Pattern Designers + Quilt Shops: How to Build Partnerships That Work for Everyone

Pattern Designers + Quilt Shops: How to Build Partnerships That Work for Everyone

From Quilting on the Side by Andi Stanfield and Tori McElwain

March 31, 2026 · 25 min · Season 6 · Episode 12

About this episode

Tori and Andi explore the dynamics between pattern designers and quilt shops, discussing their relationship and the economics involved.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Tori and Andi dig into a topic they've been hearing about from both sides - the relationship between pattern designers and quilt shops. Are they competitors? Partners? Somewhere in between? They break down the real economics of pattern design (spoiler: a $12 retail pattern doesn't go far at wholesale or distributor pricing), why most designers can't rely on direct-to-consumer sales alone, and what it actually takes to get your patterns into shops and distribu...

People in this episode

Hosts: Tori McElwain, Andi Stanfield

Topics covered

  • partnerships
  • pattern design
  • quilt shops
  • business relationships
  • economics of quilting

Keywords

  • pattern designers
  • quilt shops
  • business partnerships
  • wholesale pricing
  • direct-to-consumer sales

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: quilt shops, pattern designers

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