Is Your Hack Worth It? How to Weigh the Time, Cost, and Effort of Your Dog Wear Design Decisions

Jill Bartlett Author

Jun 14, 2025 |

Learn how to assess whether your dog wear design hacks are worth the time, cost, and complexity—especially if you're selling or sharing your patterns.

Prefer to soak things in while walking the dog or sewing your next project?

This post is based on Episode 14 of the Thank Dog We Made It podcast, where I talk through how to decide if your clever hack is really worth it—in time, in materials, and in effort.

🎧 Listen to the episode + view show notes here

Not every design detail is worth the stress—here’s how to tell when to go all in, and when to simplify.

You’ve got this brilliant idea for a design tweak. Maybe it’s a new zipper placement, a harness opening, or a cozy lining that makes your coat feel extra luxe. But halfway through sewing, you’re surrounded by fabric scraps and specialty hardware, and you can’t help but wonder—was this worth it?

Whether you’re sewing for fun or thinking about selling your finished coats (or even your patterns), this question will come up again and again: Is this hack worth the time, cost, and effort I’m putting in?

Let’s talk about how to make that decision with more clarity and confidence—before you’re knee-deep in faux sheepskin and frustration.

The Allure of a Good Hack

Designing dog wear can be creatively addictive. A new piece of hardware or an inspiring coat you saw on Pinterest can quickly spark a dozen new ideas. And while there’s nothing wrong with dreaming big, every design change adds complexity.

Just because a feature looks amazing doesn’t mean it’s worth doing—this time. That’s where a little strategy can save you serious time and money.

Real Example: The Cottage Comforts Coat

Take the Cottage Comforts coat I made. It started as a simple hack on my Cozy Coat pattern, but I wanted to elevate the design—something warmer, more nostalgic, inspired by my late mother’s old coat.

The changes I made:

• A covered zipper instead of Velcro at the belly—sleeker, but required ordering parts and precise alignment.

• A harness hook-up on the back with D-rings and a clip—functional, but more expensive and time-consuming.

• Elastic at the neck instead of Velcro—similar cost, but altered the finishing steps.

• A faux sheepskin lining—looked incredible, but was difficult to sew and significantly more expensive than fleece.

The final product? Gorgeous. But it took way more time than expected, and if I were selling that coat, I’d have to price it well above average just to break even.

What Every Designer Needs to Ask

Before you dive into your next pattern hack or design upgrade, pause and consider:

• Do I already have the materials, or will I need to order specialty items?

• How much time will this detail add?

• Is the learning curve worth it for this particular project?

• If I’m selling this coat, will my customer see enough value to pay more?

• If I’m selling the pattern, will the maker understand the instructions or feel overwhelmed?

• Most importantly—will this feature affect the dog’s comfort or movement?

If it adds too much weight, restricts movement, or is more “fashion than function,” it might not be the best fit for your design—literally.

It’s OK to Go All In—Just Know Why

You don’t need to avoid complex features. Sometimes a “whole nine yards” design is exactly what the project calls for. But you need to be honest about whether the result will justify the effort.

Are you doing it to push your skills? Great.
Is it a personal gift or a keepsake? Go for it.
Trying to hit a price point for markets or shops? Time to edit.

Use the Hack Pack to Plan Smarter

If you want help thinking through your next big idea, the Hack Pack is a free tool I made just for this. It helps you map out your design, materials, and construction time before you start sewing. It’s the same process I use when planning new designs or teaching others to do the same.

🎁 Download the Hack Pack here

Final Thoughts

Your ideas deserve to be explored—but they also deserve thoughtful planning. The more you consider the cost, time, and impact of each hack, the more confident (and consistent) your design work will become.

📌 Want more help turning your hacks into repeatable, sellable patterns?
Join the waitlist for my upcoming Hack Your Pattern Course here.

Categories: : Blog, Business, Pattern Making, Sewing