Sewing to Sell Book Review & Zipped Pouches

Recently, I received a complimentary e-copy of the new book, Sewing to Sell! by Virginia Lindsay of Gingercake Designs. The paper version of the book is releasing today and promises to be a huge success like all of the other wonderful patterns and projects from Virginia!

About the same time that I began to read through the book, I signed up to provide a handmade item or two for a silent auction fundraiser event being held at my daughter's school. I soon realized that one or more of the 16 starter projects included in the book would make the perfect item to donate to the auction. In the end, I sewed up six zipped pouches in varying sizes using the instructions and suggestions from Sewing to Sell! and donated them to the auction.

While the book primarily focuses on how to turn your love of sewing into a business, I was personally more interested in the awesome quick-sew project tutorials. Presently, I only take the occasional custom order; therefore, I found much of the information in the book on pricing and packaging to be extremely worthwhile and helpful. I'm always second guessing myself when I quote a price for a custom job, but no more! 

For the auction I mentioned earlier, I sewed two sets of three zipped pouches. The Zipped Pouch project from the book, shown in the next photo, provided the dimensions to make a medium sized pouch with suggestions to make an optional gusset bottom and pouches of various sizes based on the length of zipper used. These pouches are ideal for storing about anything you think of from make-up, to jewelry, to a snack!

Here are some pictures of the 2 sets I sewed. I made one set with gusseted bottoms, 

and the second set without the expanding bottom.

These were all super quick and easy to sew. I used Tula Pink fabric featuring these adorable woodland animals for the main part and lining of each pouch, and on some of the pouches, I attached a piece of faux suede fabric from Shannon Fabrics to the bottom. 

The book's instructions for cutting out and sewing up the zipped pouches were simple yet detailed and accompanied by several clear illustrations. I love the fact that each of the tutorial projects at the end of the book offers a price point for selling that item in your handmade shop or at a fair. Based on that information and the cost of my materials and time, I chose to set a reserve bid price of $25 with a suggested minimum bid of $45 for each set for the auction.

So, if you are thinking about starting a small handmade items business, Sewing to Sell! is a great resource. The book helps you discover your sewing style, identify your customer base, determine your business name and selling venue, as well as provide you with some very basic legal aspects of running a business. Even though I'm not planning to sell handmade items on a regular basis, the information in this book has answered a lot of questions I've had about how to start a business.

The photographs in the book are bright and beautiful and can teach you a thing or two about combining fabrics just from looking at them! If you are familiar with Virginia's patterns and free projects at Gingercake, then you can already image the attention to detail in this book!

Want a chance to win your own paper copy of the new book Sewing to Sell! by Virginia Lindsay? Then simply enter through the Rafflecopter widget below. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only and ends at midnight on Sunday, November 23, 2014. Winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email the following day.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you just can't wait and don't want to take the chance that you might not win, then you can purchase the book today at Amazon or through C&T Publishing.

Also, be sure to follow along the Sewing to Sell! blog tour! You'll read more reviews and see other projects inspired by the book.

Have FUN sewing!