It has come to my attention that I have quite a few people reading this blog who are extremely crafty! If this sounds like you and you also happen to create your own patterns for the crafts you make, today’s post could benefit you. Below, I’m listing several places online where you can sell your unique patterns.
The great thing about selling patterns is that — depending on how you have your rights set — you could sell the same pattern over and over again. That means only doing the hard work once and then continuing to reap the benefits over time. Keep in mind however that you can probably charge more for patterns that are exclusive. Also, patterns can be delivered to buyers digitally. This means no hassle of mailing and shipping for you and less waiting for the buyer.
I did some research to find the best options online for selling your patterns and below is what I came up with. Please leave a comment if you know of any other sites:
Craftsy is a very popular website for crafters. You can take online crafting classes, buy craft supplies, and also sell your patterns. The great thing about using Craftsy for selling your patterns is that they do not take any fees nor do they take a commission when your pattern sells. This is not typical. You’ll notice that most other sites do take fees. Payments are made to you via Paypal and you get the money as soon as your pattern is purchased.
Go here to learn more about selling your patterns on Craftsy.
This is another option for selling your digital sewing patterns. They seem to have mostly quilt, garment, and other sewing patterns up for sale. This is a site that does take some fees out. You’ll have to be OK with losing almost half of your earnings from patterns sold since they take 45 percent of what you make. The website says that the fee is “in line with industry standards for a manufacturer’s wholesale discount offered to a mass market distributor.” Payments for patterns you’ve sold are made monthly via Paypal.
Go here to learn more about selling your patterns at Pattern Spot.
You Can Make This has a program for designers to earn money sharing their expertise and techniques through their website. You submit your ideas for projects and if it’s accepted, you upload pics, sample files, instructions, etc. and these can be purchased on their site. You Can Make This is another site that takes 50 percent of your earnings after one of your project ideas is sold.
Go here for more information on the Share and Profit program at You Can Make This.
This is a site for knitting, weaving, and crochet patterns. You can sell your patterns here and earn approximately 60 percent of your sale price. Payments are made monthly provided you have at least $20 in sales.
Go here to learn more about selling patterns on PatternFish.
Etsy is a site you’re probably already very familiar with seeing as how it’s insanely popular. It’s a huge handmade/crafty marketplace where you can sell patterns and also just about anything else that falls under the vintage or handmade category. Etsy has fees, but they aren’t that steep. They charge 20 cents for each listing you post and then an additional 3.5 percent fee for each transaction. You don’t have to wait to get paid for you what you sell. The money goes straight to your Paypal account as soon as a purchase has been made.
Go here to read my full review of Etsy or here to learn more about selling there.
If you have questions about the process of creating and selling a pattern, you should read this blog post over at Craft Buds. There’s some great information there about creating and selling your craft patterns online.
If you are mainly interested in selling your crafts rather than your patterns, you’ll want to read this post with a list of six places where you can sell your crafts online.
