Rose Marie makes a good point. a lot of people compare price points of store versus hand made quilts. Recently, someone asked my husband if I would make a baby quilt. I researched on etsy and saw that pricing was around $145 for a rag quilt. I sent my husband with the print out of the quilt and price and said I would make her one for $75. She has never brought up the subject with my husband. Next time, I will say $145! LOL

People will pay what they think it is worth. Some will spend thousands, some not! I don't get it either. These people that low ball hand crafted items cause a bit of ^&*^*&^ for others! peace EDIT: My boss paid 15, 500 for a quilt more than ten years ago. Yes she did! The proof is in an old QNM. peace

IT is sad enough that some stores sell quilts for little to nothing because the creators of these quilts can't be making much in wages. I'd rather give mine away than sell my craft for cheap.

I don't understand selling them for less then the fabric and batting put into items unless they themself are getting the material free? Actually I do remember on one of the other forums years back sometime around 9/11 there was a lady (saying a church type group she belong to) asking for left over fabric, bating, extra blocks saying it was to make quilts for the needy but turns out was not making quilts for the needy. We even sent them with us paying the postage. Many of us me included sent yardage, blocks and large scraps of fabic.

I wouldn't charge for labor. Doing the work keeps me from being bored when the weather is nasty. Or it's for a friend.
There's too many people who want stuff for free. Now I just toss scraps in the trash. I have quite a bit of fabric to go through, can't get help in sorting. A helper would get most of it. That's going in the trash, too. If I could, I'd burn it.

Well, a lot of people AREN'T making any money! Here's the thing though. It will ALWAYS be that way. You don't know what they are spending on materials, what kind of time they are putting in, or the quality of the work. Price your things to what YOU need to make. I have always had moderately priced items on Etsy because it's what I need to make a profit and justify my time. (Remember not everyone is selling legally either...I have some overhead I need to balance out to make any money as I have a small business). Otherwise I would just be giving stuff away and I'd much rather give it to family if that's the goal. I am a stay at home Mommy so I do this for the extra income. There have always been people who sell for less, but most of my customers come to me for the consistency of quality. So I don't worry to much about what others are doing. Market your items and build a following and you will have business. ;)

I make sure I get my quilts appraised first so I know exactly how much they are worth. Currently mine average $1100.00 definitely not cheap!

I guess I will never sell a quilt, because, with limited funds, years and lack of "expensive" equipment, the most I can get done in a year is maybe 3 or 4. All of mine are Qayg, and made for family or close friends.
Pat

when we first moved back to the US I bought a few of these quilts while waiting for our house hold goods to arrive. They make great fur baby rugs and I don't fuss about them on the floor. We have given a few to the local shelter and they use them for bedding for the animals.Not everyone can afford the nice quilts. I make mine and donate them. Even without the tax write off -I enjoy making and creating them.

go Gabe!! some people do think we are just waiting for an other project... I can't charge the price for anything that comes off my machine and make wages. I did make window coverings for a lady that wanted the expensive . she also had me make 4 layers of $50. a yrd fabric. I did make money on that job. so much for the other 10 years of work at considerably less wages.