Learn to
write and sell your
quilt patterns
Aren’t completely confident in taking their pattern-making goals from dreaming to doing…
“I want to create patterns, get them out to the quiltiverse, and get paid consistently for doing what I LOVE”
Sound familiar?
Join the movement of creative quilters turned savvy business ladies
who design and sell professional, well-written patterns
YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE
you know that ...
selling quilt patterns is the best way to make passive income in the quilting world. Hands down.
No fabric.
No shipping costs.
No trading dollars for hours.
No one-to-one quilting projects.
Just the ability to create one design and sell it to many.
Bottom line, it’s the most logical way to scale while giving you that wonderful sense of creative accomplishment that made you fall in love with the craft in the first place.
But when you finally find space for yourself and sit down
you realize . . .
You’ve got enough questions and hesitations to fill up an entire fabric warehouse.
* Things like…
* Where do I begin?
Am I doing this right?
Is my idea unique enough?
Why aren’t my patterns selling?
Do my written descriptions make sense?
Is my design too similar to another one I see online?
How do I write the steps or create the image that goes inside?
ALL valid questions – many of which most quilters run into.
And at no fault to their own, it’s not uncommon for those questions
to bubble over into something bigger…
In fact, there are few easily believable (but totally untrue) thoughts quilters face when getting started with designing and selling patterns.
So let’s take a sewing needle and put a pin in these doubts, shall we?!
Barrier Number One
"I don’t think I have what it takes."
This one – while still untrue, is not an uncommon concern. We all feel fear. The fear of failure. The fear of our patterns not selling. The fear of not having enough time to make this work. The fear of not growing a following. The fear of disappointing yourself and your family.
Whoa. Can I just say that when we feel fear, it means we’re challenging ourselves. And my goodness, that’s a good thing. It means you have goals and hopes and dreams for yourself [gasp – yes, goals for yourself, outside of being a mom or good partner]. And the funny thing is that once you fulfill those personal goals – you end up being a better mom and partner anyways, because you’re finally doing something to fill YOUR cup and not just everyone else’s.
But to set the record straight about the fear thing – know that creating patterns is a learned skill. It means no single person was born knowing this stuff – heck, I started with NO quilt experience in 2015, only to own and run a major quilt pattern company a few years later. So for anyone that fears that they can’t do it, I’m here to say that the gal writing this to you is living proof that YES, YOU CAN.
Barrier Number TWO
"I have no new design ideas… and the market is oversaturated!"
Okay, I don’t get fired up about too much, but this one always hits a chord for me. It’s simply false. There is ALWAYS room for beautiful, well-created work in the world. Even the slightest change in design can make your audience feel something worlds apart from the last pattern.
And when you’re able to uncover what makes you different as a quilt designer and business owner (like your experiences, your personality, your past stories, your style, your brand) – *those* are the differentiators that inspire new patterns and make people buy from YOU instead of someone else.
Here’s a very in-the-moment example – there are other possible quilt pattern teachers out there… But there’s a reason that led you to seek out learning from me rather than others.
Barrier Number THREE
"I can’t learn new software, it’s too intimidating and pricey!"
Trust me, I know how scary it can feel to learn new software. My promise to you is to make learning Adobe seamless and easy. Get familiar and comfortable with the best that’s out there.
Here’s the thing – this course is for the go-getters who are ready to take their quilt pattern writing seriously.
Are you ready to learn the industry standard when it comes to publishing?
Do you want options when it comes to income? Think ghost writing, submitting to magazines, working with major brands in the industry, PLUS writing your own quilt patterns or even publishing a book! (All things I have experience with).
To do this, you need to learn the best of the best. Not the cheapest or easiest route. But the industry standard.
I promise to break Adobe down into do-able, learnable lessons.
BONUS: We also learn how to use EQ8 to design your quilts.
Not ready to commit to Adobe yet? You can 100% use Canva (for FREE) and when you are ready to learn Adobe, you have access to the course FOR LIFE.
You are setup for success in the most professional way. Others in the industry will take you seriously and know that you take yourself and your writing career seriously.
A note on cost: I have multiple students who have tried to go a cheaper route at first, and then come and take my course because they realize they want to know Adobe because it is the most powerful and professional tool in the industry. THAT is money lost. Do it right the first time and learn Adobe from the get-go.
Trust that you will have enough success to more than cover the cost of Adobe.
Barrier Number FOUR
"It’ll be cheaper to figure it out on my own."
Hey, I’m a DIY’er as much as the next person. But the thing with doing it alone is that it’s PAINFULLY HARDER. Every single aspect of it, too – The unnecessary errors, wasted time and resources, the uncertainty, the overwhelm, the ripping things apart before they’re even fully finished… And while all the free info out there is a great start, it can only get you so far. There’s truth behind the “you get what you pay for” idea, because for all the free blogs and videos out there, it only provides a small snippet of the big picture. And what happens when you run into a roadblock? When you have a specific question and need help in real-time? When you make a mistake but don’t know how you did it, or worse, how to fix it?
Friend, your time is more valuable than that. The gift of a creative outlet got you into this, but selling it for a profit is what keeps you going. Because we both know you deserve more than just an expensive hobby!
You see, there’s something to be said for having work that’s done like a professional – with patterns that were created through an actual process, and not just a trial and “let’s see what happens” mentality. When you’re able to feel confident in your work because you *know* that it’s done right – from the design to writing the steps & creating the images that go inside, all the way to the marketing process – it opens the doors to more sales, more impact, more enjoyment, and more personal growth… much quicker than ever going at it as a lone-ranger.
Becoming a profitable Pattern Designer is sooo incredibly doable *when* you have the right support and path
laid out ahead of you.
But before we get there – let’s formally meet, if we haven’t already.
If we were in person, I’d welcome you into my Texas home (likely into my fabric-overloaded sewing room)
and offer you one of my classic smoothies as we chit chat 🙂
A note about adobe, software, and tech
why adobe
As you work through each week and lesson, you’ll learn how to use the industry standard in writing quilt patterns: namely Adobe products.
ADBOE PRODUCTS ARE ABSOLUTELY THE INDUSTRY STANDARD AND ALLOW YOU TO GHOST WRITE, WORK WITH MAJOR BRANDS AND COMPANIES, AND PUBLISH BOOKS, AS WELL.
Don’t take the easy or cheap route – learn the best that’s out there! Take your career seriously and become the best, most professional quilt pattern writer you can.
Bonus, if you ever decide to design fabric down the road, you will need to learn Adobe products.
However, if you aren’t ready to jump into Adobe yet, you can 100% use Canva (for FREE) and make professional looking patterns until you are ready to learn Adobe.
The good news? You will have access to the course and all the lessons FOR LIFE. So when you are ready to learn Adobe, everything you need will be here waiting for you.
I’ve been told that I have a knack for breaking down complex topics into something that’s doable for everyone, and that becomes very evident inside the Pattern Writing Course.
You’ll receive every piece of info you need to learn Adobe Illustrator.
You can also choose to learn the path of EQ8 and InDesign.
Not feeling any of those? Canva is a wonderful FREE option, which you’ll be trained on, too.
Regardless of the software you choose, know that there is a clear path ahead, and you’ll be supported all the way to the finish line.
HI - I’m Elizabeth Chappell!
Creative crafter, wife and mom of three, former English teacher, and sour jelly belly connoisseur. But the most random personal stat of them all? Stumbling into the quilter life 🙂
But when a friend invited me to a quilters festival back in 2015 – I fell in love.
The colors, the patterns, the expressions, the beauty – my creative mind was in overdrive.
The other part of the mind though? Yeah, the ADHD side.. It struggled to focus and stay in my seat when writing out the steps. It struggled to want to jump to the next project without finishing the first. And it definitely struggled to forgive myself for mistakes.
And while you may not relate to my disability, you might be able to relate to the frustrations behind knowing what you want as a quilter and not being able to fully grasp it.
Because for many of us creatives out there – the road hasn’t been paved. (Actually, it’s been more like a wooded and hidden footpath with multiple forks at every bend.)
And that’s why when I started gaining some traction after years of learning – I knew I needed to make the path smoother for others.
Because the success that I was finding in the industry wasn’t from luck. It was from carving out repeatable processes that worked, from leaning on experts to show me the way, and from giving myself permission to deserve to reach my goals. (The last one took a little bit to realize I was *actually* worthy of all this… maybe you’ve felt something similar?)
The result? Half a decade later and I’m a published author, a respected designer of hundreds of successful patterns – many to popular wholesale distributors, a multiple 6-figure business owner, and [my personal favorite] a mentor helping other quilters do the same.
INTRODUCING . . .
THE QUILT PATTERN WRITING COURSE
The comprehensive and step-by-step program that teaches you how to write and sell your quilt patterns on repeat So you can turn your talent into consistent, scalable income
- WHY TAKE THIS COURSE -
-
Master the art of designing stunning quilt patterns
that your audience swoon over {Access to professional resources, strategies, & knowledge base and position yourself as an in-demand designer]}
-
Gain the exact breakdown on how to write clean and professional quilt patterns
{Benefit from the clarity and confidence in your craft to side-step the months (or years!) of figuring this out on your own}
-
Learn the business side behind marketing and selling your new creations in a manageable and implementable way
{Welcome new skills and valuable knowledge that advance your lifestyle, personal, and career goals}
-
Give life to unique, desirable, and reader-friendly patterns that stand out from the market
{Discover fresh new innovative ideas that inspire you and keep you distinctly separate from the sea of pattern sameness}
-
Surround yourself with a perfectly curated community of other quilters who “get it”
{Second-guessing yourself ends here when you have a tight-knit group who genuinely have your back and cheer on your successes… for life}
You’ll tap into my “hold nothing back” mentality as you get access to
my internal business moves, strategies, secrets, and shortcuts…
…And finish with not only a high-quality sellable pattern in hand
But the confidence and know-how to continually re-create more while you level up your business and life.
Here's how your patterns become the most shoppable designs online:
Our Eight-Week Roadmap
To succeed in quilt pattern creations, you need to stand out from the crowd – you need to be identifiable! In week one, you’ll do just that. You’ll get crystal-chandelier-clear on who you are as a quilter. These vital (and fun!) building blocks help you create a brand, an experience, and a look – the three things that drive people to purchase *your* pattern over the next one.
You’ll walk away from this fundamental module immediately carving the YOU-sized hole in the market. With your brand, color zone, mood board, and pattern names on lockdown, you’ll set yourself up mentally for huge wins with your goals and your “why” leading your clear path ahead.
Week Two: Design Your Quilt Top
Uncover my go-to places and activities to spark creation, and you’ll begin to pair it with last week’s findings. You’ll quickly understand the truth behind my motto of “there’s always room at the virtual table for more beautiful designs” when you uncover new ways to spark ideas (you’ll find out about all areas of your life to pull from!)
You’ll walk away with your new quilt top fully designed with the correct size and dimensions. You’ll soak up all the steps that turn this into a reusable and enjoyable process.
➤ Weekly Support Call: Bring your questions, get your answers, and move forward with confidence
Week Three: Block Construction
Break out your fabric and sewing machine because this is where the fun happens! You’ll learn the exact process for constructing each of the blocks in your quilt top (this is where many get it wrong!). You’ll get access to an array of my personal cheat sheets, including Half Square Triangles, Block Math, and exactly what to track to make future patterns a simple progression.
You’ll walk away with your blocks broken down into perfectly smaller pieces… and your imagination stretched into a million new perspectives and possibilities.
➤ Weekly Support Call: Bring your questions, get your answers, and move forward with confidence
Week Four: Fabric Requirements
Deep dive into creating a Fabric Requirement Chart and the sneaky simple math to figuring out how much fabric your entire pattern will need – especially if your pattern offers multiple sizes. You’ll feel confident in your overall requirements, including your backing and binding, as your pattern begins to come to life.
You’ll walk away with a complete Fabric Requirement section of your pattern and a whole lotta gusto for the remainder of your journey!
➤ Weekly Support Call: Bring your questions, get your answers, and move forward with confidence
Week Five: Writing The Steps
Supercharge your customer experience (and your repeat customer base) when you discover how to write clear, jargon-free, and professional written steps for your design. These are no Ikea-inspired instructions you’re creating – your audience craves well-written words that enhance your brand and improve your likeability. Uplevel your overall professionalism when you arm yourself with knowledge around bleed marks, document changes mid-design, fractions, page borders, instruction orders, pattern wording, and a session of edit reviews.
You’ll walk away with your easily understood instructions for your pattern, along with my personal written templates from years of customer feedback, editor input, previous mistakes, and sold-out patterns.
➤ Weekly Support Call: Bring your questions, get your answers, and move forward with confidence
Week Six: Implementation Week
At this point, you have learned a lot of new skills. We take this week to allow you to implement all you’ve learned.
This week is for you to work on your quilt design, fabric requirements, and writing your quilt steps.
Working on your well crafted design takes time and energy. This week give you both so you can create the best pattern possible.
You’ll walk away with your easily understood instructions for your pattern, along with my personal written templates from years of customer feedback, editor input, previous mistakes, and sold-out patterns.
➤ Weekly Support Call: Bring your questions, get your answers, and move forward with confidence.
Week Seven: Adding Images
Learn to make your pattern look the part by creating images of your blocks, a coloring page, and figures that make your pattern easy to follow. You’ll unlock the reviews from my personal editors and feedback from my research on how quilters like to consume diagram instructions.
Member Perk Week: Gain access to my AI templates to save you loads of time and energy while your design comes to life!
You’ll walk away with perfectly accompanying images and figures for your pattern that excel in all the areas to set your work apart.
➤ Weekly Support Call: Bring your questions, get your answers, and move forward with confidence
Week Eight: Tech Editing
The power of reciprocity comes alive as you’ll peer edit for two students in our community, and then receive multiple revisions back on your own pattern. Editing other patterns is a valuable opportunity as it’ll help you bring to light your wins plus your areas of improvement much clearer, all while adding a new versatile skill to your professional toolbox. You’ll also explore everything you need to know about the buzz behind pattern testers.
You’ll walk away with the crucial step of your completed pattern in the books. You’ll also receive my recommendations of Tech Editors (if you choose that route) and necessary checklists for future patterns.
➤ Weekly Support Call: Bring your questions, get your answers, and move forward with confidence
Week Nine: Marketing
Business breakthroughs are on the menu for you this week! In this meaty module, you’ll lean into my wisdom behind business growth, strategy, and implementation. You’ll cover everything from starting your email list, guest blogging, and social media… all the way to quilt alongs, marketing your business, growing your audience, online opportunities & in-person shops. You’ll even get set up like a *real* business – with lessons on paying taxes, legal entities, and wholesale distributors.
What’s best about this module is that you’ll keep coming back to it as your business grows over the months. For example, let’s say you don’t have an Instagram account today. But when you do, you know you can pull up “Lesson 17: How to Take Perfect Instagram Photos” and immediately implement your findings.
You’ll walk away with your growth plan on lockdown and a tangible plan on how to get your patterns out into the world and into the hands of many 🙂
➤ Weekly Support Call: Bring your questions, get your answers, and move forward with confidence
SMALL STUDY GROUPS LED BY ALUMNI
BONUS:
I am excited to offer each student access to a small study group!
Each student gets to choose if they want to join a small study group lead by an alumni of the course.
Study groups meet each week to ask questions, collaborate, and work through the course content together.
These study groups are one of the greatest values of this course. You will make friends and connections that will last a life time!
PLUS, with an experienced (and personally chosen by me) alumni, you can get extra insight into the industry and your career as a quilt pattern designer from someone who has walked in your shoes.
Here’s how we make sure this program becomes your
best investment . . .
Weekly Deep Dives with Elizabeth
Small Study Groups
Private Community
Marketing to My Audience For Free
Each student gets to share one pattern release to my audience. I share in my Instagram stories about a release or product of your choice.
you have one year after the course finishes to take advantage of this free marketing!
Best Tools and Skills
You will learn the industry standard (Adobe Illustrator and InDesign as well as EQ8). You will be set for success as a pattern
writer who can be taken seriously from industry professionals and insiders.
Let's talk about bonuses!
what you'll receive:
- Path to Success Workbook: Your interactive guide to navigate the path ahead of you – how to self identify where you are, where you’re going, how to course-correct, and the most profitable way to get there.
- Pop-Up Guest Speakers: You’ll receive helpful live trainings from my Rolodex of influential business execs that will impact your journey – from a Copyright Lawyer and a NASA Engineer, to a Quilt Math Teacher and previous QPWC students ready to share their success stories (and biggest learning moments.
- Individual Promotion on ‘Quilters Candy’ Instagram Account: The first step to selling your beautiful patterns is simply getting SEEN. This will happen for you when you receive a spotlight in front of my 35K+ follower Instagram community. You’ll be able to cash in on this individual bonus promo at any point over the subsequent year inside the program. As far as marketing goes – this level of visibility brings thousands of interested eyeballs on your work.
here's a recap of all
you'll receive:
- Eight Modules of Core Pattern Writing and Selling Training …….……… Value $1,000
- Week One: Your Niche
- Week Two: Design Your Quilt Top
- Week Three: Block Construction
- Week Four: Fabric Requirements
- Week Five: Writing The Steps
- Week Six: Adding Images
- Week Seven: Tech Editing
- Week Eight: Marketing
- Weekly Deep Dives With Elizabeth (8) ……….Value $500
- Your Peer Group …….. Value $300
- Private Facebook Community ….. Value $100
- BONUS: Path to Success Workbook…………………………………..……Value $25
- BONUS: Pop Up Guest Speakers…..………………………………….……Value $1,000
- BONUS: Individual Promotion on ‘Quilters Candy’ Instagram………………Value $200
Total Value: $3,125
Your Price: $897
The Quilters Candy
Guarantee
Quilt Pattern Alumni Quilt Designs
Take a look at some of the past student’s designs.
Learn how to make your own quilt patterns
with confidence
Frequently Asked Questions
and answers
Quilt Pattern Writing Course Calendar
See what we will be covering and on what dates during the 8 weeks. Click the image above to download the course calendar.
* Reminder: don't worry if you can't make it to the events on the dates listed. All content will be recorded, and you have lifetime access to the course content.