I have just been asked to make a quilt for a silent auction for the Children's Museum in our city. Any suggestions on an appropriate pattern. I was thinking of full/queen size. Need by the end of September. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

is there a theme for the auction event? or is it just going to be sitting in the museum for a couple of days for people to bid on? If there is a theme you might want to think of either fabrics in those colors or themes or a pattern in that way. I think either some nice bright jewel tones would be wonderful. maybe in batiks with a star or diamond pattern. but those are what I like. maybe even a bargello would be nice in some bright colors.

Thanks for the great ideas. I'll post pictures when I complete it.

In my experience quilts go notoriously low in silent auctions. However if they are willing to sell raffle tickets for it, they will make more. People love applique and it will be fall so an autumn themed quilt might sell.

Totally agree. In a silent auction, even in affluent areas you will be lucky if the cost of fabric is recouped. If it goes for $100 or $200 you will be fortunate. Whereas raffles often raise close to $1,000 depending on how long raffle tickets are sold and the venues used to promote sales. You may wish to suggest to the organizers of the event they kick off the raffle at the silent auction event and run it through Christmas. Many people are willing to part with a few dollars for a chance at a quilt. Very few are willing to part with a few hundred. Before volunteering to pour your heart and soul into a quilt that will, at best, only bring in $300 or so, you may wish to rethink volunteering your efforts in a way to raise even more money for the museum.

From what I've seen and heard, I totally agree.

Thanks to all of you for your comments. I will definitely take them under advisement.

I made a quilt for a silent auction and they didn't even open it up. It only went for less than $100. Very dissapointing.

I made a queen size quilt with matching shams for a silent auction. Only went for $85.00, which was a big disappointment for me. Oh well, it was a donation so anything they get out of it is money in their coffers.

This too is a donation, so it's in their own best interest to bid high, but something is better than nothing.

Also, there are two ways to handle a silent auction. Just let people make a bid and put it into a box or jar.

OR write up a bid sheet and each person bidding will have a chance to up the previous bid. At the end of the bid period, the highest bidder wins. Usually, this method will yield much better results than the hidden bids in a jar. Set a increment minimium of 5 or 10 dollars---------or more.

Just an unseen bid often brings very low income. I'd hate for my work to go for a $100 or so.

I too have learned my lesson on the silent auction route, it would have been a better benefit for the charity if I had just written them a check for the amount of money I paid just for fabric and supplies. I didnt feel bad for myself, but I did for the event organizers.

our guild did a silent auction of a bunch of art quilts at this years show and so many of them didn't even get an opening bid.

the most one quilt went for in the silent auction was $45 - everyone agrees never to do the silent auction again.

the sad thing is most of the people who come to our show are quilters and they didn't even bid up the quilts - its not just the general public that doesn't want to pay for quilts.

Its so sad; at the auctions especially silent auctions. Many times an opening bid isn't even there. Then it gets lowered sometimes several times. I bought one just to get it started at $30 dollars - full size !! Then gave it away. I made some table runners and they don't even bring more than $15 - $25. That is alot less work and you are still being supportive of the cause. I would say that a raffle held over a period of time would bring in more money; most people will open their pocketbook for $1.

Good luck ~

I refuse to make a quilt for a silent auction. I will make a quilt to raise money with a raffle. In my experience, silent auctions never raise enough money for a quilt whereas raffles do (provided tickets are priced reasonably and the group makes an effort to sell tickets over a long period of time).

If it's a charity you really like, I would just make a cash donation.

I agree as well.

raffle = quilt

silent auction = pair of potholders.

just my opinion.

Just send a donation as I've yet to see a quilt bring very much in a silent auction. I was asked for one this spring and sent an apron and cookbook. I bet it generated as much as the quilt would have and I had a lot less time and fabric tied up in it.

I agree with the others. Silent auctions work okay for small things, but even then there should be a minimum price set for each item. Raffles work much better, but then you need to sell tickets at as many events as possible, and that can be very time consuming.

Just because you make a big, beautiful quilt there is no guarantee there will be big, beautiful bids, especially at a silent auction. Too many quilters have been disappointed when their work is practically given away at one of these events.

Since it's to be for the Children's Museum, why not make a baby's or doll's quilt? Or even two or three in traditional patterns.

Make sure it is hung out where people can see it. We had a silent auction and they left my quilt in the plastic bag. Although it was clear, it did not show very well and only sold for $60.00 (lap quilt). I agree with making the cash donation.

An older pattern would fit the MUSEUM idea. How about a lap quilt.... simple. I agree with the comments above. Silent Auctions don't always bring in the value of the quilt. I wouldn't feel so bad if it was a simple patterned lap quilt. Do what your heart tells you.

Personally, I wouldn't spend a lot of time making a quilt for an auction, something quick and easy, if at all. I would give them a donation of money instead, faster and you can decide how much to give them. Personal opinion

seamstome is right on though. A raffle is totally different and I would be willing to donate a quilt, but to do a raffle they need more time to get the tickets, and promote the raffle and the drawing, so I'm back to saying give them money.

Silent auctions are awful for raising $ for expensive items like a queen size quilt. Either ask if it can be sold on a raffle or make a child's quilt. I think a child's quilt would be very appropriate for a fundraiser for a children's museum. You could even make 2 of them if you're feeling generous.

I made a throw/small twin quilt for my grandson's football team. At first they wanted to just auction it at a game. I strongly suggested a raffle and they raised more than $1000. Go raffle if possible.

Maybe make a gift card?? type offer for a quilt of their choice up to a certain amount for the basket. I think some people might be interested in a quilt of their choice.

I think the reason quilters do not bid on quilts is that they say I can make my own , why should I bit on it. That's just my opinion.

If it is for a children's museum, perhaps something that would apeal to children and their parents, like an 'I spy' quilt, child-sized.

Have you thought about something "children" themed. To tie in with the museum.

In the most recent issue of the McCalls quilting magazine there is an article on tips for making an auction/raffle quilt that will sell for good money. I'd check that out to start with.

Our quilt group did well with a french braid quilt, but it was raffled and not auctioned.

Can you put a minimum starting bid?
Maybe do a lap quilt instead of full size.

if it has to be silent auction then make a fall or winter holiday wall hanging....and be sure they hang it not leave it folded...best if there is a minimum bid that keeps it from being sold to one of the committee before the event even starts, unfortunatly i speak from experience.

I am very interested in the information given here. Our guild has a beautiful donated quilt which the donor wants to be used in a silent auction....I had initially thought about a raffle. Now I am re-thinking the whole thing. Thank you everyone for your thoughts.

I agree with these comments. While I would love to bid in silent auctions, I seldom have the money I know a quilt deserves. But I almost always buy raffle tickets, knowing my money goes to a good cause and I can always dream of winning!

Same here! I think that's why raffles work so well.

It's fairly easy to raise $1,000 for a quilt by selling raffle tickets. You have to make sure it's legal in your state, and you have to follow your state's rules. Pricing tickets depends somewhat on area, but in general it seems that $1 per ticket or 6 tickets for $5 works really well in many areas. Allow plenty of time for people to sell tickets, and try to give all ticket sellers a good-quality photo of the quilt to show people.

How many people at a silent auction can bid $1,000 on a quilt? That's why they often raise only $150 or less at silent auctions.

OR write up a bid sheet and each person bidding will have a chance to up the previous bid. At the end of the bid period, the highest bidder wins. Usually, this method will yield much better results than the hidden bids in a jar. Set a increment minimium of 5 or 10 dollars---------or more.

Just an unseen bid often brings very low income. I'd hate for my work to go for a $100 or so.[/quote]

I agree with this method. The 1st time I donate a quilt to be auctioned, this seen method was used. It resulted in a bidding war between two people and had good results.

Think I'd make a lap quilt. People seem to like the size.

On the other hand:

I once was part of a silent auction that included a very folky, colorful handquilted quilt. I don't remember the size, but it was hand done. At the close of the silent auction, we had two ladies fiercely bidding against each other. One tried to take possession of the bid sheet and pen so the other would not have another chance!

We calmed them down and asked each to write down her top bid on a piece of paper. The highest bid won the quilt.

For a children's museum, I'd certainly do something childlike, with bright primary colors.