Your extra income at home: sewing bed linen

If you have the skills and experience to sew, then why not start your own bedding business? This business is relevant and in demand, as everyone needs comfort and coziness in their bedroom, and high-quality bed linen creates just such an atmosphere.

Starting your bedding business can be a great idea, especially if you already have experience with fabrics and sewing equipment. First, you need to study the market and determine your niche. It could be eco-friendly lingerie, unique designs, custom tailoring, or other factors that will make your product stand out in the market.

Registration of a home bedding business

For this type of earnings, it is enough to apply for the status of self-employed. Self-employed people can pay tax at two rates: 4% when paying from an individual and 6% when paying from a legal entity or an individual entrepreneur. These rates will remain unchanged until the end of 2028.

The self-employed have the opportunity not to limit themselves only to their business and can work for other employers or be on the staff of companies where they will pay personal income tax on their salaries.

That is, you can run a small business and work at your main job at the same time. However, you are not allowed to have your current employer as a client, and even if you quit, this prohibition will be in place for two years.

Room for sewing bed linen at home

One room in your house or apartment can be used as your workshop. The room should be spacious and equipped with all the necessary equipment and tools for sewing and working with fabric. It is also necessary to provide sufficient lighting for comfortable work.

The room should also have enough space to store fabrics, threads, accessories and finished products. It is recommended to install shelves or cabinets to store materials and finished products.

Bed linen manufacturing technology

Prepare materials and tools. Lay out the fabrics on the work surface, prepare threads, needles, pins, scissors, metric tape and other necessary tools.
Create patterns. Use metric tape and a pencil to create patterns on paper for each piece of bedding.
Cut out the fabric. Attach the patterns to the fabric and cut out each piece with scissors.
Connect the pieces. Connect the bedding pieces with a sewing machine using the appropriate threads and stitches. Start with simple pieces like pillowcases or sheets and work your way up to more complex ones like duvet covers or capes.
Finish the seams. Trim excess fabrics and finish seams using an overlock machine to keep the garment neat and durable.
Sew on the hardware. Sew ribbons, elastic braids, and other accessories that are needed to finish and decorate finished products.
Iron the finished product. Once the bedding is ready, iron it with an iron and ironing board to keep it looking neat and ready to use.
 

This is the basic technology of sewing bed linen at home. Depending on the type of bedding and its complexity, the technology may vary. It is important to monitor the accuracy of the patterns, the neatness of the seams and the finish in order to get high-quality and durable bedding.

Necessary equipment for sewing bed linen at home
To sew bedding at home, you need equipment that will help you cope with various tasks and make the process more convenient and efficient. Below is a list of required equipment:

The sewing machine is the main equipment for sewing bed linen. A good sewing machine should have several types of stitches, adjustable speeds, the ability to use different needle sizes, and have an instruction manual. It is better to choose a machine with an automatic thread tensioning system and automatic thread cutting – 300 dollars.
Scissors – essential for cutting fabrics and other materials such as ribbons and elastic webbing. It is better to choose high-quality and sharp fabric scissors that cut easily and do not damage the fabric – 5 dollars.
Metric tape - used to measure the size of fabrics and create patterns - 1.50$
Needles and pins are necessary to fix the fabric before sewing. It is better to choose needles with thin points so as not to damage the fabric, and pins with large heads to make them easier to notice and remove - 5 dollars.
Overlock Machine - Used to finish seams and prevent them from unraveling. The overlock machine can also be used to create elastic seams and to process the edges of fabrics – 200 dollars.
Iron and ironing board - used to iron bed linen after sewing is finished. The iron should have different temperature modes for different types of fabrics - 50 dollars.
Cutting knife - will help you quickly and accurately cut patterns from fabric - 10 dollars.
Marker or pencil - used to draw patterns on fabric and mark places for seams and fastening accessories - 2 dollars.

Types of bed linen

Family kit. Family bedding sets include pillowcases, sheets and duvet covers for a double bed, their dimensions are usually 200x220 cm for a duvet cover, 220x240 cm for a sheet and two pillowcases of 50x70 cm.
Double set. Double sets consist of pillowcases, a sheet and a duvet cover, their sizes can vary depending on the bed. For example, for a bed measuring 160x200 cm, the dimensions of the set can be 175x220 cm for a duvet cover, 180x220 cm for a sheet and two pillowcases of 50x70 cm.
One-and-a-half set. For example, for such a bed, the dimensions of the set can be 150x220 cm for a duvet cover, 160x220 cm for a sheet and one pillowcase measuring 50x70 cm.
Single set. Single sets include one pillowcase, a sheet and a duvet cover, their sizes can vary depending on the bed. For example, for a bed measuring 90x200 cm, the dimensions of the set can be 140x200 cm for a duvet cover, 150x220 cm for a sheet and one pillowcase measuring 50x70 cm.
Children's set. Children's bedding sets can be different in design and size, depending on the age of the child and the size of his bed. They usually include one pillowcase, a sheet, and a duvet cover. Dimensions for a bed measuring 70x140 cm can be, for example, 110x140 cm for a duvet cover, 120x200 cm for a sheet and one pillowcase measuring 50x70 cm.
 

There are many bedding materials that can be used when sewing at home.

Cotton: This is perhaps the most common bedding material. Cotton sheets and pillowcases are soft to the touch, breathable, absorb moisture well and are easy to wash. The price of cotton bedding can vary depending on the quality of the fabric. On average, 2 dollars per sq. m.
Linen: Linen bedding is also very popular. It is made of natural linen, which is resistant to wear and tear and has a pleasant texture to the touch. Linen softens with each rub and becomes even softer over time. Linen linen can be more expensive than cotton. On average, 1 sq. m. - 11 dollars for 100% linen, you can use semi-linen (30% linen, 70% cotton - 4 dollars.)
Satin: Satin bedding has a smooth, shiny surface that feels good to the touch. It is usually made of cotton or silk, which makes it quite expensive to produce. Satin linen is also more delicate and requires careful washing - 3 dollars per 1 sq. m.
Microfiber: Microfiber bedding is made from a very thin and light synthetic fabric. It is soft to the touch and dries quickly. It is cheaper to produce than traditional natural fabrics, but it can be less durable and wear-resistant – 1 dollar per 1 sq. m.
Silk: Silk bedding is very soft, smooth and shiny. It also absorbs moisture well and has natural antibacterial properties. Silk is one of the most expensive materials for bed linen – 60 dollars per sq. m.

Approximate calculations of the amount of fabric for sewing different bedding sets

To calculate the amount of fabric for each type of bedding, it is necessary to take into account the dimensions of the sets and the width of the fabric, which is usually 150-160 cm.

1. Family Kit:

Duvet cover 200x220 cm - about 4 meters of fabric.
Sheet 220x240 cm - about 4.8 meters of fabric.
2 pillowcases 50x70 cm - about 1 meter of fabric.
 

In total, about 9.8 meters of fabric are needed for a family set.

2. Double set (for a bed 160x200 cm):

Duvet cover 175x220 cm - about 3.6 meters of fabric.
Sheet 180x220 cm - about 3.7 meters of fabric.
2 pillowcases 50x70 cm - about 1 meter of fabric.
 

In total, about 8.3 meters of fabric are needed for a double set.

3. One and a half set (for a bed 120x200 cm):

Duvet cover 150x220 cm - about 3 meters of fabric.
Sheet 160x220 cm - about 3.2 meters of fabric.
1 pillowcase of 50x70 cm - about 0.5 meters of fabric.
 

In total, about 6.7 meters of fabric are needed for a one-and-a-half set.

4. Single set (for a bed 90x200 cm):

Duvet cover 140x200 cm - about 2.9 meters of fabric.
A sheet 150x220 cm - about 3 meters of fabric.
1 pillowcase of 50x70 cm - about 0.5 meters of fabric.
 

In total, about 6.4 meters of fabric are needed for a single set.

5. Children's set (for a bed 70x140 cm):

Duvet cover 110x140 cm - about 2.3 meters of fabric.
Sheet 120x200 cm - about 2.5 meters of fabric.
1 pillowcase of 50x70 cm - about 0.5 meters of fabric.
 

In total, about 5.3 meters of fabric are needed for the children's set.

The amount of thread to be sewn depends on the type of fabric and the seam chosen. In general, you will need about 200-300 meters of thread to sew bed linen from cotton fabric. If a thinner or denser fabric is chosen, then the number of threads may be slightly more or less. In addition, if you use different thread colors for decorative elements, then the number of threads may increase depending on the design.

The packaging of bedding for sale should be neat and aesthetically pleasing to attract customers.

There are several types of bedding packaging that can be used when selling:

Plastic bag: the simplest and most affordable option. Bed linen is folded into a bag, which is then closed with adhesive tape or a plastic fastener. This packaging option is convenient for storage and transportation - 15 cents per piece.
Box: Bedding is folded into a box, which is then closed and sealed. This packaging option is more presentable and protects the linen from damage during transportation. It is advisable to glue your logo on the box. If you don't have a printer, you can use the services of a printing house. On average, the cost of one sticker with your logo is 15 centss, the cost of a box is 30 cents.
Bag: Bed linen folds into a textile or plastic bag with a zipper. This packaging option is convenient for storage and transportation, as it is easy to carry by the handle - 1 dollars.
Booklet bag: This is a type of bedding packaging that is a rectangular bag that folds in half like a book. This type of packaging is most common for bedding sets and is usually used for retail sale – 60 cents.

When choosing the type of packaging, it is necessary to take into account the requirements and needs of buyers, as well as the conditions of transportation and storage of bed linen.

Where to Sell Home-Made Bedding

Online stores: creating your own online store or selling through platforms . 
Retail stores: Finding stores that are interested in selling your product and providing them with their products.
Marketplaces: Selling on local or online marketplaces can be a great way to grow your customer base. These can be weekend fairs where you don't have to pay for a trading space.To promote your products, you can use social media advertising, CEO optimization, email, and other marketing channels. It is also important to make sure that your bedding stands out from the competition, has an attractive design and quality of materials. You can try to find freelancers on online exchanges who can help you with promotion for a small fee - 20 dollars. 

Pitfalls and possible risks

Non-compliance with quality standards. If you don't follow certain quality standards when producing bedding, it can lead to product quality issues and customer dissatisfaction.
Wrong choice of materials. The use of low-quality materials can lead to poor performance and rapid wear of products, which can negatively affect your reputation as a manufacturer.
Competition in the market. The bedding market is quite competitive, so it is important to develop a unique design and quality to attract customers.
Limited production. Home-based manufacturing can have limitations on the volume of products produced, which can make it difficult to scale the business.

Inference
Producing home-based linens for sale can be an attractive additional source of income, but it can also have its risks and limitations.

To minimize risks and increase the success of your business, it is important to consider quality standards, choose high-quality materials, develop unique designs and marketing strategies.

It is also important to remember that producing bedding at home takes time and effort, especially during the stages of starting a business and promoting products in the market. You need to be able to properly manage your time, manage your finances, and know the basics of marketing.

In addition, it is important to have tailoring skills and know how to choose quality materials and equipment for production. If you do not have sufficient experience in the production of textiles, then additional training or contact specialists in this field may be required.

Overall, making bedding at home can be an interesting and lucrative business, but it requires a fair amount of time, labor, and training.