How To
Quilt Christmas Stockings
Or Your Quilting Business
Niche: Christmas Stockings
Even if you believe you
don't have the time or patience it takes to
make a quilt, you can 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.
Start off by 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 sell quilted
Christmas stockings as your quilt business,
remember the importance of personalizing your
creations. Your product will be worth more
since it will be a truly customized
stocking!
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