Pattern Commission Advice

[glacidea.livejournal.com]

Guttentag, first time poster here. I was asked today for a commission I never have been asked for before. Now I am no stranger to commissioning and have been taking them for a few years now. I've had my fair share of screw-ups and becoming overloaded, making all the usual commissioning mistakes, but I've gotten into a good tempo now. Recently, I've been making and selling patterns, just to try something new. I made a MLP one and a dino and such. I just do it as a side hobby to bring in some extra money every now and then.

I received an email today asking to commission a pattern from me. I had never thought of taking pattern commissions before and so I am baffled as to what to do. I was thinking cost for how many pieces it would be, extra cost if I am unable to sell it normally, there should be something about commercial use, etc etc. I've never done anything like this before, so I would greatly appreciate advice and tips, plus pricing information and such.

I make plush, which is obvious from the above paragraph (examples here: loneplushieinfo.webs.com/ so you can judge based on my skill for like...pricing). My commission prices are usually in the 150 to 300 range and obviously a pattern won't be NEAR that much. So yes, just all advice and everything will be GREATLY appreciated <3

Comments

[eveshka.livejournal.com]

The risk with a pattern is that the person could use it to make things to sell and undercut you. If it is a pattern for the plushies that you make... my answer would be to tell them no.

If it is not, then some things need to be considered.

A pattern doesn't just draft and magic itself into the object. You have to draft, test, re-draft and actually make the item each step to be certain the pattern works. If the buyer is not willing to pay you for the materials and time involved in ensuring that the pattern is a viable working pattern... then I'd personally walk away.

It is easier when you are talking to a customer about a simple sloper type pattern for a skirt or a pair of pants. But a complex 3D object that requires testing isn't something that one generally just spits a pattern out with a pattern software system. (And depending on what the person expects... this could well turn into a nightmare.)

[glacidea.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the advice! This is true. It's pretty much a plush commission with the addition of getting the pattern and making a pattern understandable for others other than the artist can be the most challenging in and of itself.

Thanks for the pointers. I'm going to def use them when drafting up terms and if it doesn't seem to be working out, I'll just tell them outright no.