Friday, February 29, 2008

Kits and Supplies

Below are a few of the kits and supplies offered at www.patternmart.com. All of these are mailed products and may have added shipping charges. Not all kits include the patterns so you may be required to make a separate purchase to acquire the pattern.

Bunny,Chick and Jelly Bean Needle Felting Kit

Bunny,Chick and Jelly Bean Needle Felting Kit
Price: US$32.00

Click for details


Raggedy Witch and her Bag of Tricks KIT PM

Raggedy Witch and her Bag of Tricks KIT PM
Price: US$19.95

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Walnut Crystals  1 oz. Jar PM

Walnut Crystals 1 oz. Jar PM
Price: US$4.95

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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

The Benefits of Buying or Selling Kits & Supplies

Did you know that www.patternmart.com doesn’t just specialize in pattern sales? If you already sell patterns on Pattern Mart, why not sell supplies or kits that coincide with your patterns? So many people don’t have time to run around town looking for all the supplies that patterns call for. This may be a great way for you to earn more money. Individual results will vary and success isn’t guaranteed, however it may be worth trying with a couple of your best-selling patterns. Many people will already have the generic materials such as batting, fiberfil, pins, etc. so there’s no need to include those types of materials in your kit.

It may be a good idea to include the pattern with the kit. It’s ok if your patterns are e-patterns. Email the pattern the day of the sale and put the kit in the mail as quickly as possible so that the customer receives it in a timely manner. Below are a few examples of kits you could offer:
  • pre-cut quilt squares
  • fabric to make a doll and doll clothes, yarn for hair, buttons for eyes and other doll accessories
  • fabric, measured antiquing ingredients, and sticks to make prim flowers
You may want to include separate supply lists – one for the kit supplies and another for the generic supplies. I also advise that you already have the kit supplies ready before adding it to the site so you are sure to have all the materials you promise the customer.

Not all supplies are available in all areas. Many people are attracted to your patterns based on the materials used to create the product, but may not be able to find the same fabric, etc. that was used to create the prototype for the pattern. Why not offer those materials individually? Or simply sell fabric and other unused crafting notions that you no longer need or want.

If you aren’t a Pattern Mart member and would like to sell craft kits and supplies on the site, you can click on the following link to sign up on the waiting list. You will be notified as openings become available. http://www.patternmart.com/signup_form.php

This can be a fun experience for the seller and a time-saving experience for the buyer. Be sure to check out all the Supplies and Kits offered on Pattern Mart.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Bird Patterns

Below are a few of the several BIRD patterns offered at www.patternmart.com. There are punch needle, sewing, needlework and crochet patterns -- even wood birdhouse patterns.


GOLDFINCH Bird Doll Ornie ~ tdp

GOLDFINCH Bird Doll Ornie ~ tdp
Price: US$6.00

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~Early Style Bluebird Cupboard Sampler~ Pattern

~Early Style Bluebird Cupboard Sampler~ Pattern
Price: US$5.50

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The Love Birds FH-109PM

The Love Birds FH-109PM
Price: US$8.00

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Friday, February 22, 2008

Americana Supplies

Now that we're heading into spring, we'll be thinking about those upcoming patriotic holidays that will soon follow. We celebrate Memorial Day in May, Flag Day in June and Independence Day in July. Below is a nice selection of Americana supplies to get you started on those Americana projects.

Rusty Tin 1 in Flags PM

Rusty Tin 1 in Flags PM
Price: US$1.50

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100% PREMIUM COTTON CALICO AMERICANA FABRIC

100% PREMIUM COTTON CALICO AMERICANA FABRIC
Price: US$16.00

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Americana Blue & Red Vintage Style Tinsel Garland-SPPO Americana Duo Tinsel

Americana Blue & Red Vintage Style Tinsel Garland-SPPO Americana Duo Tinsel
Price: US$13.95

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Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Advanced Sewing

By the time you reach the advanced sewing stage, you’re sewing a lot and will attempt to sew almost anything. You probably have our own ideas about the way you want your items to look when you’re finished. Perhaps you no longer use other peoples’ patterns to make your items, but you’re following your own sewing instincts. Maybe you’ve even considered designing your own patterns but you aren’t sure how to go about it. Here is a link to a few simple steps that it takes to accomplish the pattern-making process.
http://www.patternmart.com/article/The+Making+Of+A+Pattern

After you’ve created your pattern, you’ll need a place to sell it. If you have your own website, that’s a good place to start. If you don’t have your own site OR if you would like to broaden your customer potential, www.patternmart.com is a great place to offer your patterns. Our new member sign ups are CURRENTLY CLOSED. However, if you are interested in joining Pattern Mart, please sign up for our waiting list by sending an email to: kelle@patternmart.com. Once we have an opening available we will notify you immediately.

Pattern Mart is an established site with a vast customer base. The Pattern Mart newsletter is sent out weekly to over 3,000 subscribers. The newsletter includes new patterns (one per designer per week) that are listed during the previous week so that the readers are updated when you have new patterns to offer. Our customer service is second to none, making sure that all customers’ problems are resolved as quickly as possible (usually within an hour and no more than 24 hours).

Selling tip: Offer your customers the instant gratification of being able to download patterns to their computers immediately after payment. Learn more here: http://www.ipmpro.com/

Monday, February 18, 2008

A Gathering of Sheep

I hope you enjoy our sheep pattern selections for you today. Click HERE to see more sheep patterns at www.patternmart.com.

Countryside Sheep

Countryside Sheep
Price: US$9.50

Click for details


Ewenice and Chloey  Prim Sheep SHP

Ewenice and Chloey Prim Sheep SHP
Price: US$6.00

Click for details


Sheep 164pm

Sheep 164pm
PRICE: US$8.50

Click for details

Friday, February 15, 2008

Pincushion Patterns

Below are a few patterns to make gorgeous pincushions. You can find more PINCUSHION patterns at www.patternmart.com.

~Let's Play in the Dirt~ Pincushion and Sewing Book Pattern

~Let's Play in the Dirt~ Pincushion and Sewing Book Pattern
Price: US$7.50

Click for details


Six Point Calico Star SHP

Six Point Calico Star SHP
Price: US$6.00

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FWP Punch Needle Pattern Primitive Small Goods Pincushions #507

FWP Punch Needle Pattern Primitive Small Goods Pincushions #507
Price: US$7.00

Click for details

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Stage 2: Intermediate Sewing

After you experiment with the smaller projects like the potholders & pillows, you’ll feel more comfortable sewing larger projects that require minor piecing or by adding a few frills to the smaller projects.

A crib quilt is a great project that doesn’t make you feel overwhelmed. It’s larger but not too large. Cutting and piecing the small quilts are not very time consuming and rag quilts are the easiest quilts to make. The talk is that rag quilts are very addictive from the first time you make one. Follow this link for free instructions to make a crib size rag quilt (or lap quilt): http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/tutorial/Lap+Size+or+Crib+Size+Rag+Quilt++45+x+60+Inches

This link takes you to a tutorial to make a pillow with ruffles.
http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/tutorial/How+to+Make+a+Pillow+with+Ruffles
This requires a little time and patience to complete, as you will have to adjust the ruffle a few times to get it right. Good luck!

These tutorials can also be used as a guide when you’re ready to make larger rag quilts or to add ruffles to a doll dress or tote bag. Below are a few tips to help you as you start your intermediate projects.

Sewing Tip # 1: Cotton batting, traditional polyester batting and low loft polyester batting are the easiest battings to work with when quilting. Thick batting is springy and causes the quilt pieces to shift.

Sewing Tip # 2: Well, it’s actually a cutting tip. Ü Having the proper tools makes the job of cutting many squares much easier. So to cut squares for those larger quilts that you're going to make, a 36" cutting mat, rotary cutter, and cutting ruler will make the cutting process go much faster.

If you haven’t used these tools before, you will want to practice on scrap pieces of fabric before you try to cut your main fabric. It takes a few tries to figure out how to keep the ruler from sliding (by moving your hand down the ruler as you cut) and how to roll the cutter along the ruler properly (slowly as you move your hand down the ruler). Also be sure the ruler measures the same at the top and bottom of the mat; that can sometimes get crooked if you aren’t careful. If you can’t see the top of the mat because the fabric is covering it, the ruler should have markings on it to help you see if your measurements are correct.


Cutting Tools


Ruler Markings

Pattern Mart offers a wide variety of intermediate projects, from totes to lap quilts to dolls and more. Whatever your next project is, you’re sure to find it at www.patternmart.com.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Make Do Patterns

The modern make do's are linked to the old phrase "make do or do without". Many of our parents and grandparents have passed this phrase along to us along with their survival stories that go along with it. Making something new from something old meant that nothing was ever wasted. Enjoy bringing the past back to life with these make do patterns. Find more make do patterns at http://www.patternmart.com/.

I'd also like to mention the survey we have going on at Pattern Mart for the next couple of weeks. Visit http://www.patternmart.com/survey.php to take the survey. At the end of the survey, you can download a free pattern from Susan Dean of Threadbare Primitives.

New Heart With Flying Dove..Veenas Mercantile

New Heart With Flying Dove..Veenas Mercantile
Price: US$8.00

Click for details


PRIMITIVE Running RABBIT Make Do

PRIMITIVE Running RABBIT Make Do
Price: US$6.50

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Primitive Steed

Primitive Steed
Price: US$6.00

Click for details

Friday, February 08, 2008

Santa Patterns in February

Many of you are already purchasing Halloween and Christmas patterns. Because you know it's best to have the pattern available when you're ready to start creating. Below are a just a few of the many cute Santa patterns offered at www.patternmart.com.

Santa Cat Make-Do  PM

Santa Cat Make-Do PM
Price: US$5.50

Click for details


Santa Caws Door Greeter

Santa Caws Door Greeter
Price: US$7.00

Click for details


Santa Penguin in a Mitten #277

Santa Penguin in a Mitten #277
Price: US$8.99

Click for details

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Beginner’s Sewing Projects

Today, we’ll begin the first in a series of sewing projects for three different sewing stages. Of course, the first stage of sewing is the beginner stage. Those who are beginning to sew are looking for projects that require minimal sewing tools, minimal fabric piecing, and usually projects that do not require a sewing machine, or at the very least, very little use of a sewing machine. The basic tools for the beginner are hand sewing needles or inexpensive sewing machine and needles, thread or embroidery floss (floss offers a larger variety of colors and textures, but can only be used for hand stitching), ruler, pencil, small amount of fabric, possibly a few straight pins, and other items required to complete the project such as beads, buttons, Velcro, batting, or stuffing materials.

Fabric panels are a great way to practice hand quilting or minimal machine sewing. You can find panels to make small quilts, totes, pillows, potholders and more. Sometimes fabric manufacturers will offer matching fabric for you to use as backing for these projects such as the pillow panels you see below.


If any assembly is required, the manufacturer includes instructions on the panels like on the tote project below.


Other panels simply require a bit of sewing around the outline or over prints on the panels. You can add batting that is cut the same size of the panel and quilt these on a sewing machine or by hand by using simple straight stitches or back stitches. Some, like the house print, can be cut out to make several small pillows.





Small kits are also handy when you’re beginning to sew because many of the materials are supplied for you.


Below is a picture of a completed pillow without the use of pre-printed panels. On at least one piece of fabric (you select the size), add the same size of batting to the side that will be the inside and draw equally spaced lines onto the fabric. Sew over the lines to quilt the pillow panel and add buttons or beads to the intersections of the sew lines. The quilted pattern on the pillow below is a diamond shape. A square quilted pattern is also easy for the beginner to use. For the other side, repeat the quilt pattern or use a printed pillow panel that is the same size as the first piece.

Click on any of the pictures above for a larger view.

Sewing Tip: It is a good idea to add batting or an extra layer of fabric to the inside of pillow panels to extend the life of the pillow.

Below are a few links to fun and free beginner projects. http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/tutorial/Make+a+Pair+of+Potholders

http://www.patternmart.com/pattern/3382/Boutique+Tissue+Cover+E+Pattern+PM

Visit http://www.patternmart.com/ for supplies, kits and more free patterns. Next week we’ll discuss a few intermediate sewing projects.