What Pattern Writers Should Know About Selling with QBPN, with Ruth Erdei
If you’re selling quilt patterns, one of the biggest questions is where to sell them. Do you keep everything on your own website? List your patterns on a marketplace? Work with distributors? Or use a combination of all three?
There isn’t necessarily one right answer, which is why I loved having Ruth Erdei join me for this conversation on the Craft to Career Podcast.
Ruth is the co-owner of Quilting Books Patterns & Notions, better known as QBPN. We talk about what happens behind the scenes of a quilt pattern marketplace, how QBPN works with independent designers, and what pattern writers should consider when deciding where and how to sell their work.
We also get into a side of selling digital quilt patterns that customers and even designers may not always see.
About Ruth Erdei
Ruth Erdei is a serial entrepreneur, designer, and creative business strategist with more than 20 years of experience building businesses across the craft, creative, and e-commerce industries.
Her background spans custom cosplay, crochet, digital products, fashion, quilting, and cross-stitch, giving her a unique perspective on both the creative and business sides of selling handmade and digital products.
Ruth is the co-owner of Quilting Books Patterns & Notions (QBPN) and co-founder of Craft Hatchery, two marketplaces that support independent designers and connect makers with customers around the world.
Through QBPN, Ruth has had an up-close look at what it takes to distribute quilt patterns, support designers, serve customers, and build a marketplace designed to work for both sides of the transaction.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- How she became involved with QBPN and how the company has grown
- How the QBPN business model works
- What makes QBPN different from other marketplaces
- Why quilt pattern writers might consider selling through a marketplace
- The different revenue opportunities QBPN offers designers
- What happens behind the scenes when a digital quilt pattern is sold
- Why selling digital products still comes with real business expenses
- The work involved in keeping pattern listings and files current
- How QBPN approaches protecting designers and their intellectual property
- Why transparency matters so much to Ruth as a business owner
- What pattern designers should think about when choosing where to sell their work
Listen to This Episode If You:
- Sell digital quilt patterns or want to start
- Are wondering whether you should sell your patterns through a marketplace
- Want to get your quilt patterns in front of more potential customers
- Are comparing selling on your own website with using third-party platforms
- Want to understand the costs involved in distributing digital patterns
- Are looking for additional revenue streams as a quilt pattern designer
- Want to understand more about the business side of the quilting industry
- Are curious about how QBPN works behind the scenes
Listen to These Other Episodes
If you enjoyed this conversation, here are three more episodes of the Craft to Career Podcast that are especially helpful for quilt pattern designers and creative business owners:
16 Ways to Earn Money as a Quilt Pattern Designer
Niching Down and Standing Out with Helene of Scandi Quilts
Building a Self-Sustaining Quilting Business with Jamie Bright
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What Pattern Writers Should Know About Selling with QBPN, with Ruth Erdei
What Pattern Writers Should Know About Selling with QBPN, with Ruth Erdei
What Pattern Writers Should Know About Selling with QBPN, with Ruth Erdei
What Pattern Writers Should Know About Selling with QBPN, with Ruth Erdei
What Pattern Writers Should Know About Selling with QBPN, with Ruth Erdei
What Pattern Writers Should Know About Selling with QBPN, with Ruth Erdei
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August 14, 2026
If you’re selling quilt patterns, one of the biggest questions is where to sell them. Do you keep everything on your own website? List your patterns on a marketplace? Work with distributors? Or use a combination of all three? There isn’t necessarily one right answer, which is why I loved having Ruth Erdei join me […]
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