What to charge
 

I will not undercharge for a quilt again. After reading this post:

http://huntersdesignstudio.com/2012/...hats-it-worth/

I now know the value of my time.

Joan

Thanks for posting the link to the article. I went on to read Part Two of the article and the resulting comments as well and will print it out to keep in my sewing room. I don't know why we undervalue ourselves and our quilts. I do know that we do. I was recently asked by someone to make a baby quilt just like one I'd given as a gift to a mutual acquaintance and was offered $500. My immediate response was "Oh no, that's much too much." Why did I say that? The woman was perfectly prepared to pay that amount for my quilt and obviously thought that it was worth $500. Why didn't I?

Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What It Really Costs To Make a Quilt


QUEEN SIZED, MACHINE PIECED, HAND QUILTED

MATERIALS:

Fabric 12-16 yards @ $9per yd. $108 - $144 (even more now!!)
Batting $25 - $40
Thread $8 - $16

Total $ invested $141 - $200


LABOR HOURS:

Piecing 20 to 60 hours
“Setting” (designing your quilt) 10 to 20 hours
Quilting 100 to 750 hours

Total hours invested 130 to 810 hours


TOTAL COST

Paying $1 per hour (Would you do this type of work for $1 an hour?!)

Materials $141 - $200
Labor $130 - $810
Total $271 - $1070


Paying minimum wage $7.25 (by law in 6/2009)

Materials $141 - $200
Labor (130-810hrs) $942.50 - $5872.25
Total 1083.50 - $6072.25


Paying skilled labor wage $20 per hour (Don't you consider yourself trained and skilled in this craft?)

Materials $141 - $200
Labor (130-810hrs) $2600 - $16,200
Total $2741 - $16,400


(Found on the Internet 1995; unknown author)

Jan in VA

I agree, only on rare occasions do we get what our work is really worth. Here's how I think about it for me personally. I LOVE to make quilts, start to finish, including hand quilting. It is wonderful therapy for me. I could just keep buying fabric and making quilt after quilt. Or I could sell a few and help support my "habit". No, I don't get what it's worth, but I can fund the next couple of projects. I can also use the profit to buy more material to use to make quilts to donate to my fav charity's fund raisers or to give to the needy. I'm an not trying to put food on my table or shoes on my feet. So I don't get bent out of shape if I can't get $6000 for a quilt even though it takes more hours to make than a $6000 custom cabinet my husband makes and people are happy to buy. I also find joy in keeping the quilting tradition alive and blessing others with a warm quilt or throw. Currently most of my quilts are not sold, but given to family members or charities, but the occasional sale is a God-send.

Well put and, I'm sure, reflects the feelings of most of us here.
Jan in VA

I have never sold a quilt but made several for people. In fact right now I am working on 4 children's quilts that the gal I use to babysit for asked me to make for Christmas gifts and I told her she just has to be pay me for anything I have to buy. Was extremely excited that she asked me to make these for her. For me, I would be sewing anyway because it is my addiction so glad I can make quilts for her. Have enough quilts in my house and hate to have them just sit and no home. Just my opinion.

Thanks for the breakdown Jan, I printed it out for future use. I was just paid $250 for a queen size that had 9patches and on point. A lot of work.