Episode 12 - Worth It or Not: Weighing the Time and Cost of Your Design Hacks

You’ve got this great idea to redesign a pattern. It’s clever. It’s going to look amazing. But halfway through—you're buried in fabric, trims, and hardware, spending way more time than expected, and wondering if it's really worth all the extra effort...

If you're like me, you start looking through fashion designs, pet gear, even old coats in your closet—and you see all sorts of cool hardware, pockets, zippers, details you just have to try. Designing dog wear can pull you in like that...

Hey, I’m Jill from Thank Dog We Made It. If you're here, chances are you’ve got more dog wear ideas than you know what to do with. Whether you're still sewing for your own pup or starting to dream about selling your work, you're in the right place...

And today, we’re getting into one of the biggest questions behind any successful design: is this worth it? Not just in time. But in effort, in clarity, and in whether the result makes sense for you—or for the people (and dogs) you're designing for.

Every added design detail feels small in the moment. But they add up...

One of the coats that really drove this home for me was the Cottage Comforts coat...

So, let’s go over what I changed—and what it cost me.

I swapped the belly Velcro for a covered zipper down the back. It felt more polished, but I didn’t have the zipper on hand, so I had to order it. The cost wasn’t huge—actually a little less than Velcro—but it added time and frustration, especially when I had to rip it out and realign it so the coat would lay flat.

Then I added a harness hookup feature—two D-rings and a clip to keep the zipper usable. It looked great. But it added cost, and a whole bunch of extra sewing steps.

I switched out the neck Velcro for elastic. That change was more of a lateral move—it didn’t save time, but it didn’t add too much either. Just a different construction.

And finally, I lined it with faux sheepskin. Which looked amazing. And felt awful to sew. Thick, fussy, way more expensive than basic fleece, and it turned a quick project into something that needed full concentration and patience.

I love how the coat turned out. It’s special. But if I were selling that design off the rack, I’d have to charge a lot more than my usual—and not every customer would be willing to pay that. If I turned it into a pattern, I’d have to make sure the instructions were crystal clear, or I’d be setting people up to get stuck.

And here’s the thing—it's not just about materials or dollars. Time matters. Frustration matters...

Whether you're making something for your dog or turning it into a sellable product or pattern, the time you spend matters. The stress you go through matters.

If you're selling the finished coat, you have to ask: will people actually pay more for what I’m putting in?

If you're creating a pattern, ask: will the person sewing this understand what I’ve written? Or are they going to hit a wall and give up?

That doesn't mean don’t do the fun stuff. It just means think it through.

Sometimes, the answer is still yes—add the hardware, the lining, the extras. Just be honest with yourself about what it’s going to take to finish it and who it’s for.

Here’s how I approach it now. Before I dive in, I ask myself:

• Do I already own this material, or will I have to go find it?
• Will this detail add to the time and effort it takes to sew?
• If I’m selling the finished product, will the price make sense?
• If I’m turning this into a pattern, will the maker understand the steps—or get frustrated and bail?
• Will this design feature hinder the dog in any way?

That last one is so important. A coat needs to move with the dog, not restrict them. I’m not here to teach people how to make stiff, fussy garments that look cute but make dogs miserable. Function has to come first—always.

So yes—add the cool details. Elevate the design. But always, always ask: will this still work for the dog?

So, is your hack worth it? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. The trick is asking the right questions before you’re knee-deep in specialty fleece and hardware.

And if you want help thinking through your next hack, download the Hack Pack. It’s a free guide that’ll walk you through your ideas before you even cut your fabric.

And just so you know, if you’re starting to see yourself as a designer—not just a maker—there’s a course coming that’ll help you bring those designs to life in a real, repeatable way. But for now, start with the Hack Pack. It’s a solid first step.

I believe in you. Whether you’re modifying your first coat or building your own pattern collection, you can become the dog wear designer you’ve imagined. One honest question—or one smart hack—at a time. Talk soon!