Guest Post: How to Patchwork Quilt - Patchwork Making For Pleasure

Introduction:

Patchwork Quilting is an enjoyable and rewarding hobby. Once you have learned the art of patchwork quilting you will be able to create your own patterns and designs making great pieces of useful and practical artwork that you will always treasure.

Many people would much prefer receiving a handmade quilt rather than a commercially mass produced product made by a patchwork quilting machine.

Patchwork has always been a hugely popular craft and more and more people are learning the art of patchwork quilting.

What Is Patchwork Quilting?
The definition from a dictionary for patchwork quilting is 'a quilt made by sewing patches of different materials together'. There are three layers of fabric and these three layers are stitched together to make the patchwork quilt. Almost every world culture has, in some way or another helped to develop today's art of quilting.

Make Beautiful Crafts & Gifts for Friends & Family
Patchwork quilting is an easy and fun way to make beautiful gifts for your friends and family members.

Of course it isn't just patchwork quilts that can be made. For example, just by reducing the size of your work or by changing the shape of the patchwork quilt your design can be used as a potholder, table runner, wall hanging, or even a quilt for a baby.

Quilts are a special way of keeping warm on cold nights and great for all members of the family to use. Quilts make wonderful gifts and are a great reminder of many happy memories as they will be treasured for many years and passed down from generation to generation.

A Fun & Rewarding Craft
Patchwork Quilting is a fun and rewarding craft.

On learning the patchwork quilting art you will easily be able to create your own patterns and designs.

One of the great things about patchwork quilting is that it becomes a great way of using leftover fabric from clothes or other projects.

Patchwork quilting is also a great way of creating something that can help to make money at charity shows and stalls.

Quilting is easy to learn and great to do with friends and family members. For example, making a patchwork quilt provides you with a rewarding time to spend with children and it will give them something to treasure for years to come. It is also great at giving children something to be proud of let alone a valuable pastime for them which can also help to keep children occupied for hours on end!

Designs

The designs and the techniques of quilt making have been traditionally passed down from one generation to another or from friend to a friend or a teacher to a student. Four Patch Quilt Blocks are generally one of the most commonly used designs in creating patchwork quilts.

As time goes on we begin to see more of a personal style developing in each person's patchwork quilting which assists in making quilting even more of an art form.

Get Into Quilting
Sometime in the mid 1960s quilt revival was started and this has continued to the present day. You too can be a part of this ever popular past time. It' growing popularity means that patchwork quilting continues to fill homes across the globe and more and more people are finding their way into this enjoyable craft.

8 Tips for Building Your Business Support Network

Whether you are just branching out or gearing up for your umpteenth year in business, it never hurts to have a supportive network around you. Owning a business can not only be stressful but lonely. Not every family member or friend will understand or emphasize with your entrepreneurial journey. The key is to surround yourself with like-minded individuals who can offer advice, share opportunities and listen to your big ideas. Go beyond your typical inner circle and broaden your network of support.

Consider the following strategies in either engaging with people you hope to connect with or need to re-engage to strengthen the support around you as well as to look for new business opportunities.

1. Alumni: Reconnect with college and/or high school staff and classmates by letting them what you are doing now and what you have accomplished or plan to accomplish in your business. There might be opportunities to collaborate with university or community college by speaking at the school, hiring seasonal workers or bidding on a project.

If you have children or are engaged in your local community, this strategy applies to reaching out to the parents and teachers association (PTA) or a similar group within the school.

2. Chamber of Commerce: Join a local or state chapter and meet and support business leaders. Becoming an active member can expose you to other industries, opportunities and like-minded contacts.

3. SCORE: Supported by the SBA, SCORE is a nonprofit that helps entrepreneurs launch and grow their business. There are SCORE locations throughout the U.S. Between workshops and mentorship business owners can access professional support year-round.

4. Faith-based community: Your spiritual relationship with the members at your place of worship can have a positive effect on your personal life and business goals. Lean on faith-based organizations and activities that promote a healthy, productive lifestyle.

5. Extracurricular groups: It’s easy to forget that we form bonds with people we meet through leisure activities like sports leagues, volunteer and travel groups. When not working on or in your business, it’s essential to have a release.

6. Former co-workers: If you’ve shared ideas or worked well with previous coworkers and staff, re-engage them to share your current business venture. Their skillset might be useful in your next idea or they can provide insight or contacts that you may have not consider.

7. Professional organizations or conferences: Depending on the nature of your work and business, there might be an established network of professionals who meet annually. Conferences and professional groups are instant support systems because they bring together small and large crowds of people who are similar. You can get a lot of inspiration and information by not only attending events but potentially sponsoring or speaking at one.

8. Online groups via forums, private Facebook groups or Slack communities: Thanks to the internet and social networking, interfacing with other business owners across the world is reality. Building connections that go beyond day-to-day business matters, can provide new ideas and a different perspective.

How to Make Your Business Plan Stand Out

One of the first steps to business planning is determining your target market and why they would want to buy from you.

For example, is the market you serve the best one for your product or service? Are the benefits of dealing with your business clear and are they aligned with customer needs? If you're unsure about the answers to any of these questions, take a step back and revisit the foundation of your business plan.

The following tips can help you clarify what your business has to offer, identify the right target market for it and build a niche for yourself.

Be Clear About What You Have to Offer

Ask yourself: Beyond basic products or services, what are you really selling? Consider this example: Your town probably has several restaurants all selling one fundamental product—food. But each is targeted at a different need or clientele.

One might be a drive-thru fast food restaurant, perhaps another sells pizza in a rustic Italian kitchen, and maybe there’s a fine dining seafood restaurant that specializes in wood-grilled fare. All these restaurants sell meals, but they sell them to targeted clientele looking for the unique qualities each has to offer. What they are really selling is a combination of product, value, ambience and brand experience.

When starting a business, be sure to understand what makes your business unique. What needs does your product or service fulfill? What benefits and differentiators will help your business stand out from the crowd?

Don’t Become a Jack of All Trades-Learn to Strategize

It’s important to clearly define what you’re selling. You do not want to become a jack-of-all trades and master of none because this can have a negative impact on business growth. As a smaller business, it's often a better strategy to divide your products or services into manageable market niches. Small operations can then offer specialized goods and services that are attractive to a specific group of prospective buyers.

Identify Your Niche

Creating a niche for your business is essential to success. Often, business owners can identify a niche based on their own market knowledge, but it can also be helpful to conduct a market survey with potential customers to uncover untapped needs. During your research process, identify the following:

Which areas your competitors are already well-established
Which areas are being ignored by your competitors
Potential opportunities for your business