Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
If the instructions on the little plastic invisible zipper feet leave you confused or frustrated, then take a look at this tutorial offered by Coats & Clark’s Sewing Secrets blog. (This blog is no longer activie and re-directs) We were able to find this tips and tricks section of the new page.
They give step-by-step instructions and plenty of photographs to show you how to get the invisible zipper foot on to your machine. Here is another helpful tutorial we found for Zipper foots.
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.
Where is the darn tutorial for putting the invisible zipper foot on your machine?
I hear you! Definitely a tutorial I’ll keep my eye out for. The last time I tried to put an invisible zipper on my machine, I spent over an hour fiddling with all the pieces. I finally just gave up and stitched the zipper down with a regular presser foot.
I bought a zipper foot last year and threw out the instructuins when i had sewn the zip. Now I want to sew another zip this year but I have forgotten how to attach the zipper foot. I cannot find (except for the photo) where you have a video of this.
Judy
The link is imbedded in the text.
Second from the link which is weird I figured out.. The yellow in my case goes on the white Slipping in where the x part is into the white.. Then this yellow bit slides over the metal column then you screw the screw back into place
except that it doesn’t lead to the tutorial. I get sent to the yarnspirations website, and no tutorial to be found. I can buy a foot there, but don’t need one, I already have the foot, just need to know how to put it on my new machine.
Looks like they have changed their website completely. We have made some updates to the post to reflect that.