Pricing Quilts
#11
![Default](/images/icons/icon1.gif)
textile work has long been a radically underpaid trade, in large part because it is traditionally women's work.
the whole horrible concept of piece work - that no matter the labour involved, the finished product is worth x - has been a massive issue in women's labour. we still use piece work concepts in textiles. quilts are one example. beading - especially bridal beading - is another.
but. the market is the dictator, and the ultimate answer has already been given. it's worth what someone will pay.
i always chuckle when people suggest i make quilts for money. at the rate i quilt they'd be worth a college fund or two by the time i delivered them. another time i made a twirly skirt for my girl out of quilt fabrics and someone suggested i sell those. i saw her gulp when i told her there was $45 worth of fabric alone in the skirt, nevermind the labour and potential cost of distribution etc. boo-tique! snork!
ifi make a quilt for you it's because i love you more than words. the chances are i might ask you to help pay for the materials anyway, unless otherwise stated![Smile](https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png)
aileen
the whole horrible concept of piece work - that no matter the labour involved, the finished product is worth x - has been a massive issue in women's labour. we still use piece work concepts in textiles. quilts are one example. beading - especially bridal beading - is another.
but. the market is the dictator, and the ultimate answer has already been given. it's worth what someone will pay.
i always chuckle when people suggest i make quilts for money. at the rate i quilt they'd be worth a college fund or two by the time i delivered them. another time i made a twirly skirt for my girl out of quilt fabrics and someone suggested i sell those. i saw her gulp when i told her there was $45 worth of fabric alone in the skirt, nevermind the labour and potential cost of distribution etc. boo-tique! snork!
ifi make a quilt for you it's because i love you more than words. the chances are i might ask you to help pay for the materials anyway, unless otherwise stated
![Smile](https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png)
aileen
#13
![Default](/images/icons/icon1.gif)
One of my favorite stories is about my accountant who asked for a double wedding ring quilt. Now, this guy charges me a BUNCH of money for a twenty-minute job on my books every now and then: he very quickly changed his mind about wanting it when I told him what I would charge for a King-sized DWR...$1200...wanted to know if that wasn't a "little pricy"? and when I told him what the cost of just the fabric and batting was, he really had a fit. I more or less told him to take it or leave it...I couldn't make a profit doing it for any less...WHAT ARE THESE FOLKS THINKING??? And no, I didn't make it for him! He was too cheap to pay an honest price for it...
And yet I have been at craft fairs and someone who doesn't look like they have two nickels to rub together, will buy a quilt and not quibble about price.
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 1,102
![Default](/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I quilt because I love it. I quilt for others cheap because I like quilting. I can't afford to buy as many quilt tops as I want and I don't need a closet full of home made quilts that I can't use. So my "perfect" solution is quilt for others. Why would I charge $20/hour to do something that I want to be doing? something that brings me joy and peace and pride? If I didn't have someone else's top to do, I would be bored, and/or spending money on something else.
#16
![Default](/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I quilt because I love it. I quilt for others cheap because I like quilting. I can't afford to buy as many quilt tops as I want and I don't need a closet full of home made quilts that I can't use. So my "perfect" solution is quilt for others. Why would I charge $20/hour to do something that I want to be doing? something that brings me joy and peace and pride? If I didn't have someone else's top to do, I would be bored, and/or spending money on something else.
I was at a quilt store the other day when a young man came in wanting to know if he could get a quilt made for his bride - they were getting married in about a month. I was standing there w/ the owner and he got a lesson in how long it takes to complete a quilt. I had a sample of a block - intricate block that takes about 45 min to complete.
I was able to break down the cost and time, he understood more. Ironically, the $1000 - $1200 wasn't a problem. I wish I could have done it for him. I have 3 projects in front of when I could start his and that means I'm booked til next summer before I could even get to him.
Told him that his idea would make a great 1st year anniversary present!
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 319
![Default](/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I make quilts because I enjoy doing it. The cutting, piecing and quilting makes me happy. I am a bit of a perfectionist and relish the challenge. I buy quality material, but don’t intend to sell anything, so I never considered the monetary value of a gifted quilt.
I’ve been crazy about jigsaw puzzles since I was a kid, and have shelves stacked with puzzle boxes, some quite expensive because they're "collectible." I can pull one out, complete it, undo it, return it to the box, and do it again later. I can’t do that with the quilts. I keep the puzzles and give away the quilts. I consider both a relaxing hobby.
When you sell your quilts is it considered “egg money” or is it taxable income or barter? That would surely make a difference, no? Say it’s etsy or ebay sales that are taxable (don’t know if they are) can you deduct your costs and maybe the price of a new machine? Hmmm.
#18
![Default](/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Yes, MattieMae, if you sell a quilt it is considered income. You can deduct the cost of the materials used and that's pretty much it unless you are a business (with a license).
I was asked by someone if I would sell the wolf quilt I have as my avatar - it is 41" in diameter - I told them sure, for $10,000. I wasn't interested in selling it as it was a gift for my daughter, I traveled across the country from Washington to Florida, up to Ohio and back to Washington collecting material for it, and have around 250 hours in the creation and quilting of the quilt. And I found out that if I sold it, the lady who designed the wolf pattern expected me to pay her 10% of what I sold it for!!! Be aware that many quilt pattern designers will either not allow you to sell a quilt made with their pattern or expect you to pay them a kick back for your creation using their pattern. If you are interested in making quilts to sell, be safe and use historical patterns that are free of copywrites or design your own pattern completely.
I was asked by someone if I would sell the wolf quilt I have as my avatar - it is 41" in diameter - I told them sure, for $10,000. I wasn't interested in selling it as it was a gift for my daughter, I traveled across the country from Washington to Florida, up to Ohio and back to Washington collecting material for it, and have around 250 hours in the creation and quilting of the quilt. And I found out that if I sold it, the lady who designed the wolf pattern expected me to pay her 10% of what I sold it for!!! Be aware that many quilt pattern designers will either not allow you to sell a quilt made with their pattern or expect you to pay them a kick back for your creation using their pattern. If you are interested in making quilts to sell, be safe and use historical patterns that are free of copywrites or design your own pattern completely.
#20
![Default](/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Be aware that many quilt pattern designers will either not allow you to sell a quilt made with their pattern or expect you to pay them a kick back for your creation using their pattern. If you are interested in making quilts to sell, be safe and use historical patterns that are free of copywrites or design your own pattern completely.
Unless you actually signed a license agreement when you bought the pattern, the designer has no say in what you do with works made from it as long as you do not claim it as your own original design. She can neither forbid you to sell it nor charge you a pecentage.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post