Commissioned quilt..what a deal!
09-14-2013, 05:03 PM
#32
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lowell, MA
Posts: 14,083
Unfortunately, your story is not uncommon. People who do not quilt have no idea about the amount of time, effort and money that goes into making a quilt. You just gave her a dose of reality into hand made quilts - not the ones in discount stores.
09-14-2013, 08:38 PM
#36
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: kansas
Posts: 6,407
Making quilts for others is similar to sewing clothing for others--if they don't do it themselves they only have the prices they see at stores--for products made with cheap overseas labor--as comparisons. I plan to start making T-shirt quilts for others, but also plan to be upfront on the actual cost--and I do plan to include the materials, AND a reasonable cost for labor/skill. Whether the customer wishes to actually have me do the quilt will be their choice and we'll both know where we stand at the start of the project cause I plan an estimate and upfront 1/2 payment. In talking to folks about this already some, I've had both reactions--some say, yes, sounds reasonable, others run the other way! What's interesting to me is often the folks that fall into that 2nd category surprise me.
09-14-2013, 08:55 PM
#37
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Owensboro, KY
Posts: 1,420
I have begun keeping track of the hours I put into each quilt. I keep a quilt journal already, so that's another fact to add to the page. If someone asks me to make a quilt, I tell them how many hours are involved and at $10 an hour, there it is. My last quilt had 94 hours in it and that was just the pressing, cutting and piecing! I think people believe they can get a better deal from someone who sews than they can get in the stores. No way!
09-15-2013, 04:01 AM
#40
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Spring Lake, NJ
Posts: 2,458
Another tee shirt quilt story...a recent acquaintance learned I made quilts and she cornered me at a function...She wanted a tee shirt quilt. In my own mind I was recoiling with the idea of doing one of those things, and without hesitation I told here they were off-the-wall expensive. She asked how much? and I didn't bat an eye when I told her they start at $450! She reminded me of Wiley Coyote, the way she took off away from me!!
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