This is why we give quilts - not sell them
 

I was asked to make a quilt by a friend (my boss) at work for a gift for her niece.

I had also "sold" her one (her words not mine!) a month or so ago I had made a while back - my king sized thousand pyramid quilt that she paid $100.00 for because she insisted.

Anyway I gave her all the fabric I had left back - and she came up with a total overall price after the batting and fabric total I had over what she paid. (She bought most of the top fabric - and gave me some cash for the back)

Attached is the spreadsheet to include what my labor cost ended up to be based on the total she came up with.

Granted - she asked how much - but like most of us - I can't put a price on my time...its just time.

Lesson learned....lesson learned......

You already know what your time is worth ...... and your boss already knows what you are paid!
You are worth the same when making quilts! :)

LOL! No way would she pay that for a quilt :)

I would like to know if I can send you some quilts to be quilted ... for $18.62 each???? I will get them right into the mail! Yeah..we hope you learned a lesson :)

$2.66 an hour. Love it!!!

Why would you feel you time is not valuable??? Mine sure is! And, I am stingy with my time! I started charging $20 an hour for sewing time years ago. You need to determine what your time is worth, and stick to it!

Then that solves it ... don't make stuff for her.

I hope that you do show her your accounting of the fees ..... you are only telling her that you don't need a raise at work, being that you are not making any money on your sewing/quilting.

I sent her the spreadsheet - and just said - for your records - its was a pleasure doing business with you :)

She replied that the labor was interesting - and how you really can't put a price on that...which is very very true...and again - why we "give" quilts!!

I have to say - at least I will have what I need to get a brand new big huge roll of batting - so that will be good!!

Its so hard to so stuff like this for friends. I really don't want to be like that - but when you put the numbers down it really opens your eyes....I just want to shut mine again!

Some of my family is starting to ask me to make quilts for their family...in other words a brother (I have 4 brothers & 1 sister I wasn't raised with) asking me to make a quilt for his granddaughter. I said I would and he asked me how much. I OFFERED to do it for free using SCRAPS. If anyone else asks (and this could potentially open the floodgates of askers) I will charge them the cost of at least all materials and only make it when I want to...not when they want it done. If it takes a year to get to them then so be it...1 of my nephews (I'm close to) asked me if I'd make a quilt for him, any pattern/any size as long as it was from me). He asked me well over a year ago and I'm finally getting around to cutting fabrics to make 1 for him. That's just how I roll.

You are so right. I just give quilts to my friends because it is so difficult to put a price on the quilt. After the first quilt, I would NOT make another. I would come up with any excuse that you have family members to make quilts for special occasions. Keep it friendly.

I enjoy shopping for craft items here and in my travels, and there is some beautiful craftsmanship here and abroad and I am always willing to pay the artisan what they ask. There is also cheap dreck out there which people throw together and then say 'handmade' to make a few bucks when perhaps they have marshalled their grade schoolers to do the work...and any adult with half a clue should know the difference!!!

A quilt is a huge amount of labor hours, and the craftsmanship adds to the cost...SHEESH! Your boss made a 'donation' to defray some of the cost of the work, she did not 'buy it'. You did not 'sell it'.
You made a lovely quilt and I hope you get some good karma here :) :) :)

I love that!!!

You got to be kidding.

2.66 per hour??? I think the decimal is off by one place. Maybe someone needs to learn the new common core math! :)

First off, the quilt is lovely. People just don't realize the time, effort and expense that goes in to a quilt. I've made two custom quilts...one King sized and one twin sized. Had the opportunity to do a custom baby quilt last year but decided to pass on it. It just is not worth the hassle. Although I have to say that I love the challenge. These are not patterns you can buy, they are customized quilts. This is why I "gift" quilts rather than try to sell them.

This is exactly why my mother would not make clothing for people. There were 4 kids in our family and I never had clothing that came from a store, except for underwear, until I graduated high school. She made everything for me and my sister - coats, all our clothing, hats and scarves and she also made the suits that my Dad and brothers wore. A neighbor had a friend who wanted dress made and asked my Mom to do it. Now this was the mid 50's and fabric and patterns didn't cost what they do now but then nothing does. Anyway, this woman expected to just pay for the material and thought my Mom would only charge her like $5.00 to make it. My Mom asked her how much her husband made per hour and why did she expect someone who made something in their home to work for any less. Needless to say she never made the dress and vowed never to make anything for another "outsider" again.

It's unfortunate that some people don't quite understand how much time and effort is put into our quilts. Hope you don't make another one for this woman unless she comes up with a lot more money.

Most people that do not do creative arts do not appreciate the time we put in. Many years ago I crocheted baby clothes and blankets and people wanted to buy them, but didn't want to pay a fair price. It was a hobby (not a business). I'm not good at selling. My SIL mother sold most of them for me at a fair price and a (commission?) for herself.

I am really having a hard time because she really does think that it is a good price. And I want to be ok with it. I really do like her a lot - I did enjoy making the quilt - I am soo glad she thought enough of me to even ask me to make this. I know she is very very close to this neice.

But...even with all that said.....its hard to look at those numbers. Believe me - she by no means intended to offend me. I don't doubt for a second that she really appreciates the work and the time. And if I told her I wanted $800.00 she very well may pay that - but I would never do something like that. It is my fault for not knowing what I was getting into. But as I said before - lesson learned. Even for a good friend...be careful.

As a side note - she made a T-shirt quilt top for her son last year. She sent it to her friend out of state to "quilt". This friend tied it - put the back on - took quite a long time to do it - and charged her like $300.00. At that time I felt bad and told her - don't ever do that again - I can help you! And I would.....But in this case it was more than just putting the back on and tying it. :)

Its just one of those things to learn the hard way. Even though all this is said and done - I am glad to have gone through the experience. :)

Do not undervalue yourself and your skills.

Think about this: One of the things that drives some of us nuts is how girls and certain women think they're not good enough - not pretty enough, not skinny enough, not big enough boobs, etc. Right? And some of us get over that and some of us don't.

Well, the same goes for our quilting. We need to stop critiquing and denigrating our work and thinking it's not worthy, especially since it's a "hobby". Just because it's a hobby doesn't mean we shouldn't get paid. We need to get over that, too. There are lots of people who get paid darn good money for their hobbies.

I recommend this excellent post on the subject.

http://huntersdesignstudio.com/ew-worth-it-2/

Love the quilt. My price is zip. I just won't do commissioned quilt. I make it when I want to. If I want to make a specific for some one, I ask about favorite colors. Just mix it into the conversation and make notes. SEnd myself an email with specs. I don't know what you make an hour but anything after normal hours is overtime and I use to get 1 1/2. If you make $15.00 an hour normally, then you should get paid $22.50 for every hour spent on quilt plus parts.

When family or friends ask me to make a quilt for them, I respond, "Sure! You pick out/purchase pattern. Then you need to shop for and purchase the fabric, batting and backing. I will be happy to work with you and show you how to put it together!" I have yet to have anyone take me up on it.

great articles and excellent info...

Ok - I suggest we all take 4 minutes and read that post. It is the best thing I have read in a long time. Thank you so much for Peckish! Hunters Design Studio is going right next to my shortcut to Leah Day and the Missouri Star Quilt Daily Deal short cut to be checked each morning!!!

Who works for $2.66/hr. She ripped you off

I had someone offer me $400.00 for a quilt that I had made some years ago. I did some figuring and told her that I was pretty sure that I could do better than 83 cents an hour! She realized in one big hurry that quilts are not cheap.

I tell people right up front. That my price may be more than they want to pay for me to make a quilt. I explain I have a longarm business and when make a quilt that takes me away from my business. I have had a few takers and they were very pleased with their quilts. Quilting is a hobby that I like to share with the people I love. Why do people expect that because it's a hobby you should do it for free?

This is why you don't underprice your work, even for friends and family, they will take advantage and expect it cheap every time. I see so many do it all the time. I would not accept under 500 for a king size , and even to me that is still underpriced

It doesn't sound like you feel good about this endeavor. It is too bad that it resulted in the situation.

I'm sorry you have a sniveling boss. I wouldn't make her another one. My first quilt cost $800 for fabric, batting, backing and long-arming. All the fabric was Moda. It is a king size. I would not even think of selling it for $800 much less $100. It took me 2 years to make it. I used to make $60 an hour when I worked years ago. Since I am older now, my time is way more valuable to me than $2.66.

You are caught between a rock and a hard spot with this friend/boss. It's hard to say no, it's hard to say the real cost when you work for someone who wants to pretend she doesn't know no one, but no one works for $2.66 an hour any more, at least not in this country. Expect to have more requests come your way from her; she is using you and the friendship to get something cheap.

Learn and live - -

I find it impossible to put a price on my work. I am currently doing a memory wall hanging (30 x 30) out of nightgown material. I don't even know the lady and I don't want to charge her. You made a beautiful quilt but I agree, $2.66 an hour? I hope that was a joke.

People who do woodworking even as a hobby do not do it for free. My husband restores old cars and he does not do it for free. People who make jewelry do not do it for free. Whatever your hobby is, the only reason I can see to do it for free is for someone you love. I don't do my quilting for free and have long refused to do paid work because I want to quilt for my family and special friends. You NEVER get paid what you are worth in the quilting world unless you are someone very famous.

Oh, please learn to value yourself and your talents. I have just been told a friend's daughter is going to 'try' to get pregnant next year. She never sent a thank you for the first quilt, so she ain't getting a second one! If folks ask for a quilt, I say I'll check my calendar. At the top of each page I've written the word, "No." So then it's not a lie, because the calendar does say no. It is rare for me to be able to finish a quilt for myself and I guard my sewing time. No 'nice guy' here. I don't care if they like me or not. Let them take their own classes, buy a machine, and all that it entails.
Love yourself first! :)

I had a call from a man I know during the summer that wanted two queen size patch work quilts and I told him $300 a piece, he tired to talk me down to $250 each and I told him $300. He agreed and asked if they would be ready by Christmas and I said yes. When I got them ready and called him this is what he said. I talk to my wife. My response was. What is there to talk to you ordered them, and he never called me back, there went my Christmas money. Since I knew him I didn't get a down payment and since he called me and asked me I was sure he wanted them, so you never can tell about people they always want something for nothing.

NO thread???? How does she think, this beautiful quilt of yours is held together? I'm so very sorry that your boss was so unkind to you. You did such a wonderful job on this. You need to print up your own spreadsheet with the prices on it (just basic prices as of 2015 - this also needs to be printed on the top). Such as quilting charges ie:1.5 cents per square inch - thread charges per spool (multiplied by the average number of spools used on a queen size quilt). Also show the average price per spool of specialty thread (again multiplied out). Also show the average number of hours spent cutting out a queen sized quilt (again always put it subject to change depending on the size, number of colors, number of changes in size and shapes per quilt). Number of design hours (from concept to shopping for fabric and notations to our layout walls - again this will depend on size and complexity of the quilt). List the average price of quality quilting fabric (I always use middle range of fabric prices from my LQS - without coupons or discounts). The same goes for backing (list the average price for backing - NOT pieced, you can also list a simple pieced backing charge - again no discounts used). Do the same for batting listing what is your preference to use. Also try to list an average number of hours for a quilt (some of us sew faster some slower, but we all put a LOT into our quilts so you need to get at least $10.00 per hour). Then show your totals and in large bold print "PRICES CHANGE DAILY AT THE LQS, SO THESE PRICES CAN CHANGE TOO" Also ALL supplies must be paid for in full and a 50% deposit must be made before ANY work can be started.
Then print it up and keep it at your desk. This way if you're asked again (I'm sure your boss will ask at the deal she got this time), you can show the chart and they can think about it. This will get you out of having to always say no as well as always eating the price of someone else's gift.
I found that when I charted out a middle of the road quilt, with prices and hours involved. I stopped selling myself short and so did the people who wanted me to work on something for them. Most people have no idea of what it takes (and some times we forget what all it takes), to make a quilt. Update your list every 6 months. Good luck

Sorry this happened but as others had said - people just don't realize the amount of time that goes into making a quilt. A friend/co-worker asked me several years ago if I could repair a quilt she had that came from her mom. I said yes and spent at least 40-50 hours replacing some of the crazy patches (with fabric from my stash) and doing hand embroidery similar to what had been there. Did some retying and called to let her know it was ready. When she came to pick it up she gave me $30 and asked if that was enough - I hesitated and then she gave me another $20. Needless to say I won't be working on that quilt again if I should be asked. We all learn things the hard way.

I love your Mother!! We need more woman like her in this world! It is one thing to gift, it is quite another, when someone asks you to make something. So now you are really in a pickle, do you continue "giving" your boss quilts for all her family/friends or do you tell her the truth?

A few years ago I sat down and did some serious figuring. I included everything that I could think of in this. If it were a business, I would be including everything, even electricity for the light and sewing machine, and gasoline to get to the store. After two hours of listing all that came into my mind, I came up with a figure of 19 cents a square inch (hand quilted). That may not sound like much, but a lap quilt of 45 x 60 inches would be $513.00. People will think twice when you list it this way.

Fast food workers in my area get paid $10.00 an hour, minimum wage is $8.00. She owes you a lot more money. I live in a neighborhood with people in their late 30's and early 40's. That all have kids and have asked me to mend, make costumes, and embroider stuff for them. The answer has always been NO! I tell them that I do my sewing and embroidery as a hobby and then I recommend a local alterations place. I have to started to pass out the newsletters from my LQS and sewing center hoping they will take the hint and learn to sew.