Bottle Blonde

I don't remember what they were charging ----- I just looked and didn't buy. Probably a flat rate per block? Price of fabric X 2?

knlsmith

I love half yard cuts way better than fat quarters. I don't like pink (yuck). I love bright funky patterns and some of the"dark" stuff. Like some of the Alexandre Henry fabric. Love stripes, plaids, and retro colors.

Tiffany

Right now Scrappy is in! It's starting to really sweep the nation and I would bet you will see more and more people jumping onto the craze. Instead of offering a kit filled with scrappy colors, which may come across quite messy, I would sell fifty 10-inch squares. One way to present them which is very attractive is to keep all the colors the same, but vary the pattern. For example, a stack of 10-inch squares all in various shades of brown or green or blue. Not only will this appeal to those who are doing scrappy quilts, but you will also appeal to those who are building their stash and need a particular color. You can do the same thing with fat quarters, have a stack of four or five of them bundled together by color. Just a thought. And if you want an example, it shouldn't take hardly any time at all to do up something like a tablerunner in the French Braid pattern, which lends itself well to the scrappy look.

This year the "in" color is turquoise, which seems to be very popular. If I understand the art world, yellow is fading as a popular color, though we quilters will always need a splash of yellow in our quilts. ;)

My suggestion would be to set up a kit in two different color-ways, such as one in brights and one in calmer colors. It always surprises me how many people will decide they like a quilt based not on the pattern but on the colors. Someone will hate a quilt, but change the colors of it on them and they will suddenly like it and want to make it for themselves. Not everyone is like this but enough that it might make it worthwhile to go to the extra trouble.

I bet you've already guessed that I usually buy fabric over anything else. I have never purchased a kit. There are two reasons. Most kits cost around $65-$150, which is usually outside of my price range, and I have friends who love kits but often they encounter the problem of not having enough fabric provided in the kit to complete it. When I buy a particular fabric for a project, I always buy at least 1/4 yd extra because I know I will mess up somewhere. I would hate to buy a kit only to discover I botched up a cut and now don't have enough fabric to finish. :shock: :( :cry: So I have avoided kits, but I have a ton of friends who absolutely love them and will buy several every year. I recently saw a quilt and when I found out it had been a kit, I swear I would have done just about anything to be able to get it!!!!! Unfortunately the quilt was a UFO and the quilt shop had closed. I guess what I'm saying is that I think kits will do very well but that you should also have a variety of things for those of us who can't afford a kit. Long way to get to that statement. :roll: :lol:

mlaceruby

thanks for the insight!
my kits are all precut and I always include extras!
So the log cabin kits and the star and mosaic ones that I do are already to sew. no cutting required.
making 2 colorways is a good suggestion
brights are easy
but are civil war, americana, victorian in?
or more the bright large floral and geometric motifs the thing?

Bottle Blonde

IN GENERAL ---- It seems like the calicos, blenders, civil war repos, 30's repos, americana and victorian fabrics appeal to quiltmakers.

The bright large florals and geometics appeal to crafter's that make aprons, purses, tote bags, checkbook covers, eyeglass cases, etc....

Of course this is not a set in stone rule - just something I've noticed by surfing the web and looking at a ton of blogs.

crawford1219

I love charm packs-am currently searching for winter themed charms for the winter block swap.

ckcowl

IF i look at kits while traveling the ones i am maybe going to buy would be unique ones, maybe location (themed) or something that i do not see every day or locally. i would want something i can't find anywhere else. i would not spend my money on a scrap quilt kit, i have plenty of scraps, i would buy one that was designed by the seller, or that had unique fabrics from the area i am visiting.
and at a festival, i would be much more apt to purchase a table runner type kit; a whole bed quilt kit would really have to be something i just couldn't live without. my experience with craft shows the $10-$25 items sell out pretty quick...the items $50+ not so much. and just an added note...
i do not buy kits! at least not usually, i like picking out my own fabrics...that being said...
I do buy kits when traveling to new places, usually for gifts for the person who is Critter-sitting for me while i'm away, or maybe for a secret sister ect. so i usually will find a unique table runner/placemat kit, or something like that
good luck with your booth

Tiffany

I want you as my Secret Sister!!!


Civil War fabrics may not be all the rage like they were a few years ago, but those of us who like them are very loyal, and they can easily be matched up with other lines as companion pieces. Americana is always in and it's hard to resist a beautiful Victorian fabric. Darn, you are making me want to run downstairs and fondle my fabric! :lol:

If you sell a large floral, my suggestion would be to either have a couple books handy (for sale maybe?) to show the buyer how to use the fabrics, or else have a sample of a quilt effectively using large prints. Large florals may be a bit too much trouble since so many quilters seem stumped by what to do with them. If you don't have a lot of time, something like a Warm Wishes quilt will get across the general idea.

September isn't very far off. Are you getting excited?

mlaceruby

More like overwhelmed!
I have several different kits that I have packaged and ready to go.Or an currently cutting! with samples and instructions but they are all scrappy quilts.
I am making 30 of each kit 8 different kits.
Then I decided to order precuts to sell from Benartex
which have arrived and I ordered more this morning.
Also purchased some of thier FQ boxes
have made a ton of FQ' for a big basket
also have table runner kits
This show is a week long so don't want to run out!
What will help me is their is a quilt show at this festival which should help with my sales!

raptureready

I heard from the owners of my favorite LQS that30's/40's prints were almost none existant at the last trade show they went to. That they are beginning to get hard to come by. The ladies went out and bought up all the jelly rolls and charm packets. So there is still a market for them but the manufactures aren't producing as many.

LISTEN GIRLS: I had never in my life bought any kind of kit because the ones in the stores look like they're made of the cheapest fabric possible and are cut wonky on the grain. I took a chance because I loved her avatar so much and bought some from MLACERUBY. THEY WERE FANTASTIC!!!! I ordered two and love them so much that I've asked her for two more. I sewed one package into squares while I was on retreat last week and the ladies there LOVED them too. So, even if you haven't used kits in the past you might want to think about it. Super fabric, cut very nicely, pattern included, excellent price.

If you ever set up at the Covered Bridge Festival in Parke County Indiana, let me know where you'll be because I'd plan on traveling to it just to shop your booth. But I'd need to know several months ahead of time to save up enough money to go CRAZY!!!