How to batch sew step by step and make a higher profit and productivity

[@AJDesignedIt]

This is your channel you don't have to apologize for self promotion

[@nickynonque5482]

Why have I only just found you?!?! 😮 Such a fountain of knowledge and so well explained! Thank you!! 🙏 ❤😊 xx😊

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

I'm so glad you found me! I just like sharing the knowledge I've learned over the years and help you guys who might just be starting out have a heads up 🙂

[@marilynm.329]

I appreciate your taking the time to do this video! I only sew bags and pouches for my local charity bazaar. Our labor is donated and we try to price items to cover materials and make a little money…but the time saved as shown here makes all the difference to me! Thank you!!

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Your very welcome, I'm glad and I hope it helps you get a lot more done!

[@lindaphillips1481]

I interesting video. I'm a florist and do production work for weddings or events when I lots of the same thing to make. FIY, to help center your panel designs, mark your template with cross hash lines. This insures you have the correct placing. Nothing is worse then sewing it off-center. Ugh!!

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Exactly! Thanks!

[@carolstevens4218]

You seem like such a nice person. Thank you for taking your time to do this!

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

That's very nice of you to say, thank you so much. I love sharing ways to help other bag makers 🙂

[@sandy77414]

Excellent Excellent ideas. Thank you!!!

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Your very welcome 🙂

[@beckypetersen2680]

These are adorable!

[@maryl9601]

Thank you for your input. I love to design and make bags

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Your very welcome!

[@contractseamstress9269]

omg, your in texas, my first time watching today. Got my two sewing machines from sunnys sewing old location.

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

That's so exciting!

[@ItisJosie]

You are so kind, Faith. Thank you so much for sharing. 😊

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

You are very welcome, I hope it helped!

[@thesparrowsnest8343]

I love all of your videos. They are very informative . You have a very calming persona and a lovely speaking voice. Thanks so much for all you do. I heading over to check out your Etsy shop next. 😊

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video and I hope it helps!

[@tanyahoven2951]

Thank you for making this video. One thing I do in helping me with batch sewing is I cut strips of fabric and interfacing and then iron them together. This is really helpful when the pieces are square/rectangular. With my most popular bags, I have a system that I cut everything to make two bags of each fabric and I have very little waste. I do think I should switch to waterproof canvas on the interior. That would help a lot in the cutting and interfacing.

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

I don't know how I missed this comment but that's a great idea and yes, waterproof canvas saves on lining and money if it's all the same.

[@SewFelicia]

You don’t need to apologise for self promotion. It not only helps you, but can help others that didn’t know you had that. ❤❤

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Thank you so much for your kind words.

[@SachikoMiwako888]

😮Wow... Wish I could sew like you in the future...💜💜💜🤗🤗🤗 Thank you, and many more blessings to come your way...🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

You can do it, just have a plan in place and all of your materials ready and you can do it!

[@ElleMH]

Very informative video. Thanks for sharing.

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Your very welcome ;-)

[@brigittemukwa6239]

Wow. This is very helpful. I wanted to start a craft business. Thank you very much.

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Make sure you check out my how to start a successful business video, I share tips on how to get started without fees!!!

[@oneprettyrose1848]

Beautiful work and outstanding finishes!!!

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Thank you so much!

[@stefanieroy1181]

Great video! Thank you for sharing.

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Your very welcome!

[@gracerutherford517]

1:59 beautiful work!! What is the pattern name of the light brown purse and navy purse and wallet?? Thank you 😃

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Thanks for giving me the time stamp lol It's the Hiraeth handbag by Lavendar and Twine. I will tell you though, I had issues with the rivets popping out because of where they are placed and I wasn't the only one, so make sure you use some kind of stabilizer and larger rivets for it.

[@annalaoretti5240]

This was fantastic, thank you!

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Your very welcome, I hope it helps!

[@michelleholston5321]

It takes me 9 hours for 1 bag. I wish I could do this and get faster, I am so worried when I cut, so I spend too much time cutting main and interfacing. I think I need patterns without gussets for batch sewing ...they slow me down thank you for all your tips, you 🎉are awesome

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Try the pattern in the video, it's really fast to cut out and even quicker to sew and might give you the confidence you need to get faster 🙂

[@snazzygirlmish]

Thanks for the video Faith! I may have to try this pattern. Very cute bags.

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

They are and a fast sew!

[@vickiwatson3605]

I did not find the follow up from this video or your Amazon pic list. Forgive if I'm blind I looked thru your Playlist..😊😊

[@vickiwatson3605]

I found it! Thanks!

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

@@vickiwatson3605 always check the description, I try and remember to put everything there lol

[@margaretodonoghue2508]

Thank you so much Faith. Fantastic work, a true artist. Brilliant results. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us. Could I ask you what kind of machine you're using in this video tutorial. ❤❤

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

thank you so much, I'm so glad you enjoy the video. I use a Sailrite Fabricator, I have a video on her if you wanted to check her out 🙂

[@DanaDeeBee]

Are you going to post the video you mentioned regarding keeping your hardware costs down?

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Yes! It's in the works, I've just gotta finish some other video's first but it's coming!

[@DanaDeeBee]

10:50 Why don't you use a heat press?! I'm planning on getting one because of all the people that are constantly saying it's a total game changer! Takes way way less time than using an iron. Wouldn't that be perfect for batch sewing?

[@carolinebeaulieu7128]

I would love to know where you are from? I’m from Ontario Canada and I’m always wondering where I could get fabrics and webbing and hardware at a cheaper price.

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

I'm in the States, it is easier to get stuff here and I'm sorry no one has tried to start a company for you guys, I see people all the time complaining about the lack of places to buy in Canada and the UK. Have you tried Waywak? I'm not sure if they would ship to you but it's a great place to get stuff cheap.

[@ElleMH]

What bag pattern is the snakeskin and black vinyl bag at the beginning of your video? It's gorgeous!

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

It's the Wayfarer sling backpack by A quaint stitch.

[@ElleMH]

@@faithwerksdesigns6197 I am referring to the crossbody bag with a front zipper pocket and it's on a white dress form. I think it's around the 15-second mark of this video.

[@Lisapittsburghnurse]

Bag pattern for the black & white bag you show?

[@poysenivy7]

Hey Faith! Love your videos. What color number is your beige thread you use from Sunny? Amann has sooo many beiges lol

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

I believe it is 8718, I'll double check that if it's wrong ;-)

[@poysenivy7]

@@faithwerksdesigns6197 thank you!

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

@@poysenivy7 Your very welcome!

[@tinacase7538]

Do you use special thread for the bobbins or can I use prewound bobbins? TIA

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

It really depends on your machine and what thread you need for what you're working on. I always make sure the thread I'm using on the top is the same tex and weight as my bobbins.

[@laniolsen7721]

Tnx for the video. Curios what do you use for interfacing?

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

It depends on what I'm making but I like 950F Pellon

[@brendadubach9414]

Thank you for this video, I have just dived into the world of bags and pouches, I do have a question that I hope you can answer as I've ask groups and know one has answered. How would I go about selling bags or pouches with licensed fabric? I was told that I couldn't sell my product using Licensed fabric or anything copyrighted, Disney ect. could you please me tell me how you do it? Thank you so much in advance.

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

This one is a touchy subject, I don't sell them on Etsy because they will be flagged at some point. I sell them on my FB page and that's the only platform I do it on, that and the store I stock. There are literally THOUSANDS of people who sell bags with licensed material it's just that you never know if you're going to be that one person that gets flagged and that's why I sell through my page and not on other platforms. I think it's getting cracked down a lot lately but it won't stop me from doing it, you just have to be careful where you sell it. I hope that makes sense.

[@jessicarouse5830]

I had this same question and through my own internet research I found suggestions that it shouldn't matter if you use licensed material so long as you acknowledge that you don't own the images/design of the fabric. I.e. have a disclaimer in place. I think whether or not you can get away with that probably depends on local laws though.

[@merihera9456]

You are so nice room

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Thank you very much!

[@Doctor_Al]

It's a good video. Really, if you pay yourself 20 or 25 bucks an hour for labor, the other 5 or 10 dollars can go to overhead and equipment. Other accounting things could kick in if a person does any volume but that's another video (as you say) and would be a good problem to have. Nice work here.

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Thanks, there are more numbers to crunch for sure. This was just showing how to make a better profit by making more all at the same time. Batch sewing REALLY helps my business a lot because I don't have as much time to make stock as I used to lol

[@donnabryson7145]

❤

[@annguglielmino8989]

I wonder why you don't just print out the pattern at a larger size. I appreciate your tip on making templates

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Because you can change the % that you can print it out not the measurements. But yes, if I was tech savvy I could do that lol I actually wanted a chance to throw this tip in another of my video's so I took the opportunity.

[@DanGidman]

Hi! You said you found a source for very cheap webbing, a ways you could share that source?

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Not yet, but I will in the near future lol I'm still checking them out and I don't want to recommend a company until I've tried them out for a while. I don't supposed business on my channel that might not give great quality, so we're in the testing phase.

[@melissagoetz8847]

You did not charge for your time! 9 hours x 15.00 = 135.00 / 14 bags = $9.64. You should be adding that to the cost of the bag because your time is worth money!

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

You are correct, I was only showing you my costs for materials.

[@naticristellavi8236]

Exactly, that is not profit, it is your salary for making it. If you pay taxes on your income, not counting your local fees on capital income from sales, you may end up with approximately $1 in profit.

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

@@naticristellavi8236 the video was just showing you guys what you can make as a profit, what I pay myself is a whole other video lol

[@reidasalaun1483]

How are you able to sew and sell items that have Disney characters on them. Plus the custom made fabrics with Disney or other copyrighted characters, is this legal? Love your videos. Thank you.

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

It's a touchy subject, first I don't sell these on Etsy. Items get flagged on there all the time, there are literally hundreds of thousands of people who make items like I do with fabrics with Disney characters on them it's just knowing where to sell them with out getting into trouble. Is it legal? That's an answer for another person lol, I feel like when I buy fabric from someone that fabric is mine, so I should be able to do whatever I want with it. But there are others who feel differently.

[@mamabear6278]

Thanks so much. Grate tip for cutting all the layers together. Do you lay them in a certain order? 🙂

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

I do, I keep all of the lining, outside fabrics, etc together so I can see what needs to be cut out. It just makes it go so much faster.

[@lorahodnett2649]

What sewing machine do you use

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

It's a Sailrite Fabricator, I have a video on it if you want to check it out 🙂

[@traceyrybka5194]

Where did you get the bags your patterns are hanging in?

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Here's a link 🙂 www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NPQH849/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@LindaSevers]

Did you count your cutting time also?

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

I do and since I do it the way I do it doesn't take me all that long ;-)

[@DaniGirl6]

Something to consider. You are selling at wholesale price if it cost $14.25 and you're selling at $35 without labor. Be that as it is, the retail price should be around $57 in materials costs ignoring labor costs. The $30/hr might not be accurate because your work doesn't stop when the bag is finished. You are selling directly to the consumer and therefore you also take on all the responsibilities and costs of the retailer on top of the wholesale responsibilities. Listing, customer service, returns, advertising paid or "free" via promoting via whatver sources, time spent filling paperwork you know it all takes time and the only way to recoup that cost is in the price of the product. That $30/hr can quickly drop down to $5/hr if the rest of the business time isn't tracked. See what I mean? The math in the video left out a lot of labor. Keeping timesheets for yourself and calculating what you did in a month can be helpful to get an idea. Also helpful if you wanted to hire help with any batch processing steps and scale up. You're underpricing yourself from what I can tell. A common starting point for pricing is to decide how much your labor is worth add that to material cost and double it, that's your wholesale. Then mark that up again to the retail price, normally 50% markup is standard. Anyway, it's not my intention to tell you what to do, but to give you a heads up that you can price your items higher based on the material costs alone if you felt like it. A lot of small businesses don't realize this and leave money on the table by under pricing.

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

I agree with most of that, the point of the video was to show how batch sewing can make you a higher profit and it does. However, you have to price your items to what will sell where you are, someone people can get $100 per purse, and I can make the same bag and can't get the custom base to get that. So while some items are underpriced, I make more on other items which in the end evens things out. Some lower prices bring them to me and then chances are they find something else, it happens all the time. I WISH with all my heart that I could charge more but that's not where my customer base is and the economy has hurt a lot of people and they just aren't spending what they used to on "want" items. So I can't get that $100 for a bag. I hope that makes sense and yes I wish I could charge more lol

[@DaniGirl6]

It does make sense to a degree if selling local. Are you also selling online and so reaching the US even global if you ship international? If so, I would look into what can be changed to attract the buyers who spend more. Marketing the bags differently bring attention to something that would appeal, like upcycled fabric is one angle people buy into. Or change the design. The report "The Market for Craft" from the Crafts Council and Partners has some insight in the major motivations for demographics (UK based research) and their spending habits that could be useful and it is a free report. Try to bring material cost down which is a given. Then the point of the video which is make things more efficient, except things need to be even more so for that price point to enable healthy growth of the business that can invest into more things. If there isn't enough room in those catagories to increase profit now, I'd likely shelf it until I can find away and look for something else with a larger profit margin. True people buy multiple things, sales are how I would approach that tactic. Personally I would list the retail price as traditionally calculated and mark it down as a sale item. Then rotate what is on sale over time. Gives something to mail customers about who subscribed to the newletter. Plus people feel like they are getting a deal... because they really are and why shouldn't they feel good about it?

[@hobbyhomestead7835]

How much larger did you make this bag than the original? Is it like 125%?

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

I didn't increase it with my printer, I increased the width by 1 inch on all of the pieces, not the height.

[@hobbyhomestead7835]

@@faithwerksdesigns6197 thank you! I'm going to order some of these panels!

[@lauriekilborn]

I have a question, just wondering if you've ever encountered copyright or licensing law problems by using particularly distinctive artists fabric using well known characters in the fabric ? Say, Star Wars, characters, Disney characters etc on fabric, which if you say you make 30 bags, for a for instance random amount, and sell them with a Star Wars fabric, as opposed to just making your child an outfit, or a bag or something for home use? This is only a question, I think about for myself if I made things like this? I just wondered if you've ever encountered it before?

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

I've encountered people asking this question MANY times lol I haven't had an issue but that doesn't mean it won't ever have it happen. I think it was last year when Disney started hunting people down and it scared a ton of people from selling their items, well Disney didn't end up suing anyone and it made all of those people lose income. That was the point. They can't hunt as all down but that doesn't mean we need don't need to be careful. I don't sell on Etsy with Disney Titles, I sell locally and to my customers who I hope won't turn me in lol Also, it's a bit different in the fabric world because the art is done by other artist, I wish I could explain it like Alix did to me one time but I'm not super worried about it, especially since my channel is so small right now. I hope that helped.

[@elizabethcasido2520]

Hi may i know the pattern madam?

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

I believe I put a link in the description but if I didn't it's a Sewn Ideas the Doggie walking bag. I just omit the grommet so that the front isn't open.

[@tanyahoven2951]

Thank you for making this video. One thing I do in helping me with batch sewing is I cut strips of fabric and interfacing and then iron them together. This is really helpful when the pieces are square/rectangular. With my most popular bags, I have a system that I cut everything to make two bags of each fabric and I have very little waste. I do think I should switch to waterproof canvas on the interior. That would help a lot in the cutting and interfacing.

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Yes, there's a lot less interfacing using waterproof canvas and it's cheaper than regular fabric.

[@DanaDeeBee]

10:50 Why don't you use a heat press?! I'm planning on getting one because of all the people that are constantly saying it's a total game changer! Takes way way less time than using an iron. Wouldn't that be perfect for batch sewing?

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

It would but the issue is my house and electrical system lol I live in an older home and when I turn on my heat press I have to turn everything else off otherwise it kicks the breaker. I have a heat press and found out the hard way lol It would make my life a lot easier though lol

[@DanaDeeBee]

@@faithwerksdesigns6197 oh that makes perfect sense. My home is older too and I'm concerned with the same issue if I get one. I'm going to try anyways, but it will probably be a problem for me too!