Getting started on my Michaels Dream Tree Challenge #JustAddMichaels

A couple of weeks ago, my husband calls and asks, “Ummm… Why is there a Christmas tree on our front porch?” It seems that I forgot to tell him that I’ll be doing the Michaels Dream Tree Challenge this year.

It’s a 7 foot pre-lit tree, so I can understand him being a little freaked out over its arrival. 🙂

For the Dream Tree Challenge, Michaels provides bloggers with a tree and a gift card to purchase ornaments and supplies to decorate it up.

As it is, we put out 4 Christmas trees every year. Now we’ve got another one to add to our mix! I think I just became The Crazy Christmas Tree Lady. Ha! Seriously, though, decorating Christmas trees just makes me happy. The possibilities are wide open for theme and color, and each tree ends up with its own personality.

So last night I took a friend with me to Michaels to get my inspiration and buy my first round of decorations. If I’m The Crazy Christmas Tree Lady, my friend Rhiannon is The Queen of Glitter. (This summer she actually went to the doctor with a glitter injury. No kidding!!)

No surprise then, that we ended up oohing and ahhing over all the sparkly, glittery decorations they have at Michaels!! My plan was to take photos of us in the store, but we got a little high on the sparkle and forgot. We jumped from one aisle to another, pawing through all the garlands and picks and ornaments that could end up on my Dream Tree.

Here’s a Christmas decoration shopping tip: If you want an idea of how an ornament, garland, or pick will look when it’s actually on your tree, take it over to the aisle where they sell the trees. You can audition your pieces on the display trees.

I’m waiting until I’ve got it all put together to give you all the detail on my theme. But here’s a little sneak peek of what I came home with.

This is the first round of decorations for my tree. I tend to decorate trees in stages because it’s hard to tell exactly how everything is going to look until you get some stuff on the tree. I start with my inspiration pieces and then fill in around them. Luckily, my Michaels store is just 10 minutes from my house. I have a feeling I’ll be making a lot of trips there in the next few weeks as I get my Dream Tree set up.

Disclosure: Michaels provided a Christmas tree and $500 gift card for me to participate in their Dream Tree Challenge. Any opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.

Next Pattern:

If there’s one topic that makes sewists uncomfortable faster than sewing zippers, it’s pricing. Not how to sew the item — but how much to charge for it once it’s finished.

Most people don’t struggle with making handmade items. They struggle with putting a price on their time, skill, and effort without feeling awkward, guilty, or worried they’ll scare buyers away.

If you’ve ever thought:
“I’m not good enough to charge that much,”
“People won’t pay handmade prices,”
or “I’ll just price it low until I get better,”

you’re not alone. But you’re also not doing yourself any favours.

Let’s talk about how to price handmade sewing items in a way that’s fair, realistic, and sustainable — without undervaluing yourself.

Why Undervaluing Your Sewing Hurts More Than You Think

Underpricing doesn’t just affect your income. It affects your motivation, your confidence, and how seriously buyers take your work.

When handmade items are priced too low:

You burn out faster
You resent the time spent making them
You struggle to restock
Buyers assume “cheap” equals “low quality”

Ironically, pricing too low can make selling harder, not easier.

Handmade sewing items aren’t competing with mass-produced factory goods. They’re competing with thoughtfulness, quality, and care — and those have value.

Start With the Real Cost (Not Just Fabric)

One of the biggest pricing mistakes beginners make is charging only for materials.

Fabric, thread, zips, interfacing, labels, packaging — these are your base costs. But they’re only the starting point.

You also need to account for:

Cutting time
Sewing time
Pressing and finishing
Packaging
Listing, photographing, or selling time

Even if you enjoy sewing, your time still counts.

A simple rule:
If someone else had to make this for you, what would you expect to pay them per hour?

The “Straight Line” Trap (And Why It’s Not a Problem)

Many sewists worry that because their items are “simple,” they don’t deserve higher prices.

Straight seams, basic construction, minimal shaping — these are often seen as beginner skills. But from a buyer’s perspective, simplicity is often a feature, not a flaw.

Simple items are:

Practical
Durable
Easy to use
Less intimidating
Often more giftable

A well-made tote bag, table runner, or pouch doesn’t lose value because it’s simple. It gains value because it works.

A Simple Pricing Formula That Actually Works

You don’t need complicated spreadsheets to price handmade sewing items.

A beginner-friendly formula looks like this:

Materials + (Hourly rate × Time) + Fees = Price

Your hourly rate doesn’t need to be high — but it does need to exist.

Even a modest rate acknowledges that your time matters.

And remember: pricing isn’t permanent. You’re allowed to adjust as you learn.

Why “Charging Less Until I’m Better” Backfires

This mindset feels sensible, but it causes long-term problems.

When you price low “for now,” you:

Attract bargain-focused buyers
Set expectations that are hard to raise later
Undermine your confidence
Train yourself to accept less

Your skill will improve through repetition, not through underpricing.

Selling handmade items is a skill too — and pricing fairly is part of learning it.

What Buyers Are Actually Paying For

Most buyers don’t analyse your stitching technique.

They’re paying for:

Convenience
Thoughtful design
Quality materials
Handmade care
Supporting a real person

They want something useful, well made, and ready to use — not a bargain-bin price.

When you price confidently, buyers feel more confident too.

Comparing Prices Without Panicking

It’s smart to look at what others charge — but don’t use comparison as a weapon against yourself.

Instead of asking:
“Why are they charging more than me?”

Ask:

Are they targeting the same customer?
Are they selling the same type of item?
Are their materials similar?

There is room for different price points. You don’t need to be the cheapest to be successful.

Pricing for Sustainability, Not Just Sales

Selling handmade items should feel rewarding, not exhausting.

If your prices don’t allow you to:

Replace materials
Restock without stress
Enjoy sewing
Take breaks

…they’re too low.

A sustainable price keeps you sewing longer — and consistency is what builds sales over time.

The Confidence Shift That Changes Everything

Instead of asking:
“Is this worth what I’m charging?”

Ask:
“Would I be proud to sell this?”

If the item is:

Well made
Useful
Finished with care

Then it deserves a fair price.

You don’t need permission to charge what your work is worth. You just need to believe that your time, effort, and creativity matter.

Because they do.

Book Review – Sewing to Sell – The Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Craft Business

Selling your handmade items? Here’s how to figure a fair price.