quiltingshorttimer

I am in charge of a boutique for a show for my guild. We realized from our last participation that the big sellers seemed to be less "gifty" items (pillow cases, etc) and more the types of things that quilters buy for themselves or other quilting friends (i.e. bags for projects, etc). So I'd like your suggestions of specific things that quilters will buy instead of make themselves because it's too big of a hassle or it requires buying some things (i.e. plastic or netting) that just makes it not worth making yourself.

Thanks in advance!

RedGarnet222

I bought a set of kitchen towels for a gift last year at the senior's corner at the Assistance League's Christmas sale. I loved the embroidery program she used and I don't have that one. The towels were linen and fringed at the bottom. The workmanship was perfection. I paid twenty two dollars for the set. There were other crafter's towels that were not as nice and cheaper, but, why give a dud gift? I also bought some bead earrings and a couple felt ornaments for Christmas to use as gift package decorations.
Who can resist a really cute pin cushion?

dunster

I love bags and purses made from fabric, but I seldom make them.

bearisgray

I like those scrubbies made from nylon net.

So much so, that I bought 100 of them one year - people really liked to get them as gifts!

bearisgray

I also bought those pin cushions that have the hanging trash bags attached to them.

The lady (and her husband) used sand for the pincushions - she also used that shelf anti-skid stuff on the bottom of the pincushions - the trash bag part was lined with plastic and made large enough for the bottom of a 2-liter bottle to be put in it.

Those also were welcomed gifts!

dunster

Chicken pin cushions are really cute too. One guild I belonged to was very successful in selling them year after year. Another guild sold a lot of hot pads.

ragamuffin

At our quilt show, our guild had a boutique, finished lap, baby and throw quilts, pin cushions (I made 15 out of denim filled with crushed English walnut shells) and they were all sold before the opening. Walnut shells help to sharpen the pins. We had quilt kits, purses and totes, and anything that was finished. We also had a "Second Time Around" shop which included fabric, yarn, books, magazines, gadgets, thread, and anything "quilt related". Then we had a big plastic bottle of spools, some empty and some with thread, and you had to guess how many spools were in it. I hope your guild does good on your sale.

luvstoquilt

I always buy pin cushions and small gift items. I only buy what I really love so just in case I don’t need a gift for a friend I have a gift for me. Loved ragamuffin’s jar of spools. I haven’t seen that but I am sure it was a hit!!!

wildyard

This is such a great idea, putting a plastic container inside to make emptying easier. I have two of those sets and I don't use them because it's so hard to get the threads and trimmings out. I'm going to try fitting mine with plastic liners!!

zozee

This isn't an idea for what to make to sell, but what about selling fat quarters or fat eighths or 5" squares cut from your own stashes, bundling them by color, and selling them? Sometimes we want to fill in color gaps in our stash. I would buy your "pre-cuts" if they were cut accurately, washed, pressed, and ready to use.