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Quilts that you make to sell??

Quilts that you make to sell??

Old 07-31-2012, 04:24 AM
  #21  
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I've only sold one baby quilt, took it to my LQS for advice, and shop owner said 3 x costs to make.
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Old 07-31-2012, 04:54 AM
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It depends on the quilt and where you want to try to sell it. Do some research if you choose to sell it on line via Etsy check out what comparable quilts are selling . If its local via a craft show ... attend a few and see if there are quilts for sale and the price.
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Old 07-31-2012, 05:09 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by Latrinka View Post
I've only sold one baby quilt, took it to my LQS for advice, and shop owner said 3 x costs to make.
When I sold my embroidery work and ceramic work, I always charged 4 times the original cost of the piece I was working on. For example, a piece of greenware would cost $2.00 - sell for $8.00. I do, however, think quilts are different. You never get out what you put in. And especially in these times when money is at a premium. I would much rather have a side hobby to sell and give my quilts to family and friends. If I made a double quilt, all of my time, materials, quilting, hand work, I wouldn't be able to afford it! Thank heaven for my stash!!!!! I can make all the quilts I want to and give them away. But each to his own. I don't even make quilts on request except for the cancer quilts I have made that go up on a raffle for the Susan G. Komen Three Day Walk in St. Paul. They make money!!!!!!

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Old 07-31-2012, 05:42 AM
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You might try quilts for sale, it is a website where individuals sell their quilts. It is hard to sell quilts for what they are worth, most people don't appreciate hand work anymore. I only make rag quilts to sell. I get material at thrift stores and I buy flannel sheets for backing and middles. Also, I find handmade jumpers for $2.50 because no one wants them. They have lots of material if they are gathered at the waist and of course the bigger the size the more material. I buy denim jumpers too. Men's shirt are good but you really have to get a deal because of the small amount of fabric. I can sell baby and lap quilts for $40 - $50 and full size for $80 - $100. You have to beat Walmart prices if you're going to a flea market or even craft shows. I sell at a local flea market and on Etsy but it is still slow except for the holidays. If you can save on your materials it will help you a lot. I also feel good about recycling instead of always buying new.
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Old 07-31-2012, 05:51 AM
  #25  
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I have been quilting as a business for the last 30 years. I have sold most of the quilts I made. Once the imports started coming in, sales went way down. What can you do, it is a global economy.

You have to figure out how much you would be happy with. Take a crib quilt. If someone gave you $1000 for it you would be ecstatic. If you only got $5 for it you would be unhappy. Now work in from both ends.

We used to sell them for much more than 3x materials, fabric was only $2 a yard (wholesale) and they were hand quilted. Around $400 and up for a bed sized quilt.

I have had a bed size, hand quilted, small piece scrappy Log Cabin on Quilts For Sale website for about a year, for $200. No bites. They do not have a good way for someone to search if they are looking for hand quilted. I am doing better on Etsy.

ETA - plus, when we started, very few people were making quilts. Now there are something like 20 million quilters in the US, it is getting to be like afghans - every one knows someone who can make them one.

Last edited by ptquilts; 07-31-2012 at 05:56 AM.
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Old 07-31-2012, 05:53 AM
  #26  
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"quilted by check" I am also wondering what it means. Please
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Old 07-31-2012, 06:13 AM
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Originally Posted by PlanoDebbie View Post
I'm finding a good market in t-shirt quilts. Since it's more of a personal item, people are willing to spend the money on it. Just finished my 3rd one. I charge $16/shirt. For an average quilt of 20 shirts I get paid $320. Only took me two days to prep and assemble the whole quilt top. Hopefully I can set it up on my longarm next weekend to finish it.
Thanks for this info. I'm finding a recent group of requests for t-shirt quilts so setting a price per shirt is a great idea.
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Old 07-31-2012, 06:46 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by quiltsforme View Post
Quilts that you make to sell, how do you price them? I'm thinking i may try to start selling some of my quilts, and I have no idea on how to price them...I know you never get paid for your time thouigh..
I don't sell my quilts and I haven't watched this video but it might be of interest to you.
http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2012/ets...ofit-workshop/
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Old 07-31-2012, 01:01 PM
  #29  
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I just complete one with 22 t-shirts for $15.00 a shirt ($330.00- this included thread, interfacing and my labor), plus the cost of batting, backing fabric, label with their picture - optional), long arm quilting, shipping w/insurance = total equal $505.00. They sent me $150.00 down payment when I received t's and she has sent me the balance. I will return quilt with an added bag to carry to football games etc... as an added bonus. I will upload a picture when I get foldover edge completed in the next couple days. Can't wait to do my next one.
This was for a lady in Texas, we had a mutual friend that ask if I might be interested - I live in North Dakota. It worked out great. I sent her an email with what I would charge and all the stuff that it included and what would need to added with prices. I included some various pictures of t'shirt quilts and what a approximate price might be if she chose one of them. So it was her decision if she wanted to have me make it before I started. If she didn't, I was out nothing. It was a win win for both of us.

Originally Posted by PlanoDebbie View Post
I'm finding a good market in t-shirt quilts. Since it's more of a personal item, people are willing to spend the money on it. Just finished my 3rd one. I charge $16/shirt. For an average quilt of 20 shirts I get paid $320. Only took me two days to prep and assemble the whole quilt top. Hopefully I can set it up on my longarm next weekend to finish it.
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Old 07-31-2012, 01:24 PM
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location matters- also you should visit sites that offer handmade (vs commercially manufactured) quilts for sale & see what people are asking- also look at the ones that have sold- just because someone priced their quilt at a certain amount doesn't mean they sold it for that-
there is a website called-
quiltsforsale- check them out-
also etsy-
those are the 2 i know of there are probably lots more- also quilt shops often sell store display quilts when patterns or fabric lines are no longer available- see what they are going for- what may sell for $350 in one place may easily sell for $750 somewhere else- location matters
also Etsy -those are the 2 i know of- there are probably many more-
also check on-line and local quilt shops- for links to 'quilts for sale' often they sell their store display's when the pattern or fabric line is no longer available- or they are simply moving on- they generally charge what the market value is-
check the local guild- see who else is selling & what their prices are like.
a (crafty-rule of thumb standard) is 3x materials- which includes, fabrics, batting, thread, patterns, quilting- what ever you put into it- this sometimes works- sometimes needs to be adjusted up or down- but it is just an (average formula) used by many crafters- not necessarily quilters.and---location matters= what i may find sells well for $350 here may seem like a steal in a city somewhere- what i sell for $750 in the city
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