maryfrang

I see questions like this every week on the site. I have to say I do make quilts for others. If I purchase the fabrics, I charge the cost of the fabric plus tax and round up to whole dollar and add between 5-10 dollars for my time. If I need to drive a distance over 10 miles, I also will add the cost of gas to the figure. I do give the customer the option of picking up the fabrics themselves, I do give them the yardage needed for the complete quilt. I then charge $15 an hour to sew the quilt top (and I keep a complete list of starts and stops while sewing.) For quilting I charge the long arm quilting fee and if I do the quilting I charge a reduced rate for binding. I break the amounts for my time before I start the quilt. I estimate the time for sewing and let them know it is just an extimate. I do ask for 50% deposit before I start and once started it is not refundable. I so far have not been burned by a customer and have had some customer decide a quilt is too expensive and will think it over. I guess if they decide not to have a quilt made, that is their choice.

Jan in VA

The comment was obviously not perceived as "nice" by many here, no matter how you meant it.

Many of us also work full time, care for pets and even aging parents, and run full house well; that's hardly exceptional.
Most of us make quilt gifts for our family, friends, community service AND military/civic service personnel and feel very blessed for doing so; that's not exceptional.
Many, many of us have made dozens or hundreds of quilts; that's not exceptional.
"Since quilt making is a hobby....." is NOT a true statement. It does not apply to everyone. It never has applied to everyone. This is a blanket statement.....and as such is just not true. Understandable from some, perhaps, but not true in a statement. That is something with which we can take exception.

For many of us, quilt making is an art form, an industry, a passion, a career, a talent, indeed a job, that *may* have started as a hobby, but has become much, much more. And thereby quilt making deserves to be respected by family, friends, fellow quilters (no matter *their* direction), the public in general. *That* is all we are making a point for here. Respect for the work as "we" do it -- hobby or otherwise.

Sometimes women can be their own worst enemies to each other as we all try to "establish" our place in the pecking order, when, in reality we should all be supportive of each other's place and being, with tender words and genuine understanding.
So, I hereby apologize for hurting the feelings of and upsetting anyone here with my remarks.

Jan in VA

Pat G

Just try taking your computer/laptop to a shop. They charge you to just walk in the door. I had a friend recently ask me if I'd make her a quilt from T shirts that were special to her & her husb. (now passed). I swore I'd never make a T shirt quilt but couldn't say no. She sent $100 with her shirts to "get me started". I had orig. thought I'd return that $ with her quilt but my son talked me into keeping it. Heck, shipping the finished quilt from Wash. state back to Ohio cost a bundle so that lessened my guilt. I could never have charged her what it should have cost to make since I had to get very creative with placements of the decals on ea. shirt. I'm so happy I did it though.

Jan in VA

http://www.woodtv.com/artprize/winners-of-artprize-2013

"GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - "Sleeping Bear Dune Lakeshore" by Ann Loveless is the winner of ArtPrize 2013.

Loveless, of Frankfort, Mich., won the $200,000 grand prize with her landscape art quilt, which was displayed at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum."

Oh yeah, this is a hobby quilter alright.

Jan in VA

petthefabric

There's lots of ways to say thank you; "Thank you", make a casserole, clean a house, pay it forward.....and give a quilt. We use the talents we have that the other person doesn't have. I was taught as a child to share and being selfish is a sin. I was also taught that because my father owned a business he worked harder than any of his employees and he paid the cost of risk. He lost money on some deals. As the contracting community went in and out of prosperity with the economy, so did our finacial status as a family. Many nights he received a call for AC to be repaired and he left us, often in the middle of dinner, to go service someone's AC. I've worked for the government for 14 yrs and they never intend to make a profit, but spend every dime they get.

My dad was respected for his hard work and the honest people paid him.

Respect for the government-that's a joke. People are selfish and will take and demand any handout they give.

I have self respect and charge for my quilts. I'm also willing to give to those people who are grateful.

brennalee

Wow, that statement is a little hard to swallow, I don't think my time and work is worth a lot more than it really is, I know it is!!! You can not put price of your time or your craftsmanship. Yes I've seen some that are not worth anything but when you put all that time and LOVE into something you time is really worth more than you give yourself credit for!!!

My time

It sounds as though you just want to make quilts!!! The more you make the better you get. The only one who see's your imperfections is you!! We are our own worst enemy. If your happy with this method of payment...good for you. I mean if you don't have to put out any money and get to make beautiful quilts..great. I mean there is only so many quilts we can use anyway.

bearisgray

I think trying to put a value on what someone should charge for making quilt that we know nothing about -nor do we know anything about the skills of the maker - is about as sensible as trying to say what the weather will be like in an unknown location on an unknown date.

That said - for those that want/need to charge for making a quilt - go for it - with all the cautions that have been listed elsewhere.

For those that prefer to only do 'give-aways' - please don't knock those that can't afford to or don't want to.

As far as $/per hour - that is a tough one to put a value on - some people can get a lot more accomplished in an hour than others. Skill levels vary considerably. Where one is located also will affect what one can reasonably hope to get.

grammy.mj

Thank you for all of your comments!

ghostrider

Standing up to applaud.... Thank you, Jan, for putting it so well.

'Joy' and 'work' are not mutually exclusive.