I mostly create my own patterns, but would love to see where others find their patterns! I’m looking for patterns that can be used by a small business, not “for personal use only !”
You are probably going to have more luck contacting someone with patterns for sale and working out a licensing arrangement. Having said that, Delilah Noir is the same size as a Minifee. So are Tonner's Bella Swan and Ellowyn Wilde. You may find more patterns for them that don't specify "personal use only."
I always make my own. Since you have the skills to do so, that is probably the easiest and most efficient way to go about it. If you don't want to spend the time making production ready patterns yourself, you may want to consider hiring someone to do it for you. I'm sure there are plenty of freelance pattern makers out there. If you intend to make money off someone else's work, it's usually good practice to make sure you have permission (written) and to compensate them in some way. Even if a pattern maker doesn't specify how their pattern may be used, it's a good idea to reach out and ask them. And if no reply comes, it's probably safe to assume that standard permissions are what is implied (meaning personal use only, for sewing patterns). And ask about their stance on adapting their pattern for production. In any case, if you intend to make any kind of profit, you will want your patterns to be optimized for you. You do need a production pattern, not an ordinary "sewing pattern". Your machine and the materials you use will dictate things like seam- hem- and fold-allowances, for one thing and those things need to be added into the pattern itself to save time when making multiple things from the same fabric. For any business, but especially for a small one where profit margins tend to be slim and costs proportionally high, it's all about avoiding waste. The work flow needs to be designed into the garment and optimized for your tools and work space. Any amount of wasted time, materials or effort is too much, in a field where it's already near (but not quite) impossible to get a decent hourly wage. It's a fine balance to make things that people may actually want, at a prize they actually are willing to pay. But it's always better to make up for it by cleaver design, efficient work methods, and keeping your priorities straight, rather than trying to piggyback off someone else's good will.
Absolutely! If I do ever use a pattern I make sure to contact the pattern maker and specifically ask if it’s ok to use for a commission for my customer. Sometimes I’ll need a pattern for just one piece (perhaps a jacket) and I’m a bit pinched on time to make it lol. I agree though and always ask permission first
My Little Doll Story on Etsy has some nice patterns that can be used for sale (just don't try to re-sell the pattern as your own). Their instructions are VERY easy to follow, even for someone like me who somehow messes up on simple things. When I was at BJDC last year, one of the artists had lots of clothes made using their patterns!