My mom got so frustrated with people wanting a great product but a cheap price so she decided to give them a list of what they needed to purchase and then she restricted the size to a throw and she gave a few options on patterns that she knew she could piece quickly and hand quilt quickly. She charged a flat rate for the completed throw. She did not drive so they also had to pickup. She would laugh because people who acted like her prices were high before had no problem purchasing all the machine thread, quilt thread backing, batting, and Piecing fabrics...bring it all to her...agree she keeps leftovers..and make another trip to pick up...they weren't saving a dime but in their mind they were paying a cheaper price!😂 I also only do throw sizes lol
Too funny! Good for your mom! I sell modern wall art that is a small quilt but framed instead of finished with binding. My husband makes what is called a floating frame. I don't make anything custom, so I make what I want and sell it. Considering the size and the fact that it only takes a fraction of the time, I can actually make money this way. I am over trying to free-motion quilt on my domestic machine. I still do make an occasional throw and baby quilts mostly as gifts, but I find it interesting that people don't seem to mind paying more for wall art than a quilt. I spend hours looking at the wonderful quilts (I think of them as art) at quilt shows or in magazines. I am now making a quilt jacket in the style of Lady Lancaster. Instead of making the quilt first, I'm making sections to fit the pattern pieces. I am ready to quilt the back tomorrow and I'm looking forward to free motion quilting a small piece like that.
@@1955dmb oooo yes! The Lady Lancaster jacket is SO cool! I love that you make wall art out of fabric! And you and your hubby make it together! 💖 thank you so much for sharing!
@@StitchObsessed We are retired, and we both sell our work at this adorable shop in a small downtown in southwestern VA. I have two tons of fabric and I also make fabric collage wall art. It is a wonderful way to use up my stash so I have very little 'new' supply expense. I'm so excited about my Lady Lancaster hack. I've been working on trying to figure out the jacket pattern and that has been a strain on my brain cells, but I finally got it. I have all the blocks made in the Arkansas Kite pattern and am piecing them together to cover each pattern piece. So fun. Those jackets can easily sell for $1,600. I already have friends asking me to make them one, but neither one of them have a clue about how much time it takes and the cost of the fabric and such. I think I will tell them to just go ahead and buy an original Lady Lancaster. They will be shocked at the price!😅 I really enjoy your channel and your personality!
@@1955dmb that’s so great! Omg I bet your jacket is going to be GORGEOUS!!! 😍 thank you so much for watching 💖 I love hearing how other quilters make money and make art 🥰
Very important video. One person said that each time we undervalue our time, the whole quilting world is damaged because the next person will have a hard time getting a fair price. I used to live in Amish country and they had annual quilt auctions. It was nothing to see a queen size quilt go for $3,000. Some people would gasp but that represented at least 6 months of someone's life because they were hand quilted.
That is 100% true. It makes it harder for everyone else when someone decides to charge barely anything for their quilts. There’s no “industry standard” for pricing which makes it a little tricky. And it really makes me sad so many don’t think that they CAN charge more for their handmade items. I knew a woman who made GORGEOUS sweaters and other knit items and she regularly would charge less than even the price of the yarn. I asked her why she didn’t charge more and she goes “no one wants to spend $200+ on a sweater when they can go to Walmart and buy one for $20. It’s sad.
@@StitchObsessed It is sad. Yarn is expensive! And I get it because at first I found it hard to price my items fairly. I think it is somehow related to the way we get started being interested in these so called hobbies. I always had something available to work on even when I still lived at home. My grandmother taught me to crochet and quilt and back when I was an accountant, these were hobbies that I looked forward to working on at the end of the day. You made the excellent point that you are doing this for a living - not just for fun! I'm almost 70 and I have been doing these things since I was about 6 or 7. So I think it's fair to say I have honed my skills. We just have to be firm. The people who appreciate such work will pay the price if they can. And finding the right place to sell is also important. When I started selling things, I decided to price them fairly and they always sold eventually. I think quilting is an absolute art. I love everything about it.
@@StitchObsessed I used to make hand smocked baby bibs, gowns, layettes and baptismal gowns bc I loved to see them come together and they were beautiful heirlooms yet no one wanted to pay the price so I sold them for little of nothing thus I stopped making them. Then I had a lady who saw my work and commissioned me to make an outfit for her newborn grandson which I started work on right away. It was a beautiful cotton navy and white gingham seersucker print I purchased from one of Florence Eiseman’s fabrics sale here in town years ago. It was a baby bubble romper with cap & bib to match lined and everything. A real couture piece 😉I told I charged $30 she said cool then when I gave her the set she said it was only worth $20 and that’s all she gave me! And this was a lady from my church!!! I didn’t want to get nasty so I let her keep it but that was the last time that happened! I learned then to get my money upfront or at least what the fabric was worth! So sad and her reasoning was she could get it at Walmart for even less but mind you it was a One-of-a-kind. Walmart could never sell that kind of quality for their prices! I was so angry the nerve! She hired me I didn’t say it was a gift but it may as well have been cause I did NOT get paid for my time ect which was already discounted 😔I still love to hand smock so now I just smock gowns for myself 🥰
@@TGBTGAlways 😬 that’s crazy! Ugh that is So frustrating! And she refused to pay an extra $10 that you initially charged?! I can’t imagine doing that to someone, let alone someone you actually know and go to the same church 😂🤯 people get really weird when it comes to money; I’m sorry you had that experience!
The average person would not pay $3,000 for a quilt; and most people would not work for $3,000 for 6 months of anything. By and large, even that price is undervalued.
I make pillows to go with my quilts and then when I tell them my price they say oh i thought it was like 50 bucks i say no and they leave that isn’t even the price of material!
My husband tells me I am making quilts for free. This last quilt was supposed to be a scrap quilt, nothing to purchase and I told the girl $450. Then the woman wanted designer fabrics. I am about ready to give up on selling them. Mostly giving quilts to my family and for gifts. I have been quilting for for 15 yrs and I love it. Recently someone asked me if I sold my quilts and I told them yes. Glad to see your video about pricing. My heart gets in the way..... Got to stop
I hear you! 100% understand where you’re at. I’ve had (multiple times) people ask for a baby quilt, I work up a quote, and then they decide they want a bigger throw size and think it’s gonna be the same price lol 🥴🙃
When i was younger, i did alterations for a very short time. I took apart a designer gown, altered it and put it back together again. You couldnt tell that i had even taken it apart. I was so proud of myself. I am too embarrassed to say how litgle i asked for and she balked at paying that. I held my ground ( and her dress) so she paid up. Never again,i said. The reason i dont sell my quilts is because people dont have a clue of my money and time invested in them. Good video!
My mom supported us with her sewing. How many times clients picked up their stuff and didn't pay. My brother started gate keeping...no $$ no clothes. We lived in Brooklyn, most of them had mommy sew old designer labels in the things she made. I quilt art/memory/t-shirt quilts. I stopped sewing garments and i refuse to do alterations. (Deconstruction of something you paid $20 for) I think not😮
@@Reikiht56 wow that’s amazing your mom was able to making a living with her sewing! I love that! And good for your brother for standing up for her! It’s wild how people think they’ll get something one of a kind and handmade for the same price they could get something at Walmart/target/ big box stores 🤦🏻♀️
❤ You are one crazy chick in a great way. I only mean that in the best sense of the word. I just love you and I’m an old lady who quilts. You just bring a breath of fresh air for the world of Quilting. Thank you.
One lady on Utube was so tired of people under valuing her quilts that she drew up a list of her costs to make a queen size quilt. Supplies, thread, fabric, batting etc. Her time she de❤cided she was worth $15.00 an hour, afterall McDonalds is paying that much. Yer total for the quilt was $1695.00. That was a real eye opener for those of us who have always undervalued our work and time. It was a great video. Miriam your going to have a great business. You have the personality and common sense to work with u your customers.❤️
I think I’ve seen that video! It’s WILD how cheap people think a handmade quilt would be! 🫣 we gotta get the word out there to other quilters that you don’t have to sell yourself short or do free work! Our skills are valuable and deserve to be recognized! 👏🏻👏🏻💖 thank you so much, Karen!
Whoa!! You did it. You talked about the big secret taboo subject: pricing! Idk why more people won't share this valuable information. I've had my unpleasant stories and no longer offer my services. You gave excellent tips.
Haha! 😂 I’m just here to cause chaos! Idk why things are so secretive when it comes to pricing and sharing tips about the business side of quilting. It’s very cliquish unfortunately lol
Wow! Those are things that I never thought of! I, too, was undervaluing my quilts. I made two quilts for a lady whose husband had passed away out of her late husband's shirts. I told her I did not want payment for the quilts because I still had my husband. Here it is years later, I get a note with two gift cards over $100 dollars each from her. I still see her from time to time and we hug and talk. But now my eyes are opened and I will charge for my thread, my time involved etc. Thanks for all the questions to ask.
A lady friend took on a freebie memory quilt total of 5 lap tops from denim and shirt fabrics, The denim was too thick for her machine. I did the binding for her just to get them out of her struggles. she wanted denim binding. I gave her shirt plaid binding. She tried to get me into doing a memory T-shirt quilt after that, I suggest $25 per block. I dont care if I get the request.
Oh my goodness. You brought up so many good points. I recently made two t-shirts quilts for a lady. My first time. I sat down and figured out the cost and after I was done with both quilts I under estimated the cost. When I gave her the quilts she loved them and I think she realized I didn’t charge her enough and she gave me a”tip”. She said she loved the quilts. I really didn’t make a lot on these quilts. This video was very helpful. Thank you ❤
That’s awesome she gave you a tip! 👏🏻 I think that’s pretty rare haha it’s definitely a learning process to figure out how much to charge. 💖 thank you for watching!
Thank you for talking about what people don’t want to talk about when honestly pricing their work. Too many people under value their work and their time. Excellent video.
I was talking to a gal in a quilt shop. She mentioned that a friend offered to pay her a hundred dollars for a king size quilt. Her response.... " I have more than that in thread. " Another two gifted her niece a mid-sized quilt as a wedding gift. Two summers later at a family picnic at her niece's house she saw the quilt , nicely folded in a wooden box on the back porch...it was the dog's bed. When she left she took it with her, unbeknownst to her niece. Nobody even missed it.
Ugh, that's so sad! It's pretty wild how people who don't know anything about quilting just have no grasp on how much time and money goes into a quilt, even a simple, small quilt.
I too made a twin sized quilt for a friend. Later on while visiting her..about a year later, she too had it in the dog bed. I was incredibly disappointed and hurt. I didn't stay long and cried just about the whole way home
@@jenniferreinke9898…people will disappoint you, always. My ex had my first quilt, I made, in the back of his truck with car parts on it. Friends…hmm, not like they used to be or maybe never were. Their appreciation never matches our excitement in the giving. Don’t let it get you down. Even my granddaughter, with whom I have a very strong bond, threw away a dress I made for her, at her request, because it didn’t fit right. She told me about it. I made her get it out of the trash. lol. Gave her hell, too. What’s special to me, is not necessarily that special to her. Life…😏
Quietly taking back the quilt from the porch was the best quilter revenge story I have ever heard! Hearing stories in the comments about quilts ending in dog beds is way too common and always heartbreaking!!
You are so right. People have NO idea the cost of quilts. They think it should be comparable to a blanket you purchase at a Big Box Store. Materials, time not only to make the quilt but how intricate is the pattern.
Exactly! That’s definitely the downside of big box stores carrying “quilts”. People think that’s how cheap they should be , even if they want something custom.
I enjoyed this. I shop at Fat Quarter shop, Missouri Quilt and Joanne Fabrics. I was so happy to hear that Joanne Fabric was out of bankruptcy because it is such a good store. It is hard to put a price on creativity. Great job pricing your quilts!
People forget: when they ask you to make me a blanket. Walmart sells blankets. Quilts are 3 layers of fabric, hours of time! Plus thread etc. I got tired of giving people a price and being asked “wow! That much?” Now I sometimes just inflate the price x3! and they will then say they don’t want to pay that much. They change their minds and I tell them to go to Walmart. I’ve never made one for people where I’ve gotten even 5$ an hour. Not worth my time to do it. I’d sincerely rather give it away as a gift than have my work so undervalued.
@@mishkalarsoncreations lol!!! Oh goodness, I did craft shows for awhile, and the amount of times I would hear that phrase murmured was astounding!!! “I could make that for way less” okay? But will you? lol
@stitchobsessed I had a coworker ask me to make an exploding heart quilt for her, I said yes but she had to purchase all the material, batting and backing … I just did the piecing and she paid for the long arm. I sent her off with a list and she went to a local store, bought mostly Kaffe fate quarters! From November to February I sewed, not everyday and not every time I sat down at the machine but it was a lot of pressing of 1/2 square triangles. She picked up the quilt from the longarm and all totalled, ‘she’ probably spent over $400. She told me it was a lot more than she expected but loved the quilt. Side note: she told me, “obviously I can’t pay you what we make at work per hour so I bought you this plant 🪴 I know it’s a labor of love” lol…. Wow… I would have taken a bottle of wine or a gift certificate to the fabric store. Lesson learned, I should have put a price on my labor !
I am so so glad you addressed this situation. I have been basically quilting for the last two years for just the cost of the material, often not even charging for thread! I just finished a quilt for a friend of mine it was a queen size, and just the cost of the fabric was $360 (Canadian) they gave me nothing for my time. I do accept part of the blame simply because I wasn’t forth coming in asking for a fee for my time. I appreciate your candour and I will follow your advice in the future. It’s so disheartening.
I hear you! I’m actually thinking about making another video just spelling out all the costs and what it takes to make a quilt that my fellow quilters can send to people who request a quilt for free or little money. Those who don’t quilt or craft have no clue what all is involved in making a quilt.
Great points. The same thing happens in the bag making area. The majority of my bags are made out of cork, which is pricey already, and still have people say “I can get it at Walmart.” Um, no, it’s one of a kind, hand crafted by me not in a Chinese sweatshop.
Yes!!! Oh my goodness, when I did craft shows, I loved to make quilted bags. People would walk by, look at the price tag and just walk away….my prices were NOT high. Probably never over $100. But those same people were wearing a Vera Bradley bag or Micheal Kors 🥴 they just assume if it’s handmade it should be Walmart pricing. 🤷🏻♀️
I hate it when people say, "you should sell those". About anything. They have no idea how much time it takes and how much money I would have to charge to be fair to myself. Minimum wage here in Seattle is $15 an hour. I am a nurse and the nursing wage for a new graduate is $45 an hour in Seattle. I am not a new nurse and am paid more than that. I am not going to make crafts as a side gig when I could just take an extra shift and get time and a half, or get a second job giving flue shots or injections for bone marrow donors for more money than my day job.
Amen sister you hit the nail on the head. I’ve been through that all. Last quilt I made and sent out that I had designed for a gal that I used her dad’s shirts. She was so happy with it and makes it all worth it. It’s a joy to make something that you know they are going to love and appreciate and enjoy. Thank you again for your input. We have to stick together.
Exactly!!💖 and that’s so awesome! I love making memory quilts like that. It’s really such a special experience for us too, to get to make such a precious gift. 💝
For those who have no idea the cost, let them go get all the supplies themselves. They get the fabric they like and you're not out money for fabric they may or may not like. Then they only pay you for labor.
I make quilts because it's fun & relaxing. I don't want to be stressed out! I usually make them for gifts like new babies, wedding or graduation gifts. I'm thinking about making a few & take them to our local quilt shop for selling.
Absolutely one of the best videos on this topic that I’ve seen! The next generation is refusing to be taken advantage of- knowledge is power and benefits us all. Someday I would like to sell my work and I do feel that this makes it seem feasible. 🥰
I don’t make to sell but I’d like to start gently educating family and friends about the value of the quilts gifted to them by me, so I’ve decided to work out a valuation (costs including materials, labour, overheads etc). I plan to put it on a card with the washing instructions. Here’s an example: “Handmade heirloom-quality quilt. Bespoke design for you, created 2024. Valuation for insurance purposes: $450. For best care: Washing as infrequently as possible can extend the life of the quilt for generations, so shake out and air regularly instead. When necessary, warm machine wash on gentle with wool wash or mild detergent. No bleach. Spin off then dry over several lines with right side down to reduce fading. Or tumble dry on WARM/LOW.”
I can’t imagine trying to sell anything I make because the price would be ridiculous! I’ve had friends ask me to hem pants, with the caveat that “I’ll pay you!” No, it’s not fun, and there are alteration shops who will do it faster and better. I’m currently making a QAYG Mandelorian helmet quilt for my 9yo grandson for Christmas (he won’t appreciate it now, but maybe later?). So far I’m figuring 100 hours (10 hours a week on average, 9 rows, one per week plus slashing and binding) plus $150 in materials. Is anyone going to pay me $2150 for it? Doubtful. It’s a labor of love for him, and worth it.
@@daxxydog5777 I agree with what you said concerning alterations - they are NOT fun! My husband has been trying to get me to change a broken zipper on his pants and I also told him to take them to someone who does that kind of work bc I don’t! He didn’t like it but oh well this is my hobby and I don’t sew to repair and mend 😡 I used to grudgingly hem pants now and then bc I got asked but now that I’m older I just say No I’m not a seamstress I only make quilts. Ppl who have those types of needs should seek out ppl who do repair work or go learn how to do them themselves and better yet, throw the garment away and purchase something new 🥰
Miriam you NAILED it! Such great knowledge you poured into this video 💯👏🏼💞 I have been quilting since 1984 & I have been hired to make quilts 4 others & starting out I 2 very much UNDERRATED myself, my talent & my ability😔so bottom line I was wayyyyyy underpaid! My fault. Yet as time went on I learned how to charge & everything you discussed is so very spot on! I can remember the time I made a king size denim quilt that I designed. The customer brought me her son’s old jeans and her only request was to use the pockets for secret enclosers on the quilt. She also provided the flannel backing. That quilt was not only massive but it was HEAVY! I quilted it ITD on my domestic machine & it left my shoulders sore for 2 weeks & I only charged $150! After that I hurried up and got things in order as how to charge 😂 For some reason a lot of customers look at purchasing a hand made quilt like buying it from Walmart or JCPenny 😣 First & foremost I let ppl know I am NOT a sweat shop when it comes to working or getting paid 😉So you cannot sell yourself cheap otherwise you may as well give the quilt as a 🎁. Quilting takes knowledge, patience, money, time, utensils, machinery, talent & effort & none of that comes cheap. I also would include gas money, experience & time into the price if I had to purchase fabric ect to make a quilt because a lot of my patrons told me they knew nothing about color and choosing fabrics so that meant I had to do it and taking the time & using my knowledge to do so meant it was an extra cost. Some think your pricing is way too much & my response to that is this … Then you take a class, learn about fabric & color choices. Learn how to read a pattern & what to do with it. Spend the time preparing, cutting, starching (if that’s what you do), piecing, ironing (not to mention using my electricity), bordering, sandwiching, basting & quilting. Then come back & tell me how much time it took you & what my price would be!?🤨 I never told them this but it was my thoughts you know? Nowadays classes aren’t cheap, machines aren’t cheap, thread & fabrics aren’t cheap, batting isn’t cheap & labor is outrageous! So in the event you DON’T wish to take up quilting then you gotta be ready to pay. And my down payment was always half the total cost only then could they pay the remaining balance on a payment plan that way I didn’t get stuck with any of the cost if they changed their mind or decided later they couldn’t afford it & I would give them payment plan options they could choose according to when they got paid. And like you once everything was paid in full I released the quilt. I never had any problems with that yet some would say my prices were too much & I totally understood but I cannot sell myself at an unreasonable rate just to please others when you are hiring me to do the job you don’t want to do or never would 🥰 This was a much needed video 💯👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💞
Exactly! I agree with everything you said! I had people try to barter or try to offer half that amount on my initial quote and I was like what? lol no, that’s not how this is going to work lol 😂 it’s definitely a gif learning curve figure all that out!
I made sock monkeys for several years, I for. Sure didn’t charge enough for my time. It would take me around 10 hours to make one monkey. I detailed it and it wasn’t just a sock with two buttons and a mouth. They were extremely nice and made with highest quality including threads of high quality. I hand sewed all of the detailed work. I charged only 25.00 for medium sized monkeys and had some people complain about my price. I told them they are worth more. I would tell them, they don’t have to buy it and told them they could make it themselves. I had one person make their own and they messaged me saying they didn’t realize how much time and effort go into making them. They learned just how much I under charged for my work plus the high quality products I used. Anything I put my name and guarantee on will never be junk!
It ALWAYS amazes at how people have no clue how much materials cost, let alone the time that goes into handmade items. lol I love sock monkeys! What a fun item to make and sell!
I so loved this video. Great information. As a quilter/sewist I have struggled with pricing for the reasons you've stated. I appreciate your frank discussion about pricing. I would welcome a future video spelling out the costs of making a quilt. I wish you continued success and thanks again for sharing such valuable information..
Thank you for sharing your expereinces with us. I agree with you that we need to charge a fair price for our time and services...People don't understand that it costs us our time and materials, and they don't understand the costs involved...because they don't see it as our source of income...that we make our living doing this service...
Exactly! And I think people just don’t realize how much TIME goes into making a quilt. Whenever I would send an invoice to someone, I would break down the costs and the amount of time was usually what shocked them lol
Thank you so much for this info. I’m a newer quilter and have wondered exactly what someone might charge for the projects I’ve made for family as gifts. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! Thanks again!
Great video! I have tried to sell my quilts in the past and very few people are willing to pay what they’re worth. Now I just make them for myself or friends/family.
Thank you for helping to enlighten people on valuing your own handmade products whether it's a quilt, knitted garment, etc. In my case, it's handmade jewelry and paintings. It took me years to charge what I think my products are worth and I actually make more sales that way. I actually had a potential client ask if I could do a painting at no cost if he supplied the materials. Thanks for posting!
Living so close to Lancaster, Pa I never take for granted the price of blankets, quilts, and comforters. After making a few throws as gifts it reinforced my feelings towards anyone who has more patience than I do. I hope all of you ladies that are quilters have a wonderful happy and safe future. ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉
Great video!! Thank you. I'm crocheting an afghan for my neices wedding and i just roughly calculated how much i would have to sell it for if i was giving myself $20. Over $1200!!! I hope she loves this gift.
Yes! And each piece holds memories for those who receive the quilt. They know “oh that’s the flannel shirt dad always wore when he worked on his car” or “that was the dress mom wore during the summer!” I really love that 🥰
Great video. I am a retired Extension Service Home Economist. I taught a program in the 90's on How to go into Business mainly sewing and crafts related. Most people only charged less than minimum wage for their labor. Challenged them to keep a timer on the time it took to make an item. A person skill set would help determine price to charge. As skills improve labor cost goes up.
I love quilting as a hobby. I was just thinking making quilts that I love and maybe selling them, as I don’t have that much space to keep all the quilts. Thank you for sharing this.
I love your frankness! I can so relate to what you are saying and, over time, I have learned to adjust my pricing accordingly. I will be sharing this video with other quilting friends.
Absolutely true and great information for beginning quilters. I have had to turn down several request. It is hard sometimes to do this but you are being honest with the customer and yourself. Thank you again!
Very helpful information. My first 6 or 7 quilts were made for friends and family, and I don't think I made 50 cents an hour. I knew this at the time, but couldn't bring myself to charge more because I knew their financial situation. It's definitely been a learning experience. Thank you ❤
I purposely educate everyone about the quilt I'm "currently" making, through the whole process, includung photos, so that they or their children know the cost and time invested, from beginning to end. No one has asked me to make one but my recipients are very appreciative. Even tho it is a very expensive hobby in Australia, thats my joy.
There seems to be quite a large quilting community in Australia! That’s so great! 👏🏻 and I love that you educate the people you’re giving the quilt to about all that goes into it.
Thank you soo much for sharing this information! I've been struggling as well on what to charge and I absolutely love custom work. Confidence has been a struggle and you just gave me a boost. Thank you!
Thanks. Very helpful. You are right on 2 accounts, many people have no idea how much it cost to quilt & many of us are crafters / artist not business oriented. This info is seldom covered. Thanks for sharing. Love MSQC
I’m thinking about starting to ask friends if they would like a quilt and offer for them to pay the cost of materials and I get the joy of making them something without the big price tag. I’m glad you mention this because it’s been a big mental hurdle for me because it feels more like a transaction than a surprise gift, which is what I’ve always done. But it’s spendy and there is a limit to who I would spend hundreds of dollars on. lol Great video!
I have done this and it was very rewarding. Then they pick the colors and patterns they like. The people I have done this for are very quick to thank me for the skill and time gift.
THANK YOU for sharing this information, Miriam. I sew items and sell at local boutiques and so often have to explain why I've priced items the way I have.
After several years of keeping books to aid in pricing my quilts, I finally came up with totaling cost of material, thread, batting & etc and multiplying by 3 to come up with reasonable price. Sometimes there are special things such as curved edges, hexie edges that require added effort that need to be addressed. As to quality of JoAnns fabric....there are several grades of fabric in their store, so you need to be aware of that and study carefully when shopping. I have purchased good quality fabrics there, but their "knock off" fabrics are tricky. My customers tend to choose by color and not quality. I find it is a matter of education of your craft. You are right in being up front with the budget at the onset, both theirs and yours. Thanks for your ideas and thoughts.
I found this very helpful, thanks for sharing. I have a tendency to undervalue my skills but I think this has come about by some people over the years, being outraged at the cost of an item, even though I was prepared to do it for the equivalent of $6.40/hr. which isn’t even minimum wage in my country. It is such a stumbling block for me. I would love to sell my work and make an income from it. I quilt, make bags and crochet (shawls mainly). I always design them myself and rarely buy/use a pattern. I always see the value in other people’s creations and although I know that what I have created is equally beautiful, I seem to fall at the last hurdle of pricing and selling. I need to stop worrying and just do it. If someone wants to buy my creations, they will. If not, then that’s ok too.❤❤ I think people forget that we do the whole process ourselves. One pair of hands and one brain produces something that would take a whole bunch of people in a factory business.
Thankyou so much for such an informative vdo. I am starting a new business and this is so helpful, you covered all the questions in my mind. Bless you xx
I spent about 4 hours burying threads this weekend. One if the hidden time sucks that result in a more durable product but is hard to remember to count in the estimate.
I started quilting about 10 yrs ago. Im 74 now & i really enjoy all of my creations. Probably about 20 yrs ago, i went to a co-workers house for dinner. She sowed me her sewing room. I loved a rustic fall colored standard, handmade quilt. I really wanted it. She said she would take $300 for it. I was a little surprised but was happy to pay that. It was worth more to me. I still have it & cherish the work. And now i understand why people charge as much as they do. I make most of mine as a gift. Ive actually only sold one that a lady requested & she was happy to pay $300.00.
I do all kinds of sewing, including alterations. My husband had to price jobs for his business. He has told me many times, “You are devaluing yourself when you don’t charge enough. Do you like working for nothing?” I came to the conclusion that I would rather not have the job than do it for nearly nothing. I even charge to sew on buttons. Ask someone who sells quilts all the time. They can help you with base pricing.
Hi Miriam, thank you for the thorough video. I have a problem because almost everything I have made has been as gifts but I would love to start making some money so I can invest more in good quality materials and buy what I need to make the item. Also, it would be a good way for me to make money to add to my fixed income. I really appreciate you being so detailed. 🙂
Thanks for the input. I am retired and looking to make some extra money to help keep up with the cost of living. I love quilting and my husband pointed out the cost and time verses the worth. I was discouraged but continued making them thinking I would sell them at craft fairs or on line but had no idea what to charge. Thanks again!
I am glad to see someone making a profit from the craft and charging what her time is worth. In the 90s and early 00s, I used to do craft fairs and a booth at an crafter mall. I made quality items and charged materials plus minimum wage (doll clothes and doll quilts). Not only did most people want to pay a fair price, but we often encountered sellers who sold the same category of items very cheaply (cheap materials, basic techniques which would not hold up well, and very simple designs compared to my materials, sturdiness, and design complexity). I couldn't compete with that and just stopped selling. I donated most of my inventory to a fundraiser.
Yep! That’s definitely still a problem, especially at craft shows. Many times I’ll see obviously cheaply made quilts from a factory being sold as “handmade”. That’s just sad because the people buying don’t know.
@@StitchObsessed As they sell them at Walmart, for example, they say "handmade" on the label. My thought is that is what they are selling, which means basically they are coming from places where the crafters are being way underpaid, probably from a sweatshop. The quality of the fabric is probably also low.
I don't sell my quilts...I have made good quality fabric throw sized quilts for family and friends... my Charity quilts are a mix of thrifted, gifted, or super old fabrics, but still lovely! I had a convo once in the supermarket with a gal in line, we got on the topic of quilt making, she asked me what I would charge for a Throw sized /machine quilted quilt... I said they would start minimum at: $2000 for one.
Thank you, thank you for this valuable information. I am considering starting to sell my crafts and I am super scared of all the unknown, the dos and the don't 's, the watch out for this and that...and the dread of figuring out pricing. You blew a lot of my fears out of the water with this video. Thank you so much!!! I love doing my crafts, but hate the thought of the business end of it. So much to know and learn. You've given me a great jumping off point. God bless you as you continue in your business endeavors ❤
Great video Miriam! 🎉 I have many quilts I have made but I cannot bring myself to sell them because of the amount of material, work and time that go into making a nice quilt. I appreciate all this information and look forward to selling a quilt one of these days. ❤❤❤
Many people, when they find out I’m a quilter, say “can you make me one?”. I now explain that the cost of the fabric and batting alone for my friends’ throw quilt cost over £150. They make a bit of a face. Then I say even if I charged £10 an hour one of my basic throw quilts will take about 20 hours. Then they make another face. And say they couldn’t warrant that amount of money on a blanket!!! Then I say that’s without needles, blades, patterns, electricity, wear and tear on my machine and equipment, etc. I only make for those I love and deem ‘quilt-worthy’. People can get taken from the list! I made a twin size ‘baby’ quilt for a friend, with personalised fmq. When I visited she used it on her dirty floor as a mat to walk on! She then had the front to ask me to make a custom quilt from old baby grows. Once bitten twice shy.
First, thank you for providing some realistic context for quilters. Second, for all of those who feel put upon by others: If you want to sell your time, then sell it for something that won't make you grouse about it. That means you have to have customers who see the value in what you are doing. If you quilt for the love of it and gift them, don't monetize your gift by putting an insurance value or take pictures of all the things that you did to let the recipient know how valuable the quilt is. You are giving a gift, not showcasing how much time/effort expense you undertook. Frankly, it is tacky. If you invite people to your home to fix them dinner, are you tucking a note in their napkin to let them know that it took you three days to figure out the menu, curate/procure and pay for the food, AND prepare the food? They should know that if they went to a restaurant, they would pay $100+ a head for appetizers, main course, dessert and wine that they are being served for free in your home. The gift of a quilt is *priceless*. I'm glad to have quilts in the wild that are loved, appreciated enjoyed. I gift all of my quilts: to friends, family, baby's that appear through friends and family (most of my quilts); and to those stricken with illness. Quilting is an avocation for me; my avocation earns my living. Quilting is my escape from that.
I don't think when most quilters gift a quilt and place some sort of monetary value for insurance purposes or to show how much work went into is meant to be snobby or like "oh yes, look how EXPENSIVE this quilt is." The quilter wants to give their family or friend an idea of what all went into this precious gift they are being given. ALOT of people have NO CLUE how much time and money goes into a quilt, and many take gifted quilts for granted.To call other quilters "tacky" for simply educating their friends and family is not very nice and just plain disrespectful. Also, the comparison of a meal and quilt is just silly. Someone won't be gifted a meal and, if they take good care of it, be able to enjoy it for their entire lives and pass it down to the next generation. It makes complete sense why we as quilters would want our precious gifts to be cherished-not just tossed to the side and not taken care of.
@@StitchObsessed I stand by my comment as it was not disrespectful. My point was that all the hoo hah that I mentioned is disrespecting normal gift giving conventions and basic social etiquette. The minute you start telling someone how much trouble and expense you undertook to gift it too them cheapens the gift.
You did great! Thank you for all the info. Boy do I have the questions for you, wish we could actually talk on the phone. Do you still have your Etsy shop? I had 1 for my embroidery items. Had to close down due to moving &down-sizing? I’ve been debating about re-opening but am hearing a lot of negative things. Keep up the Great work.
I've had several people say they want to ask questions, so I'm thinking about setting up a Zoom call for a group of us and we could talk about selling online and all that kind of stuff! Stay tuned! I'll try to organize that and announce that soon!
Wow!!! Thank you for this video!!! I have never sold a quilt, just gave them to family as gifts, but I do alterations on costumes for a dance studio that my granddaughter goes to. Since the parents pay so much for these cheaply made costumes I feel bad charging them , so I charge minimal fees to shorten straps; take in waists; line an entire costume or just add lining to the crotch area; taken in the booty area that is sagging, etc. I go to the studio and measure the girls or pin a costume and when it’s finished I take it back …. I’ve done this for over six years now and I feel abused, unappreciated, taken for granted, and I know this is my fault and my own doing. I will stop doing this next year as I will be 80. What a surprise the studio is in for as I’m sure alterations will cost a whole lot more! While I’m sewing probably for $1.00 an hour the studio director charges $25 for half hour lessons. Duh!!! Ok done venting. Love your videos!!!🩷🩷🩷
You can do it! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 start charging your worth! You’ve got a huge advantage too because your clients already know you do QUALITY work. I bet you’ll have no problem charging more! 💖
Thanks so much for sharing all this. There's so much emphasis on "fast and easy" "4 hour quilts!" and the like that it makes sense that someone would assume what you do is fast and cheap! I'm glad you mention about the design time. It one of the skills you should be paid for. What's that t-shirt? "Yes, I sew. No, I won't fix your pants."😂
@@StitchObsessed You could fill in your own personal refusal. No, I won't... Haha that reminds me, as a house painter I learned never to get my hammer out in front of the client, after getting the "ooh, could you look at the broken thing up on my roof?" several times. Thank you very no thanks!
I found this very helpful, thanks for sharing. I have a tendency to undervalue my skills but I think this has come about by some people over the years, being outraged at the cost of an item, even though I was prepared to do it for the equivalent of $6.40/hr. which isn’t even minimum wage in my country. It is such a stumbling block for me. I would love to sell my work and make an income from it. I quilt, make bags and crochet (shawls mainly). I always design them myself and rarely buy/use a pattern. I always see the value in other people’s creations and although I know that what I have created is equally beautiful, I seem to fall at the last hurdle of pricing and selling. I need to stop worrying and just do it. If someone wants to buy my creations, they will. If not, then that’s ok too.❤❤
I just did a quilt for a friend, 63 by 63 baseball themed ( a pattern from Etsy) with t shirts from a Cancer fundraiser for her brother that passed away. My MISTAKE was not asking her budget beforehand,. I knew she had gone to a shop that makes t shirt quilts and was surprised at their price of $200. For that I think she would've got her t shirts stitched together with some sashing in-between them. I made a beautiful quilt with baseballs and bats and the t shirts were the bases. I used good quality fabric from a local quilt shop. My cost alone was around $175. So, I doubled that cost for my fee even though I spent more than 20 hours making it. When I told her $350, she gasped and I immediately said I would do it for $300. I devalue my work because I do not long arm or free motion. I use a walking foot and where I can I use decorative stitches that are on my Janome. In the end she did pay me $350 and I have decided that anyone who asks me to make a quilt my base price will be $350. I'm not in it to make a lot of money but some is good!
I think MOST people don't realize that a quilt isn't "just a blanket." It's a handmade piece of art that takes dozens of hours to create. We don't just "whip it together" haha I'm glad you got your initial quote, but please don't devalue your hard work! Just because you don't do free motion or have a longarm doesn't mean that you aren't doing a beautiful quilting design and spending precious time on it. And that's totally valid that you're not in it to make a bunch of money. I think a lot of us are that way. It is nice to have the extra money and to have others value our hard work. Thank you so much for watching!
hello thank you for putting it out there. Joannes fabric has a lower grade fabric if you hold it up to the light and you can see thru it its not good quality, but they do have some that are not good quality. you pay for what you get. its like the thread we use its all about the quality. very informative. It is helpful if they are involved in the process .
If you are no longer making quilts for others what are you doing to make $ now? Great video! Thanks for your honesty and willingness to share. See you Tuesday
Well, up until recently I was freelance writer, but I was able to quit doing that and start working on UA-cam channel full time! Pretty cool! So I make money via UA-cam, other content creation, and selling my quilt patterns!
Thanks for the info you shared. Thanks for the pattern, will be looking for the live. Question, if per say , instead of using 3 fabric, I was to use many different but of same value and 3 different colors per exemple, would you think it could work out? Thanks
You can definitely use a bunch of colors, you just might not get that “gingham” pattern, but if you’re okay with that, then it’ll work! 👏🏻💖 thanks for watching, Katy!
There is good info here. But I have not been able to find ant good fabric at joannes. When I hold it up to the light and I see threw it. I just can't spend my time in the quilt. Knowing it was not going to last. Your kona cotton at joanes is seconds runs. But confetti cotton at msqc is so much more worth. And thanks to you, i have enjoyed
Maybe that was the case years ago, but maybe not in recent years 🤷🏻♀️ I’ve never noticed a difference between Kona from Joann, MSQC, Fat Quarter Shop, or small businesses.
Thank you for the valuable information. It is past time that those in the quilting world share this type of knowledge. Enjoy your shows . I glue basted a throw this weekend and ready to put under the needle. So far so good.
Timeless Treasures is one of the best fabrics i have ever seen. After going with my wife diana on a shop-hop of 38 shops in North Florida, the shop in St.Augustine,Fl. Had the best selection and quality of fabrics!! It was a husband and wife operation in a small plaza in town. We are from Tampa 😊 we miss RAINBOWS END in Dunedin,Fl. The largest store we have ever been to is Hancock's of Paducah,KY. We also have the "Traveler Companion" a guide(a directory of Quilt shops across America in print!! 😊
Hi Miriam 🤚🏻 Great video! I have given quilts to family and friends but have been asked how much I would charge if I decided to sell them. Your video was super informative if the day comes that I would charge someone. I know everyone works at a different pace and details of quilting differ but could you share what a reasonable time would be (again, give or take) on different quilt sizes?
Hi, Jill! So glad you liked the video! Sure! So these are super general guesstimates of time spent for the different quilts sizes: Baby: 15-20 hours Throw: 25-35 hours Twin: 40-50 hours Queen: 50+ hours King: 60+ hours That all includes quilting time as well. If you choose to send your quilt to a longarmer, I would definitely charge for the quilting as well as time communicating and figuring the quilting design with the longarmer. I hope that helps! I’m planning to do more videos on this subject because I’ve been getting lots of questions! 💖
Using your discount and getting it from msqc. I have compared kona from a quilt shop and then from joannes. The difference is very noticeable.but this is fyi. Green fairy quilts has 15 yards bolts of bella solids for 99.00 and that is the best cotton I have seen.love it over confetti cotton. Just in case you are looking to add to your solid stash. Thanks for all you advise on pricing. You are right on pricing your time straight across the board.
Thank you for the info, Denise! I'm not sure if I've ever tried Bella solids, I'll definitely order some next time I need to get some solids and try them out. I also want to try Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Solids. I love AGF regular fabric, they're so buttery soft, so assume their solids line is similar.
I used to do things like custom weaving and handspinning. One of my popular custom things was spinning yarn from a beloved pet's fur. I always asked what they expected to use it for. When someone wanted to make a sweater from their dog's combed /shed fur, I would point out that 1) animal fur is HEAVY, it does not have the hollow core like sheep's wool. 2) it was unlikely that their animal could EVER shed enough for a whole sweater. A grocery bag-full of shed fur looks like a lot but only weighs an ounce or two. To give them a realistic idea, I ask them to weigh their favorite wool sweater. I would suggest they plan a knitting project that incorporates a stripe of Fifi's fur. This would give them a satisfactory reality check without disparaging Fifi's memory.
Oh wow that’s such a cool thing to offer, Suzanne! I love that! And awesome you were able to explain things to them without making it awkward or difficult!
When people ask me to make something for them, I have them go get the fabric, thread and batting. I get a flat rate depending on size and what the pattern they want. And I have a contract. It’s helpful.
Im in my 80s. Been a quilter for many many years. Was taught by my grandmother. In pricing, the quality and price of fabric yardage, the size and also the pattern has a lot to do with it. You can make a quilt cheaper if you use cheap fabric. But in doing so you run the risk of a sub quality quilt. Better quality fabrics are more expensive, but the quilt will hold up for many many years. Simple patterns are faster and easier to make. The more complicated the pattern the more expensive it will be. It can be difficult to preprice a quilt.
Very true! It’s definitely tricky, and every quilter is going to choose different pricing. I just hate seeing fellow quilters selling their quilts cheap because I KNOW how much time and money goes into it. I’m hoping we can change the needle of that and people make what they deserve for their beautiful quilts 💖
My mom got so frustrated with people wanting a great product but a cheap price so she decided to give them a list of what they needed to purchase and then she restricted the size to a throw and she gave a few options on patterns that she knew she could piece quickly and hand quilt quickly. She charged a flat rate for the completed throw. She did not drive so they also had to pickup. She would laugh because people who acted like her prices were high before had no problem purchasing all the machine thread, quilt thread backing, batting, and Piecing fabrics...bring it all to her...agree she keeps leftovers..and make another trip to pick up...they weren't saving a dime but in their mind they were paying a cheaper price!😂 I also only do throw sizes lol
lol!!! Your mom is a genius! I love that! 👏🏻💖
Too funny! Good for your mom! I sell modern wall art that is a small quilt but framed instead of finished with binding. My husband makes what is called a floating frame. I don't make anything custom, so I make what I want and sell it. Considering the size and the fact that it only takes a fraction of the time, I can actually make money this way. I am over trying to free-motion quilt on my domestic machine. I still do make an occasional throw and baby quilts mostly as gifts, but I find it interesting that people don't seem to mind paying more for wall art than a quilt. I spend hours looking at the wonderful quilts (I think of them as art) at quilt shows or in magazines. I am now making a quilt jacket in the style of Lady Lancaster. Instead of making the quilt first, I'm making sections to fit the pattern pieces. I am ready to quilt the back tomorrow and I'm looking forward to free motion quilting a small piece like that.
@@1955dmb oooo yes! The Lady Lancaster jacket is SO cool! I love that you make wall art out of fabric! And you and your hubby make it together! 💖 thank you so much for sharing!
@@StitchObsessed We are retired, and we both sell our work at this adorable shop in a small downtown in southwestern VA. I have two tons of fabric and I also make fabric collage wall art. It is a wonderful way to use up my stash so I have very little 'new' supply expense. I'm so excited about my Lady Lancaster hack. I've been working on trying to figure out the jacket pattern and that has been a strain on my brain cells, but I finally got it. I have all the blocks made in the Arkansas Kite pattern and am piecing them together to cover each pattern piece. So fun. Those jackets can easily sell for $1,600. I already have friends asking me to make them one, but neither one of them have a clue about how much time it takes and the cost of the fabric and such. I think I will tell them to just go ahead and buy an original Lady Lancaster. They will be shocked at the price!😅 I really enjoy your channel and your personality!
@@1955dmb that’s so great! Omg I bet your jacket is going to be GORGEOUS!!! 😍 thank you so much for watching 💖 I love hearing how other quilters make money and make art 🥰
Very important video. One person said that each time we undervalue our time, the whole quilting world is damaged because the next person will have a hard time getting a fair price. I used to live in Amish country and they had annual quilt auctions. It was nothing to see a queen size quilt go for $3,000. Some people would gasp but that represented at least 6 months of someone's life because they were hand quilted.
That is 100% true. It makes it harder for everyone else when someone decides to charge barely anything for their quilts. There’s no “industry standard” for pricing which makes it a little tricky. And it really makes me sad so many don’t think that they CAN charge more for their handmade items. I knew a woman who made GORGEOUS sweaters and other knit items and she regularly would charge less than even the price of the yarn. I asked her why she didn’t charge more and she goes “no one wants to spend $200+ on a sweater when they can go to Walmart and buy one for $20. It’s sad.
@@StitchObsessed It is sad. Yarn is expensive! And I get it because at first I found it hard to price my items fairly. I think it is somehow related to the way we get started being interested in these so called hobbies. I always had something available to work on even when I still lived at home. My grandmother taught me to crochet and quilt and back when I was an accountant, these were hobbies that I looked forward to working on at the end of the day. You made the excellent point that you are doing this for a living - not just for fun! I'm almost 70 and I have been doing these things since I was about 6 or 7. So I think it's fair to say I have honed my skills. We just have to be firm. The people who appreciate such work will pay the price if they can. And finding the right place to sell is also important. When I started selling things, I decided to price them fairly and they always sold eventually. I think quilting is an absolute art. I love everything about it.
@@StitchObsessed I used to make hand smocked baby bibs, gowns, layettes and baptismal gowns bc I loved to see them come together and they were beautiful heirlooms yet no one wanted to pay the price so I sold them for little of nothing thus I stopped making them. Then I had a lady who saw my work and commissioned me to make an outfit for her newborn grandson which I started work on right away. It was a beautiful cotton navy and white gingham seersucker print I purchased from one of Florence Eiseman’s fabrics sale here in town years ago. It was a baby bubble romper with cap & bib to match lined and everything. A real couture piece 😉I told I charged $30 she said cool then when I gave her the set she said it was only worth $20 and that’s all she gave me! And this was a lady from my church!!! I didn’t want to get nasty so I let her keep it but that was the last time that happened! I learned then to get my money upfront or at least what the fabric was worth! So sad and her reasoning was she could get it at Walmart for even less but mind you it was a One-of-a-kind. Walmart could never sell that kind of quality for their prices! I was so angry the nerve! She hired me I didn’t say it was a gift but it may as well have been cause I did NOT get paid for my time ect which was already discounted 😔I still love to hand smock so now I just smock gowns for myself 🥰
@@TGBTGAlways 😬 that’s crazy! Ugh that is So frustrating! And she refused to pay an extra $10 that you initially charged?! I can’t imagine doing that to someone, let alone someone you actually know and go to the same church 😂🤯 people get really weird when it comes to money; I’m sorry you had that experience!
The average person would not pay $3,000 for a quilt; and most people would not work for $3,000 for 6 months of anything. By and large, even that price is undervalued.
I never sell my quilts because people don't want to pay what they are worth. I only give away as gifts to special people.
I feel the same. The area I live people just dont value my skill but will pay big money for carpentery and such skills.
Same! I have made and sold T-shirt quilts to friends but for some reason feel guilty charging what I’m worth! I am a terrible business person!
Same here.
I make pillows to go with my quilts and then when I tell them my price they say oh i thought it was like 50 bucks i say no and they leave that isn’t even the price of material!
Me too. 😉
My husband tells me I am making quilts for free. This last quilt was supposed to be a scrap quilt, nothing to purchase and I told the girl $450. Then the woman wanted designer fabrics. I am about ready to give up on selling them. Mostly giving quilts to my family and for gifts. I have been quilting for for 15 yrs and I love it. Recently someone asked me if I sold my quilts and I told them yes. Glad to see your video about pricing. My heart gets in the way..... Got to stop
I hear you! 100% understand where you’re at. I’ve had (multiple times) people ask for a baby quilt, I work up a quote, and then they decide they want a bigger throw size and think it’s gonna be the same price lol 🥴🙃
When i was younger, i did alterations for a very short time. I took apart a designer gown, altered it and put it back together again. You couldnt tell that i had even taken it apart. I was so proud of myself. I am too embarrassed to say how litgle i asked for and she balked at paying that. I held my ground ( and her dress) so she paid up. Never again,i said. The reason i dont sell my quilts is because people dont have a clue of my money and time invested in them. Good video!
oh wow, that's amazing! Good for you for standing your ground on your price! Thank you so much for sharing!
My mom supported us with her sewing. How many times clients picked up their stuff and didn't pay. My brother started gate keeping...no $$ no clothes. We lived in Brooklyn, most of them had mommy sew old designer labels in the things she made. I quilt art/memory/t-shirt quilts. I stopped sewing garments and i refuse to do alterations. (Deconstruction of something you paid $20 for) I think not😮
@@Reikiht56 wow that’s amazing your mom was able to making a living with her sewing! I love that! And good for your brother for standing up for her! It’s wild how people think they’ll get something one of a kind and handmade for the same price they could get something at Walmart/target/ big box stores 🤦🏻♀️
❤ You are one crazy chick in a great way. I only mean that in the best sense of the word. I just love you and I’m an old lady who quilts. You just bring a breath of fresh air for the world of Quilting. Thank you.
I gladly accept the “crazy chick” label 🥴💖💖💖
One lady on Utube was so tired of people under valuing her quilts that she drew up a list of her costs to make a queen size quilt. Supplies, thread, fabric, batting etc. Her time she de❤cided she was worth $15.00 an hour, afterall McDonalds is paying that much. Yer total for the quilt was $1695.00. That was a real eye opener for those of us who have always undervalued our work and time. It was a great video. Miriam your going to have a great business. You have the personality and common sense to work with u your customers.❤️
I think I’ve seen that video! It’s WILD how cheap people think a handmade quilt would be! 🫣 we gotta get the word out there to other quilters that you don’t have to sell yourself short or do free work! Our skills are valuable and deserve to be recognized! 👏🏻👏🏻💖 thank you so much, Karen!
Whoa!!
You did it.
You talked about the big secret taboo subject: pricing!
Idk why more people won't share this valuable information.
I've had my unpleasant stories and no longer offer my services.
You gave excellent tips.
Haha! 😂 I’m just here to cause chaos! Idk why things are so secretive when it comes to pricing and sharing tips about the business side of quilting. It’s very cliquish unfortunately lol
Wow! Those are things that I never thought of! I, too, was undervaluing my quilts. I made two quilts for a lady whose husband had passed away out of her late husband's shirts. I told her I did not want payment for the quilts because I still had my husband. Here it is years later, I get a note with two gift cards over $100 dollars each from her. I still see her from time to time and we hug and talk. But now my eyes are opened and I will charge for my thread, my time involved etc. Thanks for all the questions to ask.
No problem! So glad you found the video helpful 💖
A lady friend took on a freebie memory quilt total of 5 lap tops from denim and shirt fabrics, The denim was too thick for her machine. I did the binding for her just to get them out of her struggles. she wanted denim binding. I gave her shirt plaid binding. She tried to get me into doing a memory T-shirt quilt after that, I suggest $25 per block. I dont care if I get the request.
Oh my goodness. You brought up so many good points. I recently made two t-shirts quilts for a lady. My first time. I sat down and figured out the cost and after I was done with both quilts I under estimated the cost. When I gave her the quilts she loved them and I think she realized I didn’t charge her enough and she gave me a”tip”. She said she loved the quilts. I really didn’t make a lot on these quilts. This video was very helpful. Thank you ❤
That’s awesome she gave you a tip! 👏🏻 I think that’s pretty rare haha it’s definitely a learning process to figure out how much to charge. 💖 thank you for watching!
Thank you for talking about what people don’t want to talk about when honestly pricing their work. Too many people under value their work and their time. Excellent video.
Thank you for watching! 💖
I was talking to a gal in a quilt shop. She mentioned that a friend offered to pay her a hundred dollars for a king size quilt. Her response.... " I have more than that in thread. "
Another two gifted her niece a mid-sized quilt as a wedding gift. Two summers later at a family picnic at her niece's house she saw the quilt , nicely folded in a wooden box on the back porch...it was the dog's bed. When she left she took it with her, unbeknownst to her niece. Nobody even missed it.
Ugh, that's so sad! It's pretty wild how people who don't know anything about quilting just have no grasp on how much time and money goes into a quilt, even a simple, small quilt.
I too made a twin sized quilt for a friend. Later on while visiting her..about a year later, she too had it in the dog bed. I was incredibly disappointed and hurt. I didn't stay long and cried just about the whole way home
@@jenniferreinke9898…people will disappoint you, always. My ex had my first quilt, I made, in the back of his truck with car parts on it. Friends…hmm, not like they used to be or maybe never were. Their appreciation never matches our excitement in the giving. Don’t let it get you down. Even my granddaughter, with whom I have a very strong bond, threw away a dress I made for her, at her request, because it didn’t fit right. She told me about it. I made her get it out of the trash. lol. Gave her hell, too. What’s special to me, is not necessarily that special to her. Life…😏
Quietly taking back the quilt from the porch was the best quilter revenge story I have ever heard! Hearing stories in the comments about quilts ending in dog beds is way too common and always heartbreaking!!
@@jenniferreinke9898it really is heartbreaking ❤️🩹 I would have cried too.
You are so right. People have NO idea the cost of quilts. They think it should be comparable to a blanket you purchase at a Big Box Store. Materials, time not only to make the quilt but how intricate is the pattern.
Exactly! That’s definitely the downside of big box stores carrying “quilts”. People think that’s how cheap they should be , even if they want something custom.
I enjoyed this. I shop at Fat Quarter shop, Missouri Quilt and Joanne Fabrics. I was so happy to hear that Joanne Fabric was out of bankruptcy because it is such a good store. It is hard to put a price on creativity. Great job pricing your quilts!
So glad you enjoyed the video! Thank you for watching! I like to shop all over too. 💖
People forget: when they ask you to make me a blanket. Walmart sells blankets. Quilts are 3 layers of fabric, hours of time! Plus thread etc. I got tired of giving people a price and being asked “wow! That much?” Now I sometimes just inflate the price x3! and they will then say they don’t want to pay that much. They change their minds and I tell them to go to Walmart. I’ve never made one for people where I’ve gotten even 5$ an hour. Not worth my time to do it. I’d sincerely rather give it away as a gift than have my work so undervalued.
Amen to that!
The Walmart response is so infuriating . So is “I can probably make that myself for less” - good luck “Karen”
@@mishkalarsoncreations lol!!! Oh goodness, I did craft shows for awhile, and the amount of times I would hear that phrase murmured was astounding!!! “I could make that for way less” okay? But will you? lol
@stitchobsessed I had a coworker ask me to make an exploding heart quilt for her, I said yes but she had to purchase all the material, batting and backing … I just did the piecing and she paid for the long arm. I sent her off with a list and she went to a local store, bought mostly Kaffe fate quarters! From November to February I sewed, not everyday and not every time I sat down at the machine but it was a lot of pressing of 1/2 square triangles. She picked up the quilt from the longarm and all totalled, ‘she’ probably spent over $400. She told me it was a lot more than she expected but loved the quilt. Side note: she told me, “obviously I can’t pay you what we make at work per hour so I bought you this plant 🪴 I know it’s a labor of love” lol…. Wow… I would have taken a bottle of wine or a gift certificate to the fabric store. Lesson learned, I should have put a price on my labor !
@@LoriB58 😱😱😱😱 she paid you with a plant?! Yikes, that’s definitely a new one I’ve never heard 🤦🏻♀️
I am so so glad you addressed this situation. I have been basically quilting for the last two years for just the cost of the material, often not even charging for thread!
I just finished a quilt for a friend of mine it was a queen size, and just the cost of the fabric was $360 (Canadian) they gave me nothing for my time. I do accept part of the blame simply because I wasn’t forth coming in asking for a fee for my time. I appreciate your candour and I will follow your advice in the future. It’s so disheartening.
I hear you! I’m actually thinking about making another video just spelling out all the costs and what it takes to make a quilt that my fellow quilters can send to people who request a quilt for free or little money. Those who don’t quilt or craft have no clue what all is involved in making a quilt.
@@StitchObsessed yes Miriam pls do make that list so many ppl would benefit from it! 😍👏🏼💞
Great idea!!!
@@StitchObsessed I need a print out for my wall.
Great points. The same thing happens in the bag making area. The majority of my bags are made out of cork, which is pricey already, and still have people say “I can get it at Walmart.” Um, no, it’s one of a kind, hand crafted by me not in a Chinese sweatshop.
Yes!!! Oh my goodness, when I did craft shows, I loved to make quilted bags. People would walk by, look at the price tag and just walk away….my prices were NOT high. Probably never over $100. But those same people were wearing a Vera Bradley bag or Micheal Kors 🥴 they just assume if it’s handmade it should be Walmart pricing. 🤷🏻♀️
I hate it when people say, "you should sell those". About anything. They have no idea how much time it takes and how much money I would have to charge to be fair to myself. Minimum wage here in Seattle is $15 an hour. I am a nurse and the nursing wage for a new graduate is $45 an hour in Seattle. I am not a new nurse and am paid more than that. I am not going to make crafts as a side gig when I could just take an extra shift and get time and a half, or get a second job giving flue shots or injections for bone marrow donors for more money than my day job.
I get the same "you should sell" I see quilts on FB going dirt cheap. I have a few good looking Dr. Seuss quilts .
Amen sister you hit the nail on the head. I’ve been through that all. Last quilt I made and sent out that I had designed for a gal that I used her dad’s shirts. She was so happy with it and makes it all worth it. It’s a joy to make something that you know they are going to love and appreciate and enjoy. Thank you again for your input. We have to stick together.
Exactly!!💖 and that’s so awesome! I love making memory quilts like that. It’s really such a special experience for us too, to get to make such a precious gift. 💝
For those who have no idea the cost, let them go get all the supplies themselves. They get the fabric they like and you're not out money for fabric they may or may not like. Then they only pay you for labor.
Great tip!
I make quilts because it's fun & relaxing. I don't want to be stressed out! I usually make them for gifts like new babies, wedding or graduation gifts. I'm thinking about making a few & take them to our local quilt shop for selling.
It really is a great way to make some extra money!
Good luck with that!
Absolutely one of the best videos on this topic that I’ve seen! The next generation is refusing to be taken advantage of- knowledge is power and benefits us all. Someday I would like to sell my work and I do feel that this makes it seem feasible. 🥰
Wow, thank you so much! 💖 so glad you enjoyed the video!!!
I was at a Senior Center enjoying company with others. A man bragged about his mother selling a quilt for $150. My cool composure was lost.
I don’t make to sell but I’d like to start gently educating family and friends about the value of the quilts gifted to them by me, so I’ve decided to work out a valuation (costs including materials, labour, overheads etc). I plan to put it on a card with the washing instructions. Here’s an example:
“Handmade heirloom-quality quilt. Bespoke design for you, created 2024.
Valuation for insurance purposes: $450.
For best care: Washing as infrequently as possible can extend the life of the quilt for generations, so shake out and air regularly instead. When necessary, warm machine wash on gentle with wool wash or mild detergent. No bleach. Spin off then dry over several lines with right side down to reduce fading. Or tumble dry on WARM/LOW.”
That is wonderful. Will somewhat copy this and do the same. Thanks for idea.
I recently made several quilts for friends and family that I’m boxing to send. I will definitely use this. Thank you thank you!!
@@marcamp5450 Happy you think it’s useful 🙂
@@lindaholley886 Happy it’s helpful. I’d be interested to hear how they respond. 🙂
I love this idea! Thank you so much for sharing!
I can’t imagine trying to sell anything I make because the price would be ridiculous! I’ve had friends ask me to hem pants, with the caveat that “I’ll pay you!” No, it’s not fun, and there are alteration shops who will do it faster and better. I’m currently making a QAYG Mandelorian helmet quilt for my 9yo grandson for Christmas (he won’t appreciate it now, but maybe later?). So far I’m figuring 100 hours (10 hours a week on average, 9 rows, one per week plus slashing and binding) plus $150 in materials. Is anyone going to pay me $2150 for it? Doubtful. It’s a labor of love for him, and worth it.
What a special gift you're making for your grandson! I bet that's going to be GORGEOUS! And a labor of love for your grandson is priceless!
Yes! About the hemming pants! No fun, and shops have special equipment.
@@daxxydog5777 I agree with what you said concerning alterations - they are NOT fun! My husband has been trying to get me to change a broken zipper on his pants and I also told him to take them to someone who does that kind of work bc I don’t! He didn’t like it but oh well this is my hobby and I don’t sew to repair and mend 😡 I used to grudgingly hem pants now and then bc I got asked but now that I’m older I just say No I’m not a seamstress I only make quilts. Ppl who have those types of needs should seek out ppl who do repair work or go learn how to do them themselves and better yet, throw the garment away and purchase something new 🥰
Miriam you NAILED it! Such great knowledge you poured into this video 💯👏🏼💞 I have been quilting since 1984 & I have been hired to make quilts 4 others & starting out I 2 very much UNDERRATED myself, my talent & my ability😔so bottom line I was wayyyyyy underpaid! My fault. Yet as time went on I learned how to charge & everything you discussed is so very spot on! I can remember the time I made a king size denim quilt that I designed. The customer brought me her son’s old jeans and her only request was to use the pockets for secret enclosers on the quilt. She also provided the flannel backing. That quilt was not only massive but it was HEAVY! I quilted it ITD on my domestic machine & it left my shoulders sore for 2 weeks & I only charged $150! After that I hurried up and got things in order as how to charge 😂 For some reason a lot of customers look at purchasing a hand made quilt like buying it from Walmart or JCPenny 😣 First & foremost I let ppl know I am NOT a sweat shop when it comes to working or getting paid 😉So you cannot sell yourself cheap otherwise you may as well give the quilt as a 🎁. Quilting takes knowledge, patience, money, time, utensils, machinery, talent & effort & none of that comes cheap. I also would include gas money, experience & time into the price if I had to purchase fabric ect to make a quilt because a lot of my patrons told me they knew nothing about color and choosing fabrics so that meant I had to do it and taking the time & using my knowledge to do so meant it was an extra cost. Some think your pricing is way too much & my response to that is this … Then you take a class, learn about fabric & color choices. Learn how to read a pattern & what to do with it. Spend the time preparing, cutting, starching (if that’s what you do), piecing, ironing (not to mention using my electricity), bordering, sandwiching, basting & quilting. Then come back & tell me how much time it took you & what my price would be!?🤨 I never told them this but it was my thoughts you know? Nowadays classes aren’t cheap, machines aren’t cheap, thread & fabrics aren’t cheap, batting isn’t cheap & labor is outrageous! So in the event you DON’T wish to take up quilting then you gotta be ready to pay. And my down payment was always half the total cost only then could they pay the remaining balance on a payment plan that way I didn’t get stuck with any of the cost if they changed their mind or decided later they couldn’t afford it & I would give them payment plan options they could choose according to when they got paid. And like you once everything was paid in full I released the quilt. I never had any problems with that yet some would say my prices were too much & I totally understood but I cannot sell myself at an unreasonable rate just to please others when you are hiring me to do the job you don’t want to do or never would 🥰 This was a much needed video 💯👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💞
Exactly! I agree with everything you said! I had people try to barter or try to offer half that amount on my initial quote and I was like what? lol no, that’s not how this is going to work lol 😂 it’s definitely a gif learning curve figure all that out!
I made sock monkeys for several years, I for. Sure didn’t charge enough for my time. It would take me around 10 hours to make one monkey. I detailed it and it wasn’t just a sock with two buttons and a mouth. They were extremely nice and made with highest quality including threads of high quality. I hand sewed all of the detailed work. I charged only 25.00 for medium sized monkeys and had some people complain about my price. I told them they are worth more. I would tell them, they don’t have to buy it and told them they could make it themselves. I had one person make their own and they messaged me saying they didn’t realize how much time and effort go into making them. They learned just how much I under charged for my work plus the high quality products I used. Anything I put my name and guarantee on will never be junk!
It ALWAYS amazes at how people have no clue how much materials cost, let alone the time that goes into handmade items. lol I love sock monkeys! What a fun item to make and sell!
I sold a set of Raggady Ann, Andy doll's $30. They lowballed be from $40. I was so unhappy with my sell.
I so loved this video. Great information. As a quilter/sewist I have struggled with pricing for the reasons you've stated. I appreciate your frank discussion about pricing. I would welcome a future video spelling out the costs of making a quilt. I wish you continued success and thanks again for sharing such valuable information..
I can definitely do another video to talk more in depth about the costs and how to sell online. Thank you so much for watching!
Great video. People are always a good deal on handmade itemd but never even question going to restaurants, trips, amusement parks, etc.
So true!
Thank you for sharing your expereinces with us. I agree with you that we need to charge a fair price for our time and services...People don't understand that it costs us our time and materials, and they don't understand the costs involved...because they don't see it as our source of income...that we make our living doing this service...
Exactly! And I think people just don’t realize how much TIME goes into making a quilt. Whenever I would send an invoice to someone, I would break down the costs and the amount of time was usually what shocked them lol
Thank you so much for this info. I’m a newer quilter and have wondered exactly what someone might charge for the projects I’ve made for family as gifts. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! Thanks again!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for watching!
Great video! I have tried to sell my quilts in the past and very few people are willing to pay what they’re worth. Now I just make them for myself or friends/family.
Thank you for helping to enlighten people on valuing your own handmade products whether it's a quilt, knitted garment, etc. In my case, it's handmade jewelry and paintings. It took me years to charge what I think my products are worth and I actually make more sales that way. I actually had a potential client ask if I could do a painting at no cost if he supplied the materials. Thanks for posting!
Living so close to Lancaster, Pa I never take for granted the price of blankets, quilts, and comforters. After making a few throws as gifts it reinforced my feelings towards anyone who has more patience than I do. I hope all of you ladies that are quilters have a wonderful happy and safe future. ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉
Thank you for your sweet message 💖🥰🤗
Great video!! Thank you. I'm crocheting an afghan for my neices wedding and i just roughly calculated how much i would have to sell it for if i was giving myself $20. Over $1200!!! I hope she loves this gift.
Wow! What a wonderful wedding gift!
I like the tip include a label with cleaning instructions plus insurance value.. If you don't tell them they will never know.
Cutting up clothes and cutting from those random pieces adds so much more time, is wonderfully satisfying, and ensures a unique quilt!
@@ecoquilting7077 I'm binding 3 quilted throws now for a family member
Yes! And each piece holds memories for those who receive the quilt. They know “oh that’s the flannel shirt dad always wore when he worked on his car” or “that was the dress mom wore during the summer!” I really love that 🥰
@@StitchObsessed Yep! And the old favorite pizza joint where they had so many fun times!
@@ecoquilting7077 exactly!!!💖💖💖💖
Great video. I am a retired Extension Service Home Economist. I taught a program in the 90's on How to go into Business mainly sewing and crafts related. Most people only charged less than minimum wage for their labor. Challenged them to keep a timer on the time it took to make an item. A person skill set would help determine price to charge. As skills improve labor cost goes up.
Thank you so much for watching!
I love quilting as a hobby. I was just thinking making quilts that I love and maybe selling them, as I don’t have that much space to keep all the quilts. Thank you for sharing this.
So glad you liked the video! 💖
I love your frankness! I can so relate to what you are saying and, over time, I have learned to adjust my pricing accordingly. I will be sharing this video with other quilting friends.
Thank you so much for watching and sharing!!!
Absolutely true and great information for beginning quilters. I have had to turn down several request. It is hard sometimes to do this but you are being honest with the customer and yourself. Thank you again!
Thank you for watching!
Very helpful information. My first 6 or 7 quilts were made for friends and family, and I don't think I made 50 cents an hour. I knew this at the time, but couldn't bring myself to charge more because I knew their financial situation. It's definitely been a learning experience.
Thank you ❤
I hear you. I had SUCH A HARD TIME charging family members anything. It felt very weird. lol I totally understand where you’re coming from. 💖
I am so glad you are honest with your amounts, as this is the same fear I have. I also undervalue my time and skills. Thank you for this chat😉
You are so welcome! Thank you for watching! 💖💖
You are so appreciated! Actual help to people! Thank you thank you! You ROCK!
Happy to help! Thank you so much for watching! 💖
Why did I not find you sooner? I am always looking for good content about quilting and anything closely related. Glad I found you.
Yay! Welcome to the channel! 💖👏🏻
I purposely educate everyone about the quilt I'm "currently" making, through the whole process, includung photos, so that they or their children know the cost and time invested, from beginning to end.
No one has asked me to make one but my recipients are very appreciative.
Even tho it is a very expensive hobby in Australia, thats my joy.
There seems to be quite a large quilting community in Australia! That’s so great! 👏🏻 and I love that you educate the people you’re giving the quilt to about all that goes into it.
G’day, fellow aussie
Thank you soo much for sharing this information! I've been struggling as well on what to charge and I absolutely love custom work. Confidence has been a struggle and you just gave me a boost. Thank you!
I’m so glad! You can do it! 👏🏻💖
That's so true.thankyou for sharing .I'm like that don't like charging people alot.this sharing help me alot❤
Thank you for watching!
I am new to quilting and am soooo enjoying watching your videos... You are a huge help!!!!
Yay!! I’m so glad!!👏🏻💖💖
Thanks. Very helpful. You are right on 2 accounts, many people have no idea how much it cost to quilt & many of us are crafters / artist not business oriented. This info is seldom covered. Thanks for sharing. Love MSQC
Thank you for watching!
Thanks for laying it all out there
💖🫣🤓
I’m thinking about starting to ask friends if they would like a quilt and offer for them to pay the cost of materials and I get the joy of making them something without the big price tag. I’m glad you mention this because it’s been a big mental hurdle for me because it feels more like a transaction than a surprise gift, which is what I’ve always done. But it’s spendy and there is a limit to who I would spend hundreds of dollars on. lol Great video!
I have done this and it was very rewarding. Then they pick the colors and patterns they like. The people I have done this for are very quick to thank me for the skill and time gift.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video! I think that's a great idea!
THANK YOU for sharing this information, Miriam. I sew items and sell at local boutiques and so often have to explain why I've priced items the way I have.
Yes! Where else is this appropriate? Are people at Pottery Barn questioning why they’re charging so much? Lol it’s pretty crazy!
After several years of keeping books to aid in pricing my quilts, I finally came up with totaling cost of material, thread, batting & etc and multiplying by 3 to come up with reasonable price. Sometimes there are special things such as curved edges, hexie edges that require added effort that need to be addressed. As to quality of JoAnns fabric....there are several grades of fabric in their store, so you need to be aware of that and study carefully when shopping. I have purchased good quality fabrics there, but their "knock off" fabrics are tricky. My customers tend to choose by color and not quality. I find it is a matter of education of your craft. You are right in being up front with the budget at the onset, both theirs and yours. Thanks for your ideas and thoughts.
You make great points, Dorothy! Thank you so much for sharing! 💖
I am getting back into quilting. So I am glad i found your channel.
Aww yay! So glad you’re coming back to quilting! 👏🏻💖
This is very helpful. Thank you!😊
Thank you for watching, Deborah!
Super helpful video! Appreciate you sharing all your knowledge with us.
Thanks for watching, Kelli!
I found this very helpful, thanks for sharing. I have a tendency to undervalue my skills but I think this has come about by some people over the years, being outraged at the cost of an item, even though I was prepared to do it for the equivalent of $6.40/hr. which isn’t even minimum wage in my country. It is such a stumbling block for me. I would love to sell my work and make an income from it. I quilt, make bags and crochet (shawls mainly). I always design them myself and rarely buy/use a pattern. I always see the value in other people’s creations and although I know that what I have created is equally beautiful, I seem to fall at the last hurdle of pricing and selling. I need to stop worrying and just do it. If someone wants to buy my creations, they will. If not, then that’s ok too.❤❤ I think people forget that we do the whole process ourselves. One pair of hands and one brain produces something that would take a whole bunch of people in a factory business.
Thankyou so much for such an informative vdo. I am starting a new business and this is so helpful, you covered all the questions in my mind. Bless you xx
Oh yay! I’m so glad it helped! And good luck with your business! You’re going to do great! 👏🏻👏🏻
I wanted to thank you very very much for posting this video I find that it has been very helpful.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for watching! 💖
I spent about 4 hours burying threads this weekend. One if the hidden time sucks that result in a more durable product but is hard to remember to count in the estimate.
This is one of THE most helpful videos I’ve seen in a while! Thank you!!!
Wow, thank you! So glad you found this helpful!👏🏻💖
I started quilting about 10 yrs ago. Im 74 now & i really enjoy all of my creations. Probably about 20 yrs ago, i went to a co-workers house for dinner. She sowed me her sewing room. I loved a rustic fall colored standard, handmade quilt. I really wanted it. She said she would take $300 for it. I was a little surprised but was happy to pay that. It was worth more to me. I still have it & cherish the work. And now i understand why people charge as much as they do. I make most of mine as a gift. Ive actually only sold one that a lady requested & she was happy to pay $300.00.
$300 is a bargain for a quilt! 👏🏻💖
I do all kinds of sewing, including alterations. My husband had to price jobs for his business. He has told me many times, “You are devaluing yourself when you don’t charge enough. Do you like working for nothing?” I came to the conclusion that I would rather not have the job than do it for nearly nothing. I even charge to sew on buttons. Ask someone who sells quilts all the time. They can help you with base pricing.
Hi Miriam, thank you for the thorough video. I have a problem because almost everything I have made has been as gifts but I would love to start making some money so I can invest more in good quality materials and buy what I need to make the item. Also, it would be a good way for me to make money to add to my fixed income. I really appreciate you being so detailed. 🙂
Thanks for the input. I am retired and looking to make some extra money to help keep up with the cost of living. I love quilting and my husband pointed out the cost and time verses the worth. I was discouraged but continued making them thinking I would sell them at craft fairs or on line but had no idea what to charge. Thanks again!
You’re so welcome! Hoping for lots of success for your business! 👏🏻👏🏻 you can do it!
I’m new to making throws. I so appreciate the info in this video as I was struggling with cost. Ty😊
You are so welcome!
All great suggestions. I quit custom clothing design because the number of people wanting quality garments at Goodwill pricing.🎉❤🎉
I am glad to see someone making a profit from the craft and charging what her time is worth. In the 90s and early 00s, I used to do craft fairs and a booth at an crafter mall. I made quality items and charged materials plus minimum wage (doll clothes and doll quilts). Not only did most people want to pay a fair price, but we often encountered sellers who sold the same category of items very cheaply (cheap materials, basic techniques which would not hold up well, and very simple designs compared to my materials, sturdiness, and design complexity). I couldn't compete with that and just stopped selling. I donated most of my inventory to a fundraiser.
Yep! That’s definitely still a problem, especially at craft shows. Many times I’ll see obviously cheaply made quilts from a factory being sold as “handmade”. That’s just sad because the people buying don’t know.
@@StitchObsessed As they sell them at Walmart, for example, they say "handmade" on the label. My thought is that is what they are selling, which means basically they are coming from places where the crafters are being way underpaid, probably from a sweatshop. The quality of the fabric is probably also low.
@@KristinaHoneyHavenFarm yes, exactly. It’s unfortunate
I don't sell my quilts...I have made good quality fabric throw sized quilts for family and friends... my Charity quilts are a mix of thrifted, gifted, or super old fabrics, but still lovely! I had a convo once in the supermarket with a gal in line, we got on the topic of quilt making, she asked me what I would charge for a Throw sized /machine quilted quilt... I said they would start minimum at: $2000 for one.
Thank you, thank you for this valuable information. I am considering starting to sell my crafts and I am super scared of all the unknown, the dos and the don't 's, the watch out for this and that...and the dread of figuring out pricing. You blew a lot of my fears out of the water with this video. Thank you so much!!!
I love doing my crafts, but hate the thought of the business end of it. So much to know and learn. You've given me a great jumping off point. God bless you as you continue in your business endeavors ❤
I’m so glad the video was helpful for you! I’m cheering for you and your future plans! 👏🏻💖 you can do it! Just focus on one step at a time!
Great video Miriam! 🎉 I have many quilts I have made but I cannot bring myself to sell them because of the amount of material, work and time that go into making a nice quilt. I appreciate all this information and look forward to selling a quilt one of these days. ❤❤❤
I hear you! I get emotionally attached to quilts I make haha!! Thank you for watching, Annette!
Many people, when they find out I’m a quilter, say “can you make me one?”. I now explain that the cost of the fabric and batting alone for my friends’ throw quilt cost over £150. They make a bit of a face. Then I say even if I charged £10 an hour one of my basic throw quilts will take about 20 hours. Then they make another face. And say they couldn’t warrant that amount of money on a blanket!!! Then I say that’s without needles, blades, patterns, electricity, wear and tear on my machine and equipment, etc. I only make for those I love and deem ‘quilt-worthy’. People can get taken from the list! I made a twin size ‘baby’ quilt for a friend, with personalised fmq. When I visited she used it on her dirty floor as a mat to walk on! She then had the front to ask me to make a custom quilt from old baby grows. Once bitten twice shy.
Thanks you so much for your advice ! I am beginning on my sell patchwork creative journey and I needed your video. Take care
Oh yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!
Thank you for this video This is advice I really needed. I am getting started in selling quilts which I design or if someone wants something specific.
You can do it!👏🏻💖
First, thank you for providing some realistic context for quilters.
Second, for all of those who feel put upon by others: If you want to sell your time, then sell it for something that won't make you grouse about it. That means you have to have customers who see the value in what you are doing. If you quilt for the love of it and gift them, don't monetize your gift by putting an insurance value or take pictures of all the things that you did to let the recipient know how valuable the quilt is. You are giving a gift, not showcasing how much time/effort expense you undertook. Frankly, it is tacky. If you invite people to your home to fix them dinner, are you tucking a note in their napkin to let them know that it took you three days to figure out the menu, curate/procure and pay for the food, AND prepare the food? They should know that if they went to a restaurant, they would pay $100+ a head for appetizers, main course, dessert and wine that they are being served for free in your home.
The gift of a quilt is *priceless*. I'm glad to have quilts in the wild that are loved, appreciated enjoyed. I gift all of my quilts: to friends, family, baby's that appear through friends and family (most of my quilts); and to those stricken with illness. Quilting is an avocation for me; my avocation earns my living. Quilting is my escape from that.
I don't think when most quilters gift a quilt and place some sort of monetary value for insurance purposes or to show how much work went into is meant to be snobby or like "oh yes, look how EXPENSIVE this quilt is." The quilter wants to give their family or friend an idea of what all went into this precious gift they are being given. ALOT of people have NO CLUE how much time and money goes into a quilt, and many take gifted quilts for granted.To call other quilters "tacky" for simply educating their friends and family is not very nice and just plain disrespectful.
Also, the comparison of a meal and quilt is just silly. Someone won't be gifted a meal and, if they take good care of it, be able to enjoy it for their entire lives and pass it down to the next generation. It makes complete sense why we as quilters would want our precious gifts to be cherished-not just tossed to the side and not taken care of.
@@StitchObsessed I stand by my comment as it was not disrespectful. My point was that all the hoo hah that I mentioned is disrespecting normal gift giving conventions and basic social etiquette. The minute you start telling someone how much trouble and expense you undertook to gift it too them cheapens the gift.
OMG, this! Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for this content! ❤
Thank you so much for watching! 💖
You did great! Thank you for all the info. Boy do I have the questions for you, wish we could actually talk on the phone. Do you still have your Etsy shop? I had 1 for my embroidery items. Had to close down due to moving &down-sizing? I’ve been debating about re-opening but am hearing a lot of negative things. Keep up the Great work.
I've had several people say they want to ask questions, so I'm thinking about setting up a Zoom call for a group of us and we could talk about selling online and all that kind of stuff! Stay tuned! I'll try to organize that and announce that soon!
I am so glad you made this video. ..
Thank you for watching!
Where have I been all this time?!
I’m so obsessed with watching your videos as I am trying to get my “side hustle” started.
Thanks for sharing!
That’s awesome!!! 👏🏻 I hope your side hustle is wildly successful!!!💖
Wow!!! Thank you for this video!!! I have never sold a quilt, just gave them to family as gifts, but I do alterations on costumes for a dance studio that my granddaughter goes to. Since the parents pay so much for these cheaply made costumes I feel bad charging them , so I charge minimal fees to shorten straps; take in waists; line an entire costume or just add lining to the crotch area; taken in the booty area that is sagging, etc. I go to the studio and measure the girls or pin a costume and when it’s finished I take it back …. I’ve done this for over six years now and I feel abused, unappreciated, taken for granted, and I know this is my fault and my own doing. I will stop doing this next year as I will be 80. What a surprise the studio is in for as I’m sure alterations will cost a whole lot more! While I’m sewing probably for $1.00 an hour the studio director charges $25 for half hour lessons. Duh!!! Ok done venting. Love your videos!!!🩷🩷🩷
You can do it! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 start charging your worth! You’ve got a huge advantage too because your clients already know you do QUALITY work. I bet you’ll have no problem charging more! 💖
Thanks so much for sharing all this. There's so much emphasis on "fast and easy" "4 hour quilts!" and the like that it makes sense that someone would assume what you do is fast and cheap! I'm glad you mention about the design time. It one of the skills you should be paid for.
What's that t-shirt? "Yes, I sew. No, I won't fix your pants."😂
Hahaha!! Yes! Exactly! We all need that shirt!
@@StitchObsessed You could fill in your own personal refusal. No, I won't... Haha that reminds me, as a house painter I learned never to get my hammer out in front of the client, after getting the "ooh, could you look at the broken thing up on my roof?" several times. Thank you very no thanks!
I found this very helpful, thanks for sharing. I have a tendency to undervalue my skills but I think this has come about by some people over the years, being outraged at the cost of an item, even though I was prepared to do it for the equivalent of $6.40/hr. which isn’t even minimum wage in my country. It is such a stumbling block for me. I would love to sell my work and make an income from it. I quilt, make bags and crochet (shawls mainly). I always design them myself and rarely buy/use a pattern. I always see the value in other people’s creations and although I know that what I have created is equally beautiful, I seem to fall at the last hurdle of pricing and selling. I need to stop worrying and just do it. If someone wants to buy my creations, they will. If not, then that’s ok too.❤❤
That’s exactly right! The right buyer will come along and see the value in your work 💖💖💖
I just did a quilt for a friend, 63 by 63 baseball themed ( a pattern from Etsy) with t shirts from a Cancer fundraiser for her brother that passed away. My MISTAKE was not asking her budget beforehand,. I knew she had gone to a shop that makes t shirt quilts and was surprised at their price of $200. For that I think she would've got her t shirts stitched together with some sashing in-between them. I made a beautiful quilt with baseballs and bats and the t shirts were the bases. I used good quality fabric from a local quilt shop. My cost alone was around $175. So, I doubled that cost for my fee even though I spent more than 20 hours making it. When I told her $350, she gasped and I immediately said I would do it for $300. I devalue my work because I do not long arm or free motion. I use a walking foot and where I can I use decorative stitches that are on my Janome. In the end she did pay me $350 and I have decided that anyone who asks me to make a quilt my base price will be $350. I'm not in it to make a lot of money but some is good!
I think MOST people don't realize that a quilt isn't "just a blanket." It's a handmade piece of art that takes dozens of hours to create. We don't just "whip it together" haha I'm glad you got your initial quote, but please don't devalue your hard work! Just because you don't do free motion or have a longarm doesn't mean that you aren't doing a beautiful quilting design and spending precious time on it. And that's totally valid that you're not in it to make a bunch of money. I think a lot of us are that way. It is nice to have the extra money and to have others value our hard work. Thank you so much for watching!
This EXACT thing happened to me…. Down to the gasp. :/
hello thank you for putting it out there. Joannes fabric has a lower grade fabric if you hold it up to the light and you can see thru it its not good quality, but they do have some that are not good quality. you pay for what you get. its like the thread we use its all about the quality. very informative. It is helpful if they are involved in the process .
TFS this valuable information, Queen. This was needed as I am a beginner.
I"m so glad you found it helpful! And thank you so much for watching!
This is the most helpful vid I’ve seen on UA-cam
Thank you so much for watching!💖
If you are no longer making quilts for others what are you doing to make $ now? Great video! Thanks for your honesty and willingness to share. See you Tuesday
Well, up until recently I was freelance writer, but I was able to quit doing that and start working on UA-cam channel full time! Pretty cool! So I make money via UA-cam, other content creation, and selling my quilt patterns!
Cool!
Thanks for the info you shared. Thanks for the pattern, will be looking for the live. Question, if per say , instead of using 3 fabric, I was to use many different but of same value and 3 different colors per exemple, would you think it could work out? Thanks
You can definitely use a bunch of colors, you just might not get that “gingham” pattern, but if you’re okay with that, then it’ll work! 👏🏻💖 thanks for watching, Katy!
Thank you for your advice . Thank for sharing
You are so welcome💖
There is good info here. But I have not been able to find ant good fabric at joannes. When I hold it up to the light and I see threw it. I just can't spend my time in the quilt. Knowing it was not going to last. Your kona cotton at joanes is seconds runs. But confetti cotton at msqc is so much more worth. And thanks to you, i have enjoyed
Sorry, Joann's Kona is not seconds.... I worked there for 9 yrs.
@@jilbertb well I had a kona rep tell me that at a quilt open house at a suppliers business in toledo Ohio back in 2000.
Maybe that was the case years ago, but maybe not in recent years 🤷🏻♀️ I’ve never noticed a difference between Kona from Joann, MSQC, Fat Quarter Shop, or small businesses.
Kona can be ordered by the bolt at Hobby Lobby on a sale day for less. I think they will order most anything for you by the bolt.
Oh I didn't know you could order by the bolt! Thank you for the tip!
@@StitchObsessed Marshall Dry Goods offer both wholsale and retail pricing.
Thank you for the valuable information. It is past time that those in the quilting world share this type of knowledge. Enjoy your shows . I glue basted a throw this weekend and ready to put under the needle. So far so good.
Yay! I'm so glad you're giving the glue basting a try! I hope its a real game changer for you!
Timeless Treasures is one of the best fabrics i have ever seen. After going with my wife diana on a shop-hop of 38 shops in North Florida, the shop in St.Augustine,Fl. Had the best selection and quality of fabrics!!
It was a husband and wife operation in a small plaza in town. We are from Tampa 😊 we miss
RAINBOWS END in Dunedin,Fl.
The largest store we have ever been to is Hancock's of Paducah,KY.
We also have the "Traveler Companion" a guide(a directory of
Quilt shops across
America in print!!
😊
There’s a guide for a quilt shop road trip?! 😱 that sounds like SO much fun!!! Thank you for sharing! 👏🏻
Hi Miriam 🤚🏻 Great video! I have given quilts to family and friends but have been asked how much I would charge if I decided to sell them. Your video was super informative if the day comes that I would charge someone. I know everyone works at a different pace and details of quilting differ but could you share what a reasonable time would be (again, give or take) on different quilt sizes?
Hi, Jill! So glad you liked the video! Sure! So these are super general guesstimates of time spent for the different quilts sizes:
Baby: 15-20 hours
Throw: 25-35 hours
Twin: 40-50 hours
Queen: 50+ hours
King: 60+ hours
That all includes quilting time as well. If you choose to send your quilt to a longarmer, I would definitely charge for the quilting as well as time communicating and figuring the quilting design with the longarmer. I hope that helps! I’m planning to do more videos on this subject because I’ve been getting lots of questions! 💖
@@StitchObsessed Thank you! 👍🏻😊
This was a lot of good information. Thank you for the video!
So glad you liked the video! 💖 thanks for watching!
Thank you, so much..I needed this video years ago 😊
So did I! I was flying by the seat of my pants when I started out! haha And no one ever talks about pricing!
Thank you so much for this video! Great information!
I'm so glad you liked it! Thank you!
Using your discount and getting it from msqc. I have compared kona from a quilt shop and then from joannes. The difference is very noticeable.but this is fyi. Green fairy quilts has 15 yards bolts of bella solids for 99.00 and that is the best cotton I have seen.love it over confetti cotton. Just in case you are looking to add to your solid stash. Thanks for all you advise on pricing. You are right on pricing your time straight across the board.
Thank you for the info, Denise! I'm not sure if I've ever tried Bella solids, I'll definitely order some next time I need to get some solids and try them out. I also want to try Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Solids. I love AGF regular fabric, they're so buttery soft, so assume their solids line is similar.
I used to do things like custom weaving and handspinning. One of my popular custom things was spinning yarn from a beloved pet's fur. I always asked what they expected to use it for. When someone wanted to make a sweater from their dog's combed /shed fur, I would point out that 1) animal fur is HEAVY, it does not have the hollow core like sheep's wool. 2) it was unlikely that their animal could EVER shed enough for a whole sweater. A grocery bag-full of shed fur looks like a lot but only weighs an ounce or two. To give them a realistic idea, I ask them to weigh their favorite wool sweater. I would suggest they plan a knitting project that incorporates a stripe of Fifi's fur. This would give them a satisfactory reality check without disparaging Fifi's memory.
Oh wow that’s such a cool thing to offer, Suzanne! I love that! And awesome you were able to explain things to them without making it awkward or difficult!
Thank you!! I needed to hear this!!!!! I will adjust my ways!
I'm so glad you liked it! You can do it!
When people ask me to make something for them, I have them go get the fabric, thread and batting. I get a flat rate depending on size and what the pattern they want. And I have a contract. It’s helpful.
Sounds like you have a great plan!
Im in my 80s. Been a quilter for many many years. Was taught by my grandmother. In pricing, the quality and price of fabric yardage, the size and also the pattern has a lot to do with it. You can make a quilt cheaper if you use cheap fabric. But in doing so you run the risk of a sub quality quilt. Better quality fabrics are more expensive, but the quilt will hold up for many many years. Simple patterns are faster and easier to make. The more complicated the pattern the more expensive it will be. It can be difficult to preprice a quilt.
Very true! It’s definitely tricky, and every quilter is going to choose different pricing. I just hate seeing fellow quilters selling their quilts cheap because I KNOW how much time and money goes into it. I’m hoping we can change the needle of that and people make what they deserve for their beautiful quilts 💖