Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
This Snuggler infant swaddler is just one of the projects featured in Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing for Baby: 24 Easy Projects for Newborns to Toddlers. You can download the pattern for the swaddler for free from Craftzine. Go to the free pattern.
[tags]sewing, tutorial, pattern, infant, swaddler, snuggler[/tags]
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.
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:
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.
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:
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?
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:
A well-made tote bag, table runner, or pouch doesn’t lose value because it’s simple. It gains value because it 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.
This mindset feels sensible, but it causes long-term problems.
When you price low “for now,” you:
Your skill will improve through repetition, not through underpricing.
Selling handmade items is a skill too — and pricing fairly is part of learning it.
Most buyers don’t analyse your stitching technique.
They’re paying for:
They want something useful, well made, and ready to use — not a bargain-bin price.
When you price confidently, buyers feel more confident too.
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:
There is room for different price points. You don’t need to be the cheapest to be successful.
Selling handmade items should feel rewarding, not exhausting.
If your prices don’t allow you to:
…they’re too low.
A sustainable price keeps you sewing longer — and consistency is what builds sales over time.
Instead of asking:
“Is this worth what I’m charging?”
Ask:
“Would I be proud to sell this?”
If the item is:
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.
WOW!! This is just what I’ve been looking for but I can’t seem to open the pdf. Everytime I try to the page freezes and wont download. Anyone else have this problem? Has anyone got the pdf they could email to me? Thanks so much!!
Agnes
Agnes,
It is now the end of August, so hopefully you will have been able to open the file by now. I saved the pdf and will be happy to email it to you, I just don’t know your email address. Post again with where you would like it sent and I will get it to you.
Jayne
Hi Jayne,
Im having the same freezing problem with the pattern. Ive actually looked elsewhere for it as well and it happens everywhere! Id LOVE a copy of this pattern to make for my Feb10 due baby so if you dont mind could you please email it to me.
Thanks so very much. Mel.
I would love to see this pattern as well, but the site keeps freezing.
If anyone has it, I would really appreciate it if you could email it to me at [email protected]
Thanks!
Laura
I have been looking for a pattern for these. My baby girl sleeps through the night when she sleeps in one similar to this. She is getting bigger and I really want her to still sleep in one! Plus my new mom goal is to learn to sew so I can make these as gifts one day!!!
Thanks!
Hi I foster abandoned babies and these swaddle blankets are SOOOO expensive.
PLEASE could you email me the pattern as I am unable to open the PDF and would love to whip a few up before our next baby arrives.
thanks a ton!
I would love the pattern! If you could e-mail it to [email protected] that would be awesome!!!
Thanks so much!
Hello, I would LOVE to make this, but when I print it on my home printer, it seems to not print all of the pattern. Is there a way I can get this pattern to work? Thank you sooo much!
I’m not really sure. I can’t give definite info without seeing your computer setup. Try checking the scaling on your printer settings to be sure that it’s printing at the correct size.
–Anne
Hello Yikes it’s already December. I have the same freezing problem Can anyone email me the Patter I would LOVE to make it for my baby Due the end of Jan 2010.
my email is [email protected]
Thank you for replying so quickly I can’t wait to try it out.
There is a pattern with instructions available here
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/05/craft_pattern_podcast_snuggler.html
I’m not a good enough sewer to figure it out myself with no instructions.
People seem to have trouble downloading that one as well.
but after reading the comments I was able to download the pdf.
After a little bit of a wait the PDF even loaded properly in a new window when I used internet explorer rather than firefox.
If it still doesn’t load for you try the direct download like she says.
In INTERNET EXPLORER right click on the download link when the window pops up Choose “save target as” choose a destination folder and voila you have it saved on your computer. 😉
As far as printing goes, I had to Open the PDF file with ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR one page at a time. In adobe illustrator printing options include “tile” “full pages” Your pattern will print out on (4) 8/1/2 x 11 sheets. According to adobe’s website that option should be available in acrobat, but it is not available for me. Maybe you need to have Acrobat Professional not just the reader.
So like I said I had to use “open with” to open the PDF in another ADOBE program, WORKED for me with Illustrator, you should try it in PHOTOSHOP or INDESIGN if you have one of these programs.
Rachel,
Thanks for posting this! This download has been giving people lots of trouble, but your research and explanation will help make it easier. You rock!!
–Anne
This is why we can’t print large pages. You need the full version of adobe acrobat not just the free reader.
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Acrobat/9.0/Standard/WS58a04a822e3e50102bd615109794195ff-7bde.w.html
Hi Keith,
The tile print feature is part of Acrobat not Reader, which is why you do not see it in the Adobe Reader print menu. If you’re interested in testing the tiling capability try downloading a 30-day trial of Acrobat 9 at:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatpro/tryout.html
If you are lucky enough to get the pattern to load in Internet Explorer the printing options were available for me to tile large pages. So print it out directly from the web browser. Probably a good idea to make sure you have the latest version of internet explorer and the adobe reader plugin
good luck every one
hi I would love this pattern also. Please email it to me.
Thanks
I have two grandchildren on the way and would love this pattern. I tried to download it, but it just keeps freezing.
Thank you so much for sharing this! I can’t get it to print correctly for me. Will you please email me the tiled version? Thanks again. [email protected]
I seem to be having the same problem with the printing. I only get a few peices and can’t print it. Can it be emailed? Would like to make one for my sister in law. Thanks. [email protected]
Hi,
I like very much the pattern of snuggler infant swaddler, but the pdf can’t open. Could email to me?
Thanks.
I’m sorry. I no longer have the pattern on my computer and cannot email it. –Anne
I could not open it with firefox but was able to open it with internet explorer.
I am not able to open this file with firefox or internet explorer and I am dying to try this out!! Will someone PLEASE send me the file!! [email protected]
THANKS
please send me the pattern, I am unable to open it. Thanks!
Hi, add me to the list! I would love this pattern but cannot open it. can someone send me the love? [email protected]
Hi, I dont see a pdf either. Can I get it emailed??Thank you!
Kandice, I don’t have the pattern. You would need to contact the designer directly in order to get that. –Anne
I am happy to email the file. I had no problem downloading it
I would really like this pattern. Would some one be kind enough to email to me. I would be so so thankful.
Sara
[email protected]
Very nice post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to mention that I have really enjoyed surfing around your weblog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing for your feed and I’m hoping you write once more very soon!
Hi!
Daisy or anyone who still have the pdf design. Could you pls emaik the design to [email protected]?
Im dying to try it !
I got the pattern but the instructions are hard to understand. I’m having problems with the pocket placement.