I just had to come here where you all would understand....I had this lady ask me today about making her a table runner....she wants the spicy spiral table runner or one with stars...every time she comes over she oos and aahs over my quilts. So i told her i would be more then happy to make her one....here is the kicker...she wants to pay 12.00....ummm there isnt any way to make it for 12.00 unless i am wrong, if someone knows something i dont please fill me in....She is a pastor's wife...not at my church and a very sweet lady but i just cant do it for that price...when i told her i couldnt do it for that price she acted like she was offended...so what am i supposed to do? just give in an do it for that? anyways just had to get that out and hope that some of you can relate

No don't give in. Tell her what you think it will cost to make it and set a price. If she doesn't want to pay the price you quote...then don't make it.
Even though shes a preachers wife that doesn't mean she should get "special" treatment.
Sorry to all of the preachers wives on the board. But thats how I feel.

She probably has no idea the cost of fabric. I doubt that she will ask you again. If she is a friend she will get over being upset. If not, don't worry.

So - does she get special prices at the grocery store? at the gas station?

Tell her where to get the pattern and wish her "happy sewing"

I agree 100%. Ugh!!! I do feel for you though, but you do one for her and then she tells someone and so on!! Dont sell yourself short. You have all the right to feel annoyed. Lord have mercy!

Take the pattern out, show her the fabric requirements and go on-line to show her the cost of the fabric. Go on a site like thousands of bolts and put all the necessary fabric in the "cart" and show her the total with shipping and tax. Don't forget thread and batting. When she sees that it can cost alot just for the materials, maybe she will understand.

Good grief, I don't care who you are, that is insulting!

I agree with all the answers.....it costs what it costs and that is it! Also, does she get a discount at other retailers ?

Well I'm glad you didn't laugh in her face but no, you don't have to make her something at a loss to you. If you have a Joanne's ad handy, show her the price of fabric today and explain how much you would need for her project. Most people do not have a clue about fabric prices. If you want to throw in your labour for free, that is up to you but be warned she may be a repeat customer if you do.

This is what I was gonna suggest.
I took a friend to a LQS to have her pick out and buy fabric for a topper. She got 4 half yards a 1yd of 5 different prints and cost just over $20. I thought she would die but she paid for it and now realized how expensive fabric is.

Tell her "Sure I will make it for $12 if you buy all the supplies to make it."

Whatever you do, DO NOT BUY INTO PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE 'offended' actions! Doesn't matter what her 'station' in life is she should never get away with guilting people.

I am glad you didn't agree to do it. She probably just didn't know any better, but still.....

I told four of my friends that I would make them quilts if they bought the fabric, batting, and backing. They all jumped at the chance, and they only half believed me when I told them it would not be a cheap thing to do. They believe now. :) These are all teachers in my English Dept. at a junior high.

We met for lunch, and then went to a fabric store. Each bought the fabric and sent it home with me. THEN they told me they wanted me to give them all their quilts at the same time. I told them to be patient. It has been three months, and I am almost finished with the 4th. Two of them have seen pictures of their finished quits, but the other two want a real surprise. I sure hope they like the finished products!!

Okay, so I got way off subject here. Sorry, but it is sort of exciting, and they did learn the cost of a quilt. They actually said they would pay me to quilt them, but I told them I wanted to do them...plus, when I told them how long it would take to make each quilt, and they did the math at minimum wages....well they understood quilts a lot better.

Plus it was fun.

Maybe you should offer to give her a 1 hr. quilting lesson for $12.00 :) Her offer was ridiculous... :shock:

Maybe first clarify with her whether her offer of $12 was for the labor only, and was she intending to pay for the supplies. If not, let her know that you can give her the supply and fabric requirements and she can pay for all the supplies, and agree to do it for $12 for the labor(or free if you want to donate time). Also you could offer to accompany her to help select the fabric and supplies if she would like help with that. And you could also give her a list of some places she can take some quilting classes so that she can learn to do it herself.

She probaably just doesn't have a clue what things cost. I'm sure once you explain it to her she won't be offended. She shouldn't at least.

If you think she was offended and it will continue to bother you, bring it up to her but have your information on hand. Tell her you're afraid you might have upset her the other day and here is an actual price breakdown for the topper and that you never meant to make her feel bad. That way the ball is in her court as to the way she feels...you did nothing wrong but you can make sure she understands why it isn't $12. If she would like to barter some of her services for it maybe you can work out a trade.

Work up a cost estimate - print out prices from an actual order if you can for back up

Add in the cost of batting and a spool of thread.

Calculate the number of hours - even at min wage put in an amount.

Tell her you won't count wear and tear on the other machines and tools that someone else might add in as "overhead costs".

(snipped some)

What you do is stand up for yourself and tell her "I'm sorry but I can't accomadate your request."

Just because she's a pastor's wife doesn't mean you have to roll over.

Lots of folks have no idea about what it takes and how much even the fabric costs. If she is someone that means something to you . . you might want to offer her to make it at cost of the fabric (ie she pays for the fabric, batting and backing) otherwise add up the cost of the fabric - add in something for your time and say in your "sweetest voice" ... "I am so pleased you like my work, but for me to create the table runner that you would like, the fabric will be __ and my time would be __...". Remember, that if you do this for $12 then you will be opening yourself up to a barrage of requests.

Good Luck!!

Honestly, she probably has no clue how much materials cost nor the effort involved in quilting! I didn't! I have always appreciayted a beautiful quilt but had no idea what all really went into making one. Now I know and can appreciate the quilts even more! If I were you I would tell her the cost of making the table runner and the time and effort put into each step of the quilts proces. She probably has no clue!!!

I am afraid I would have laughed in her face. Most of the women around here who are preachers wives are quilters too and I don't think any one of them would make one for $12.00. Maybe $120. if she bought the stuff to make it. Other wise no dice. sorry that's the way the ball bounces.

perhaps you could barter with her...does she do/ or have anything you could trade for?

Would she be interested in learning how to make one herself? If so go to the store with her to help her get fabrics which will look good which she can pay for. Then show her how to cut and sew. You could even suggest that after she learns how she could make more for her Christmas gift giving. Who knows you just might get a quilting buddy.

Nicely, tell her fabric is expensive, inform her how much fabric would be required to make the item, and suggest she go to the local fabric store and check out the price of fabric per yard. Then tell her that it will take you X number of hours to piece and quilt the runner and that if you just charged for the fabric plus minimum wage for your work, the cost of the runner would exceed the $12.00 amount. End the conversation with a statement explaining that you do quality work, that you are an expert at your craft and that an expert at any job is paid more than minimum wage. If she gets huffy, you should add that if she wants something at garge sale prices, she needs to go to a garage sale.

I saw those for $35 in a shop. I would not waste another minute of my time on this. she can sew, just like the rest of us. MrG says "you will do it if it means enough to you". She won't appreciate it.

Have you thought of telling her how much fabric you'll need and how many colors. Let her pick out and buy the fabric, batting & binding and then charge her to put it together, or give her the pattern and mentor her creating the project... Just a suggestion

Some people will never get it. Don't waste your time worrying about people that have no common sense.

Not knowing how old this woman is, but she probably thought you have a stash of left over fabric and could make it from that.

A friend of mine was asking me to crochet angels for her. She was in her mid 70's, a good friend and I did it without thinking twice. After making 4 of them, she mentions to me she has been giving them to friends. The next time she asked me for one I told her I was no longer making them, I was onto other projects. At one time she did offer to pay for them, but I declined since they were for her. It never occurred to me that she was giving them to others.

Sounds like it's a quilt sewing lesson to give her for $12.00. Then she can make her own.

Lmao! I wouldn't give in. Nope. Fabric alone is more than that.

The fabric along cost more than that.

Maybe she can find a runner at WalMart she likes for that price.

I have a feeling that she hasn't a clue what the cost of fabric is these days and I think that Hopeto quilt's idea is your best solution, or take her to a fabric shop so she can visually see what the cost of fabric really is.

Why is it that people always want something for nothing.No do not do this. I just made a small baby quilt for 15$. It cost me 32 to make. I will never do this again.Take her to the fabric store.Have her buy the fabric.Then sit your price to make this.She might understand by then that things(fabric and time)are not cheap.

She doesn't have the right to set prices for YOUR creativity. Stick to your guns and work with her if you can but if not then gracefully decline the offer.

Tisha,

First off, we have all got to stop seeing ourselves as crafters and start realizing that much of what we do is ART. I took the time to look at some of your postings of your work and you definitely are an artist and how you do it with your houseful of children (two year old twins, YIKES!) and husband away should stop anyone from asking you to do anything!!

Secondly, who has the nerve to ask even a tradesman (not to sell these folks short by any means) to do something and name their price?? Would you have an electrician replace a panel box and tell him or her how much you will pay? GET REAL? Try it and see how far you get!!

Finally, I don't care who this person is. My mother had an expression for this kind of behavior: "Consider the source." This may be a supposedly nice person but she has some nerve. Mama would have "killed her with kindness" but left her completely alone otherwise, if you know what I mean.

OK, that's my three cents. Make the kids some brownies and forget this ever came up.

This is what I was gonna suggest.
I took a friend to a LQS to have her pick out and buy fabric for a topper. She got 4 half yards a 1yd of 5 different prints and cost just over $20. I thought she would die but she paid for it and now realized how expensive fabric is.[/quote]

That should do it!

Tell her to get the fabric and you will make it for $12.

I wouldn't touch it for $12.00 for labor either as it would take at least 6 hours to make the table runner including quilting it and then only if you are doing s-i-t-d. My time is worth more than that. $12.00 would barely get me to go with you to the fabric store. I recently had a gentleman call me because he wanted to have a quilt made for his wife for their anniversary and he gave me less than a weeks notice. Luckily for him he only wanted 1 fabric on front and back(I used a flannel backed satin) and all over quilting. I was able to get it done in time and I charged him $200.00 and yes I know that I under charged him but he was also talking about making one for his daughter as well. I had $30.00 in fabric and already had the batting but factoring in that would have been $20.00 I spent 7 hours quilting and binding it so you can do the math I got about $21.00 per hour to quilt it. I still think he got a deal as he gave me a very short window and I did this on my only day off that week. I work a full time job as well. He just happened to be lucky that nothing was on my frame at the time as I might not have been able to get it done for him.

Think of the time that you have spent on putting all of this together. I think it might come out to be $1.25 a hour. Are you kidding me????????

Show her a couple of fabric store receipts!! I told a girl I'd make her 2 quilts if she just bought all the stuff, meet me at the fabric store.....she said HOLY MOLY, I didn't know this would be SO EXSPENSIVE, well I tried to tell you!!!! So she just bought cheap from somewhere.....quality ain't cheap, if you want cheap buy...Made in China!!!!