patterns make me wish I knew how to crochet, they are so cute!
Thanks so much for featuring Stacey on your podcast! I’m a pattern designer as well, working on my first self-published book. This was very inspirational. :)
Very inspirational indeed. Thank you Diane and Stacey for this informational interview. Stacey is really impressive, she is so focussed and full of energy. Anyway, thanks to her for sharing these precious pieces of her experience.
Really enjoyed this interview. Back in the early 80′s I sold crochet patterns. No internet, no computer. My marketing consisted of classified ads in the back of House of White Birches magazine “Crochet World.” The patterns were typed out (gallons of white-out were employed) and taken to a place that made copies. Maybe there was one photo of the finished product. We were less aware back then of copyright issues, so many of the pattern for sale at the time were of commercial characters (think Smurfs, Care Bears, Hello Kitty). (hanging head). Raising babies finally got in the way of that business. I recently came across one of the old patterns (one that would be safe today)… hmmmmmmmmmmm.
Wow, I had no idea you used to do patterns! Man, I can’t imagine trying to do production with no computers. Thanks for sharing that story, Sarah – nice to get that glimpse!
This was a really timely interview for me. Among all the babies and traveling my active design time hasn’t been very high the past year or so, but I’ve been thinking a lot about my brand and my focus. I have a pretty good idea of where I could go, but I’m scared because I don’t want to alienate all the people who wouldn’t like it! It’s great to hear and think about it positively – a clearer focus helps those who want what I do find me. There are so many crochet/knit designers whose success is related to their being the best in a niche – I can actually think of very few for whom it is not true.
Thanks so much for another great interview! This one was very personal to me as I also sell PDF patterns and to hear how other designers go about running their business was so interesting. I have found that these days my pattern sales are taking over from my finished item sales which shows how much people want to have a go themselves at making stuff.
I love all your podcasts Diane and have found words of wisdom in every one! Keep up the good work :)
Thank you, Jane! It’s lovely to hear that you’re enjoying the show!
[...] was very excited to hear her recent interview on CraftyPod detailing how she creates a sustainable living by selling her PDF patterns. She went into great [...]
Another great podcast that gave me a lot of food for thought (even though I don’t crochet, or knit, or create patterns for sale)! Some of the ideas discussed are precious advice for any small business owner (like what’s interesting to give away as a freebie and what’s not, for example). Thanks again, Diane, I really appreciate Craftypod 2.0 more and more!
Thanks for the great podcase Sister Diane! This was really useful, I’ve been thinking of selling my own patterns (sewing patterns for girls) too, and the worry that it will not be able sustainable is very real. In fact I could not decide whether to just start the ball rolling by giving them away for free or even how to price them. So many thoughts, too little action. Maybe this will kick me into getting started! :)
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! You know what else might be useful, based on what you’ve told me? This series on the upsides and downsides of giving things away for free: http://www.craftypod.com/2011/01/10/free-and-sustainability-and-community-and-money/
I can’t wait until I’m not at work and can hear this!!
Cool little animals.