| What is machine quilting? It is using a machine to sew | | | | personal touches that will make your quilts something |
| a quilt together. Think in terms of a very large sewing | | | | that can be handed down. |
| machine that is very flexible. If you have already been | | | | There are websites and online forums that you can |
| making quilts by hand and giving them to friends and | | | | contact about your quilting machines and quilting |
| relatives you may want to explore going a step | | | | business for futher advice. You don't have be alone in |
| further. You may want to take the plunge and start | | | | the process of starting and building your business. |
| selling your wares. | | | | One of the best, and least expensive, ways for people |
| So how does one transition from making quilts totally | | | | to find out that you are there and what your product is |
| by hand to using a machine? For the small shop that | | | | to participate in local craft and hobby fairs or shows. |
| does one quilt at a time and still wants to retain the | | | | There are probably a number of nearby craft shows |
| more personal touch there are manual quilting | | | | where you can set up a table and be lucky enough to |
| machines. They allow you to create quilts that are | | | | sell all the quilts you brought with you. That will let |
| very personal and still allow you to have the freedom | | | | people see and touch your quilts so they can see the |
| to let your imagination run wild with your creations. In | | | | quality of the quilts for themselves. |
| turn, going to a machine versus doing the work totally | | | | This will give credibility to your quilts in ways that |
| by hand will allow you to increase your production. | | | | advertising and the internet can never do. Once people |
| Looking further down the road, if your hobby/business | | | | begin to know your quilts and their quality, they will |
| keeps growing, you may want to look into getting a | | | | begin to spread the word to their friends and relatives. |
| computerized quilting machine. With this, you can | | | | The principles of marketing and advertising will hold the |
| program in all the information about the quilt you are | | | | same for quilting businesses as it does for any other |
| making and it will do the rest for you. | | | | type of hobby/craft business. You will need to define |
| You can certainly count on there being manufacturers | | | | your target customers. Then figure out the best ways |
| that create the machines to any level possible. | | | | of reaching them while staying within your budget. |
| A good quality quilt is something that everyone loves | | | | Don't underestimate the power of "word-of-mouth" |
| and hands down from one generation to the next. | | | | advertising. |
| Normally it would take a long time to make a quilt that | | | | Many successful craft entrepreneurs have found that |
| people will want to pass on to their kids. With the use | | | | having parties at their own homes or those of friends |
| of quilting machines, you can dramatically increase the | | | | or relatives provides more than enough business for |
| number of quilts you can make. With the manual | | | | them. |
| quilting machine, you have greater control for the more | | | | |