newbee3

Someone just asked me to finish a quilt for a friends mother Well I do not want to take on any quilts started I am getting to the age I just want to make the ones I enjoy

If you have any suggestions where she could get help with the quilt

LAF2019

Good for you for knowing your limits and being strong enough to say No. Maybe she can reach out to a local guild. Perhaps a member there would be interested.

bearisgray

Good suggestion.

tallchick

I would simply say, “thank you for thinking of me, unfortunately at this time I just don’t have the time or the inclination to take on any more projects.” Then perhaps I would make suggestions where they might find someone to do what they are looking for.
Kudos for speaking up, I know it can be callenging.

Quiltwoman44

yes my hair dresser now wants me to make her smocks and or aprons since I quilt! so far I am working on a quilt and going to Doctors. I will get her a smock done but not fast.

toverly

A childhood friend gave me her mom's stash when they broke up her house. There were several flimsies and half finished tops. I finished 3 for her and found a long armer to finish 2. I told my friend the prices for the long armer and finished 3 on my own. She was happy to pay and thrilled to have finished quilts. It felt good to help out but, never again. It's just hard to finish someone else's work.

Iceblossom

I have had to learn many gracious and some not-so-nice ways to decline work offered to me. Also, once people start getting quoted prices, their perceived value also changes. Basically I say something like "I appreciate your faith in me, but this is just not what I do and I would not feel comfortable being responsible for it". And then I refer them, like you are doing. If you do have a local guild or local quilt store, either places could be a good for starting point getting referrals. If that is harder to find, you might see about local long-arm quilters, many of whom do offer other sewing services or maybe know people who do.

A lot depends on the quilt pattern and what stage it is in. There's a difference between a great big bag of hexagons and a completed top that "just" needs to be quilted. I have completed some UFOs just for fun. There are some that are simply no fun at all...

I would also have a discussion with the friend on the desired quality of finish/desired goal of the finished quilt and give them some sort of idea on how many hours/how long it would take to finish the project -- like the rough going rate in your area for the machine or hand quilting.

cjsews

I have a friend, that I actually taught to quilt, going thru some scary medical issues. She had two tops that she wanted quilted, worried about her health outcome. She paid me well and gave me a huge tub of fabric. She did not think she would ever get back to quilting.
also had another friend always asking me to mend/ repair things. After my DH passed I told her I wasn’t up to doing any sewing. Well that was just a little white lie. I prefer to work on my own projects in my own sweet time.

IrishNY

I always just tell people I can't keep up with quilts for my family so can't take on anything else. As most people know I come from an enormous family, they don't question my response. It's my nice way of saying no. If pushed, then I just say "no, I can't".

goldsberry921

It's good you spoke up. I have done so many a time. I know that my work is not as great as most but flattered that I'm asked to make something. I will make quilts when I feel it calls out to me to do so. My quilting buddy passed away a year ago on the 12th of this month. I miss her dearly, but it's because of her that I have the motivation to make quilt tops for the most part so I can use up the fabric I do have.