Would this work for gifting?
02-08-2025, 06:34 PM
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,152
As am I.
"Gifting" implies voluntarily making an item you intend to gift. I would not "gift" a quilt top and expect the receiver to figure out how to get the batting/backing/quilting done.
OP describes being asked by someone to make a quilt. That doesn't fall under "gifting". It's completely acceptable to say "no, sorry, I don't make complete quilts - just tops that someone else has to finish."
"Gifting" implies voluntarily making an item you intend to gift. I would not "gift" a quilt top and expect the receiver to figure out how to get the batting/backing/quilting done.
OP describes being asked by someone to make a quilt. That doesn't fall under "gifting". It's completely acceptable to say "no, sorry, I don't make complete quilts - just tops that someone else has to finish."
02-09-2025, 07:21 AM
#23
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SW Washington USA
Posts: 4,886
I've tried that Toverly, no go, even with people who could well afford the finish work. Not being in the 'loop of knowledge' it just overwhelms them so they don't. Years ago I just started making complicated long term projects for the most part. Satisifies my need need to sew. something that takes a year to make doesn't fill the closet very fast.
02-09-2025, 09:04 AM
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Posts: 2,814
When someone says that they" want one", I reply, "Yea, I know. Everybody wants one. You'd have to get in line." Lets them know how easy requests are, and how long they take to fulfill.
If they still insist, I quote them the full price for a quilt. I'm expensive. I've sold 1....
I do make t-shirt quilts for my cousins and such, for love, not money. When others ask if I could make one for their (whoever) after seeing them, I tell them that they can find inexpensive places online. I charge $17.50 per shirt to make one. Not many takers.
If they still insist, I quote them the full price for a quilt. I'm expensive. I've sold 1....
I do make t-shirt quilts for my cousins and such, for love, not money. When others ask if I could make one for their (whoever) after seeing them, I tell them that they can find inexpensive places online. I charge $17.50 per shirt to make one. Not many takers.
Last edited by aashley333; 02-09-2025 at 09:10 AM.
02-10-2025, 05:27 AM
#25
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 6,132
I've tried that Toverly, no go, even with people who could well afford the finish work. Not being in the 'loop of knowledge' it just overwhelms them so they don't. Years ago I just started making complicated long term projects for the most part. Satisifies my need need to sew. something that takes a year to make doesn't fill the closet very fast.
02-10-2025, 06:04 AM
#26
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SW Washington USA
Posts: 4,886
I'm glad we helped, if a woodworker gave me all the pieces to put a table together, I'd say thank you for the offer, no thanks 
This was one of my long term quilts. the little houses are 3" and were themselves a long term paper piecing thing. Using them as the base, I then designed the rest of the quilt as I went along. I took me 3 days of using paper cutting practice blocks to get the sizes right for the surrounds on the houses Life is good, why rush it? I called it Warm Windows as the tiny windows used the last bits of my self dyed fabric. finished March 2020 All stash, as fitting for a scrappy quilter!
This was one of my long term quilts. the little houses are 3" and were themselves a long term paper piecing thing. Using them as the base, I then designed the rest of the quilt as I went along. I took me 3 days of using paper cutting practice blocks to get the sizes right for the surrounds on the houses
Life is good, why rush it? I called it Warm Windows as the tiny windows used the last bits of my self dyed fabric. finished March 2020 All stash, as fitting for a scrappy quilter!
02-10-2025, 06:14 AM
#27
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 25,186
I'm glad we helped, if a woodworker gave me all the pieces to put a table together, I'd say thank you for the offer, no thanks
This was one of my long term quilts. the little houses are 3" and were themselves a long term paper piecing thing. Using them as the base, I then designed the rest of the quilt as I went along. I took me 3 days of using paper cutting practice blocks to get the sizes right for the surrounds on the houses Life is good, why rush it? I called it Warm Windows as the tiny windows used the last bits of my self dyed fabric. finished March 2020 All stash, as fitting for a scrappy quilter!
This was one of my long term quilts. the little houses are 3" and were themselves a long term paper piecing thing. Using them as the base, I then designed the rest of the quilt as I went along. I took me 3 days of using paper cutting practice blocks to get the sizes right for the surrounds on the houses
Life is good, why rush it? I called it Warm Windows as the tiny windows used the last bits of my self dyed fabric. finished March 2020 All stash, as fitting for a scrappy quilter!
03-19-2025, 07:12 AM
#29
Member
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: New England in the Northeast of the USA
Posts: 29
After quilting a Twin XL quilt for a "big boy bed" for a great nephew. I am done. I just don't enjoy quilting bed size quilts. I am thinking of just making flimsies. When someone wants a quilt, I can let them choose a flimsy. Or even better a kit that they like. I could complete the top only. They can purchase the backing, batting, and binding and get it quilted. I would let them know it's going to be around $200 to complete and if they really want it, they can pay for it. I'd even go to the quilting store with them, just not pay for it. There is a chance that a flimsy would disappear. Do y'all think that might work? It sure would save alot of hassle. All I kept thinking as I sewed this top, what if she doesn't like it?
03-19-2025, 08:33 AM
#30
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 17,814
I make quilts because I like to. I never have anyone in mind to give them to. My kids and grands know they can choose any one of them they like and they have a lot. I make a lot of donation quits for my guild because I have the fabric to use up. I have never thought about recouping cost of a quilt I made because I wanted to make it. We have lots of long armers in the guild that bring big batting scraps to give away. they are usually big enough for crib size and easy to piece for larger quilts. I rarely make any size bigger than a throw size now. The big bed quilts are seldom used. The answer I give now if anyone that asks for me to make them a quilt is I don't do that but I can give you a quilter's name that does that for a living. I don't hem haw around, I say it with finality.
