Problem: Expected quilts
07-12-2010, 05:29 AM
#51
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: A million dollar view!
Posts: 8,830
"I would love to make a quilt for you. I charge $25.00 an hour, you pay for the fabric, thread, quilting. Oh, she (the LAQ) charges by the square foot so the bigger the quilt and the more intricate the design the more money it cost. For a king sized bed you are looking at around $400-800.00". When do you want me to start it?
This should do it. If not, and they want you to make it, half the money up front, sign a contract, get 'er done, you just earned some bucks.
If you do the LAQ, they don't need to know that.
This should do it. If not, and they want you to make it, half the money up front, sign a contract, get 'er done, you just earned some bucks.
If you do the LAQ, they don't need to know that.
07-12-2010, 05:38 AM
#52
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: North of Boston, MA, USA
Posts: 3,524
Originally Posted by teacherbailey
Related question: If I made Baby #1 a quilt, do I need to make Baby #2 one as well? Mom is a good friend and coworker but refuses to find out the gender pre-birth and I hate working around that.....BUT---don't want #1 to have a quilt to use into at least the school years (It turned out about twin size or so) and #2 to feel left out. Due day is around New Year's Day so I have plenty of time as I make them really simple with great fabrics. What do you think?
07-12-2010, 05:42 AM
#53
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 434
I have the same problem with some people in my DH's fishing club! There is a lady president of the club who has never held a needle in her hand nor owned a sewing machine. She bought a quilt kit in Alaska and had the gall to give it to my husband telling him that I could make the quilt for her. He asked me to do it for her because she works very hard for the fishing club. Thank God it was only a table runner, as I have made nothing bigger than a lap quilt. So it took me almost 2 years to start it, and I had to forgo a lot of other things to get the table runner done--it was an appliqued salmon pattern that required all of the fabric to be fussy cut, and that needed a lot of quilting, including echo quilting. My DH was so appalled at the amount time it took me to work on the quilt, that he charged the woman $200 for my time, which she paid. It taught me that I will not do anymore custom sewing or quilting for anyone because it puts too much stress on me. Life is too short for that!!
07-12-2010, 05:50 AM
#54
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ATL
Posts: 205
Originally Posted by teacherbailey
Related question: If I made Baby #1 a quilt, do I need to make Baby #2 one as well? Mom is a good friend and coworker but refuses to find out the gender pre-birth and I hate working around that.....BUT---don't want #1 to have a quilt to use into at least the school years (It turned out about twin size or so) and #2 to feel left out. Due day is around New Year's Day so I have plenty of time as I make them really simple with great fabrics. What do you think?
07-12-2010, 05:58 AM
#55
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: md
Posts: 139
i am with the rest of the ladies..if it no longer is fun or enjoyable..its time to stop...most non quilters dont have a clue..i dont know if you charge but you are a fool if you dont..and for those that arent close to you...give them a rate sheet..even a little on the high side and you will see...only those that truly want a quilt from you will be knocking on your door..the rest of them will be at target or walmart...life is too short..i know you will make the right decision....
07-12-2010, 06:16 AM
#56
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: North of Boston, MA, USA
Posts: 3,524
Yep, had a co-worker bring in his sham for me to match as a gift for his wife. He was willing to pay, I did not really want to make it, have him a high estimate, he chose not to have it made.
07-12-2010, 07:06 AM
#57
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: PA
Posts: 2,879
Originally Posted by jackkip
I have recently been in the same boat. Having people requests quilts. And of course stupid me, I do it. After this last experience, I have decided to stop. I am miserable while making theses quilts. They are not what I want to be working on. I recently made a Baby quilt for a friends daughter. the daughter has yet to send a thank you or even a phone call. the friend did call and said "daughter just loved the quilt". (Just not enough to thank me for it).
Yes I am quite upset over it all. I put time and money into it. So I have made a decision to no longer cave into the pressure of making quilts because someone ask. I am only going to make one when I want to. This is not say I will never ever give one away. I know I will, but it will be on my terms and not someone else's. It is called boundaries and it is ok to have them. Good Luck :)
Yes I am quite upset over it all. I put time and money into it. So I have made a decision to no longer cave into the pressure of making quilts because someone ask. I am only going to make one when I want to. This is not say I will never ever give one away. I know I will, but it will be on my terms and not someone else's. It is called boundaries and it is ok to have them. Good Luck :)
07-12-2010, 07:16 AM
#58
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ATL
Posts: 205
I keep quilt tops for babies done and in a box. Every time I take a block or a technique class, I will make a crib quilt top out of it, put it away until someone has a kid (usually at work).
I told hubby if you volunteer me for anything sewing/quilting, your going to eat cereal for a month for dinner. He found out the hard way I meant it.
For those that request quilts, I dummy down and tell them I cannot do it on a home machine, this is how much my long arm lady charges me, as I give them her pricing list.
I told hubby if you volunteer me for anything sewing/quilting, your going to eat cereal for a month for dinner. He found out the hard way I meant it.
For those that request quilts, I dummy down and tell them I cannot do it on a home machine, this is how much my long arm lady charges me, as I give them her pricing list.
07-12-2010, 07:19 AM
#59
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Maryville, Tn
Posts: 1,786
A number of years ago I got into the same pickle. People that I worked with, but hardly knew.. and may I add, folks that would never consider me to be in their "social set", started inviting me to their wedding and baby showers when they saw the stuffed animals, hand made dolls and quilts that I had made for a few special friends. I finally quit going to the showers at all. If asked for items as "baby or shower" gifts, I became blunt and just asked how often do you spend $50 to 300 on a shower gift for a co-worker? To this day the "no shower" rule applies.
07-12-2010, 07:45 AM
#60
Banned
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 7,286
Originally Posted by PatriceJpeople you work with [i
expect[/i] you to make free quilts for them? they feel automatically entitled? if found a cure for that. when somebody asks me if i'll make a quilt for them i tell them that the minimum charge is $200 for a simple crib size - minimum quilting or tied. they flip and then leave me alone. if you add up the value of your time and skills, factor in the fact that time spent on a commission quilt is time you can't spend doing what you'd rather be doing, consider that you might get stuck making somehing you don't even like, and then add the cost of supplies, $200 is dirt cheap. frankly, i don't worry about hurting a moocher's feelings. neither should you. they are selfish boneheads who have relegated you to servant status. but, if you insist on piling unwarranted guilt onto your own shoulders, then start by saying you can no longer afford to give quilts away to everybody who asks for one. then follow up with the minimum charge.if i've misunderstood and people are not asking you, but you have simply created a self-inflicted obligation, the solution is even easier.don't make any more quilts for people at work. ba-dum-boom, problem solved. ;-)(almost forgot my other solution. i offer to teach them how to make one themselves if they buy the supplies. the offer includes helping them shop for the fabs and pick a good beginners' pattern.)
Absolutely spot on!! What she said!
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