Where is Fabric going from here? I have questions...

[LauraLee]

So, I've searched the forum for my first question:  How to get to put fabric cover images in to muster up some sales?

This was asked before in the forums, yet not really answered, imho.  So in my research in the MP, there are some who have "gained the privilege"(?) to add their cover images to fabric.  Which is somewhat weird, in that it's not very much, but some can do multiple cover images on one design, others have only done one cover image.  Hence why I think it's weird.  Why are so few able to add cover images? 

Anyway, I dig back in the forums for "fabric" to find other questions, and find some not being able to even design on fabric.  ?? ...Okay.  Are we not able to design new ones?  I could try, but look, I'm lost as to where is Fabric going in the future? 

I'm just not sure if I  feel like I should create more designs if sales depend on one giant display, causing it to have no "situational" value.  Most of my sales came from 2020 & 2022, and only one in 2024.  And, I'm on the fence with letting designs going hidden or to needs optimization with no chance to change the cover image.  What are others thinking and doing?  Is it losing some value based on no cover image?  Given that the majority of my store has cover images.

[LauraLee]

Oh, and on another topic about Fabric... What the heck is a "Sewing Pattern"?   I find this under here under my Department Categories = Craft & Party Supplies>Craft Supplies>Fabric & Crafting>Sewing Patterns   And, when I try to Create Product and do a search for sewing patterns, it's just the Fabric that appears.  How confusing. 

[Malissa]

The only part I can answer is about the sewing patterns.  You can design a yard of fabric with shapes ready to cut out so that you have a complete sewing project on the yard.  Like a doll or teddy bear or something.  It was popular in the 90's and you could get that sort of thing all over, but I am not sure how they do nowadays.  This is what I found here on Z, but the ones I used in the past were more involved because they used the full yard and not a fat quarter, which looks like the best option choice here. https://www.zazzle.com/s/cut+and+sew+plushie?q=cut%20and%20sew%20plushie&sgsc=cut%3Aand%3Asew%3Aplus...

[LauraLee]

Ahh!  Thanks Malissa!  That's a really cool idea. My grandmother used to sew all the time, and I always admired her talent with it.  They taught us how to sew in Girl Scouts, but I was such a tomboy, I really didn't want to learn too much about it at the time.  She loved making that kind of stuff for us as kids back in the 80's.  Now this is drawing me in to it.  😊  

[Jadendreamer13]

Have you tried creating fabric patterns and posting them on Society6? I believe that more customers shop for fabric there than they do on Zazzle. I don’t know how you could compare the statistics, but I’m sure there is a way.

[Connie]

I put my fabric patterns on Spoonflower. It is much more intuitive than Zazzle's old-fashioned fabric design tool. and I don't want to compete with my Spoonflower store.

[KeegansCreation]

I take this as good news. There was a lag between when a few designers got to add cover photos in general and when everybody did. The Cover Photos For All announcement is still in the depths of Creator News. I can't remember how much of a gap there was between the few and everybody. 

In any case, I take this to mean that in the future, that feature will be opened up to all just as it was with cover photos in general. 

[Badeesie]

@Jadendreamer13  Do you mean Spoonflower? I don't remember there being fabric yardage on Society6.

[Jadendreamer13]

Yep. Brain fart. 🙂

[PrintablePretty · Accepted solution]

You can add a custom cover photo to fabric from your store backend. Click on the "Actions" drop down for the product and choose "Manage Media". It isn't directly on the fabric product page like we do our other media but on the back end of the store page. I sent a message via email and Mark told me how to do it. Apparently we always could since cover images became available and just nobody knew lol. Happy fabric-ing 🙂  

[KeegansCreation]

Wow! Thanks for the top tip. 😍 I never noticed that Manage Media action before but now you pointed it out I can start adding cover photos too. 

[LauraLee]

Thank You!! sew very much!!  😁  Having this knowledge is absolutely wonderful, and I'm going to make it my top priority - tomorrow.  😊