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

[notorious_hunty.livejournal.com]

Agreed with the poster above. I have a friend who makes plushies, and in her TOS she does NOT make pattern commissions for people because of the risk of selling it and ripping it off of you.

>_> And then you have to worry about the commissioner's skill, how complicated the pattern is/will be. If the commissioner isn't satisfied, it could be hell.

I would personally decline it.

[glacidea.livejournal.com]

That's true, there's a HUGE risk of being ripped off. I don't mind if it's one I've made to resell, since that's usually basic and if I'm ripped off, oh well, not losing much, there's just SO MUCH involved in pattern commissioning that it really doesn't sound worth it to me. Plus if the commissioner can't follow it, that's a whole other shtick.

Thanks for the advice!