Sometimes I am on Etsy just to view things and see people there selling quilts and other crafts.
Me I never sell anything I make is just for myself and some small items get gifted to the very few persons that know how much work it is to do hand sewing and hand quilting, taking time and effort whilst being also in ill health.

i think one of the reasons other people do not value quilts is because so many of us donate them or give them away.
therefore, i think "others" do not think we value them very much.

i agree - person a and person b may have spent the same amount of money on materials - but the results may or may not be equal.

some people are artists, some are technicians -and some of us are "still practicing".

i think even the non-experts can tell a show- stopper from a poorly done piece. they may not be willing -or able- to pay for either one, but most people can tell.

I once got a hilarious request (at least in my opinion) to make 3 queen sized quilts to use as drapes for a good friend’s new house........I adore that friend still but her husband called to ask because he was too cheap to buy blinds.....having me gift quilts in his odd choice of colors was a much cheaper idea because he was assuming I would gift them. Sorry way too busy!

At the same time I was living in a new house with no drapes on the sliding glass doors because they were super expensive, and he must have known we were without drapes! I considered quilts for mine after the conversation but waited and bought blinds on sale. Because quilts were not cheap and a whole lot of time!

That's a very good point, Bear. I never thought of that.

I don't sell my quilts. I think that the friends and family members that I give my quilts to really do appreciate them and understand just how much work goes into making them. That gives me the joy in inspiration to keep making more quilts for them. I think that it's the love that is attached to the quilts that makes them rare and valuable to the recipients. You can't buy that on Ebay or Walmart.

~ C

Daylesewblessed, I love your Scrabble quilt! We have a Scrabble player in our family who would adore this. I'll have to put this quilt on my list for future quilts to make.

~ C

Mumto2,

Your friend's husband is equally parts outrageous, funny, shocking, rude, thoughtless, and did I say outrageous! I am glad you are still friends with the woman, but really?? Maybe you should ask him to put a new roof on your house or rebuild your transmission? It's just labor and a few parts, right?

Enjoy your quilts and quilting! :)

You gave me a good laugh this morning! Thank you, labor and a few parts indeed!!!

There are very few quilters that make money at quilting and most that do it isn't from selling their quilts but their designs or skills as a teacher or their innovative rulers or quilting paraphernalia. You (meaning anyone) have no control over how people view quilts and it is a long established fact that most people can't or won't pay enough to cover the cost of making a quilt. The definition of insanity is repeating the same action expecting different results, so instead of "punching the wind" or lamenting about how things "should be" it might be better to do a different action. Find something less expensive to make that people will pay for, and do it well, and do it in a way that "big box" can't easily imitate. For instance bags or purses, this is something people are "seen with" so they place more value in. But made w/ very unexpected / fancy / cool fabric or prints that people cannot go to Wally World and buy for $5.

:thumbup: well said!

Vanna, I haven't read the other replies so I may be repeating someone else here.
I'm a longtime quilter and I don't think people understand what goes into making a quilt unless they've actually made one. And with all the cheap knock-offs that are being sold for so little money.........
I make quilts only for family and am planning one for a dear friend. If I had to make money for them it would become work and my enjoyment would fly out the window. (my opinion only)

I had the same thought...ask me how I know!

There are people out there who are willing to pay what a quilt is worth. But it's a niche market. You can't expect to sell your quilts only to your neighbor.
I have an Etsy shop and sell my quilts there. I'm doing pretty good. It's not my only source of income ( have a part time job to give me insurance, retirement plans, etc.) but I pay myself a decent hourly wage. I won't do a quilt for third country wage. It took me 5 years to build my shop. I have tools that help me to lower the labor time (an Accuquilt studio to cut my fabric, a longarm quilting machine) And most of my sale are for custom quilts. People are more willing to pay 10X the price of a manufactured item if they can pick their own colors, fabric, etc.
I agree with someone who said customers want something that look handmade but not homemade. So you have to find just the right level of perfection to create a quilt that will look great without investing too much labor in it.

I offered to make a quilt for both of my Daughter-in-Laws ( in addition to the several I had already gifted them). I took them to the fabric store and they picked out the fabrics and paid for them. It was an eye opener for them. One sent me a gift card and asked me to make one for her friend. I was happy to do it. She sent me another gift card after it was finished. My daughters already knew to buy the fabric if they wanted something special. Its a process of education even in the family and I only sell quilt tops because I love piecing and quilt if I must.

I don't think it is always that people don't understand what goes into a quilt(cost and time-wise) or any other type of handwork. People have a limit in their minds of what they are willing to pay for an item. I have been quilting for over 50 years, and I am well aware of what goes into a quilt but I would not pay hundreds of $$ or more for a quilt. Not because I don't recognize the quality or value, but I cannot justify paying that much for something to sleep under or just look pretty on my bed. On the other hand I know people that will pay whatever for a quality quilt for a wedding gift because they want their GKs to have an heirloom quality gift that they themselves cannot make.

I've made and given away lots of quilts, donated them to silent auctions and raffles - but just don't want to sell them because I know that I have more money and time in them that anyone would want to pay - and I don't blame them because I wouldn't pay it either. I make quilts because I like to - that is the only reason. I think that the only way to really make money on them is to do commission work or art quilts.

I know, me too (although I have only been quilting for 30 years). I figure I will make it myself. Then I spend $100s on fabric to make the quilt on a sewing machine I paid thousands for then quilt it with threads that I do have literally $100s invested in thread stash and longarm it myself on the LA I paid over $10K for. LOL. Ironic isn't it? However I do get great satisfaction and a self righteous smugness when I make a scrap quilt out of nothing but stash and mostly from scraps from previous projects. In my crazy brain it is "free".

“In my crazy brain it’s free”...haha so true! I have total amnesia about the time and money I spend. And hypocritical as it may be, I too don’t want to pay what a quilt is truly worth. I don’t know what that says about me...
I have a small Etsy shop where I sell some patterns and other miscellaneous projects, but by and large I get SO MUCH more satisfaction out of giving my quilts away. In fact that’s my resolution for this year, to mail off most of my quilts to friends and family as a surprise. I know the risks involved in gifting, but I also know the recipients so I don’t expect much negative feedback. The point is, giving feels good so I try to focus on that. But I feel your pain of your work not being properly valued. In the end you do it because you love to, and that’s enough.

I am not a great quilter and only stitch in the ditch so far,=. I have been asked to sell my quilts and I don't. I make them for myself and have given away the ones I have made I just recently kept a couple. I was offered twice of my project money. They were attic windows and the hours into them to me was not worth it. I think it takes away from it's value. People love the gift.

I agree with u!

27 yards? Wow...that must be a huge quilt!

Vanna,
why would you give a quilt to a customer without collecting your money? My customers pay what was in writing for the quilt or quiltjng of their quilt then they get their quilt.
Treat your hard work like a business, your customer wouldnt pick up their cleaning and not pay.....I would send her a bill!

A lot of the younger generation are more interested in fleece blankets which can be made for quite a bit less than a real quilt. So many just won't pay what a quilt is worth, not even the cost of supplies to make one. I just give mine away to people who have touched my heart in some way. The feeling you get from that is worth more than the money to me at this point in my life.
There are still some people that appreciate quilts so keep trying.

I made and sold a few quilts along the way but stopped a number of years ago. Now my quilts are for gifts and gifts alone. I have many more to make as gifts. The few I made, I was right up front with the purchaser, on the cost. $250 for a wall hanging. $600 for a full size quilt. $980 for a queen. I did all the quilting myself. I used a contract that required payment for fabrics separate and upfront. and 50% of the finished cost up front. If for some reason they backed out after I started the quilt they forfeited their deposit and I kept the quilt. Payment was due at the time of pickup and the dates for all things were very specific. Only a few walked away. They would choose their own patterns and we went from there. I gave them books and magazines to choose patterns from or they would bring their own.. The only other one I refused to do was to rework the border work of someone else's quilt design on a round quilt. The man that came to me about it paid over $1000 for the quilt and the changes he wanted done on it IMHO needed to be made by the original quilter. She wanted to much to make the changes in his opinion. I refused to touch another quilters magnificent work.
I know it is a challenge to get paid what you are worth. Be upfront and all someone can say is no. Then there is nothing lost or gained. Like I said I only did a few.

Are you financially able to sew for donation to a cause? That's what I do with most of the quilts I make. I have sold only a few, and they have been fancy and labor intensive, like the Bonnie Hunter designs. People are more likely to buy something they can't make themselves.

I've sold a few quilts. Strangely, the most I've ever sold was at an exhibition I had of my quilts at a bar. Who would think people coming into a bar would buy a quilt? But, I sold more than 1/2 of the 12 I had on display.
I really think a lot of times it's a question of getting the quilt out there for people to see.

Watson

My daughter does beautiful art quilts, some are hand painted or she does mosaic quilts and all are beautifully quilted . Her husband keeps trying to get her to make some to sell and we keep trying to tell him that she would not even be able to get the cost of materials let alone her labor. The paints she uses are expensive and she uses good fabrics. That said, I can't wait to get the one she is making for me. She showed me the work in progress when I was visiting her last month.

I sell quilts for their value. People will pay what they are worth, as long as you market them that way. I usually recommend to someone who wants to sell quilts to start with having a couple they made appraised. The American Quilters Society certifies appraisers and has a list of certified appraisers listed by state. Once you have a couple appraised you will see what they are worth ( insurance value- what it would cost to replace them) then, if someone asks about buying a quilt from you you can show them the appraisal and give them a deal- I’ve had quilts I have $300-$500 into making, appraised at $3,800, sold for $2,650 - the buyer felt he got a great deal. I include a copy of the appraisal with the quilt for their insurance purposes. If you undermine yourself people will expect nothing more.
I sell baby quilts for $125-$175. And can’t keep up with the requests ( I hate making baby quilts- for no apparent reason- they are always adorable- I just don’t enjoy making them.
I generally sell 10-15 queen or king size quilts a year, supports my ( habit) and usually allows us some extra weekend trips and a vacation

I,also, find that anything home made and sold belongs to you forever. Meaning that if a repair is needed etc. the buyer returns to you for repair.

The only way you can get close to what it cost to make it: donate it. Keep track of every cent you spent on the fabric, batting, thread, tack on a bit for electricity and you can take the total donation off your income tax under 'donations'.

Some nice baby quilts are sold on Etsy and from comments on other forum which closed down. People there mention baby quilts might be more lucrative as new parents might pay higher price for a baby quilt.
And other place I read someone said have the client buy the fabrics/thread and then charge a make-it/labor/work hours price.

People who DO NOT sew do not know what is involved.
I tried to sell and in my area there is a PERSON who bums material and makes quilts and sells them for $25.
You cannot compete with that.
The problem is that they do not know what fabric is in the quilt.
She will use anything and tell them it is 100% cotton.

In general, selling something is already good earnings. I realized this when my best friend advised me a site where you can make money without spending a lot of time on it. For example, I sell some things on Amazon for a higher price and make a profit from it. There are many options for part-time work , so guys who want to make money without spending a lot of time on it, then I advise you a site that will help you with this. In addition to my main job, I also do this business and have a fairly large profit