So you want to sell a quilt
#1
Super Member
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Midwest
Posts: 5,051
So you want to sell a quilt
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: western Pa
Posts: 4,569
Excellent article, Sandy--thanks so much for posting the link. We've had many discussions about this on QB and I think the thing to remember is "don't undervalue your work because then other quilter's works are undervalued".
#3
If you don't value yourself or your work or whatever, why do you think someone else will.
My quilts are not cheaply done, so don't expect cheap prizes. Should you don't appreciate it or not see the value, don't waste my time. Just like everybody else, I'm worth it!
My quilts are not cheaply done, so don't expect cheap prizes. Should you don't appreciate it or not see the value, don't waste my time. Just like everybody else, I'm worth it!
#4
I think the problem come from quilts being thought of as "homemade." They are not valued as they should be. When someone asks me to make them a quilt I estimate the cost of materials and then tell them that I get two to three times that for my labors. (I was amazed that some get 5 times the cost of materials!)
They take off running!
Colleen
They take off running!
Colleen
#5
i don't try to sell my quilts. my ego is far too delicate and needy. LOL
however, if somebody pays me the compliment of offering to pay for one ...
$10 per square foot minimum.
more if it's complicated; if the deadline is unreasonable; etc
since i'm not a professional, and since i don't engage in good marketing, most requests come from acquaintances.
if they flip at the price, i haven't lost anything.
i just skip along happily building my pile of quilts for various good causes.
i doubt i'd be a good example if a person really wanted to make a steady income.
but it's a system that works for me as things stand.
however, if somebody pays me the compliment of offering to pay for one ...
$10 per square foot minimum.
more if it's complicated; if the deadline is unreasonable; etc
since i'm not a professional, and since i don't engage in good marketing, most requests come from acquaintances.
if they flip at the price, i haven't lost anything.
i just skip along happily building my pile of quilts for various good causes.
i doubt i'd be a good example if a person really wanted to make a steady income.
but it's a system that works for me as things stand.
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#7
I've only ever sold 3 quilts, and they were to people who I worked with. I always have my family telling me that I should try to sell my quilts, but they just don't understand how hard it is to do. People admire the quilts but get a funny look in their face when you give them a price. I have a stash of quilts and tops and next year my sister wants to do the craft show in the Spring at her grandson's middle school. That's not going to be the only thing we sell, so we'll see how it goes.
#8
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chula Vista CA
Posts: 7,403
A friend of mine knits beautiful baby afghans. And since it is a take along project she got a lot of people asking her to make them one for some reason or another. Barbara makes them for people she knows and loves but when one woman kept after her about it she finally said, "I couldn't do it for any less than $75.00 a blanket." The woman said it sounded fair and gave her a check for 3 of them. It shocked the heck out of Barbara, she said she was happy that she didn't have anyone she was going to make them at the time (just stockpiling a few for when she needed one) so it wasn't a problem. But she said she was nervous because she hadn't sold any before so no one dare criticize her work. (Not that it would happen - she did fantastic work.) That was about 8 years ago, and she only did a few more. She really didn't like doing something she didn't control the size and color.
Last edited by quiltingcandy; 11-21-2014 at 05:48 PM.
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