They have no idea about quilting
 

On a local website, someone posted yesterday. "Looking for Quilter to make a tshirt quilt for a December birthday?" Wow, all I could think of is people have no idea about quilting. I didn't reply of course. But I did get a good chuckle out of the request thinking, "No, nothing is going on this time of year." Happy Sewing y'all!

So true! People who don't do various crafts tend to vastly underestimate the amount of time that goes into it. I remember someone expressing interest in a hat I was knitting and saying that she could pay me for one. It was a complicated two color pattern - I would guess that it took about 6-8 hours to make that hat. I remember thinking that if I charged even minimum wage for my time, plus materials (good quality wool yarn), no way would she willing to pay that. I just ignored her suggestion/request.

I came across a wonderful quote in the knitting world, that translates well to other crafts, including quilting:
..

hahaha! Love that quote! And so true.

My mother and sister had no idea what went into a quilt, how much fabric it took, the time to wash and/or starch, press, cut, sew, press, layer, quilt and bind. Sometimes back breaking from bending over for long periods of time. Now that they've seen me in action they know and appreciate.............Of course they still wanat their's done...............YESTERDAY!!!!!!

There will be some silly soul that will reply and do it for little of nothing. . Thus setting the standard of I got this made cheap so why are you charging so much?

You are right so many people have no idea the time and concentrated work that goes into making a quilt. I chuckle even more when it comes to how much some people are willing to pay for a home made quilt. I had one person offer me $50 for a queen size quilt. Of course I said no way.

I agree-everyone thinks if you sew you can make anything in a day or two. I know some people have no idea about sewing and I understand that too.

A lot of people do not know/realize how food is produced.

It is magically in the grocery store (most of the time in the USA, anyway).

Or anything else, for that matter.

Bearisgray, you are so right!

Multiply that $50 by at least 10 and maybe you’re close!

So true. I heard someone ask why it was necessary to kill animals when they can get meat at the grocery store!

Some people. lol. I've seen a post on a news story where they were talking about the challenges of fall harvest for farmers and someone said why do we need farmers when we can just go to the store. Seriously, I hope it was someone trying to be funny but she kept defending her position. My husband is a full time farmer so I know the work that goes into it as well as the lack of appreciation from the general public.

I’ve had ( late timing) quilt request s for Christmas a few times- I discuss the project, determine if I realistically have the time and quote the price- last one was a throw size, not too complicated, had 3 weeks to get it done- I quoted $450, when I got it done 4 days early I was paid $600 for it- don’t just Assume people won’t pay fairly, or don’t know what it takes- assumptions often turn out wrong.

On the other side of this coin are quilters themselves, who have started discussions on forums, about “help, I have a baby quilt to make and the shower is six days away... I just found out..”

My thought is that if you find yourself in that predicament, go buy some baby supplies, don’t make a quilt in a hurry, and stop sending the message that quilters can always pull off magic.

Let's not bash the ignorant... Ha ha ha!

When people see how many quilts are donated - it seems reasonable to me for them to assume that making one is "not a big deal".

Yes! thanks for pointing this out--think we do ourselves no favor when we buckle into taking on a project that there is just not enough time to do !

All we can do is educate the ignorant, one person at a time!

But sometimes it feels like you're beating you head against a stone wall.

I have not mastered the ability to decline a family request for a t-shirt quilt! (I don't charge family) Home made items in general are undervalued by most. I also cut glass for stained glass windows. Also very labor intensive. I've made a few custom windows for profit, but I don't work for strangers for free!

I'm not done! Just because I'm retired does not mean that I sew all day! I only have 1-2 hours daily to craft after all the other obligations, and it is precious time and must be planned and prioritized. Right now I'm working on a flamingo mosaic in the glass studio(garage) and a DP quilt needs binding in the sewing room(bedroom). Too many projects, not enough time...

Whenever anyone asks if I will make a quilt for them for pay, I say I cost too much. I do! My time is more precious to me than any amount of money, and I have my own projects lined up. It just so happens that some of those projects are for charity, but they are still things that I want to do. And I did just make a child’s quilt in 2 days for my daughter’s friend’s child who had brain surgery. Super simple designs in cute fabrics can still make a special gift. I just finished quilting some quilts for my guild, and when they asked if I wanted some more to work on, I said not until after Christmas! She laughed and knew exactly why. Since we won’t be getting together for Christmas this year, I will be mailing more so they have to be finished even earlier.

yes I know what you mean I made two little lap quilts for two friends simply because they begged me and I said I would my word is good I have learned to keep my mouth shut lol

I could easily make a baby quilt in two days for a special baby. I don't charge for quilts but, I pick who gets one and use what colors and pattern that I choose. I do make donation quilts for foster kids in my county. I make them all year long and do it when I want.

I made one T-shirt quilt (trade with a neighbor) top only, never again!! I would have no problem declining such a request. To me that feels like sewing, not quilting.
Stained glass is awesome, I would love to see some pictures! I had a friend who did that. He would do commissions both for pay and for friends, but on his own time. His rule - the first time you ask me, "when do you think it will be done?" that's it. Forget about it.

I definitely feel that way, Sandy. You can't educate people about things they don't want to be educated. It's like trying teach a pig to sing. It just wastes your time and annoys the pig.

I so understand this. My boss has a tendency of taking on too much work, then asking me to do extra to bail her out. She always thinks that she can motivate me with extra money. I'm getting to a stage in life where that doesn't work so well anymore.

I've never made a tee shirt quilt and from all I read on this board I'm never going to either!

I'm the same Susie! I never really wanted to make one and after reading about them I really don't want to make one.

I actually really want to make a t-shirt quilt and was thinking somebody might have some advice on the best interfacing to back the shirts. I have a ton of science themed shirts that seem to have "shrunk in the wash" during Covid. (eats another cookie). I would like to have them as a cozy to watch TV with during the cold months.

I just got an email from the guy I made the T-shirt quilt tops for, asking about how many he would need for another one. Not sure if he was wanting me to make it but I shut that right down, saying I am only sewing masks, and haven't quilted in months, and suggesting another local business that might know someone who can do it.

It was a lady that called a radio station saying there was no reason for any animal to be killed because we could get meat from the grocery store. The radio guy asked her where the grocery store got the meat and she couldn't answer the question. Perhaps it finally dawned on her where the meat came from?

My sixth grade teacher told my class to pay attention as we got older to how many ignorant people are using up all the good air.

My husband walked into a business for a meeting and was chatting with the receptionist while he waited. The topic du jour was the swine flu. She said she wasn't worried about getting it because she doesn't eat pork. 🤦

No, they really don't have a clue about quilting, I had that kind of discussion when I was talking to my best friend when she wanted me to do a completely custom quilt and after I finished designing it and I started quoting her how much everything was, she flipped out and we are talking the ugly kind.

After I calmed her down, I went through step-by-step why it is handmade quilts are so expensive and why hers was getting up in price so quickly. She wanted hand-dyed, throughout the entire quilt (back included)- that expense alone put her into sticker shock. I asked her how much she actually thought fabric cost and had she ever been in a fabric store before, the last time she bought fabric was over ten years ago and it was only a yard....at $1.99.

Then we got into the price for the thread, I only use Aurifil and she asked why it would be so expensive when I could get thread at $1.00 at Walmart. I told her I wasn't going to make her a Walmart quilt that might last two or three years, I was making her a quilt to last the rest of her lifetime and beyond. Then, she hit me with the one question that I'm sure every quilter on this board has heard....

"Well, if it's so expensive to make, why can I go to Walmart and buy one for a couple hundred?"

Maybe because they buy their fabric in bulk, maybe because they don't use quality, 100% cotton fabric, maybe they don't use quality thread. I again told her 'I'm not making you a Walmart quilt, you wanted a custom quilt, you won't be able to go to another quilter with the same ideas and demands and get it any cheaper and you certainly can't go to a Walmart and ask for a custom quilt.'

So after a complete re-design so I could drop the yardage amount down to something more reasonable for her, she was again excited she had a custom quilt coming, with no where near the amount of hand-dyed fabrics, but there's still some in it. She also has a new appreciation for what I go through to design and make a quilt. She'll be absorbing 100% of the cost, the only thing I'm getting in return is a fresh Muslin bolt because I told her it would be cheaper to buy it by the bolt versus yardage and the Muslin was my commission fee.

Well, to be honest, most of use didn't realize the costs of sewing until we got into it. And some retail stores perpetuate this thought (Walmart comes to mind).

Glad your friend now understands more.

It wasn't easy to get her there, but when I shot her website links and physically showed her prices and she couldn't argue the point any further, then I was able to reel her in and help her understand more. You are right that the cost of sewing is expensive, I used to make candles and thought that would be my most expensive hobby, but quilting definitely put it to shame. I just wish there were others out there that were like my best friend, that would finally understand the situation but I know it's a fool's gambit. One of these days, I'm going to find someone that just won't get it. Which is why I will honestly only quilt for family and very, very close friends.

My mom taught me to sew, crochet, embroider, and love the fiber arts when I was a girl, so after she retired I started teaching her to quilt. We went to a fabric store and my dad oh-so-generously gave her a $5 bill and told her to have fun. He was not joking. He seriously thought she could buy a couple of yards with that five dollars. I told him she might be able to buy a needle with that, but not much else. We kind of got into an argument about it, which I couldn't understand because her other hobby is gardening, and he is happy to drop a hundred bucks or more when they go to the nursery.

The sad fact of life is China. And not just quilting. We (in the USA) have become used to cheap clothes, home goods, etc. My most recent sewing experience is from sewing clothes and this is big topic in that world. I'm not trying to be po!itical. The sad fact is, we have lost our appreciation for the sewing arts because so much of our consumption has been relegated to cheap labor. That includes, not only clothes but quilting. What used to be a necessity of life (warmth via a quilt from scraps, for instance) is now a "hobby". why ? Because We have (speaking generically, of course) lost our appreciation for the EFFORT and time it takes to make quilts (clothes, home goods, etc.). For the "crafter" its a weird dichotomy.