Whether you realize it or not, at one time or another you have likely been exposed to a plastic canvas Kleenex box cover. They can be found in millions of homes across the country. And, while those Kleenex box covers may never be big sellers on eBay, there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people around the world addicted to the plastic canvas craft.
And, these crafters aren’t making just tissue box covers. They are stitching away on purses, doll houses, refrigerator magnets, coasters, along with things you would never even think of. They spend a lot of money on patterns for their next creations and are constantly on the lookout for new patterns.
The most frequently seen patterns are four page leaflets although you will also find pattern booklets ranging from eight or ten to two dozen pages in size.
Used patterns can be found at garage sales, thrift stores, and book sales, often for $.10 or less per pattern. These patterns can be turned into nice profits on eBay if you know what to look for, how to buy them, and how to package them.
While a large majority of plastic canvas patterns have no real value on ebay, there are certain pattern subjects that always do well when offered individually.
Probably the Holy Grail of plastic canvas pattern items are the three-ring binders of monthly pattern packets that came from Annie’s Attic.
Annie’s International Plastic Canvas Club issued at least 350 pattern sheets in packets as a monthly subscription. Either one or two binders of these consisting of 250 or more pattern sheets can bring anywhere from $75 to $150.
Annie’s Fashion Doll Plastic Canvas Club patterns will do nearly as well. This series consisted of roughly 100 pattern sheets and it’s binder containing 80 or more sheets will regularly bring between $60 and $100.
Next on the hierarchy are Fashion Doll plastic canvas pattern books. These patterns are meant to go with dolls the size of Barbie and consist mostly of house/building and furnishing pattern booklets, most of which contain quite a few pages. Nearly any of these will bring at least $15 with many coming in between $30 and $80. Some higher priced examples are:
- Building Block Doll Houses by Margie Wicke from Pat Depke Books
- Fashion Doll House by Donna Kooler from American School Of Needlework
- Fashion Doll Paradise Cruise Ship from Annie’s Attic
- Fashion Doll Dream Castle from Needlecraft Shop
- Fashion Doll Dream Camper from Needlecraft Shop
- Fashion Doll Camper Accessories from Needlecraft Shop
- Fashion Doll Condo & Snowmobile
- Fashion Doll Country Cabin from Annie’s Attic
- Fashion Doll Camper from Needlecraft Shop
Just one step down the price ladder are a wide variety of patterns booklets for furniture and accessories to go with the house/building patterns from above. Many of these will bring from $10 to $50 per booklet.
Other patterns that usually do well individually are the National Football League and American Football League patterns published by Nomis and anything related to any major Holiday that contains patterns for several related items such as gingerbread villages, nativity scenes, Halloween villages or graveyards, etc.
Other, more common, plastic canvas patterns can also be profitable when sold in lots of 20 or more.
To do well, smaller size lots must be made up of patterns all focused on one small theme such as Christmas stockings, doll house furniture, tote bags, etc. that is a little different than the normal coaster, magnet, etc. themes usually found.
Larger sized lots can consist of patterns for a variety of different things and should consist of at least 80 and preferably 100 or more patterns. Just buy them when you find them and keep them until you have enough to make up a good sized lot.
For the best results you will need to list each pattern in the lot including the publisher’s name, pattern number if shown on the cover, and the name of the pattern. This can take a little time with a large sized lot, but doing so will usually double or triple what the lot will sell for.
Over the years there have also been several magazine published for the plastic canvas enthusiast. Lots made up of 20 to 30 of these will usually bring $2 to $3 per magazine, sometimes a little more if the lot is made up entirely of one title.
There have also been a few hardcover pattern books published. A lot of four or five or more of these can easily bring $5 to $6 per book.
As long as you don’t pay more than $.10 each for the patterns you will be putting into lots, you should come out with a nice profit for the money you have into them.
Photograph by Mountainside Crochet.
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