from hobby to hustle: the rational approach to launching a successful quilting business

I’ve been talking a lot in terms of feelings, emotions, our internal drive. The reason we quilt, make, be creative might be very personal, a need, something we don’t even understand the origin of. 

We just have to make. To sew. To create. 

By my reckoning there are a lot of us Engineers, scientists, mathematicians, musicians, technology types here in the world of quilting. 

STEM + FABRIC = QUILT NERD

So, considering that, I know that many of you are thinking, yes, sure, I’d love to get deep into creativity, to lose myself or find myself as I explore this path… 

But I can’t just ignore or shut off that rational side of my brain that asks… Why? 

Why are you doing this? What is the purpose? What is the outcome? The bottom line? What is the end point to this creative exploration?

Well, let’s examine that right now.

creativity as a basic human need

I am not alone in believing that creativity is a basic human necessity. That to be creative to express creativity is intrinsic to what it means to be human, that it’s not some ‘extra’, some luxury, or some nice-to. 

It’s a need. 

And this is shown in the fact there are myriad studies and theories on creativity and the human brain, as well as important psychological frameworks.

Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs places creativity at the very top of the pyramid – indicating that creativity is an integral part of self actualization, the highest form of being we can achieve.

Not only is creativity a basic human need, but there are scientific studies that link creativity to a pleasure centre in the brain, indicating that evolutionarily speaking, creativity is an activity that is rewarded neurologically: Read more about that here, with the original study here

And if you want to go supernova level nerd, this book by David Bohm sounds very interesting (though I haven’t read it) 

why create

Let’s not overlook the benefits of being creative: 

• Release of dopamine, 
• Enhanced neuroplasticity
• Preservation of cognitive function as we age
• Enhanced problem solving abilities

I mean, why would you NOT create? But I feel I am probably preaching to the choir here. 

My point? 

But if your rational brain is still not convinced that pursuing your creative passion is not simply an ‘indulgence’, let’s answer those voices that swirl around in our heads sometimes, especially when we have our engineering, or scientific goggles on. 

If pursuing creativity in this quilting sphere is something that I want to do, what’s the bottom line? What outcome can there be? Can I make money out of this? Can there be a bigger purpose to this “indulgence”? 

And the answer is yes. 

Let’s satisfy that rational part of our brains that likes to know the facts. The data. 

So here are some data for you: 

numbers time: 

We’re all in this quilting space together. Have you ever stopped to think about the wider picture of the quilting industry? 

The quilting market is a subset of the craft industry which is estimated at $35Billion. 

Quilting itself is a $3 billion a year enterprise.  See the full breakdown here. 

Ever thought about how much money that really is? 

but is this sustainable in the long term?

Chances are you’ve been to at least one fabric or quilting shop in your life. 

I grew up going to fabric shops. There was one fabric shop I used to go to as a kid with my mum. Chelsea Fabrics. 

They had these big counters with little bits of paper and tiny pencils. And GIANT pattern books you could leaf through and look at all the clothes patterns. 

Not to mention the walls filled with bolts of fabric. Running your hand over those textures, seeing the colours, patterns, threads. 

But enough travlleing down memory lane. All this to say there is an ongoing intrincisic human connection with textiles. 

• Fabric has played a crucial role in human survival, protecting humans from the elements and enabling them to survive in a wide range of environments.
• Fabric has been an important source of artistic expression, used to create textiles, tapestries, and other art forms.
• Fabric has played a significant role in cultural and religious practices, used to create traditional costumes, ceremonial garments, and religious artifacts.

So first hand we know the longevity of this industry. Fabric has always been made and sold. Humans have made, worn and used textiles for millennia. 

And quilts? Blankets? 

There is a reason the home textiles industry is worth over $119 Billion globally.  Think of all those throw pillows, throw rugs, knee rugs, soft furnishings we surround ourselves with. 

Quilts have a long history as well. Made out of necessity for warmth, an object that is infused with love, comfort, warmth. An heirloom. A cherished item. A memory. A gift from the past to the future. A gift from the present to the future. 

There is longevity in the quilting industry as well. 

Quilts and quilting is not a fad, a hobby that people take up and drop. There is a large portion of the 20 million quilters worldwide, who are deemed ‘dedicated’. Not only do they have 15+ years experience (attesting to the longevity of the hobby) but they also spend on average $3363 every year on quilting supplies (see the full breakdown here)

a little about the demographics

There’s another ‘rational’ factor that comes into play as well, when assessing the quilting industry with our engineering minds switched on. The demographics. 

Quilters are predominantly women, and women in a particular age category – the median age of quilters is 64 years old. 

Demographically, this part of the population is projected to grow in the coming years as more women move into retirement age, and the demographic pool for women 64+ continues to grow. 

As the US population continues to grow, we can expect more women over age 50 in the coming years. This means that there will likely be more potential quilters in the population, especially since many women in this age group may have more free time and resources to devote to hobbies like quilting. 

And, as quilting becomes more popular and accessible to younger generations, we may see an increase in the number of potential quilters in these age groups as well. It’s an exciting time for the quilting community, with more people discovering the joy and creativity of this craft.

in summary: 

Quilting is an industry with longevity. 

It’s a hobby people are willing to spend money on. 

The pool of people who are in the demographic of the average quilter is growing. 

It’s worth $3billion a year and growing (estimated to be $5billion by 2025). 

Does this satisfy that rational part of your brain that says – but going deeper into my creativity, into my quilting ‘hobby’ and seeking purpose and maybe even making my hobby into something more (a side hustle? A BUSINESS???) isn’t legit? 

your opportunity awaits

I hope you can see the opportunity that exists here. NOT ONLY to satisfy your creativity, your need for artistic exploration, but ALSO to satisfy your rational brain, the part of you looking for the ‘why’, the ‘purpose’ behind following your passion in quilting. 

Keep an eye out for my next journal post where I’ll be looking at how writing quilt patterns is THE MOST EFFICIENT way to take that next step not only to extend your quilting skills and challenge yourself creatively, but also to get started selling online, creating a side hustle or starting a creative business in quilting.

Can’t wait to get started on your creative business?

Grab a copy of the FREE guide ‘7 steps to grow a quilt pattern design business’ here.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE GUIDE