Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
Elizabeth from Twelve Crafts Till Christmas shows how to make this doll-sized bassinet. This soft fabric bassinet gives a special place for a child to lay their baby doll to sleep. And unlike a larger dollie crib, the fabric bassinet packs easily for travel. Go to Part 1 of the tutorial. Go to Part 2 of the tutorial.
[photo from Twelve Crafts Till Christmas]
[tags]sewing, tutorial, soft, doll, dollie, bassinet, sleep[/tags]
Christmas selling brings out a very specific kind of panic — even in confident sewists.
Suddenly, there’s pressure to be festive, affordable, competitive, and profitable all at the same time. You start second-guessing prices, comparing yourself to everyone else, and wondering whether you should “just lower it a bit” because it’s Christmas.
But here’s the truth most beginner sellers don’t realise until it’s too late: Christmas is the worst time to undervalue your work.
Let’s talk about how to price handmade Christmas items realistically, confidently, and in a way that keeps selling joyful — not exhausting.
Christmas creates urgency — for both sellers and buyers.
As a seller, you’re dealing with:
As a buyer, people are:
That’s not a reason to lower prices — it’s often a reason to raise them slightly.
One mindset shift makes all the difference during the holidays.
You’re not selling decorations or crafts.
You’re selling finished gifts.
Handmade Christmas items solve real problems:
When you price from this perspective, confidence comes much easier.
Lowering prices at Christmas feels generous — but it creates problems quickly.
Underselling leads to:
If your prices don’t protect your time in December, they’re too low.
Christmas pricing needs to include more than usual.
In addition to materials and time, consider:
Holiday selling costs more. Your prices should reflect that reality.
You don’t need a complicated system.
Use this as a baseline:
Materials + (Hourly rate × Time) + Holiday costs = Christmas price
Holiday costs might only add a small amount per item — but they matter.
Even a modest increase protects your energy and sanity.
There’s a myth that Christmas items have to be cheap because they’re small.
In reality, small handmade items sell because they’re:
Pricing them too low often signals “throwaway” instead of “special.”
A well-priced small item feels intentional — not cheap.
It’s tempting to scroll Etsy or wander markets and panic over prices.
Instead of asking:
“Why are they cheaper than me?”
Ask:
You don’t need to match the lowest price to make sales — especially at Christmas.
This is important.
Holiday buyers:
Trying to price like it’s March instead of December is a common mistake.
If you’re:
Those are signs your prices may be too low.
Raising prices slightly can actually slow demand to a manageable level — and increase profit at the same time.
Christmas is already busy.
Your pricing should:
A price that protects your time is a healthy price.
Instead of asking:
“Is this too expensive for Christmas?”
Ask:
“Does this price allow me to make this item with care, on time, and without stress?”
If the answer is yes, you’re pricing correctly.
Handmade Christmas items don’t need to be cheap to be desirable. They need to be well made, thoughtfully presented, and fairly priced.
And the sellers who respect their time during the holidays are the ones who enjoy selling — year after year.
Book Review – Sewing to Sell – The Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Craft Business
I like how you break down the fabric sizes….however, could you also include how much fabric for outside & inside….example:
1 yd for outside & 1 yd for inside? I think it would be easier for the beginners.
sincerely,
B
Hello-
Just found your doll bassinet-
How do I make it smaller-for 5-8 inch
dolls?
What size is the one shown? Must have
missed it.
Love all the pictures.
Hello
Just wondering how long it took you to make this baby doll bassinet?
Would you be able to give me the measurements to make one for a 17″ baby alive doll?
I don’t have the measurements to make a bassinet for a 17″ Baby Alive doll, but I think you could probably figure them out if you had the doll in hand. My suggestion would be to lay the doll down on a piece of paper to figure out how long and how wide the bassinet base would need to be, and then adapt the measurements for the side and the hood based on the new numbers. It might take some trial and error, so I’d err on the side of larger pieces and then trim down as needed. –Anne