I am a quilter
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Live Oak, Texas
Posts: 6,133
I had a neighbor who told me she wanted me to sew for her. She said how great to have a neighbor she could get to sew for her so she did not have to hire someone to do it. I told her I only sew for family. She never brought it up again.
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 1,911
Originally Posted by Central Ohio Quilter
I am a quilter, not a seamstress for my neighbors.
Neighbor asked me to hem up 4 pairs of pants for her. I told her that I would be glad to TEACH her how to hem them. She thought about that for a day and then asked me if there was something that she could use that she could iron up her hems so she would not have to touch a needle and thread.
I gave her my JoAnn's coupon and told her that she could find something like that at Joann Fabrics.
I haven't heard if she has them done yet or not.
At up to an hour per pair of pants, I could get a lot of quilting done in that amount of time.
What would you have done, or said?
Neighbor asked me to hem up 4 pairs of pants for her. I told her that I would be glad to TEACH her how to hem them. She thought about that for a day and then asked me if there was something that she could use that she could iron up her hems so she would not have to touch a needle and thread.
I gave her my JoAnn's coupon and told her that she could find something like that at Joann Fabrics.
I haven't heard if she has them done yet or not.
At up to an hour per pair of pants, I could get a lot of quilting done in that amount of time.
What would you have done, or said?
#14
You were much more helpful than I would have been! I would have just said no, I don't sew for other people. I've done it, don't want to do it again...no matter how small the job because it doesn't end with that one small job of hemming. They keep coming back with little things you to do!!
#16
My friend at work wanted me to make cushions for her outdoor furniture....piping and all. I told her I only quilt and she was insistent that since I had a sewing machine, it would be easy. I told her that since she was paying to have them made, wouldn't she rather have someone that does that everyday rather than have me muddle through?....She only had 12 chairs to recover??!!...what a nightmare that would have been for me!
#17
You had a good response. I tell people that DH had to wait 18 months for me to sew a button on his shirt (serioulsy, he did). So if they want to wait for me to do it on my time, which could be a year or two from now, I'd be happy to do it.
#18
I have hemmed pants for an elderly couple I am friends with. Then their 30-something daughter came to visit and went outlet shopping, came home with a pair of pants SHE wanted hemmed. I started to feel used at this point.
When I finished I quoted a price, they said that was too much, they could get it done much cheaper. I suggested they get them done at the cheaper place in the future.
When I finished I quoted a price, they said that was too much, they could get it done much cheaper. I suggested they get them done at the cheaper place in the future.
#19
I had a "friend" show up at my house one day with a stack of jeans that needed the zippers replaced. She said since I like to sew she thought I could do them for her. I told her I didn't even do my own.
I have a neighbor that likes to buy things at garage sales and bring them to me to mend. It took me a year to do it last time and she hasn't brought me anything recently.
I have a neighbor that likes to buy things at garage sales and bring them to me to mend. It took me a year to do it last time and she hasn't brought me anything recently.
#20
My father volunteered my sewing services to his next-door neighbor once. Privately, I told my dad that I hate alterations. I did these anyways and charged appropriately, hoping to ward off more requests. I hope that worked. The man paid my price, but I think both him and dad thought it was going to be far less than what I charged. I don't charge my parents, but when they start sending over every Tom, Dick and Harry, that's a different story.
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