[quote=
The gal then looked at the quilt and said, "May I just touch it?"
I have to snicker at that. I should have charged her. ;) lol[/quote]


I love it and it is funny until I catch myself petting the fabric in the LQS!!

I sold a wall hanging 2 yeaars ago for $250.00, but you ladies are right, no one wants to pay what hand made quilts are worth. When I say hand made I mean, pieced on a machine and quilted by machine. I have 3 daughters and 4 granddaughters and I love making quilts, wall hangings, and table runners for them.

I have sold some, and I have done a few on commission, but I agree with what everone else has said- most people have no idea how much money and time is invested in a quilt.

I thought that I was getting those questions just because I'm a guy quilter! I agree with all the rest. I did make one on commission--a fellow re-enactor who was retiring from his job. His wife asked me and I didn't have the guts to say no. Came out OK, but, didn't really make any money on it. When I tell folks that I give them away to fellow re-enactors, the next comment is always, "Well, then give me one!" I just say, "Get in line!"

For those who don't know me, yet, I do Civil War Re-enacting and watched my grandmother make quilts for years. When I decided I wanted one for the back of my saddle, for Southern impressions, I tried making one myself. Came out pretty good and I discovered I enjoyed watching the patterns come together and have been quilting ever since.

Sgt. Jackaroo
4th US Cavalry (Re-enacting)
5th Texas Mounted Volunteers (CSA)

yep and most don't realize that the Amish have the Hmong people do the actual quilting and have for years.
http://www.womenfolk.com/quilt_notes/amish-hmong.htm

I have sold some on commission - only to people who understand the amount of time and money that go into quilts. I have also tried the craft shows and have to laugh at people when they look at a price tag and drop it like they have picked up a hot poker. They seem to think that because it is "home made" that it is less expensive. I always tell people that fabric runs about $10 a yard - even more now with the price increase. I do enjoy making quilts and getting paid for them - I just makes sure we agree on a price before starting. Learned my lesson by not telling the cost before hand.

I decided when I started trying to learn to quilt that I would NOT go into selling quilts...but I have sold a couple. The only way I'll do it is...they pay for fabric, there is NO timeframe and the pattern/quilting is totally MY choice, and they pay a lump sum for my time at the end. LOL...then I get to play on their dime..I just loose the quilt in the end.

Hand quilting a quilt has the same. When I lived in Ky, I handquilted for others and I charged no less than $500 and I would get those looks also. But thankfully, I had a few repeat customers. I think I hand quilted about 15 queen size quilts for this one person. And she was a gem. She hand pieced every one of her quilts and I loved working on them because of the quality of her fabrics and the wonderful job she did on the piecing. But still there were others that thought I should do them for next to nothing.

homecaregiver

I agree non-quilting people think $50 is too much to pay, when I start explaining how much materials cost, they shut up and keep walking. I quilt for myself and my own family anyone who asks me for a quilt I tell them $500 and up, that usually ends the conversation.

I was talking to my DD just yesterday about the cost of quilting, just commenting that it isn't a cheap hobby. Now my daughter is a smart person but when I pointed out a full sized quilt takes about 15 yards of fabric her mouth hung open. I'm not quite sure why people don't see the obvious and we are not even mentioning labor and batting.

I couldn't agree more! Just cause we enjoy making them, doesn't mean we want the business of selling them. Some of mine finds homes elsewhere, others will remain here at home. At this point, I have more tops than actual finished quilts, & that is alot of the reason. One time, I hung tops, mostly small ones, all around my studio. Then DH comes in, & says, when are you going to finish these & SELL them? Sell them, I am thinking, no way, not my thing, & these are like my babies, to me anyway. So, shortly thereafter, I folded several & tucked them away. Out of site, out of mind, right! It worked on DH, for now anyway, he has quit asking, lol. But quite honestly, this I do for me, & my own sanity & enjoyment. I don't want to take quilt orders from other people, or quote prices on how much a quilter's work is worth. Now, if someone came along & offered me a price I couldn't refuse, for one I made, & enjoyed making, all on my own, then they might be lucky enough to take one of mine home, but I'm not holding my breath, & I don't even care... I just love fabric & love to quilt, so that's enough for me...

i get it all the time,people tell me if i sell my quilts i'll make money to make more. they think a good price for a queen size is about $100. yeah Right!!!

I have a friend who sells needlework via an ETSY.COM site. She has recommended that I set up an ETSY site and put a quilt on there. Has anyone tried that route?

now that I have this hobby of quilts, I enjoy making them. I give them to family. I am on no time frame and I let them know. They don't push either, because I offered to make them one.
I don't think I would ever sell one. I don't think I would get a good price. I don't quilt either. I tie

I just like to keep doing what I do and that's enjoy

This goes for any other craft we have. I have made (knitted) all of my sweaters and vests. When I was working on one at lunch time on my job, a co-worker came by and asked me how much would I charge her to make her a vest. She was alway admiring my work. I told her $25.00 (this was many years ago) and she said that she could go to a store and get one for $12.00. I told her that she should go to the store then. She never asked again for a vest. People that don't have hobbies, will never understand. I don't sell quilts either. If someone came into my house and saw one they liked, willing to pay the price, then yes, I would sell them. Of course my girls always tell me that I'm a giver, therefore, give a lot of handmade things, including quilts away. I tried the craft consignment thingy and it didn't work either. Brought the quilts home and put them on MY bed. LOL Happy hobby time to everyone. Mary

I think when you take your hobby and sell the products, you've just made it your job. I find when I'm making a quilt and have a time limit.....and all the rest, it just takes the joy of making it right out of me.

I dont blame you. People who don't know what goes into making a quilt have no clue of their value and some are just priceless.

The only quilts I have made so far are photo quilts for my grandchildren's graduations. They are 2-sided with emproidered quotes on them and a lot of fancy stitching. I get huge compliments on them, but never planned on selling them. Then my DSL asked me if I would consider making one for her step-daughter's grad. I told her up front how much it would cost. I quoted her the price of fabric & $12 an hr. I said that a lot of people would think that is too much, but that I figure my time is worth that much and if she doesn't want to pay that much I understand. I said I wanted everything understood up front so there are no misunderstandings. I told her I would not charge for the time doing the machine embroidery. She talked it over with her husband and we decided on a one-sided quilt, which would cut the cost and she said they thought it would be totally worth it. This all took place last fall or maybe before. She was supposed to send me the pictures and the quotes from family members she wanted on it. She sent me a few quotes and then nothing. Kept giving me excuses for not sending them. Oh, she gave me money right away for the fabric and we picked it out. I ordered it and have it cut and ready to go. Anyway, I finally called her (abt. 2 months ago) to see what is up. I said if they have decided it is just too expensive and they don't want to do it, no hard feelings, I understand. I told her if they do want to it and need to pay me a little at a time, that's fine, as long as I get what I asked. She said fine, they do still want to do it and would send me the pics, etc. I have not heard a word since. I'm sorry this is so long, but I would really like your take on this situation. I'm thinking I will just send her money back, use the fabric for something else. Would love to know what you all think.

Where I work really does not have a good layout to be able to have privacy for someone taking a webinar class. So...I brough a quilt, and a clothing rack to hang it on, to make a privacy screen. When my boss saw the quilt, she wanted to know if I would make a quilt that we, (work) could either sell, or auction off. We are a very small credit union, with equipment in desperate need of upgrading. She thought this would be a good way to raise some money. Thank goodness the gals I work with understand what it takes for me to make a quilt. None of them sew, but they are all very appreciative for my show-and-tell days. I didn't have to say anything to the boss...they all piped up and said she couldn't afford to buy it from me in the first place!!! That was the last of that conversation. :) I "might" make one for her some day....but it will be on my time, my choice of fabric and pattern, etc.

Patti

I agree with what everyone here has said about the general public, they don't have a clue as to what a quilt costs.
because it is 'home made' it should be cheap. I don't sell my quilts, I give them to family and friends.

women's work is traditionally undervalued because so many women WILL do it for free. Think of afghans, very tough to sell because every one has an aunt or granny who will make one for little money.

I started quilting in the late 1970's when there were not a lot of people making quilts, and the imports had not flooded the market yet. I had no trouble selling my quilts. I dealt with two different stores in one small town, most of their business was quilts, and they were either tied or hand quilted.

When the Chinese quilts started coming in it was a different story. Not only could people get a handmade quilt for cheap $$ but the cheap prices created the impression that the value was really that low. (Of course the quality was down there in the basement with the price).

Over the years I have had several good customers who did not mind paying $500 to $1000 or more for a handquilted quilt. Not enough of them though..

When I did craft shows some of my best sales were to men. They did not seem to have a problem paying the price.

When people do have a problem with the price, I just say, "You should go to Kmart, I'm sure you will find something you like there."

I don't work well under pressure. I want to make what I want to make.

I worked at Hancock Fabrics. I did different crafts. Everyone wanted to buy them but no one wanted to pay. If I did sell something, they were so picky. They would rather pay more for junk.

One last comment. How can you put a price on the look on some one's face when you give them a quilt. I only give them to folks that I think are pretty special---paid in full.

Jack

I have done a few things on commission, but if I did sane quilts (instead of crazy quilts), I think I would tell them to go to the store and buy all the fabric and pattern, and then tell them a commission price you will charge...I bet they walk out of the store without purchasing anything, because they have no idea how much money besides the time that goes into our "hobbies"!!!!
I did a clutch purse for a lady, for $40. and I did a pillow for another lady for $35. Both are on my flickr site....
BJ http://www.flickr.com/photos/60446771@N05/

Don't people realize how much material cost these days. I have spent anywhere between $60-$90 for material for twin or double bed size. I sure would not sell them that cheap. That's not counting the backing and stuffing.

When people ask me if I'd quilt for them, my answer is that they couldn't afford my work.

How can you sell a therapy session?

I love this one...that's what my quilting is to me!!!!

I agree. Most peoople have no concept of the time and work
that goes into a quilt. I hand quilt, so that,of course, adds to
the hours. I don't want to insult people, so I just say I don't
sell quilts. What I'm thinking is "you won't pay me $l,000.00
for one, and even at that I would be working for a dollar
or two an hour" I don't actually know anybody that does
work for that amount...except "Mothers" of course, ha.
And we have to remember it takes even time to pick out
the fabrics, drive to get them, and of course pay the big
dollars for the fabric, batting, etc.

That's what I would do, send the money back. She obviously doesnt want to or cant afford to have it made. I had a neighbor ask me to do a photo quilt for her step mother. Sort of same deal wanted her to know up front how much for the size she wanted. She got back to me right away and said she wasnt willing to spend that much so we talked it over and I made her a smaller one on the agreed on price of $250. She didn't bat an eye, gave me halft right there and half when finished.

Thanks. I appreciate the reply. That is definitely what I am leaning towards.

This is an excellent approach, except I don't see where they get off considering the labor at minimum wage. There is obviously some skill involved, which is more than the kinds of jobs that pay minimum wage. It reminded me of a situation in the 1970's when a wonderfully talented sculptor we knew slightly had a showing at an important gallery in Houston. His pieces, which represented years of work, were in a lower level gallery. There was a huge tropical storm that dumped a lot of rain. The gallery was flooded and everything was lost. He had, out of modesty (?), undervalued his work for insurance purposes. It was a painful lesson. Artists and crafts people in all media need to place an honest value on their work. Usually only fellow quilters have a clear idea of the value of a quilt, so it's not unexpected that potential buyers are surprised, but quilters need to explain how much they have invested in time as well as materials. It might be useful to turn the question around in terms of how much the buyer would expect to earn per hour to make something with their hands, and then mention how many hours the quilt took to make.

As stated in another post I did, I had my crafts in a consignment shop at one time. The owner told me that $300.00 was too much to ask for a hand quilted, queen sized quilt. I told her that if I wanted to give the quilts away that I needed to take them home and give them to family and special friends...........so tha't what I did. I brought them home, gave some away and using the rest. Needless to say, I have not considered that route again. My girls can divide them up after my death.

I agree 100% with you....this is a hobby not a REAL job....lol

I agree completely.....I like to change my quilts from time to time and each of my kids have a couple and so do the GC. Keep on keeping them.

I brought a quilt to work - double size - blooming 9 patch. Was asked if I sell my quilts - said "yup for the right price I will". She asked how much - told her for the quilt I brought in $1800.00. Hoping she would tell me I'm crazy but nope - she ordered one!!!

Way to go, keesha!!!!!!

Patti

When I shop for a quilt. I keep ALL reciepts with it for EVERYTHING!! If I use anything that was left over from another quilt, I put that on the bottom of the sales slip and a guess at the amt. for that item. When I fill out my quilt journal, I always put the reciepts and samples block (it has the fabrics I have used). This was when I have been asked about making a quilt. I will pull out my journal and let them look at it, then I open my envelop on the back of the page with the TOTAL AMT. I have spent and the total of hours. Then I let them know that it will be more, due to the price of COTTON. Most of the time this stops them, they walk away thinking I'm a NUT for spending so much for a hobbie, but they don't ask for $10 quilts. DH says I'm not nice, but he doesn't have any hobbies (other than BACK SEAT QUILTING!!!) lol.

Take them shopping for the fabric and pattern!