cindi

Amen, sister! Me, I've sold several commission quilts for a fair price, and I'm proud of that. Once they saw what it took to make them, they gladly paid. If you don't record what it takes and show it to them, buyers have no clue what it takes, and they'll offer what they "think" it should be - which will be comparable to a box-store quilt. We're not slave labor, and were it not for sitting down with them and explaining exactly what it takes, not only in materials, but also in time, they won't understand. Education is the key. Document, document, document! Make a quilt, time it, and use that as an example!

Boston1954

I was once offered an amount for one of my quilts. As it happens, I had kept track of how many hours it had taken to complete the quilting. I took a calculator and did some figuring, after which I told him that I was pretty sure I could do better than 83 cents an hour! I quilt for family, friends and myself.

PurplePassion

Just to clarify, if I may... we are charged $70 -$80 for the service of plumbers or mechanics by that company. The service person himself is not paid that amount in wages. It goes to the business for electricity, parts and running the business.

cindi

Just as WE have those overhead expenses, too....

lclang

I have been quilting for almost 60 years and I DO NOT make quilts for anyone, at any price, at any time, for any reason, just because they would like me to. You never get paid what you are worth, so if you get a quilt from me, you can be sure I LOVE you very much and YOU are important to me (not your money).

Normabeth

check out this site, I think we under sell ourselves
http://www.quiltsforsale.ca/DB/searc...size&pick=king

Wild8580

I find this thread really interesting. People ask me all the time if I sell my quilts. I always say no, because no one really wants to pay the price. Most have no idea what the materials cost let alone the labor and cost of equipment. I have often said, I'll teach you how but that is usually as far as it goes.

mjpEncinitas

Yes the plumber gets $60 an hour BUT do you think that plumbers really love digging out pipes and fixing toilets? It's a skilled job as is quiltmaking. Like musicians, I suspect there are a lot more people who would like to make money making quilts than there is a market for it. By all means charge what you should for your quilts, if you can get it. I wouldn't work for a measly wage. I think the attitude of most of us: that we will only make for friends and family and aren't charging (except for materials) is a good one. I think you have to be an extraordinary quilter (or have great business savvy) to be able to make decent money from selling quilts.

I was showing my quilts to my tennis buddies and one hinted my birthday is coming up soon and I thought to myself, you have NO idea what you are asking for. I just laughed.