Somethin' for Nothin' and your Quilts for free...
02-07-2012, 05:47 AM
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Virginia
Posts: 811
My neighbor across the street loves my sewing/quilting. She brought a (her words) "Well to do" friend who was redecorating her bedroom over to see my work. My neighbor knew the friend wanted an oversized queen size quilt and matching shams/pillow cases all out of white/cream. My neighbor knew I could produce. So they came over on a Sunday afternoon. I showed her my book of finished items. I showed her a quilt that was in the middle of being worked on etc. She asked me how much for one just like it (not complicated and sized about 110x120) and I quoted her off the top of my head mind you $800 out the door. She GASPED - but I can buy one at Marshall's for $45! I kept my temper and was very polite as I ushered them out the door. That was almost 10 months ago. My neighbor still apologizes. It was quite eye-opening to me.
02-07-2012, 05:53 AM
#33
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Sweet Home, Alabama
Posts: 261
I totally agree with all of you. The first thing that comes out of my mouth when an interested party enquires is the cost of fabric and they have to buy it themselves. It is hilarious when the expression on thier faces change and then I get no business, which i want NONE of to begin with.
02-07-2012, 05:56 AM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Cedar Hill, TX
Posts: 430
My brother got all over me when I gave him a price for a quilt. Out Mother quilted but used scraps from a factory and only charged for the quilting. (30 yrs ago). He thinks I should charge the same price.
He buys several from garage sales so has no idea what it cost to make a new one
He buys several from garage sales so has no idea what it cost to make a new one
02-07-2012, 06:15 AM
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 533
I usually only sew for family and then only specific and special items. I also make halloween costume for the neighbor girls (I only have grandsons, so this is fun for me). Their mom takes the girls and me to the fabric store. The girls pick out the fabrics and patten and mom pays. I am there for 'guidance'. This works for me as I want to donate the time.
The older of the girls is 7 now and she is learning to sew. It's a great hobby for her and teaches the value of time and skill. Mom comes with little sister sometimes, but it is dedicated time for big sister to learn.
The older of the girls is 7 now and she is learning to sew. It's a great hobby for her and teaches the value of time and skill. Mom comes with little sister sometimes, but it is dedicated time for big sister to learn.
02-07-2012, 06:26 AM
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Buckley,Washington
Posts: 988
Thank you for this information... so far have only made quilts for gifts... when asked to make one for someone.. I've just told them the wouldn't pay for what it costs... and let it go at that.. made the mistake of turning something I loved doing into a business... now I don't like to do it anymore.. not happening again... but I have copied your information and do appreciate the info... just in case... Thanks
I've posted this before but it bears repeating here. I used to have this posted on the wall in my shop in Dallas, TX, and got many "aha" comments from quilters and non-quilters alike. Now I bring it out on occasions like the one described and say, " I hardly expect someone to actually pay me over $10,000 to make a quilt, although there ARE nationally known quilt artist receiving that regularly, but minimum wage consideration would be nice considering the hours that go into making one, wouldn't you think?"
What It Really Costs To Make a Quilt
QUEEN SIZED, MACHINE PIECED, HAND QUILTED
MATERIALS:
Fabric 12-16 yards @ $9per yd. $108 - $144 (This was figured 3+ years ago!)
Batting $25 - $40
Thread $8 - $16
Total $ invested $141 - $200
LABOR HOURS:
Piecing 20 to 60 hours
“Setting” (designing your quilt) 10 to 20 hours
Quilting 100 to 750 hours
Total hours invested 130 to 810 hours
TOTAL COST
Paying $1 per hour (Would you do this type of work for $1 an hour?!)
Materials $141 - $200
Labor $130 - $810
Total $271 - $1070
Paying minimum wage $7.25 (by law in 6/2009)
Materials $141 - $200
Labor (130-810hrs) $942.50 - $5872.25
Total $1083.50 - $6072.25
Paying skilled labor wage $20 per hour (Do you consider yourself trained and skilled labor in this craft?)
Materials $141 - $200
Labor (130-810hrs) $2600 - $16,200
Total $2741 - $16,400
(Found on the Internet 1995; unknown author)
Jan in VA
What It Really Costs To Make a Quilt
QUEEN SIZED, MACHINE PIECED, HAND QUILTED
MATERIALS:
Fabric 12-16 yards @ $9per yd. $108 - $144 (This was figured 3+ years ago!)
Batting $25 - $40
Thread $8 - $16
Total $ invested $141 - $200
LABOR HOURS:
Piecing 20 to 60 hours
“Setting” (designing your quilt) 10 to 20 hours
Quilting 100 to 750 hours
Total hours invested 130 to 810 hours
TOTAL COST
Paying $1 per hour (Would you do this type of work for $1 an hour?!)
Materials $141 - $200
Labor $130 - $810
Total $271 - $1070
Paying minimum wage $7.25 (by law in 6/2009)
Materials $141 - $200
Labor (130-810hrs) $942.50 - $5872.25
Total $1083.50 - $6072.25
Paying skilled labor wage $20 per hour (Do you consider yourself trained and skilled labor in this craft?)
Materials $141 - $200
Labor (130-810hrs) $2600 - $16,200
Total $2741 - $16,400
(Found on the Internet 1995; unknown author)
Jan in VA
02-07-2012, 06:32 AM
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Battle Creek, Michigan
Posts: 375
I have a friend who ask me to quilt two of her quilt tops that she said she would pay me to do. I said I would do one to start and then maybe the other. After completing the first quilt, that she said she loved, she did not ask how much or offer to pay me anything. Needless to say I will not be quilting the second. It is my own fault. At the time of request, I should have discussed a price. I think it is difficult when a friend/family requests quilting services. I do not quilt for others on a regular basis. I always feel like I should do it but, know it will end up being a gift. I have learned my lesson. In the future if asked I will either decline or discuss what I will charge to do it.
02-07-2012, 06:44 AM
#38
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Horse Country, FL
Posts: 7,341
I was showing a close friend a quilt that had been pieced by me and hand quilted by the Amish. I thought it turned out nicely. A couple of months later we were discussing her son's upcoming wedding and gifts. I told her that I'd probably be giving them money so they could buy what they wanted. She replied, "Oh, that's better than an old, ugly quilt, anyway." WOW! Why didn't she just slap me? So, beauty is, indeed in the eyes of the beholder and no one, except other quilters, understands the work and love that go into these works of heart.
02-07-2012, 06:54 AM
#39
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Portage, Michigan
Posts: 7,792
I have not been asked to make a quilt for someone in this kind of situation, but a long number of years ago I asked my sister-in-law if she would make a quilt for a raffle and I was really taken aback that she declined. I was not quilting at that time and did not know how much time it really took, how much the fabric and batting cost and how much of her quilting was done for the love of the process and the receiver of her work. NOW I understand. As many of you have mentioned, often goodhearted folks just don't know the costs in time and materials. Perhaps we need to gently but firmly inform them and make the quilt if WE want to and give it from our heart.
02-07-2012, 06:57 AM
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Edison, NJ
Posts: 772
Before I do a quilt for anyone I explain how much fabric and batting costs nowadays. I find that people that don't sew think it's cheaper to make things than to buy it from the store and they still think that fabric is $2.00 a yard. I took my friend to the store with me and let her pick out and pay for her own fabrics and then she realized that things don't come cheap! I also let them know that I'm not a factory and making a quilt takes precious time. By the time I finish all of that, they are either glad to pay me or decide that they really didn't want anything so expensive after all. That saves a lot of hard feelings for me in the end.
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02-16-2012 01:56 PM
