Thanks Mel, I just entered a spoonflower competition, East and Fork. I really enjoyed working to the brief and designed a pattern I wouldn't normally have created had I just been left to my own whims. I am certainly going to be entering more. I've followed you for a number of years on Skillshare, but only just discovered you here. I love your work and also your teaching style. Thank you !
What a speedy and super informative reply! I am on Spoonflower as martineillustrates and I must admit your Skillshare class on the half drop pattern repeat was a game changer for me. I use Procreate now and am still looking for a cohesive style. Thank you so much ✨
Awww...thanks. That has been my most popular class. I need to give it a bit of an update!! Thanks so much for watching. I just followed you and your lovely designs on Spoonflower.
thank you so much for the information. im a newbie and just starting to become a seller but still got worried and confuse how to sell, this is really helpful for me thank you ❤
I really appreciate your UA-cam content as well as your Spoonflower shop. I've "followed" you in both places, and never mind the "stalkery" vibe, it's more of a fan and inspirational vibe. I had been holding up on joining my first challenge, but this and another video of yours, I decided to plunge in-the worst that can happen is well, nothing, right?! Anyhow, I just uploaded my "Creeping it Cool" to the Monster Mash, so wish me luck! And thank you for your video content!
Thank you Mel! I’m new to Spoonflower and your tips are wonderful! I’ll go back and retag some of my earlier patterns now and check wallpaper sizes. Thanks again!
I often get requests for the design to be rotated, much like tea towel designs which need to be rotated.. Spoonflower actually asked me to rotate one of my designs so they could use it in one of their projects for their magazine. I guess it's handy for certain sewing projects and is a very common request. Here is an example of one of my designs rotated: www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/7683713-hummingbird-rotated-by-melarmstrong
Thank you for the video. I entered my first Challenge and I am going to make more. The next Challenge is for a throw pillow. What size of pattern would you upload? 🙈
That's wonderful. I would always check the rules for the correct size to upload and base the size of the pattern on that. That way it should look good on the challenge voting page. You can always downscale it later.
Mel - just seeing this - great vid Can you do a vid about Spoonflower color palettes (they have specific colors) - do u have to use theirs ? Or do u just design in say Procreate (Procreate standard color profile) and upload the pattern to Spoonflower Thanks
Great idea, I have added to my list of tutorials to make! I have a bank of colours I generally use all the time. I have had printed onto a fat quarter at Spoonflower, so I can see how the colours print. You also have to be aware that different fabrics will have variations.
Delighted that I found your video on Top 3 Tips for Selling on Spoonflower. I do have one question about entering Design Challenges. I noticed in your file setup, the size is for a fat quarter (21 x 18 inches) and the resolution was set to 300 dpi. Spoonflower recommends design files be set at 150 dpi. Do you submit your Design Challenge entries at 300 or 150 dpi? Always good to check on the details of things. Thanks so much!
I create at 300 dpi as that means I can use it for other things like licensing. Spoonflower will automatically adjust it down to 150dpi or you can just upload a 150 dpi.
Hi Mel, once you won the design did you have to do a sample purchase before they market your design? Or, it is automatic once you won they will publish it for sale without your purchasing a sample yardage. Thank you.
You can now digitally proof them and make them for sale immediately. Previously you had to get a swatch, but if you won a challenge (or in the top 10), it was automatically published for sale. Hope that answers your question. I noticed you sent me an email, but I thought if I answer here, others might like to see the answer too.
Thanks for watching. Initially, I only had a few designs and only added to them when I could. Mostly my challenge wins were the catalyst for getting increased exposure on the site and sales.
Thank you for watching! I mostly create with a dpi of 300. And either upload a 300 or 150. Spoonflower will just reduce it down to 150 if you upload a 300.
Thanks for your comment Suzanne. After you upload, click on the Wallpaper tab and just check the sizing works for wallpaper. Spoonflower will adjust to a 24 inch repeat, or if you have a small repeat tile, it will scale to a 12 inch repeat, that repeats twice across the width of the wallpaper. It's important to just check that it works for your design. If it doesn't seem to look good, I'd upload another that is a 24 inch repeat and use that for just wallpaper. I got caught out in my early days with customers purchasing wallpaper for designs I'd neglected to check this and then had to adjust the file, so think it's an important thing to check.
Just found you on youtube. Great video thank you! I just entered my first challenge today but I made my tiling square from a 9" x 9" repeat. I thought it looked ok on the wallpaper mockup. Should I have scaled my repeat to 21" x 18" before making the tiling square? A little confused on this. Thanks
Thanks for watching Suzanne! I'm assuming you entered the 1920's Wallpaper challenge? For voting it will be displayed on a roll of wallpaper, so I would have checked that it looked good on the wallpaper mockup, which it sounds like you did. Another thing you could try for Wallpaper challenges or for Wallpaper in general is to create a repeat that's 12x12, which would result in 2 repeats across the roll or 24x24". I only use the 21" x 18" when they will be displaying it as a fat quarter size, which is the default for most challenges. I hope that all makes sense?? All the best, Mel
@@MelArmstrong Thank you so much for your reply and a quick one at that which is extra awesome! Yes that info helps a great deal, I will certaily keep that in mind when creating either for wallpaper or fabric fat quarter!. I looked at my submission again, and yes, I think fine and I think it repeats approx 4x across the roll.
Thank you so much for your valuable information! Didn’t know they specify the sizes in details! How about for fabric what’s the best repeat size? Since wallpaper is best to create for 12x12?
@@eleagraphy Hi there...Im still learning myself, so dont quote me, I've been busy with other projects so havent created a repeat for fabric in some time, but I believe I used 24x24in because a typical roll of fabric is 24 wide. Again, please research or reply to Mel directly, which maybe you intended :)
@@MelArmstrong When you upload pattern - Spoonflower convert automatically to 150 dpi, right? When I upload 300 dpi, Spoonflower has 42in x 36in, 150 pixels/inch, Basic
I was wondering why Spoonflower asks to set up tax form before it allows to sell on their platform. US tax by the looks of it. Anyone understands how that works?
Yes, you need to complete the tax form. I do this for any online Print on Demand store I sell through. It's best to chat to your accountant to get a full understanding of it all as it varies from country to country.
@@MelArmstrong Hi Mel, thanks for responding to my comment. Firstly it's time consuming to come up with and create great patterns, which subsequently facilitate the sales of Spoonflower's products. Secondly, on top of the low commision, they make you buy samples of your designs before you can sell them hence, making more money. Other platforms offer at least 20% and Patternbank which isn't Print on Demand, but only sell pattern designs, offer 50% commision! Your patterns are really beautiful and I think you'll do well on Patternbank. It's not easy getting accepted but you'll have no problem being accepted. I'm still polishing up my skills before I'll apply but thanks so much for your helpful tutorials-I've subbed.
Great tips! Just getting started!
You got this! Enjoy the journey!
Thank you for the brilliant tips. GOD bless
Thank you! 🙏
You’re very inspiring to me. Thank you for these wonderful tips, Mel.
You are so welcome!
Thank you so much! Very helpful.
You're very welcome!
Thanks Mel, I just entered a spoonflower competition, East and Fork. I really enjoyed working to the brief and designed a pattern I wouldn't normally have created had I just been left to my own whims. I am certainly going to be entering more. I've followed you for a number of years on Skillshare, but only just discovered you here. I love your work and also your teaching style. Thank you !
Awww thanks! That’s wonderful to hear!
Ooh I’m so sorry I hadn’t seen your reply until now! Thank you ☺️
What a speedy and super informative reply! I am on Spoonflower as martineillustrates and I must admit your Skillshare class on the half drop pattern repeat was a game changer for me. I use Procreate now and am still looking for a cohesive style. Thank you so much ✨
Awww...thanks. That has been my most popular class. I need to give it a bit of an update!! Thanks so much for watching. I just followed you and your lovely designs on Spoonflower.
Thank you for the tips.❤
No problem 😊
thank you so much for the information. im a newbie and just starting to become a seller but still got worried and confuse how to sell, this is really helpful for me thank you ❤
Really love your channel,.so clear all. Thank you Mel…
You are so welcome
Thank you for your tips ! ❤
You're so welcome!
Thanks soo much Mel for your valuable information l am following you !
What a lovely presentation! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I really appreciate your UA-cam content as well as your Spoonflower shop. I've "followed" you in both places, and never mind the "stalkery" vibe, it's more of a fan and inspirational vibe. I had been holding up on joining my first challenge, but this and another video of yours, I decided to plunge in-the worst that can happen is well, nothing, right?! Anyhow, I just uploaded my "Creeping it Cool" to the Monster Mash, so wish me luck! And thank you for your video content!
Yay! That’s awesome! I’ll check it out for sure! Keep it up!
Thanks Mel♥
you're welcome!
Lovely! Informative and beautifully presented, as always. Thank you, Mel
Thank you so much for watching!
Thank you Mel! I’m new to Spoonflower and your tips are wonderful! I’ll go back and retag some of my earlier patterns now and check wallpaper sizes. Thanks again!
Awesome! I'm so glad it was helpful!
This was wonderful information! Thank you so much!
I'm so glad it was helpful.
Thank you ❤
You're welcome 😊
Brilliant video, thanks Mel. Could you tell me what a directional change is?
I often get requests for the design to be rotated, much like tea towel designs which need to be rotated.. Spoonflower actually asked me to rotate one of my designs so they could use it in one of their projects for their magazine. I guess it's handy for certain sewing projects and is a very common request. Here is an example of one of my designs rotated: www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/7683713-hummingbird-rotated-by-melarmstrong
Thank you so much 😊
You're welcome 😊
Thank you for the video. I entered my first Challenge and I am going to make more. The next Challenge is for a throw pillow. What size of pattern would you upload? 🙈
That's wonderful. I would always check the rules for the correct size to upload and base the size of the pattern on that. That way it should look good on the challenge voting page. You can always downscale it later.
Mel - just seeing this - great vid
Can you do a vid about Spoonflower color palettes (they have specific colors) - do u have to use theirs ?
Or do u just design in say Procreate (Procreate standard color profile) and upload the pattern to Spoonflower
Thanks
Great idea, I have added to my list of tutorials to make! I have a bank of colours I generally use all the time. I have had printed onto a fat quarter at Spoonflower, so I can see how the colours print. You also have to be aware that different fabrics will have variations.
Delighted that I found your video on Top 3 Tips for Selling on Spoonflower. I do have one question about entering Design Challenges. I noticed in your file setup, the size is for a fat quarter (21 x 18 inches) and the resolution was set to 300 dpi. Spoonflower recommends design files be set at 150 dpi. Do you submit your Design Challenge entries at 300 or 150 dpi? Always good to check on the details of things. Thanks so much!
I create at 300 dpi as that means I can use it for other things like licensing. Spoonflower will automatically adjust it down to 150dpi or you can just upload a 150 dpi.
Hello. Does the Spoonfloor pattern size have to be square? Is a rectangular pattern loaded?
Hi there
I just wanted to know how much is listing a design on Spoonflower?
It's free to setup a shop and list designs, but you do need to pay for proofs of your designs before you can sell them.
This is super helpful, Mel! Thanks :)
You're very welcome!
Hi Mel, once you won the design did you have to do a sample purchase before they market your design? Or, it is automatic once you won they will publish it for sale without your purchasing a sample yardage. Thank you.
You can now digitally proof them and make them for sale immediately. Previously you had to get a swatch, but if you won a challenge (or in the top 10), it was automatically published for sale. Hope that answers your question. I noticed you sent me an email, but I thought if I answer here, others might like to see the answer too.
Such great info, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Jennifer!
Hi ! thanks for the great video❤ Did you put in a lot of work before selling the first piece?
Thanks for watching. Initially, I only had a few designs and only added to them when I could. Mostly my challenge wins were the catalyst for getting increased exposure on the site and sales.
Hi Mel! Thank you for this inspiring movie! Do you upload patterns with a dpi 150 (as Spoonflower advice) or with a 300 dpi
Thank you for watching! I mostly create with a dpi of 300. And either upload a 300 or 150. Spoonflower will just reduce it down to 150 if you upload a 300.
Thank you for the SF guidance. Question- how do you “set” the size for wallpaper?
Thanks for your comment Suzanne. After you upload, click on the Wallpaper tab and just check the sizing works for wallpaper. Spoonflower will adjust to a 24 inch repeat, or if you have a small repeat tile, it will scale to a 12 inch repeat, that repeats twice across the width of the wallpaper. It's important to just check that it works for your design. If it doesn't seem to look good, I'd upload another that is a 24 inch repeat and use that for just wallpaper. I got caught out in my early days with customers purchasing wallpaper for designs I'd neglected to check this and then had to adjust the file, so think it's an important thing to check.
Just found you on youtube. Great video thank you! I just entered my first challenge today but I made my tiling square from a 9" x 9" repeat. I thought it looked ok on the wallpaper mockup. Should I have scaled my repeat to 21" x 18" before making the tiling square? A little confused on this. Thanks
Thanks for watching Suzanne! I'm assuming you entered the 1920's Wallpaper challenge? For voting it will be displayed on a roll of wallpaper, so I would have checked that it looked good on the wallpaper mockup, which it sounds like you did. Another thing you could try for Wallpaper challenges or for Wallpaper in general is to create a repeat that's 12x12, which would result in 2 repeats across the roll or 24x24". I only use the 21" x 18" when they will be displaying it as a fat quarter size, which is the default for most challenges. I hope that all makes sense??
All the best, Mel
@@MelArmstrong Thank you so much for your reply and a quick one at that which is extra awesome! Yes that info helps a great deal, I will certaily keep that in mind when creating either for wallpaper or fabric fat quarter!. I looked at my submission again, and yes, I think fine and I think it repeats approx 4x across the roll.
Thank you so much for your valuable information! Didn’t know they specify the sizes in details! How about for fabric what’s the best repeat size? Since wallpaper is best to create for 12x12?
@@eleagraphy Hi there...Im still learning myself, so dont quote me, I've been busy with other projects so havent created a repeat for fabric in some time, but I believe I used 24x24in because a typical roll of fabric is 24 wide. Again, please research or reply to Mel directly, which maybe you intended :)
Hello, Do you prepare pattern 21x18 inches 300 dpi or 150 dpi as Spoonflower needs? Thank you Mel!
I create them at 300dpi and Spoonflower converts them down to 150. I do this in case I want to use it for other projects or license the design.
@@MelArmstrong When you upload pattern - Spoonflower convert automatically to 150 dpi, right? When I upload 300 dpi, Spoonflower has 42in x 36in, 150 pixels/inch, Basic
@@webvillastudio yes that is correct! 😊
@@MelArmstrong When I upload 300 dpi 21x18inches = Spoonflower has 42in x 36in, 150 pixels/inch, Basic
You can then scale it down to 21x18 to fit. I only really do this for challenges. 😊
I was wondering why Spoonflower asks to set up tax form before it allows to sell on their platform. US tax by the looks of it. Anyone understands how that works?
Yes, you need to complete the tax form. I do this for any online Print on Demand store I sell through. It's best to chat to your accountant to get a full understanding of it all as it varies from country to country.
what a beautiful voice :)
❤
Thanks for the video, but Spoonflower paying artists only 10% commission is really low.
Thanks for watching! I'm interested to know why you think 10% commission is really low?
@@MelArmstrong Hi Mel, thanks for responding to my comment. Firstly it's time consuming to come up with and create great patterns, which subsequently facilitate the sales of Spoonflower's products. Secondly, on top of the low commision, they make you buy samples of your designs before you can sell them hence, making more money. Other platforms offer at least 20% and Patternbank which isn't Print on Demand, but only sell pattern designs, offer 50% commision!
Your patterns are really beautiful and I think you'll do well on Patternbank. It's not easy getting accepted but you'll have no problem being accepted. I'm still polishing up my skills before I'll apply but thanks so much for your helpful tutorials-I've subbed.
Unfortunate very difficult to hear what Mel says because of the background music.
Yes music too loud 😢
It’s a shame no one has come up with a way to read the words on the screen.. someone should really invent something like that 😂