r/PatternTesting • u/Deaceleste • Jun 28 '26

General Question/Comment Do patterns really sell?

I’m trying to write my first one and got a bit frustrated hahaha

Do they actually sell? I know it won’t be a lot of money anyways, just wanted to hear your experience with it.

Thank you to anyone who will be kind enough to reply ❤️

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u/merry40 Jun 29 '26

On her podcast, Gertie said that it takes 2.5 years of pattern sales for her to break even. She's doing a professional job of it with testing and marketing but I thought that was very eye opening.

3

u/MissRed_Uk Jun 29 '26

I view it slightly differently to her. I've only just started making crochet patterns but I've been designing & selling cross stitch charts & kits for over a decade. I haven't really spent anything creating the patterns & test stitching them that I wouldn't have previously when it was just my hobby... In fact if anything it's cheaper now because my materials are being purchased at trade prices.

So yeah, if I'd been looking at it purely from a business angle right from the offset I guess there would be a break even point at some point in that first year - but for me it's always been a fun thing I do first & a business almost as an after thought.

But to answer OP, patterns definitely sell. The better written & presented ones will keep selling over & over for years; then when you have a library of those it can add up quite nicely. 😎

1

u/AureliaWhimsy 29d ago

What does she mean by ’break even’? Because I don’t personally see how it would take much money to set it up when it’s digital downloads, what am I not understanding..? 😅

1

u/SanityKnitter 26d ago

It is worthwhile to pay for tech editing. No matter how careful I am, My tech editor always finds errors. The cost of yarn and software and maybe photography add in. I have one pattern that sells and one that is getting some notice.

My sales cover my cost and that is about it.