Haven't yet but have been tossing around the idea of making Quilts for sale, and need some input on pricing, as we know this all depends on the local market and buyers knowledge of the work that goes into creating something original, with the chance could come out not looking like the vision you had in your head,(not that that would ever happen :-D )
So what would the opinion be of pricing by the square inch of a finished project? Would lean towards not too time consuming patterns, but pretty, with meander quilting, and sewn finish.

Example: Baby Q 50x60 3000 inches .03 sqi = 75.00
lap/nap 60x72 4320 inches .03 sqi = 129.60
twin 68x90 6120 inches .0325sqi = 198.90
full 80x90 7200 inches .0350sqi = 252.00
Queen 90x96 8640 inches .04sqi = 345.60
king 90x108 9720 inches .0450sqi = 437.40

too high too low what do you think ?? if course some variation in size would be there, but as base pricing, couldn't/wouldn't commit to a fabric source other than cottons inside and out.

Can you find fabrics that are reasonably priced, consistently, to support your asking prices?

I think you're in line with the going rate...but you *do* have to look honestly at yourself and your skills and ask...are my skills on par with what others are doing? If you've got a lot of room for improvement, you can't really ask the same rates as someone who would be considered a master quilter, kwim?

And, you've gotta understand what the market will bear. I saw this AWESOME red and white quilt at Kohl's the other day by Chaps. Very vintage looking. Very doable for many quilters' experience level. And they were charging $200 for a queen, kwim?

I think you're way too low! Even if you buy your supplies at wholesale, you're not going to make a darn thing per hour with those prices.

Pretty much HALF of your price would cover the cost to edge to edge quilt each size. Is the other half enough to cover fabric, thread, batting, wear and tear on your equipment, equipment cost? No... and you haven't even paid yourself yet.

Figure out what you need to make a profit, then find the MARKET for your price range.

you thought about selling on etsy? Or you could just look on there and see what is selling and base your prices on that. Then you wouldn't have to sell just locally.

I would keep the prices like that, or maybe a bit higher. Look what people charge to have a quilt quilted. It's not cheap. It doesn't matter what you can get at the store, look at etsy and search their quilts there. That's how I try to base my prices. I try to not go too cheap, but not to high either. These are handmade quilts...not some imported cr@$.

Are you talking JUST the quilting or making the quilt itself, too??? Around here it costs $45.00 just for the quilting on a baby quilt!

My rule of thumb, in this market, is 5 x's cost of fabric. For a king, that usually works out to $125. therabouts. So I would charge $625.00 but could come down to $550.00. Always leave room to back down. You can't compare your prices with store bought, they buy cloth in huge quantities at low prices and use sweatshop labor to produce them overseas.

$550 for a king size quilt IS sweat shop labor. I think perhaps no one is really considering the time involved, the cost of materials and equipment.

Thanks, this is the type of input I need to consider, thats why I ask here. Can Quilt my own have a machine on frame etc. and prefer to meander, not LA but works well for space available. Have looked on ETSY, pages and pages, just seem like an incredible amount published. With the prices all over the place.

I think your prices are pretty low too. You have to remember that if you are going to sell hand made quilts, you are marketing yourself to someone that wants to buy a handmade quilt. Some customers may want your prices to be the same as a comforter at Wal-Mart, but they are not your target market. You want people that know what it costs to make soemthing homemade. This may mean you will not have a stampede of sales, but you'll have a higher caliber of customers that will return to you for gifts etc... If you sell your items for 'cheap' then that is how customers will perceive your end product.

Rachel

you have to determine who and where your market is. in a high-end area? in a real store? craft market? yuppies? professionals? what is the competition in that area? are you selling in person or on-line? will you charge the same amount for simple quilts as for feathered stars (for example)? will you quilt on speculation or on commission? what if someone wants something special that doesn't fall within your pricing range? smaller pieces or different quilting or different fabrics or batting?

how much does it cost in materials alone (fabrics, thread, batting, etc.) to make a king quilt? add your time at minimum wage.
that's rock bottom. that's without any profit. you're not making any money at $550.00. are you sewing for income or love?

I was never able to sell finished quilts successfully. It was always .. OH do youhave that exact one in a ...( different size) or can I have that one without .... ( one or more of the fabrics) or I need to check my paint chips. WAY to much customization ... and with fabric line coming and going so quickly it is tough to be able to be able to tell someone with any cirtainty that you gat get enought of a particular fabric. Plus there will be the OH I can get it for less at... Spending that much money is not an impulse purchase! It was my experience You give out alot of cards... and almost no phone calls or orders. When they ask for your business card .. it usually means they are looking for a way to politely end the transaction/conversation. Over my many years ... if you want to make $$ its not selling quilts.
Stay with smaller stuff, that is not so decor specific. That they can walk away with their purchase.

I was never able to sell finished quilts successfully. It was always .. OH do youhave that exact one in a ...( different size) or can I have that one without .... ( one or more of the fabrics) or I need to check my paint chips. WAY to much customization ... and with fabric line coming and going so quickly it is tough to be able to be able to tell someone with any cirtainty that you gat get enought of a particular fabric. Plus there will be the OH I can get it for less at... Spending that much money is not an impulse purchase! It was my experience You give out alot of cards... and almost no phone calls or orders. When they ask for your business card .. it usually means they are looking for a way to politely end the transaction/conversation. Over my many years ... if you want to make $$ its not selling quilts.
Stay with smaller stuff, that is not so decor specific...that they can walk away with their purchase.

People in this area don't have a real appreciation for quilts. $650-550.00 for a simple but elegant king size quilt is about all the market will bear in the Greater Washington DC area. We have affluent people but not into quilts as much as midwest or west. Some of my quilts have gone for $950.-1500. the highest. They were intricate piecework with quilting to match. When I do a show, they are simple to do, but look much harder and the quilting is nice and $650. is my price but I have come down to $550. Mind you, these are quilts I can do completely in less than a week. Thats what I do for shows and I generally sell out.

Yup, you're right. Except what I was saying was the one I saw mimicked "real" quilts made by real people enough to make some people wonder why the difference. I would never wanna compete with a $50 Wal-Mart quilt...if they want one like that, they can certainly go buy one there. But a snazzy pattern with "sweatshop quilting"....there's folks that could go either way on knowing better...

hobo, at those prices, how much is actual profit?

My feelings on this is that you will never be able to sell a quilt and get what it is really worth. Right now with the economy the way it is it is hard to make money on any craft projects whether it be quilts or more simple projects.
I think your prices you list here seem pretty reasonable. You can always come down if you really want to sell them and they are not selling at this price. I guess too, it depends on the quilt. How hard is the pattern and what quality of fabric did you use? Lots to consider when you are trying to sell them.

I have 3 here, fabric incl. backing 97.00, quilting incl. batting and postage 95.00 (my LAQ is in AR) 14 hours @ 15.00 per hr.$210.00= $402.00 that $248.00 to cover use of machines, electric, profit, etc. I use only quilt shop fabric but I buy in large quantity when I find a good sale. My LAQ uses green batting which makes a lovely quilt. I take 6 King, 10 queen 4 twin 10 laps to most shows (3 per year) I generally only bring home twins and laps, if any are left. I have fun and quilting is my therapy.

i can't follow all that. what does that mean in terms of say, one king sized quilt? after all expenses are paid, what are you left with as true profit? on a queen? a twin? if you're in it for the income, do you think it's worth it?

These are all good considerations, I have always Quilted for enjoyment, that's why pre-finished would be the venu, with selection of colors etc. my choice, can consider it the artist coming out but have seen what some folks pick for coordinating and sometimes shudder at choices, (not mean't to offend) I know there are many great quilters in this area, how much they sell who knows??
Do you think non Quilters know this came from here or there, chances if they did could make themselfs, probibly not your client base, Sad part is saw some at a crafters fair not long ago and was sad to see baby blankets tagged at 35.00 full 125.00 that was just wrong. these wern't eye poppers, but nicely done.

Considering Dbl irish chains, fence rail, log cabins, traditional but not CR issues, other straight line patterns that can be done in a reasonable amount of time.

Let's not forget while figuring labor, to take in our time for designing a pattern, shopping for the fabrics, choosing the quilting design... every bit of it should be included because it is time spent on the quilt.

14 hours for a king? I'd estimate it takes more like 50.

I agree with you on your pricing but you still have to consider your fabric source. Are you including the price of fabric or do they have to furnish the fabric?
I live in a rural very isolated area and there is a lady here who will do a quilt by hand for around the same price, buyer has to furnish fabric, she does a professional job.

This is what I have chosen to do - consider all fabric prices that go into making the quilt items and go 3x for the asking price... I'm not in this to make tons of money - just want to make a bit here and there - and if I keep at it maybe there'll be repeat business - I already have one loyal customer. :) I am looking for more and more selling venues. I try to hand out my card as often as possible. Word of mouth is a wonderful thing - I do custom AND ready made.

After paying myself $210.00 and fabric, LAQ etc. I still have $248.00 left for profit. $200.00 on a queen, 150.twin.
I do 3 shows per year and I pay taxes on approx. $11,000. per year. So I don't complain. Its not fantastic but it keeps me occupied. I certainly could not live on what I make but its nice extra income. I have friends that do twice that amount in 3-4 shows. But I don't do placemats & napkins, table toppers, runners, baby quilts, purses, etc. as they do. I just do quilts.