"Sewing and/or Quilting"?
 

Do you consider the whole process - from planning to final disposition (gift/sale/donation) of an item to be sewing/quiltng?

Or do you consider the time actually spent in front of/behind a machine or with a threaded needle in hand to be sewing/quilitng?

If/When you are making an item for sale or consignment, how do you count your time?

I consider the whole thing as quilting. It confuses non-quilters who think I "sew"... I used to do garment construction or other forms of sewing but now it is just quilting -- whether that is piecing or quilting or hand sewing the bindings, drawing/planing on my graph paper, or as is the case right now -- pre-washing fabric!

This should open your eyes. This quilter's pricing is the average for designers that do commission work.

http://www.bryerpatch.com/about/commissions.htm

They are spectacular - and one of a kind!

I think "others" tend to down-grade the value of even "ordinary" quilters' work because so many quilts are donated.

I think people, in general, don't understand the skill it takes to any type of creative work, let alone the price of raw materials. People have asked me how much it would be to make them a quilt, I tell them that the fabric alone can be $200. At that point, they generally say "I didn't know fabric was that expensive" and drop the subject. Sadly, I think most people down-grade artistic endeavors.

I agree. If I say "I sew," they start bringing me mending!

I call it my sewing room, but when I'm in there I'm quilting

I call my room my quilt studio and everything I buy I call quilting supplies. I don’t ever want anyone to think I sew, I quilt! If people thought I sewed then they would request all sorts of stuff I don’t know how to do.

For a quilt I consider all the time I spend from picking out fabrics to the day of delivery as part of making a commissioned quilt. For quilts I am gifting I think of it a bit differently. I am not considering the time put into the quilt because I am thinking about the love I have for the person the quilt is destined for. My time is part of the gift.
I quilt mostly for the fun of it.
Garment sewing I do only for myself any more. I use to make clothes for my children when they were little and occasionally for myself.

I get request to do some mending. I say no thanks I just don't want to. That leaves them with no comeback.
My two girls know I don't like it but will do it for them. Many times I have taken their jeans and things to the dry cleaners for mending/hemming. . They never know the difference.

I will do some repairs for my kids.

I will also do some pants shortening - now and then.

Thank you for posting the commission work pricing, and her prices we from 5 years ago!

I call the entire process quilting. I also don't do mending or alterations, except for hemming pants for my immediate family. I just had someone start to ask about repairing worn out quilts and I cut her off right away.

I agree with you ladies, my sewing time is mostly quilting. My time is my own and I don't have to answer to anyone about what I make because I don't hire out. I do many charity items that are for a bidding type raffle. It is for diabetic kids medical supplies and a camp to teach them to manage the diabeties. I have donated to other causes but I really enjoy knowing that I have helped in some small way these children.
I enjoy making gifts for family and friends. It is a real joy to plan and sew something I imagine they will love and appreciate the time and work it took for me to give it to them. I am in my own little world while in my sewing room. Thank god I had this during the hard times we have gone through the last couple years.

If I’m just sewing I’m hemming someone’s pants, mending something, making someone something. If I’m quilting it encompasses the whole process- from idea spark to removing from the dryer when a quilt is complete.

as far as time goes- my family lovingly calls me a * Timer Queen* I keep track of my time and have timers set for break reminders- I’ve been known to stay at something all day- no breaks, no food, no water— not a good thing - sometimes needing days to recover from the back, neck, shoulder, knee pains, so I learned my lesson. I set a timer for somewhere between 45 minutes and 1 1/2 hours depending on what I’m working on. When it goes off I stop what I’m doing- walk away. Get a snack, something to drink, go do something else for a little while. If I’m working on a commission or paying task I write down my start/ stop times. If I’m working on my own project I still have a pretty good idea how much time I spend on it.

I avoid telling people I "sew" and even that I'm a quilter. Over the years I've fended off many requests from people who found out I "sew" and asked me to do alterations and get offended when I say "no." The same with those who find out I'm a quilter. All of a sudden they want me to make them a quilt, and offer to pay me a pittance for my "time." The sad part is that the tailoring and quilting skills I have don't seem to be worth much to most people. I'd like to say that it's because it's traditionally " women's work", however, my father-in-law is a wood turner and he gets the same attitude about what he does.
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It's because some folks don't understand (or appreciate) the amount of time that goes into making something. DH is also a wood turner and same thing. He had some items on display in his club's case (not for sale, just display) and was offered $5 for the pens he had turned out of exotic woods.

I've taken a couple of soft furnishings classes this past year (draperies, pillows, roman shades) and in making them myself, I have a much better appreciation for why custom draperies cost so much. There is a lot of waste with patterned fabrics and a lot goes into fabrication (much more hand sewing than one would realize).

Sewing is different than quilting, though the terms are used interchangeably in my home because others are not as finicky as I am.

For me, quilting includes any time I’m working on a specific quilt project.

I have been paid to make two quilts. We went and purchased the fabric together and the patterns were chosen from the ones I have. When considering the price of that work, there were only my time and basic supplies to consider. If they had not purchased the fabric, or I had shopped my stash, that would have been part of the price. Any time or money spent to complete a quilt should be considered along with the skill of the quilter, in my opinion.

I only make quilts.

Hmm- when I make quilts I use applique and embroidery along with other techniques. I consider it making a quilt, but the only part I consider as quilting is when I'm stitching the sandwich together. The rest I consider designing, cutting, sewing, ripping, etc.

I consider mending to be mending, and alterations to be alterations. Sewing can encompass all of it, and I take a lot of pride in my sewing abilities. And while I have done mending and a lot of alterations (did custom sewing for many years), I have no problem telling people that is not where my interest lies at this point so I don't do it. My husband does his own mending.

Right now I've been donating lap quilts to work for raffles. Coworkers do need to come to Accounting office (we have a campus) to sign up. Some are very enthusiastic, and others don't want to make the effort just for a small blanket. Works for me, only those that appreciate a quilt for what it is end up in the drawing.

people who found out I "sew" and asked me to do alterations and get offended when I say "no

They are the ones asking and they got an answer is the way I see it. Anyone that asks are the ones that expect what they want to be given to them. They act like the victim when denied. Don't fall for it.

The same with me even though I also have my yarn and needles for knitting, crochet, and counted cross stitch it is still my sewing room with 2 machines set up to quilt.

I sew garments and home dec. I also both piece and quilt my own projects. I sew for others on a fairly regular basis, but it is generally for charities. I end up doing a lot of crib sheets and pack and play sheets since my Bernina serger has a fantastic “elasticator” foot. I don’t get wound up when someone asks me to mend; I just tell them I don’t do that, and they should look for a local alternations shop. I have no guilt about it at all!

Not many people understand the labor intensity a quilt top requires. Had quilting is very time consuming but beautiful and soft . Long arm quilters can charge up to $200 and no one blinks an eye. I just say my quilts are for family and cannot be ordered.