Craft show ideas
 

I'm thinking about selling some quilted items at craft shows next year and am looking for ideas. I don't know what sells well and what doesn't - I'm sure a lot of it depends on the location and type of show. A couple of ideas that have gone through my head are table toppers/runners and small or medium pillow covers. I see a lot of baby bibs at shows and don't want to do those (too much competition and they really aren't my thing). And as much as I love placemats I don't want to do those either. What other smaller items are people looking to buy?

Is there a particular style that people are looking for that sells well? My tastes run toward primitive, rustic, civil war repros but can easily switch to another style if that's what someone wants.

My friend sells quite a few small change purse style purses with the little clasps. She does some embroidery work on the fronts, so they are a little fiddly to make, but you have the time if it is not until next year.

People seem to do well selling the bowl cozies for the microwave. I have never had any great luck with craft shows, so I'm probably not the one to tell you what to make. In our area, everyone likes to look at your stuff and not buy a thing. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/frown.png

You could - at least - put up a sign that says

"Of course you can make it - but when?"

The only thing I am willing to buy at craft fairs are those crocheted, nylon, pot scrubbers.

There have been a couple of things I would have been willing to pay for the instructions/pattern - the 9 x 13 casserole carrier, for one thing.

You could also put up signs saying - if you want to make it yourself, this is what it would cost - with a material and cost sheet posted.

So - sorry - I really don't have any helpful ideas.

But good luck with whatever you do.

Yes, they do have low prices but they aren't anywhere near the quality or uniqueness of homemade.

Good idea, thank you!

How about bento bags and gift bags? Is this anything people would buy? Bento bags are quick and easy to make and can be used for many different things. I'm feeling a little discouraged thinking that quilted items don't sell well.

I just did that for the first time this Fall. I stuck with quilted items rather than craftsy items. I made about 40 table runners in a variety of sizes, 6 sets of placemats, several lanyards, four baby quilts (really simple ones) and coasters.

It was odd what folks looked at. I did sell 22 runners. People wanted either really long runners or small runners/toppers. The ones that were more complicated I asked more money for such as Lemoyne stars and they did not sell and neither did the coasters. A few folks bought the lanyards and I sold two sets of placemats as well as 2 out of 4 Baby quilts.

My guess is that it will change form year to year and location to location but will do it again next year.

ummm....I have thought about making doll quilts, I think they might sell. I also have thought about making shopping bags that can be easily laundered but I do not know if they would sell at all....I know we were not supposed to use them during the pandemic as they could spread germs, I know my area just started charging 5 cents for each plastic or paper bag you use. I don't know what will be allowed. My local Target charges per plastic bag for my drive up orders but I can refuse the bags when they bring them to the car....so far just been paying the fee. Thinking about getting those plastic egg crates to put in the trunk but....I don't feel real good about them having to transfer my stuff to the boxes during rain or snowy weather and I don't know what they do with those plastic bags if I don't take them. The idea behind this was to cut down on the amount of plastic in our world. I see that somebody came up with a "garbage cleaner" that is floating around in large areas of our oceans. I also like the idea of fabric, reusable gift bags to cut down on the plastic and paper waste.
oh dear, just had a thought....if I get those plastic egg crates, will I just create even more plastic to get rid off?

I would thing functional items using attractive, possibly theme fabrics, might sell better, particularly if they are packaged as a gift item. It does really depend on the community and clientele.

Pairs of insulated potholder mitts with cute fabric, along with a wooden spoon or whisk.
Make-up/brush rolls with a couple of basic brushes.

Other thoughts are travel items: jewelry pouches (the kind that are circular, drawstring bags with little dividers), zippered toiletry cases, car caddies/organizers

Sew4Home has some neat projects and free instructions for inspiration.

Make what you enjoy making. If they don't sell, you at least had fun making them rather than thinking it was a wasted effort.

How about Christmas stockings? zipper bags or tote bags? I second the idea of bowl cozies.

In my area bowl cozies are made by the millions at shows and very few really sell. Personally I think they will very soon become a flash in the pan and wouldn't have one unless I made it myself and was sure of the correct layers that were used.

I was just at an outdoor event with vendors. There was a person selling bowl cozies. She had over 100 in stacks on a table. I knew what they were and suggested she place a bowl in one for display, but she declined. Nobody was looking at them. Marketing is the key! BTW, everyone that sees mine wants a tortilla warmer which also works as a bread warmer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RSO...SRxSLw&index=8
Here's a pic of a couple.

i made my niece multi sized Chrstmas fabric gift bags with ribbon ties attached and she loved them. She told her co workers bout them and them wanted several to help cut down on the use of paper. I looked like Santas workshop last year and made so many I lost count. Now they want other fabric gift wrap bags for general use or birthdays. Perhaps these would work for you. I don't remember what I charged but they were not given away or cheap. As stated before, marketing is everything. Display as if under the tree with faux pa kings inside and a note about cutting cost on paper. I also liked the idea of the sign that read: "Sure you can make it, but when?" Good luck in your endeavor.

Theme based items such as sports teams or pets might be of interest. Mug rugs?

ohh....yes, kennel and dog bed blankets! I made some for my dogs out of polar fleece they love them....spend time arranging them just so in their beds before nap or bedtime! find out the size of the common beds and kennels....oh...you might want to make a few out of old jeans...that is the only material one of mine did not chew through when she was a pup. I now have a couple that are made of regular quilting cotton that work now as my dog is older and doesn't chew up everything in sight. I love older dogs that have settled in!

Lots of good ideas, thank you so much. I'm wanting to keep away from things that others are selling a lot of (such as bowl cozies, baby bibs) and finding something there isn't a lot of (Christmas stockings, jewelry drawstring bags, gift bags). I'm thinking about Christmas decorations - I also do a lot of knitting and am looking into ideas there, especially with felted wool - garlands with mini stockings and/or mittens and/or hats. Making a lot of money isn't my big thing in wanting to do this, moreso I'm looking for creative ways to use up my stash, as I vowed to buy no more fabric until what I have is gone. (Yes, I've already broken that vow a few times.) And I'm not even thinking about doing large craft shows, just a small local one or two at a nearby church or school.

That's a great website, thanks for pointing it out!

What sold the most at my guild's table at the craft show were handmade fabric ornaments. Especially the folded fabric balls, fabric stars, anything but the flat round or square ornaments . . We hung the ornaments from a small table top Christmas tree. Coasters and mug rugs did not sell. Bowl cozies sold but only the really nice ones. Some made cozies from mud colors, didn't sell but the ones made from bright vivid prints sold out. We had bowls of different sizes in our cozies. Another item that sold out was headbands made from stretchy rayon printed fabric. We made our booth bright and clean looking. White table coverings make a big difference. We didn't stack items on the table. Had a few out and boxes of extras under the table. All small items made the same, different colors were in nice baskets. All prices were in bold print and easy to see.. The backdrop was a bright white fabric covered folded screen with bright pennants strung across. The most important is to get the buyer's attention and then have fun bright items to sell. We gave the fabric tissue holder with some tissues in it as a thank you for each purchase. That was a big hit with the customers and they sent others to our booth. Selling is all in the marketing and presentation. A booth set up is very important.

Don't forget the gifts for sewers. Like really cute pin cushions and sewing organizers. I would buy something like that.
I have bought the linen towels for the kitchen that have cute machine embroidery on them. After all, I know how much work those things take and the programs are expensive investment. Make sure you use good quality towels, that makes a difference to me knowing they will hold up to washing.
I have bought handmade ornaments and christmas themed sets of pot holders. Why not, those are fiddly work and fun to have and give at the holidays. How about cute aprons. I sold three of them for 50.00 each at a charity auction last year. And when I gifted my sister one, she said that was the nicest thing I ever gave her. Who knew?

The point of the crates and the quilted bags is to re-use them multiple times. Then the crates can be recycled when they wear out or break.
Plastic bags generally cannot be recycled easily. I live in a city, so have recycling pick up each week. They don't take plastic bags or cleaner's bags. You have to take them to the store and not all stores participate.

bkay

The plastic eggs crates I'm thinking of are the ones that look like bins? I have a lot of those and they have lasted for years. No need to have to get rid of them. In my area there is no recycling center, I'd have to drive over 45 miles to the nearest one and it is always closed.

I sold hundreds of boutique-size tissue box covers when I did shows. People were looking for either "themed" fabrics like dog breeds, cats, hobbies or sports, coca cola, John Deere, even pigs, anything that people collect, or seasonal prints so they can accent their tissue boxes all year round. Don't forget the kids prints or fabric for men. Also, try to have a variety of price ranges. The $50.00 table runner may be beautiful, but the gift exchanges people are in, have lower price limits as well as people with limited incomes that just want a small "thank you" gift for someone that they want to remembver. Small gift card envelopes use up little scraps of fabric and make great stocking stuffers. If you crochet or knit, cotton dishcloths are always a good seller.

Maybe check back to the Projects of the Month we did in 2014, there might be a couple ideas there that work. I remember we did a wine bag, a pillowcase with drawstring and an apron, just for starters.

I did a show in Aug and the best thing that sold was Jewelry bags, towels with the pot holder and button to put on the stove. zippered cloth bags for anything when traveling and table runners and baby quilts. Tote bags are selling also.

I’m a Baby Boomer and our generation has enough of most everything. I’d cater to a younger crowd. Thinking 2 white dish towels with a matching potholder (set) and label it as “teacher gift”. I’ve never made slippers but I’ve seen cute ones & id be interested in those for myself.

Great ideas, especially like the idea of gift card envelopes. I think everyone can use these.

You're right, I'm a baby boomer too and I'm not buying much these days. I've knit a lot of felted wood slippers and they are very comfy and soft and washable. I have a couple dozen in my attic right now. They only problem with selling them is that it is very hard to size them. Because they are felted wool each one comes out slightly different, so 3 pair made to size 7 could could come out with one a size 6, one a size 7 and one a size 8.

Thank you for the great replies and helpful hints. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/thumbup.png Lots of ideas to sort through and googling for different patterns. I'm going to be thinking lots of smaller items rather than fewer larger. And marketing and presentation is everything! I have a year to build up a stash of gifts and goodies!

Holiday and Seasonal Decor Items seem to do very well -- wall hangings, table runners, pillows.

The little Petit Four Basket from byAnnie is a newish idea and super easy to make. Here is a link to a Fat Quarter Shop video tutorial, It is a free pattern from ByAnnie website. It uses 10 inch squares and soft and stable or the other kind of foam type interfacing - perfect for scraps leftover from other projects. I had to stitch 2 pieces of scraps together to get a 10 inch square but it worked. Just look at the pattern and see where you have to cut and where you have to stitch and stitching the scraps is easier.
I think these would sell if made with themed fabric and are useful for any number of things, even non-sewing/quilting things! lol
Scroll down a bit on her free patterns page to see the Petit Four Baskets.
https://www.byannie.com/patterns/free_patterns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MMs2Tv4Eag

Also saw this quote: Why buy it for $7 when you can make it for $92 of craft supplies?
maybe post this at your table with a smiley on it for those folks who look and say "I can make that myself". https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png

These look great and with the right fabric I think they can be used by anyone. Definitely going to make some!

I got a little basket similar to those at a quilt guild auction. I bought it because it was cute but had no idea what I would do with it. Oh my goodness! I use it all the time to hold all those things one must have near when stitching...my seam ripper, extra needle packet, thread snips, stilleto, a few safety pins, a small 6 inch ruler....I could not live without it now. So if you make some of those, be sure to have a display of one holding things....pens and pens, keys, loose change, jewelry, whatever!

For issues with excess plastic bags try "Bags for Benches" ... the Lion's club in our community has started collecting the heavier plastic bags and having them made in to benches for the community ... so far they have donated 3!

Oh thanks murphy, I was at the byannies site for an hour. Good news is I got a Stiletto I have been wanting a nice one since my clover one died.

Things that I find sell good at Craft Shows are Rice filled Microwavable Neck warmers, Christmas Stocking, Oven Mitts, Hanging Towels, and Pot Holders. I use mostly scraps so I am making my cost back on each item. They don't have to be Christmassy just fun. I have taken a full year to be prepared for a Craft show. I also put up a couple smaller quilts to sell. I have sold a couple and made fair $$ on those too.

Not a made thing but you can do small bags of junk journal supplies with fabrics scraps, buttons, bits of ribbon, bits of lace, etc.
Small sewing kits.
Christmas tree skirts.
Wall hangings for Christmas.
Advent calendars.
Christmas table toppers.