It is well worth over 150.00, I would go 250.00 at least.

I think $150 is way too low, I'd do a minimum of $250-$300. I once saw the Eleanor Burns log cabin wreath at Keepsake Quilting,nicely done, but non-descript fabric and thewoman wanted $400, that's ridiculous for a quilt less than 36" square, maybe a queen at the very least for that price. However, most people don't want to pay what the quilt is worth just in fabric alone,they like Wal -Mart prices, but I don't think they have ever really compared the two, as there is no comparison. When I first started crafting in the "stone ages", the norm was 3 times the cost of materials, but a lot depends on the demographics. I'm sure this is clear as mud, but never price your quilts based on chain store quilts. Best of luck to your MIL on her craft store. You might also make lower priced items, like placemats and matching napkins, table runners, small wall hangings, etc.

At least double what it cost to make it.....then add a bit extra depending on the clients who come to the shop.

Goodness someone has to put a foot down here !


No lower than $300.00 or I will personally fly out there ,on my broom, and shake you. Sorry, your husband may be a sweetheart but he obviously knows nothing about quilts....
keep him in the bedroom not the sewing room !

LOL ok ok Thank you for the input.

I agree with all the replies. lovely quilt

I have to agree with all comments here. $150 is way too little to charge. In your area, is there the type of clientele that would pay what it is obviously worth? If not, I'd stick to table runners/placemats/mug rugs, etc. Let us know how it all plays out...

LOTS of good advice here that I cannot add to other than to suggest you look at Etsy pricing.
People have no clue what goes into a quilt but you should at the very minimum get the cost of materials and electricity.
Then start buying material with a discount and try to price them higher.
At some point, I'd rather donate than sell for less than the worth. Makes me angry so I'd rather give to someone who would appreciate it and cannot afford anything like it at all.
IMHO

My theory..you never know WHO will walk inthe door and plop the $$$ down! Don't assume anything!
Sandy

Speaking of what the Amish charge: my DDIL's parents recently bought a full/double size quilt from the Amish in Indiana, & they paid $1000.00 for it.

I would say $350-$400, we need to stop "selling ourselves" so cheaply!

I have a friend who seems to be more successful at selling her quilts. She doubles the cost of materials and then rounds up. So for example if she has $80 into materials she doubles to $160 and rounds up to $200. She will barter down but never lower than double the material cost. She puts quilts in the quilt show boutique, a craft consignment shop and the local quilt shop. She says that she rarely sells her shop quilts because most of the customers want to make their own.

I have noticed than sale of quilts, auction quilts, raffle quilt tickets etc. seems to have really dropped off. I'm frequently asked to donate a quilt for an auction. I usually do so, but sure feel discouraged by how little $$$ they bring in.

I would also price it higher. I have had about 8 quilts appraised for sale so I have a good, fair price and in writing! It will at the very least make a great backdrop hanging in her shop and can be swapped out for a new one to keep things looking fresh and new.

I agree with the $175-300 range depending on the fabric costs. I have been told by a one of my teachers to charge the retail cost of fabric x 2.

Your quilt is lovely and I think you first price is a little low. You should see if you can get your fabric wholesale if this you plan on making others. People just don't understand how much we pay for materials and how much time go into our quilts. Hope this works out for you.

How long did it take to make it? Did you quilt it yourself or did you pay someone to quilt it? I would charge expenses plus a minimum of $10.00 per hour for your time. Beautiful quilt.

Recently saw online a web site that advertised that the web site owner would make a quilt, start to finish, for $500 labor. That did not include materials!

Why not put one in the shop for $250 - $300 and see what happens? Be prepared, though, one thing that might happen is that your MIL will stop asking you to make them for her shop!

Also, ask MIL what she had in mind to charge when she asked you to make the quilts. She must have a target price/market in mind.

Good luck!

Perfect solution! Great thinking.

Golly, I've seen them in shops here 15 yrs ago for 600$. I'd sit on mine rather than give them to someone who wants to pay you nothing.

Many of the smaller craft shops carry the cheap imported poorly made quilts and you will not be able to compete with those prices. Personally, I would not stock quilts at this time, but small items to see what the market will stand and what kind of customers you would get. If they just want something to decorate their house for a little while they won't pay much for the items. If they like REAL quality, then you might want to try a quilt or two, but don't price too low, you can always reduce the price, but can never raise it.

I just charged $200.00 for a baby quilt I made. I take the cost of fabric and times it by 2, then if I quilt it I add on more.

Your quilt is beautiful. Have you tried looking at other places that handle hand made quilts? I would put a $200.00 price tag on it and see if it sells. If it doesn't then you could "put it on sale". If it goes quickly, then I'd price the next one a little higher. If you are putting two or more in the shop, make them different prices. You will soon see what sells and how much to ask for them.

I know a women who sells bed pillow shams for $130. for each piece - again demographics come into play - sells mostly in NY city

I agree. You should double your costs and $300 is not unreasonable. Hopefully it will sell in your area!

Melody, here is a link to a chart that shows how to figure the value of your craft! I pinned it on Pinterest.
Good luck!
http://tolmema.wordpress.com/2012/01...made-products/

I'm sure you will find this thread many times here, but the answer is mostly always the same. DO NOT UNDERVALUE YOUR WORK just because people say a handmade quilt should be inexpensive. Not only the supplies and work you put into it TODAY, but the years of practice you need to have to get your skills to be good and marketable. Isn't that what other professionals say- the years of schooling, office furniture, equipment etc, goes into the pricing. Do you think a plumber or electrician only charges triple for the cost of a part? Of course not! Their skills are valuable and so are yours!

I agree with all the above. How about table runners? Great job on the quilt too.
Eileen

it is a great quilt but depending on where you are as to how much you can get. 150 is cheap

I often get requests to make quilts for co workers. I found a flier that a local quilter made and posted it on the bulletin board. For a twin bed tee shirt quilt it around 300 . Her prices go up to 600. I send them to the flyer when I get requests. A very nice young lady asked me to make 2 quilts for her. I said I would help her make them but I had enough work of my own . I went to Joanns with her explained colour selection and how to pick the fabric for the project. She first spent 400 when it was all done. She did a great job on her sons tee shirt quilts. It meant more because she did it. She is a natural quilter. She has gotten the quilting bug. She made several Christmas tree skirts. I love teaching those who want to learn.

Ask yourself if you want to continue with this then. You wouldn't want to have a misunderstanding with your MIL. Your quilt is beautiful and if you do want to continue, ask MIL what she thinks the customers might pay, that will help in knowing if you want to go forward too. Good luck.

piney

i have a relative that makes her living going to craft shows with her finished products. she purchased a lap quilt similiar to yellow brick road. for $120 to show me how much money i could make if i would take my quilts 'on the road'.
she says, that people who have money are spending it, like there is no tomorrow. she just couldn't wrap her mind around the fact, that i was retired, and did not want to 'go into business' making quilts.
i'm sure it depends on the market. hope you get a good price for it, because it is worth every bit of $300. that is an intricate pattern. ........and in the right market it would be worth $400-$500. if it was a queen size.

LOL no your right,but it is his MOTHER.

I think $150 is to little

I had the same problem when starting making quilts for other. DO NOT sell yourself cheap. YOU have a talent that the buyer does not have. If they want it, they will buy it. You shoulD charge 3 times the amount it cost in materials unless it's a quilt that has tons small pieces. $150.oo is way too low!
Here is how I learned my mistake....I donated a baby quilt to a cancer auction. It had my business name on the label. Because it was for a wonderful cause, I did a lot of special hand quilting on it besides machine quilting.
The new owner called me to tell me how she loved it. She just gushed over my little quilt. Then she wanted me to make 2 quilts for her girls twin beds with the same material, pattern and so on.
I explained that the particular fabric had been in my stash for a few years and I didn't know if I could find it.....she replies..."but I love those butterflies!".
I told her that the cost would be $150. ...she thought that was fair....( for both quilts) I told her just for one and she let out a deep breath. I had forgot to tell her she had to buy all the fabric, batting and thread. She said she would talk to her hubby and call me back.

She called back 2'days later informing me that she had went to Walmart and she could buy them ALOT cheaper there and thought I should come down on my price. Oh....and she wanted them done in 3 weeks! I tried to say as SWEETLY as I could......" u know, I think you should go buy your blankets at Walmart."

DO NOT UNDERSELL YOURSELF!!!! You will not make,yourself happy. So make one quilt for the shop and put a great pricing on it that pays you for your time and talent and make some place mats and table,runners and see what the people want. Good luck my friend.

agreed $150 is way to low-good luck

Followed this with interest and am aching to know - Did it sell at $225????
It is such a pretty quilt- would never have thought that colour combo would work, but it TOTALLY does :-)
Please update us????!!!!!

Hi melodyg
It has been a few months since you wrote this post, and I too am curious to know if it sold for the price you wanted.
I just read the whole post today and I liked the comments you had from the members.
One quilter said something like... it's the people who have the money who buy and you never know when someone will come in with the $$$
your post was just around Chrismas time after most if not all Xmas gifts had been bought. Soon, it will be tourist season. Keep us posted please. The discussion here has been very informative for those who are thinking of selling their quilt. Not me as I only have one quilt completed, and I am handquilting my second one.
Great post

We seldom can get what our work is truly worth.

A friend of mine looked on eBay to see if anyone was selling there and the prices. She tried to sell in an area loosing jobs her quilts with no success.

I have sent 5 quilts to my Mother In Law for her shop and as of yet none have sold. But, it's a small town in PA and she is only open 3 days a week. So we will see......