Sewing Quilting
sewing quilting Those Small Antique Quilts It's not unusual to have a collection of antique quilts. But doll quilts? Yes, doll quilts. While charming in their own right, they are difficult to fi...
sewing quilting
Those Small Antique QuiltsIt's not unusual to have a collection of antique quilts. But doll quilts? Yes, doll quilts. While charming in their own right, they are difficult to find because during the period they were made, they were considered unimportant and insignificant. Many were made from leftovers and got hard use from the little girls who owned them. Quilts made by young girls are likely to reflect their lack of refined skills in hand stitching. Girls in the early nineteenth century were trained from the time they were very young in what was thought to be their life's work. Before sewing machines were common in homes, hand sewing was important for girls to learn since they would likely be stitching all of the clothing, linens and bedding for her home. It seemed natural, then, that doll quilts would be the perfect practice piece. Not only were they small, but a girl could start with something simple, like strips, and then work up to making a nine patch, and even sewing curves. Beyond that, if she chose, a young girl could piece a more complex design, using triangles as well as squares in her doll quilt. Both girls and boys were taught to sew by their mothers, often before they learned how to read. A very small child might begin sewing using an unknotted thread, and then gain even more practice by counting threads on a scrap of fabric. It was not uncommon for girls to be expected to complete a nine-patch by the time she was nine years old. Amazingly, some mid-nineteenth century diaries record quilt tops being finished by girls as young as five. One quilter, Edith Bell Sims, says she began a quilt at age three, with her mother cutting the fabric, marked the sewing lines, and pinning the pieces together. Edith then stitched the patches - initially by hand and later on her new treadle sewing machine. Edith finished her quilt top by the time she was six. Sewing was (and probably still should be) believed to inspire virtues deemed necessary for every child: neatness, attentiveness, patience, perseverance, and acceptance of routine and repetition. Girls in upper class families also learned to do needlework, although they used finer materials and more intricate designs. It's not unusual to find crazy quilts using velvets, wools and silks that were made by children in upper class families. Unlike children today, children in the 1800s had little other than their imagination to play with. Only the upper class could afford to purchase dolls imported from Europe, so children created dolls from sticks, hankies, corncobs, or whatever else they could find. It wasn't surprising that girls would want to create something just like they had for their dolls. Often, the girls would take pieces left from worn out quilts and make them into quilts for their dolls. Sometimes, they would replicate a bed size quilt using smaller pieces, to be sure to re-create the pattern of the bed size quilt top. Other times, they would use patches left over from bed size quilts to make their doll quilts, even though the quilt top design would be lost. Most of these quilts are pieced, not appliqu?and some have been made from children's handkerchiefs printed with holiday or religious themes. Due to labor saving devices, and smaller families, twentieth century mothers had more time to include creative components in their doll quilts - nursery rhymes, animals, and even pastel colors. Quilts today are made in all different sizes, each for a different purpose. Some large quilts have never seen the top of a bed, even though they are the size of a king size bed quilt. Likewise, some small quilts were made to fill a spot on a wall, and were never intended even for a doll bed. I wonder if maybe some of those tiny quilts from the nineteenth century hung on a wall, and were never placed on a doll bed. About the Author Penny Halgren http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com Penny has been a quilter for more than 26 years and enjoys sharing her quilting knowledge quilters all around the world. |
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Your Quilting Business: Sell Niche Products
Some people love crafting and are drawn toward quilting, but don't feel like they have enough talent to sell the quilts they make. They sometimes don't feel comfortable basing their quilting business around sharing their quilting knowledge. If you are one of those people, there is still a place for you in the quilting market!
All quilters need accessories. Your quilting business could be selling those accessories or niche products geared specifically toward quilters.
There are common accessories that come to mind immediately: scissors, threads, fabrics, etc. You could sell those items on an Internet auction site or start your own online store. With a little research, even someone with very little computer experience can get an online store up and running.
Maybe you would choose to offer only one accessory in your quilting business. You could start a quilting business that focuses on selling fabric fat quarters. You could also start a quilting business that sells nothing but threads.
Advertise this type of business on other websites, such as quilting how-to sites, and quilting newsletters.
Another niche idea to help you start a quilting business is to sell a novelty product that quilters would love. For instance, sell custom pin cushions. Sale online and at craft shows.
You could also sell patterns for dolls or toys that are quilted. If you have sewing skills, you could sew and sell the toys and dolls. A small classified ad in a craft or sewing magazine or newsletter should get the results you need for your quilting business. Also, think about advertising online with quilting and sewing newsletters. If you are sewing the toys yourself, try selling them at craft shows.
If the only thing you love more than quilting is a particular holiday, try combining your two passions into a quilting business. If you love Christmas, start a quilting business in which you sell quilted Christmas d?r. Quilted ornaments, tree skirts, stockings and other decor are very popular.
No matter what your favorite holiday, you can create quilted decorations to sell. Advertise in quilting and sewing newsletters online and buy a small classified line ad in a magazine. These are also great craft show items or sell them from your own website.
Advertising your quilting business does not have to be expensive. After all, the idea is to start a quilting business on a shoestring.
Plenty of newspapers offer free classified advertising. Give those a try. Don't overlook free online classifieds, too.
Another idea is to join free online groups. Look for groups that relate to your particular quilting business. For instance, if your business is selling patterns for quilted toys, you will undoubtedly think about joining a group for quilters. But, don't forget other groups like stay-at-home or work-at-home moms, etc. Think about the people who would likely use your product/service.
Be sure to follow the group's rules. Some specifically state that products cannot be sold on their group sites. Usually, those sites do allow a "signature" in which your name is followed by your business website. Having your name followed by your website is good free advertising!
If you subscribe to a quilting or sewing newsletter, send them a press release when you start your quilting business. Press releases generate free publicity. Even if the newsletter does not use your information in its entirety, you could get a little mention somewhere. Always include your contact information -- a phone number, email address or website.
You can also contact your favorite newsletters to see if they accept advertising. Getting a link on your favorite site will undoubtedly reach other subscribers who share your interests!
About the Author
Penny Halgren
http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com
Penny has been a quilter for more than 27 years. She enjoys exploring all aspects of quilting and sharing her knowledge with all quilters. Resources for quilters of all levels, are available at http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com .