Hi, Everyone! You've worked hard to make your items, now let's talk about the finishing touches! Packaging and branding are so important as you think through how to pass along your hand made items. Whether you sell them or plan to give them as gifts, you should plan to "Wow!" the recipient with beautiful packaging! Including things like a handwritten note card, logo stickers, boxes or bags; logo tags sewn into your items, and a few added ribbons or hanging tags are all great ideas. Remember that you only get one chance to make an unforgettable first impression and if you do it well, they will be coming back for more (and possibly tell their friends!)

Packaging images are sourced from Pinterest. The shoe box images are from the Genniwren Braided Sandals Pattern (comes with a shoe box template), and Maddie's Girls Etsy Shop 

Shop The Liberty Jane Pattern Collection Today!

Resources For Packaging Supplies:

• Uline - packaging and shipping supplies
• Papermart - Packaging supplies, boxes, tissue, fun stuff!
• Sticker Giant (great for rolls of custom stickers)
• Custom Couture label Co (Etsy Shop)
• Iron On Transfer paper
• Twill Tape Rolls
• Tag Punch
• Letter Punch
• GWD Shoe Pattern with Shoe Box Printable Template

Tutorials for making your own sew in labels:

• Patchwork Pottery Blog - Iron on transfer on twill tape
• Stamped Twill Tape by Crafty Blossom Blog
• Fabric Printed Labels by See Kate Sew Blog
• Silk Screen Labels by Lilblueboo Blog
• Personalized Label Ink Stamp 

Week Three task:

• Watch the video :) and then jump into the discussion on this FAcebook Post
• Have you been doing some amazing packaging? We'd love to see your examples! 

Next Tuesday  - New Topic! Going Deep Into the World of Embellishments...

Hi, Everyone! So, now that we're sewing batches of dresses, pants, and tees; we need to figure out how to store them properly. Two types of storage situations come to mind: 1. Storing items to sell (or possibly donate) and 2. Storing items in your own collection. Many of the solutions provided can apply to both situations, but the things like plastic bags will only work for a quick turn around, like selling to a customer.

In the video posted below, I go over these topics as well as storing your "projects in progress". My hope is that the ideas presented will help you figure out what type of storage is right for you!

Early on in the video (at 2:00) I show a few pictures from an Etsy seller Elite Doll World, she has grown a ton this past year using Instagram to get in touch with her target market - young girls! If you're looking for examples and inspiration for what to do and how to do it, be sure to check out her IG feed, she's got a lot of pictures and some video showing her items as well as her sewing /storage process!

Pattern Overview:

• Liberty Jane Salina Dress (Shown in the week 2 video - AG, WW, AGAT, KNC)
• Liberty Jane Aspen Dress (Shown in the week 2 video - AG, BFC)
• Liberty Jane FREE T-Shirt (AG, WW, H4H, Barbie, JG, KNC, BFC, AGAT)
• Liberty Jane Jeans Bundle (AG, WW, H4H, JG, KNC, BFC, AGAT, Bitty)
• Liberty Jane Piccadilly Sweater (AG, WW, H4H)
• Liberty Jane Baseball Tee (AG, AG Boy, BFC, KNC, WW, JG)
• Liberty Jane Leggings
• Liberty Jane Basic Pants (Yoga Pants) Great for PJ sets with a tee or Piccadilly Sweater!
• Liberty Jane Avila Aviator (AG or WW) Simplest jacket to sew in bulk, just 3 pattern pieces!
• Liberty Jane Janes Shoes (AG, WW, JG, H4H)
• Liberty Jane No Sew Janes Shoes (AG, WW, JG, H4H)
• Liberty Jane Open Toe Janes Shoes (AG, WW)
• Liberty Jane Dress Form (AG, WW, BFC/AGAT, Ellowyne/H4H) If you're sewing in bulk you'll need lots of these for display!

Resources For Storage Supplies:

•  Crates - Check out stores like JoAnn Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, and Michaels (especially in the fall!)
• Cube Storage - Check out Ikea, Target, and Walmart
• Protect & Store Boxes - Amazon 8.5 x 11 or 12 x 12  or look in the scrapbook supplies section of any craft store!
• Wooden Hangers - just .65 cents a piece!
• Plastic Hangers
• Wire hangers
• Make doll hangers out of popsicle sticks! (link goes to Down Home Inspiration blog)
• Tension Rods - Walmart, Target, Hobby Lobby, Amazon
• Clear Plastic Packaging Bags - Amazon

Week Three task:

• Watch the video :) and then jump into he discussion on this Facebook post started a few weeks ago. It's all about Doll Clothes Storage!
• We'd love to see your examples! 

Next Tuesday  - Week 4: Packaging & Branding...

Hi Everyone! This week we're going deep into the process of a bulk sewing project. I've chosen the LJ Salina dress to illustrate the process of fabric selection, cutting, sewing, and pressing the items in a streamlined process. It's always interesting that you can sew a pile of the same thing without adding a huge amount of time compared to sewing one item individually. You can likely sew a single dress in a hour or so, but you can sew a dozen at one time in about 2 hours - that's definitely worth trying!

The video is posted below. I hope this will encourage you to give it a try! Be sure to scroll down below to find a list of resources and patterns for your bulk sewing project!

Pattern Overview:

• Liberty Jane Salina Dress (Shown in the video - AG, WW, AGAT, KNC)
• Liberty Jane Aspen Dress (Shown in the video - AG, BFC)
• Liberty Jane FREE T-Shirt (AG, WW, H4H, Barbie, JG, KNC, BFC, AGAT)
• Liberty Jane Jeans Bundle (AG, WW, H4H, JG, KNC, BFC, AGAT, Bitty)
• Liberty Jane Piccadilly Sweater (AG, WW, H4H)
• Liberty Jane Baseball Tee (AG, AG Boy, BFC, KNC, WW, JG)
• Liberty Jane Leggings
• Liberty Jane Basic Pants (Yoga Pants) Great for PJ sets with a tee or Piccadilly Sweater!
• Liberty Jane Avila Aviator (AG or WW) Simplest jacket to sew in bulk, just 3 pattern pieces!
• Liberty Jane Janes Shoes (AG, WW, JG, H4H)
• Liberty Jane No Sew Janes Shoes (AG, WW, JG, H4H)
• Liberty Jane Open Toe Janes Shoes (AG, WW)
• Liberty Jane Dress Form (AG, WW, BFC/AGAT, Ellowyne/H4H) If you're sewing in bulk you'll need lots of these for display!

Resources & Bulk Sewing Supplies:

• Wawak - great for elastic & size 3/0 snaps and closed end zippers
• Amazon - Olfa 28mm rotary cutters. Also good to use a JoAnn Fabrics coupon on rotary cutters and cutting mats! 
• Elastic - Amazon 1/4" 70 yard Spool
• Hook & Loop - Pixie Packs Doll Sewing Notions
• Looking for a good reason to sew in bulk? Check out the Sew Powerful Purse program! You can download the pattern and sew one at a time, or use the streamlined PDF to sew them in batches. Be sure to jump into the Sew Powerful Purse Facebook group for tips and advice from the community too!

Week Two task:

• Watch the video :) Then give it a try... What item would you like to sew multiples of? Make a set of 12 and then share them with the group and be sure to let us know what they are for (your collection, a gift, a charitable project, etc.) If you have questions or need help in specific areas, ask!
• Post questions as comments under the Facebook Group Post 

Next Tuesday  - Week 3: Project & Inventory Storage...

Hi Everyone! Let's talk about - Sewing In Bulk Quantities!  I'm excited to share the things I've learned with you as well as pick up new tips and suggestions from the group. Maybe you're asking - "Why would I want to sew in bulk?" There are a few reasons... First, maybe you want to sell items you make at a craft fair, in an Etsy shop, or in local retail. Second, maybe you're considering donating a bunch of items to a charity during the holidays (which will result in lot's of happy little girls and boys!), or maybe you just want to make a large wardrobe for your collection - a girl can never have too many pairs of jeans, right?! 

In the video posted below, I share with you an overview of the month long topic including my Top 10 Tips For Sewing In Bulk Quantities. I hope this will encourage you to think through your methods and inspire you to sew in bulk (or sew in larger bulk quantities if your already a mass production expert)!

Pattern Overview:

• Liberty Jane FREE T-Shirt (AG, WW, H4H, Barbie, JG, KNC, BFC, AGAT)
• Liberty Jane Jeans Bundle (AG, WW, H4H, JG, KNC, BFC, AGAT, Bitty)
• Liberty Jane Piccadilly Sweater (AG, WW, H4H)
• Liberty Jane Baseball Tee (AG, AG Boy, BFC, KNC, WW, JG)
• Liberty Jane Leggings
• Liberty Jane Basic Pants (Yoga Pants) Great for PJ sets with a tee or Piccadilly Sweater!
• Liberty Jane Salina Dress (AG, AGAT, KNC)
• Liberty Jane Avila Aviator (AG or WW) Simplest jacket to sew in bulk, just 3 pattern pieces!
• Liberty Jane Janes Shoes (AG, WW, JG, H4H)
• Liberty Jane No Sew Janes Shoes (AG, WW, JG, H4H)
• Liberty Jane Open Toe Janes Shoes (AG, WW)
• Liberty Jane Dress Form (AG, WW, BFC/AGAT, Ellowyne/H4H) If you're sewing in bulk you'll need lots of these for display!

Top 10 Tips for Sewing in Bulk:

1. Be sure to Get Organized first ;) You can review last months topic HERE.
2. Use a notebook or Sewing Planner to keep your projects and plan organized. Pick a pattern your are familiar with that is simple in design.
3. Choose fabrics wisely. Work with fabrics that are all the same type so that your machine settings stay the same, you use the same needle, thread color, and pressing settings.
4. Stack your fabrics and cut with a rotary cutter and cutting mat. Start with 4 layers to determine how thick you can stack your fabrics and still get an accurate cut.
5. Don't use pins! Yes, you read that correctly :) Pins are great, but for bulk sewing they will really slow you down. Alternately you can use fabric weights, or anything heavy you have around you, even your finger tips! Most seams are short and can be accurately sewn without pins (if you've chosen a simply designed garment like a t-shirt)
6. Nip your notches. Instead of cutting triangle notches, cut a short 1/8" slit into your seam allowance to mark notches. This can easily be done through multiple layers of fabric at once as well.
7. Finish all the exposed edges on all your pieces first. You can do this with a serger or a zig-zag stitch on your machine. 
8. If needed, change the order of instruction so that you can sew as much as you can without getting up, then move to your pressing station and press all at once.
9. Get a good swivel chair! This will help with efficiency as well as comfort and posture!
10. Sew buttons with 2-3 strand of embroidery floss instead of thread. Even better, use your machine to sew buttons on automatically - major time saver!

 Week One task:

• Watch the video :) Then share your tips and suggestions with me and the group! This should be a fun topic with a lot of discussion, I'm sure there are many bulk sewing ninja's in this group! If you have questions or need help in specific areas, ask!
• Participate in the polls posted below.
• Post questions as comments under the Facebook Group Post 

Next Tuesday  - Week 2: Bulk Sewing Process & Resources...