mdall

Yes, I have done this. First of all it is hard to get people to pay what the quilts are worth. They are surprised to say the least of the cost. Second, it helps if you live in a very populated area or have access to one that you can visit regularly. Third, it does take some of the fun out of it. All of a sudden your loved hobby becomes a job. I will still do a commissioned quilt but I try to always make it fun for both me and the customer so I dont feel like it just a job.

cathyvv

Not me. It's a ton of work for the money you make. Plus, for me, turning quilting into work would take all the pleasure out of it.

alisonquilts

I am still considering if I want to take that plunge. I have been getting a little bit more work each year, depending on word-of-mouth and contacts made through an annual craft fair, so that my hobby now pays for itself with a little bit left over. I agree that the amount of time spent doing ancillary things (inventory, pricing, invoicing, contracts) is astonishing, and that's without me doing advertising and networking and marketing! The business-y things are not much fun to me (not a born entrepreneur). Also, if you specialize in one particular aspect (perhaps you have one item you make outsells everything else) you might find it gets boring doing the same thing over and over, and if you don't specialize you lose all the economies of scale you get with being a specialist.

I do love having a creative self-sustaining hobby that allows me to be home when my child is...

Alison

richardswife

For some reason, many people think, because it is made by an individual, that it should be less money. When they don't realize that it takes much more individual work when done by one. I used to sew for people and when I told one lady what a garment was going to cost, she looked at me and said " but I thought clothes were cheaper when home made", to which I told her they would be if she were the one making them....not hiring someone to do the work for free for her.

mighty

I love to quilt and am afraid I will spoil that.

justflyingin

There are several people here on this board who are long arm quilters and by the amount of work they do, probably they are doing it full time. Whether or not it is a good idea totally depends on you.

Do you want to do the whole thing--from purchasing the fabric to the quilting, or just the piecing of the tops and send the quilts to the long arm quilter?

Are you already good? Do you think it will be easy? You really have to have skill. One lady I knew (she just learned how to sew), told me, "I can sell what I make!" as if 1. she were good (she wasn't--she was a rank beginner and sloppy), and 2. it was a quick way to make money. I just kind of smiled and thought "well...."...

Knitette

I've posted about this on other threads. Years ago my hobby (hand painted ceramics) turned into a 'business'. Churning out custom orders that I didn't particularly like, to other people's tastes, quickly robbed all the joy out of it. I sold my kiln and other stuff and have never made anything ceramic since.

ckcowl

I don't think you can just decide to be in business & make a go of it right off the bat...it takes some time to build a quilting business...you start by becoming a good quilter- then start quilting for friends, guild members, sewing group, getting your work out there- word of mouth- referrals, as time goes on your prices go up, your time becomes more 'filled' and after some time if you stick with it you find you are making a decent amount, managing your time well and may be ready to consider this as your 'job; business' keeping very good records, paying your taxes, and being dependable, reasonable and consistent will help your 'business' grow along the way.

justflyingin

Very good advice!

Lavada

good luck if you take this step to a quilting business