45 Ways to Make Money Sewing: Profitable Business Ideas
If you want to make money but don’t want to work for someone else, using your sewing skills to bring in extra income is a great idea. You can work on your own schedule and make items that you love which will then bring joy to someone else.
Selling handmade items is especially great as a side hustle, for parents trying to find a flexible job around the children’s school schedules, for retired adults and for those with a physical challenge that might prevent them from doing traditional employment.
Sewing is a lost skill and people who don’t have the skill are willing to pay those that do.
But let’s be honest. You probably won’t make much money selling your sewing unless you treat it as a full time job. Usually you can make some extra cash or a basic living wage. However, the joy, flexibility, freedom and opportunity to be creative are part of the perks, and they can be valuable, too.
Here are some great ways to make money sewing. Most involve working on your own, but some are opportunities to be an employee with a guaranteed income and learning skills on the job.
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Craft Fairs
Let’s start with the most well-known and popular way of sewing to make money. Unfortunately, it is also one of the worst ways to try to make an income from selling your sewing.
Craft fairs are gatherings where you often have to pay a fee to display your products at the fair. The fees can be high, which means you have to make a lot of money to recoup that cost before you actually make money.
Even if you don’t need to pay a vendor fee, you will still need to make a lot of products to have on hand to sell. Without products, you can’t make money.
However, making the products ahead of time involves the cost of fabric and materials, as well as your time. You literally have to put all of the expense up front, and hope for a return on your investment.
You will find that most people don’t want to pay fair market value for handmade items at craft fairs. Be sure to charge a price that not only covers the cost of materials, but also your time.
Farmer’s Markets
Farmer’s markets and community markets are an often-overlooked place to sell your items. However, they have the same problems that craft fairs do.
Many farmer’s markets only allow locals to sell at the events, which means you will need to apply for a spot and meet the guidelines.
My local farmer’s market actually does not allow homemade items to be sold. Whatever.
Etsy Storefront
Etsy might be the next well-known way of selling your sewing projects. There is a lot of opportunities with selling on Etsy, however there is also a lot of challenges to overcome to get your products seen on the platform.
The good thing about having an Etsy shop is that you can make one item as a representation of the good that you are selling (such as one tote bag), then photograph the item, and then post that listing online.
Then as people buy the type of item that you listed, you can make the item in real time. For instance, you will make and photograph market tote bags, create the listing and then wait until people buy that item listing before actually making any more.
It is a great way to spend less on inventory and not waste your time.
To be successful on Etsy, you need to have a basic (if not strong) knowledge of SEO, keywords and marketing. It also helps if you can drive traffic to your storefront from social media platforms, your website, or other external traffic sources.
Keep in mind you will need to pay a listing fee (currently .20 cents) and a small percentage of the sale to Etsy.
Online Store
An Etsy store isn’t the only online storefront for handmade goods. MakerPlace by Michaels is a relatively new marketplace with a similar goal. There is also Amazon Handmade, too.
You can also create your own online shop via web hosting platforms such as Shopify.
Create Digital Patterns
If you love creating your own patterns, then consider selling those digital sewing patterns on Etsy, an online store or on your own website.
This is a great passive income opportunity as you only need to make the pattern once but the digital downloads can continue to sell for years. It is one of the easy ways to make money without much work.
Be sure to see my digital sewing patterns in my shop!
Start an Alterations Business
An alteration service can be among the most profitable and easiest sewing jobs that you can do.
People looking for alterations are willing to pay for the time and work involved in altering clothing, uniforms, specialty gowns, etc.
Alterations can often be done on a flexible work schedule. As long as you deliver the requested work on the date promised, you can do the actual work in the morning, evenings, or whenever works for you.
While you may want to open up an actual storefront for your alterations business, it would be more profitable to work from your home and focus on reaching out to customers and doing online marketing.
If you are willing to focus on a niche market, you will become very well known and word-of-mouth will be a highly effective marketing tool.
There are so many unique ways to make money doing alterations. Here are a few of the best ideas:
- Prom Dress Alterations
- Quinceanera Dress Alterations
- Wedding Dress Alterations (My wedding dress alterations cost more than the actual wedding dress. Seriously.)
- Dance Costume Alterations
- Menswear alterations and custom mens suits
- Emergency Response Uniform Alterations (Contact uniform shops to see if you can be added to their list of alterations for uniforms for firefighters and law enforcement.)
- Military Uniform Alterations
- Team Sports Uniform Alterations (Partner with local schools, universities, and sports leagues to find clients. You may want to start with your own kid’s sports teams to learn the skills.)
Upholstery Work
Whether repairing a favorite piece of furniture or updating the look, people are willing to pay a professional to expertly reupholster their furniture pieces or create custom slipcovers.
Consider contacting furniture stores, especially locally owned ones and not chains, to see if they have a list of people they recommend.
Curtain Making
I have never been able to find curtains for my home that are the style, fabric, color and pattern that I want. Never.
I always have to make my own curtains. And when I moved into a new home, I could tell that the curtains left behind had been custom made because of the quality and style that they were.
You would be surprised at how many people want custom curtains, trust me. There’s a lot more people buying handmade curtains to fit their style aesthetic than you might imagine.
Cosplay Outfits
Cosplay is hugely popular and everyone needs custom outfits. This is a great gig if you can market your services in the right way via Etsy, online stores, or even Cosplay social media platforms and forums.
Custom Formal Dresses
Women usually want to make sure their important outfits are unique and won’t be found anywhere else. That is why custom prom dresses, ball gowns, pageant dresses and other types of formal wear are a lucrative business.
Custom Quinceanera Dresses
These 15th birthday celebrations are usually very extravagant and some can cost a lot of money! People are willing to pay you handsomely for a custom creation that will wow their guests.
Custom Christening Gowns
A big milestone in a child’s life is a christening gown and the gown is usually passed down from generation to generation. A quality-made heirloom piece will be an investment.
Other baby items, such as baby clothes and diaper bags, are also popular sewing projects.
Custom Dance Apparel
Partner with a local dance troupe, dance competitions or dance classes to make custom outfits.
Don’t forget about the hair bows and other accessories that are often in demand, too!
Custom Historical Garments
This sub-niche of costumes is really popular! If you are willing to learn the unique sewing techniques of historically accurate clothing, you will be overwhelmed with work to do!
Department Store Alterations
When I walked through Nordstroms at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I was surprised to find an alteration station set up in the middle of the store!
Most department stores have done away with on-site alterations, but you may live by a major urban area with stores that can support a seamstress on staff.
Custom Gifts
While this type of work is usually offered on Etsy or online stores, you may have success offering custom gifts and personalized gifts by posting on Facebook, neighborhood apps or other online platforms.
Sell Quilts
Offer to make custom quilts for wedding gifts, anniversary gifts, wall hangings, etc. These handmade products are the perfect gift and people are usually willing to pay a decent amount for your quilting skills.
Have a Garage Sale
Instead of setting up shop at a craft fair or farmer’s market, host your own garage sale at home or a friend’s home. Put out your sewing crafts and see what sells!
Create Memory Items
People are willing to pay more when they want to preserve an item or a memory. It’s just a fact.
Specialize in creating memory quilts, ornaments, angels and bears. Become well-acquainted with the patterns and methods BEFORE using someone’s sentimental clothing for a sewing project.
Or you could specialize in creating t-shirt quilts.
Work With a Theater Company
Some large theater companies may pay a salary for a seamstress or alterations expert on staff. Or you could be contracted out and paid per hour.
Theater companies and stage productions always need alterations, repairs and custom costumes made for their shows.
Work with a Dance Company
Just like theater companies, dance companies are also always in need of alterations and costumes.
Partner with an Interior Designer
Offer your services for making custom curtains, valances, shower curtains and furniture covers to an interior designer who may be looking for unique ways to customize their client’s homes.
Work for a Wedding Dress Designer
The great thing about being hired by a wedding dress company is that you will learn new skills on the job that you can then use in your own alterations business later on.
As an employee you may be expected to work on-site at the location.
Work for an Alteration Business
If you don’t want to start a business of your own, yet you are struggling to find clients as an independent seamstress, you may want to work for an existing alterations business.
Great businesses probably have more work than they can handle. As an employee, you may be paid by the hour or you may make commissions based on the size of the project.
You won’t make as much as if you were your own boss, but you also don’t have to work to find clients or do marketing.
Work for a Quilt Shop or Fabric Shop
Being an employee for a fabric shop, quilt shop or other sewing-related business can help you to find potential customers for your own sewing-related business and hear of opportunities to make money while you are earning a pay check from your day to day job.
Work in a Costume Shop
Shops that supply costumes to theater companies, schools and production companies always need alterations. You may find that you have more work when you are employed by a costume shop, rather than a single theater company.
Consignment Sales
Instead of renting a booth at a craft fair or farmer’s market, consider selling your items on a consignment basis at existing stores.
You will supply the finished products for the business to sell at their location. They will take a percentage of the sale and you will keep the rest.
Monogramming and Personalization
If your sewing machine has monogramming options, you can make some money personalizing blankets, clothing, bridesmaid gifts, Christmas gifts, etc.
The most profitable avenues will be holiday gifts and wedding gifts.
Start a Website
Starting a sewing website is not a quick money-making venture. Chances are you won’t see a profit for months or years, even though you put in a lot of work.
However, once you are able to be monetized with an ad network or gain a loyal following that wants to buy your patterns and finished products, you can make great money.
Start a Youtube Channel
Just like a website, starting a YouTube channel is not a quick money-making idea. You will need to create content and wait until you reach 1,000 subscribers AND 4,000 watch hours in a year before you can start earning ad revenue.
Check out my YouTube channel!
Open a Storefront
A brick-and-mortar storefront could be a good idea if you already have the real estate or can use a small portion of an existing business site.
Renting, leasing or buying a business location could eat up a lot of profits if you are not able to staff the store all week long. Plus, you will need to be on-site to keep the store open or you will need to hire staff.
Resell Fabric
If you find rare or vintage fabric at garage sales or other places to find cheap fabric, you may be able to resell it for a profit on online stores or Ebay.
Reselling fabric as fat quarters is also a way to make a small income. You could buy a yard of fabric, cut into fat quarters, and pair with other fabrics in complementary colors and prints to create fat quarter bundles.
Four fat quarters generally cost more than one yard of fabric. Pre-made bundles are usually sold for more than buying the fabric on your own, too.
Teaching Sewing Classes
Teaching the art of sewing is one of the most profitable and easiest ways to make money sewing.
You will be able to schedule the classes or events at a time that works for you.
There are a variety of ways to teach sewing classes. You can choose to have people come to your home, teach a class at a community location, or go to other people’s homes.
You will also be able to customize the classes to ages that you are comfortable working with, whether that is kids, teens or adults.
Here are some great ideas for sewing classes and camps:
- Homeschooling co-ops
- Homesteading groups
- Local Parks and Recreation department
- Community college
- Schools
- Charter schools
- Retirement centers
- Fabric shops
- 4-H
Offering Sewing Parties and Events
Similar to teaching sewing classes, you can create a sewing party business.
Rather than offering a class in which people that don’t know each other sign up, you can create custom sewing classes for groups such as churches, wedding parties, birthday parties, etc.
Offer the parties and events at your own home, or go to their house. You may be able to find a community center or conference room that works as a great location, too.
Sell Wholesale
If you are able to find a sewing project that takes very little money or time to make, you could sell your items wholesale to another business or crafter to sell as their own creations.
Fixing Sewing Machines
While this type of work doesn’t involve making items, you could find it is a lucrative side hustle for you.
If you are familiar with sewing machines, especially machines from a variety of different brands, you could help people fix their sewing machines or provide routine maintenance.
A great place to get customers is to leave your name at fabric shops. See if they have a list of people they contact when customers ask for help repairing their machines.
Equestrian Projects
Horse communities always need lots of custom work and alterations done for the equipment and uniforms used in competition.
Consider offering alteration services for equestrian outfits, including the blazers and riding breeches.
You can offer custom sewing projects, including saddle pads, blankets, tack bags and memory items made from awards.
Partner with a Realtor
Realtors are always looking for unique gifts to give to their clients upon closing and they often want to partner with small businesses from the community.
Offer your services to realtors to make handmade custom gifts for their clients. These gifts should be customizable and/or celebrate what makes the area unique.
Ideas include:
- Quilted wall hangings depicting the area’s landscape
- Christmas ornaments
- Quilt
- Hot Pads or Trivets
- Market Tote
While you enjoy the extra money made from your sewing services, the biggest piece of advice I can offer is to be wise with your time and money. Pay attention to the start-up costs and how much time it takes you to make an item or alter clothing.
Be aware of laws regarding small businesses and realize that you may need to pay taxes on your earnings.
Don’t sell yourself short because many crafters end up taking a loss on their hobby business because they don’t look at the numbers on a regular basis.
Pin This List to Look at Later!
Looking for some great ideas of what to sell for a profit? Check out these ideas:
