Pricing our Quilt "Works"

[Susan B.]

Hi Everyone, I told you I'd let you know how this ended up!

I quoted her a price of $500 on a twin-size quilt and pillow sham, I thought that was reasonable. She said she couldn't afford it, thanks anyway.

Just as well, I'm off the hook! As many of you have mentioned, quilt "work" is so often undervalued, guess this is another case of the same!

Kathy B.

[Susan B.]

One thing that non sewers are totally unaware about is the sheer amount of time that something takes. I have found that if you let people know how much time they are buying they start to appreciate what they are buying more.

For example about 15 yrs ago a tailor I was working with had a Judge come in for a bespoke suit, and he was quibbling about the price ( approx £450), So Stuart looked at him and said "That suit is going to take me about 29 hours to make. How much do you charge per hour for your time?" :shock: end of quibble!

Think about your time and compare it to how much your local car mechanic charges to fix your car, you are just as skilled as he is in your sewing. So keep track of how long items you make for yourself, even if only roughly, and also how much the fabrics cost etc and next time you are asked to make something tell them how long in hours it could take i.e. 'this quilted vest - it took me 40 hours work, without the designing time'. That tends to separate the 'wheat from the chaff', before your even have to start spending your time on costings.

Rosemary

[Susan B.]

Lots of folks don't even realize how expensive quality quilting fabric is!

Maggie from E. Central Illinois, currently in Tucson, AZ

[Susan B.]

I was starting to feel a little guilty for not giving this friend a bargain price & just making the quilt happen for her. Then I went to a really great quilt show yesterday, Tompkins County (NY) Traditions & Beyond, in Dryden, NY (near Ithaca). There were so many fabulous quilts there!

There were a very few for sale, all gorgeous of course. The sale items started at $300 for a wall hanging & went to $2,500 for a very large wallhanging (I didn't see any bedquilts for sale, perhaps someone can correct me!). So now, my little $500 for a twin quilt & pillow sham isn't sounding so kooky!

As I mentioned, I'm in the process of creating my own holiday gifts. And now, I can do so guilt-free! Yay!

Kathy B.

[Hannelore N.]

I'm so happy that paying my bills does not depend on selling anything I make myself. My fulltime job just about covers everything. So quilting can remain something I do for fun and relaxation. I have never sold anything, I just give it away whenever I feel like it. Because a friend asked me I once, I worked out how long it had taken me to design and make a specific fabric postcard she liked. Once I had added up the materials (fabric, Timtex, threads, other - expensive - embellishments), added to it just a couple of dollars for the use of my sewing machine and workroom, plus labour at national minimum wage per hour (yes, it was quite a complex little card), it all came to $ 269.50. I wouldn't have bought the little card at that price. My friend now keeps it in a glass display cabinet together with her best antique china.

But should I ever win the lottery (I better start buying a ticket) I'll gladly hand over a suitcase full of dollars to Ricky for any of his quilts. He can then buy another Harley, and we'd both be very happy.

[Pam D.]

Lorchen, I'd love to have any of Ricky's quilts, but I've taken a real fancy to David Taylor's 'Keeping Watch Over Carlson Ranch'. Its a most beautiful owl on his website. I think it may be entered for Houston. He's bound to win an award for it. We can but dream :-)

[Hannelore N.]

Well, Pam, when you are at the Houston Show, say 'Hello' to my photograph of a Scottish Loch in early spring. It's part of the 'Eye of the Quilter' exhibit. Not a quilt, but, hey, somebody thought the picture was good enough to be selected.

Lorchen

[Sue R.]

Lorchen,

Congratulations on having your photograph selected !!

Do you know if they are going to post them on-line as they do with the quilts after the show ?


Sue