It would be heavenly to hear folks LOVE to buy just the tops to put those of us who cringe about quilting out of our misery. :?

A Mennonite woman told me she sells tops of quilts now and she feels they sell great because she can sell them for so much less. She hand quilts them though. She has sold some at an auction.

But what about wall hangings? Table runners? Do you think folks would buy them and either do the quilting themselves, or have someone else do it? Or do you think they'd rather pay a bit more for a completed project?

I'm planning on signing up for a big craft show in November, so I'm trying to make many smaller items. (I have several quilts to sell already.)

Anyone have any experience with this?

I don't have any experience with selling my stuff, but it seems there is a market out there for just about everything. I expect there are those out there who like the quilting and not the piecing (perhaps someone with a new longarm machine who wants to play with it). When I go to craft shows I'm amazed at the stuff folks will buy. I say go for it. If they don't sell, you've still got them to play around with afterwards. :)

out of curiousity I just went to Ebay and typed in "quilt tops" for a search and got over 1700 results! I don't know how well they are selling but there are alot of them for sale! Some are just the blocks, some are panels, fun to look at!

I think that's very good advice! :D

:shock: Okay! Sounds like I can give up on the quilting part for now.

excuse me while I celebrate...

OH HAPPY DANCE AND JOYFUL MOMENT!!!!!!!

I checked the stuff on ebay. Some is very poor quality, others seem nice but are selling so cheap!

I guess it can't hurt to try--at least for the bigger stuff. I'll try to finish the table runners I make.

I, myself, would have no use for a table runner--but I'm glad others do. :D

barnbum, If you are going to a show to sell, offer a bit of everything. You will learn first hand at what is hot for the year or the interest. If you can, do some smaller items like quilted pot holders (30's versions are so cute) ,small sewing kits, basket w/kit and directions of how to quilt, all the way to finished quilts...you might even have a basket full of odd quarters for a fair price or 1/8 pieces. Even used quilt books sold as used will prob be a hit!! Even though those of us that have much fabric, quilts, etc....we'd all prob leave w/something in hand from your booth:)). We always love those fabric treasures!!:))Jut a thought...skeat

By doing a 'variety' end of quilting, you will also open up to all 'variety' of pricing...so no matter what amount is in someone's pocket, you will have the item they could afford or want...There's 2 cents worth of ideas:0)Skeat

My old teacher sells all that and more at craft shows. One of her best sellers it aprons. The full size ones with the tops included. Another thing she sells are the little purses and tote bags with pockets inside. She just does the quilting herself with stich in the ditch or 1/4 inch away from every ditch. It seems to work good. I've used the stencils and drew them on paper and sewed around them and pulled them off just like paper piecing. Worked pretty good for me.

The aprons and wall quilts sell like crazy.

I've sold my tops on Ebay for years. I found I get a better price for unfinished tops than for a finished quilt. There are buyers that either prefer not to piece a top and love to do the quilting or they prefer to buy because of the color schemes. I try to think ahead to the next major decorative holiday..let's say the 4th of July, and have 10 projects ready to sell by the beginning of June. Wallhangings, placemats, things like that. Have your Christmas projects ready to put up for auction or "buy it now" by mid-October. I also put in a gentle reminder that quality fabrics are expensive and the work put into a project is worth paying for. Don't feel shy about asking for what you want out of it. if it doesn't sell , it's still yours:) Good Luck!

Thanks folks! Great ideas here. I bet I have some books I could part with. I was thinking of having different piles and have little tent signs (folded tag board) saying what's in the pile and price ranges. I'd have unfinished and finished piles--and so far I have table runners (well, building steadily on that pile-I cut out pieces for 5 more today!), wall hangings, lap quilts (all finished so far--but not by me :wink: ) to one finished queen size quilt. I hope to add 3-4 lap quilt tops, more wall hangings, and a variety of colors and sizes in runners. I've never made potholders--but there seem to be a lot of those for sale around here.

Pricing stuff is very tricky!

My daughter is crocheting and knitting scarves and afghans. :D