Sewing & Fashion Making Insurance
Specialist cover for sewers, tailoring, needleworkers and other textile work from £3.71 a month*.
- Public Liability up to £5m
- Join over 150,000 customers**
- Flexible Payment Plans – 0% APR
From £3.71* a month
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What does needlework, sewing & fashion making insurance cover?
Our sewing and needlework business insurance offers essential liability protection suited to businesses selling handmade sewn and embroidered items online or at craft markets. We provide affordable policies that you can adapt based on your sewing business size and requirements.
This insurance is tailored specifically to sewing and needlework businesses, addressing unique risks involved in creating and selling sewn products.
Make sure you have the correct insurance for your activities and be sure to check if any exclusions are relevant to what you have planned in policy documentation.
Public Liability
Product Liability
Equipment
Stock
Employers' Liability
Public Liability
- Up to £5 million available.
- Protection from claims by a third-party (EG member of the public) who sustains injuries or has their property damaged as a result of your actions.
Product Liability
- Up to £5 million available.
- Protection should you receive any claims arising from any products and goods supplied by you to other parties, who may then sustain an injury or damage to their own property.
EquipmentÂ
- Up to £250 covered as standard
- Increase up to £10,000 worth of cover
- If your craft tools are lost, damaged or stolen, your equipment can be covered up to the value you select.
Stock Cover
- Up to £250 covered as standard
- Increase up to £3000 worth of cover
- If your stock is lost, damaged or stolen, it can be covered up to the value you select.
Employers’ Liability
- Up to £10 million available.
- Protection from claims against employee incidents, if that employee suffers a work-related injury and brings a claim against you.
- If you employ any staff members, Employers’ Liability is a legal requirement.
- Upcycling projects. This policy is intended for crafters producing or building products from scratch.
- Export of your products to the US and/or Canada, unless agreed with ourselves.
- Theft of your Equipment and/or Stock from unattended vehicles.
- Heat work away from your premises, unless when using hot air guns, soldering irons or engraving tools and only if this has been agreed by ourselves.
- Storing your equipment and/or stock at more than two different premises, one of which that needs to be your correspondence address.
For information on exclusions in your cover please refer to policy documentation.
Why do sewing and needlework businesses need insurance?
Sewing businesses involve intricate handwork and specialized equipment. Insurance helps protect you financially from product faults, accidental damages, or incidents occurring in your sewing operations.
Typically you will need an annual crafting policy, but for those involved in short-term or one-off events, such as a craft fair, you may find short term cover more suitable, if this sounds like you, ensure you have the appropriate Stallholder Insurance in place.
For annual policies, here are a few scenarios to help explain why you need sewing and needlework insurance:
Protection from claims due to public injury.
If a customer visits your stall at a third party organised craft fair, to potentially purchase some of your work and in the process trips over your stall or some of your stock or equipment and injures themselves, you could be liable to a substantial claim.
Public liability insurance for crafters can provide protection from these incidents.
An item you’ve made breaks and injures a customer.
If a customer claims injury from pins, needles, or poorly sewn items, product liability insurance covers you against these claims.
Product liability insurance tailored for crafts can cover incidents related to your products, safeguarding you from potential legal consequences.
Protection if your tools are damaged.
Depending on your craft, you may have invested in expensive tools and equipment, which could potentially become damaged or lost. For instance, your stock could become damaged in storage.
Having equipment cover can avoid costly repairs and replacements.
An event or venue asks for public liability to sell your crafts.
An organise event or venue that you sell your crafts at, may expect proof of public liability for events as a minimum before you are able to commit to a stall.
Our experts explain why...
“Sewing and needlework businesses require tailored insurance to address risks specific to handmade sewn items. Whether selling from home, online, or at markets, sewing business insurance protects against potential claims for injury or property damage from your products. Without proper insurance, these incidents could seriously impact your finances. Our policy ensures you can confidently run your sewing business, knowing you are protected from unexpected liabilities.”
Chris Trotman, Protectivity Underwriting Manager
How much does sewing and needlework business insurance cost?
At Protectivity policies start at just £3.71* a month.
Every craft business will be unique so, the cost of sewing business insurance can vary depending on what you offer and the level of cover you need. For example, if you use specialist equipment to create your items you may need to increase the value of cover.
The cost of sewing business insurance varies according to factors including:
- Types of sewn products you create and sell
- Value of sewing equipment and materials
- Size and location of your sewing business
- The excess amount chosen in your policy
Prices from
£3.71* a month
Explainer quote
Policy cost
£3.71* a month
Policy type
Crafters
Duration
Annual
Turnover
£50,000
Public Liability
£1,000,000
Product Liability
£1,000,000
Equipment
£250
Stock
£250
This example is based on a real quote from our website on 12/5/2025. If your circumstances and cover needs differ, your quote may be more or less expensive than the above example. The quote you receive will reflect the information you share about your event. The quoted price may vary from those displayed here.
What types of sewing and needlework products are covered?
Our insurance policy covers various sewn and needlework items, including:
Crafts covered
- Clothing alterations and tailoring
- Handmade clothing and accessories
- Quilts and blankets
- Embroidery and cross-stitch items
- Knitting and crochet products
- Home decor and soft furnishings
- Costumes and theatrical garments
If your sewn product isn’t listed, please contact us directly to confirm coverage.
Have a question?
For further information on your policy, renewals, making a claim and contacting us, you’ll find an extensive list of FAQs on our Help & Support page.
Why choose Protectivity for your sewing & fashion making insurance policy?
Let the reviews of over 3,500 customers explain why you should choose us.¹
Trusted by over 150,000 customers.
Experienced insurance providers for over 30 years.
Over 3,500 highly rated reviews.
Proof of our excellent customer service.
Experienced Claims Handling
A smooth and efficient claims process.
UK Based Customer Support
Our UK sales team are here to help.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Does my policy provide cover for selling in pop-up shops or temporary retail spaces?
Yes, as long as you are selling handmade crafts, your policy will cover you to sell crafts in pop-up shops or temporary retail spaces.
Am I insured for custom orders and commissions?
Yes, as long as your handmade items comply with our policy terms, custom orders and commissions are covered under product liability insurance.
Am I insured if I sell at multiple venues simultaneously?
Yes, our policy covers you for selling at both online and in-person events. However, if you store stock or equipment at more than two locations, this would not be covered.
Do I need specialist insurance for any high-value handmade items?
Our stock cover includes £250 as standard, which can be increased up to £3,000. If you create particularly high-value handmade items, you may require additional cover—please contact us to discuss your needs.
What insurance do I need for selling food-related crafts?
Our craft insurance allows you to sell certain homemade food crafts such as baked goods, artisan food and confectionary. You can see a list of activities when you request a quote.
Are my tools and equipment covered?
Yes, equipment cover is included as standard up to £250, with the option to increase it to £10,000. This covers loss, theft, or damage to your craft tools and equipment.
Does my insurance cover workshops I run?
No, this crafters insurance provides cover to sell handmade crafts, but not workshops.
What happens if I need to cancel a craft fair last minute?
Our craft policy does not include event cancellation cover. However, you can opt for our Stallholder policy which allows you to add event cancellation cover.
Are there any policy exclusions I should be aware of?
Yes, the key exclusions include:
- Upcycling projects (our policy is designed for handmade products made from scratch).
- Exporting products to the US or Canada unless specifically agreed with us.
- Theft of stock or equipment from unattended vehicles.
- Heat work away from your premises (except for hot air guns, soldering irons, or engraving tools, when agreed with us).
- Storing stock and equipment at more than two locations (one must be your correspondence address).
Does your craft insurance policy cover loss of income?
No, our standard craft insurance does not cover loss of income. The policy primarily covers public and product liability, as well as protection for your stock and equipment.
Do I need to be a registered business to get craft insurance?
It is up to you to have the correct registration in place for your business, we will not ask you for these details when you buy a policy, but it may affect
Does my home insurance cover me if I make my products at home?
Most standard home insurance policies do not cover business activities, including making and selling handmade crafts. Our craft insurance provides dedicated cover to protect you against risks such as liability claims and loss of stock or equipment.
What if a customer is injured by a product I sold?
Our product liability insurance covers claims of injury or property damage caused by products you sell. This insurance is essential for crafters, as it protects you from potentially costly legal claims arising from your goods.
Can I use my insurance policy for different craft fairs?
Yes – we can offer insurance that covers you for multiple events within that period. This is often more cost-effective than purchasing separate cover for each event.
What paperwork comes with my craft fair insurance?
Once your policy is active, you’ll receive several important documents via email: your insurance certificate, detailed policy terms, a key facts statement, and any supplementary paperwork. These can all be forwarded to event organisers as needed.
Is it possible to arrange insurance just before a craft fair?
Yes – at Protectivity, we understand last-minute bookings and can arrange cover quickly, often within 24 hours. To ensure swift processing, have all your event and business details ready when applying.
When do I need employers’ liability cover for my craft stall?
By law, you must have employers’ liability insurance if anyone other than immediate family helps at your stall. This includes both paid staff and volunteers, protecting you if they’re injured whilst working with you.
Which types of insurance should I consider for craft fairs?
Public liability insurance is vital cover and is the foundation of any craft fair insurance policy. This protects you if someone is injured or their property is damaged at your stall. Many crafters also opt for product liability insurance to protect against claims arising from items they’ve sold. You might want to consider additional protection for your equipment and stock too.
Is insurance required for selling at craft fairs?
Insurance isn’t a legal requirement, but it is advised. Most event organisers will ask to see proof of public liability insurance before you’re permitted to trade at their craft fair. This essential cover safeguards you should a visitor sustain an injury or have their belongings damaged whilst at your stall.
Am I covered to sell my crafts online?
Yes, our crafters insurance is designed for selling crafts online.
Are my products covered in transit to my customers?
Yes, cover for your Business Equipment and Stock is covered whilst in transit. If you are using other companies to carry these goods, then they should have their own insurance to cover your goods when they are carrying them, as they would be responsible for them should they be damaged or stolen.
Does your insurance cover me to distribute products overseas?
Yes, if you are exporting your products around the world, you will need cover for this distribution. Worldwide cover is available, with additional terms for the USA and Canada.
Is my stock covered?
Yes, should your stock incur damages, it will be covered up to the value of £250, with the option to increase up to £3000.
Does your policy allow me and my staff to provide work using Heat away from our Premises?
No, not for the majority of crafts, your insurance restricts you to use heat equipment, only at your permanent premises. The exception is for hot air guns, soldering irons and/or engraving tools only.
Can I include liability cover for subcontractors I use to aid my business?
This depends on your agreement with your subcontractors. Labour-only subcontractors (working under your direction) can be included on your policy of insurance, for work they provide under contract with yourself and your business only and should be included in the total numbers you provide in this application of insurance.
Bona-fide subcontractors (working under their own direction) will have to have their own insurance cover and cannot be included on your insurance policy but you will be obligated to retain proof of their insurance.
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This page content has been created for general information and should not be taken as advice.
*Prices quoted refer to a quote raised from our website 12/5/2025. Prices will differ depending on requirements. Make sure you have the correct level of cover for what you need. For the most accurate pricing, please get a quote and for full details on what is covered refer to our policy documentation with your quote.
** Based on Protectivity sales data from 2007 to Sep 2024
ˆ10% discount for policies bought online and applies only to the first-year of your policy premium. Protectivity reserves the right to amend or withdraw this offer at any time. Available to UK residents only.
¹Based on live Feefo data