Need help with quote!

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Comment by Lynn Sullivan on March 24, 2013 at 12:05pm

very nice, like the colors!

Comment by 3boykinsmommy/CT on March 17, 2013 at 11:36am

Mary and Gayle! My cheerleaders! :)  Yeah, I have a hard time taking my own advice too. :( 

Ok, here's the breakdown that I am givng to her (after she looks at the quilt and I have feedbac):

1 pkg Hoffman's Bali pops (customer's choice) $43

1 Strip Tube Ruler (needed for pattern-also customer's choice) $10 (I split the cost because I get to keep it)

1 1/4 yd Border/ inset  fabric @ $11.50/yd          $14.37

1 1/4 yd Border fabric 2   @ 11.70/yd                   $14.62

MA sales tx for fabric                                            $4.14

TOTAL:                                                                  $85.85

Donated: Backing 2 yds heavy wgt. muslin approx $13

Batting 3 yds but comes in crib size quality batting approx. $10 and up

Thread (2 cotton, 1 monofilament) $3.00/ea

Time: usually 2x or more the cost of materials which would come to $171.70@ 2x

           Beginners like me get usually 1x the cost. 

 

Comment by MaryAgnes/NYC on March 17, 2013 at 6:26am

If you do decide to let them give you a donation for your time be sure you let them know how many hours you spent on their project and how much you would have earned had you spent those hours slinging burgers at Micky D's.  (Wish I could take my own advice.)

Comment by Gayle/La. on March 16, 2013 at 9:15pm

Hi friend, I don't know what to tell you to charge but I must disagree with you on the quality of your workmanship. I think that this is as good as any she could have purchased elsewhere. I think that if she doesn't want it for $175.00 or a minimum of $150.00 then she should just leave it with you. I am sure you would have a family member who would appreciate a nice gift on a special occasion. I learned a long time ago the only time a set price bothers is when it is being paid. If they had made this they would be wanting a lot more for their work.

Comment by June Johnson/Wi on March 16, 2013 at 7:56pm

Very pretty!  I have no advice what to charge.  Many years ago my Mom used to say that a seamstress for a piece of clothing charged 3 times the cost of fabric; I think a buyer would faint at that price.  I do have a hint for purchasing fabrics; Connecting Threads has great fabrics at great prices.  Batiks are priced $3-$4 less/yard than quilt shops.  Sale fabrics are great for backings; some for about $2.50/yard.  Good luck. 

Comment by 3boykinsmommy/CT on March 16, 2013 at 4:13pm

Linda,

You are so right!  I went on Etsy today and saw this beautiful wall hanging of a Star pattern.  It was absolutely lovely!! So much work went into this and the finish quilting was lovely.  She was only asking $75.  Others on there are even less...much less.  I do not understand why these ladies seriously undercut themselves in their work.  I guess it's the only way to sell things because younger folks mostly do not understand what is involved.   I was once one of them...I wanted an Amish quilt and was floored at the price of $500-800.  I looked for other quilts by quilters and found the prices at the time about the same, only slightly less.  I was shocked!  Then, one day many years later I got the idea to make a quilt...kind of like an epiphany.....then, I learned and now, if I could afford to buy those ladies quilts for my home, I wouldn't bat an eye!  I appreciate those quilts so much more and have such a healthy admiration for all you fellow quilters.  It really is a labor of love that has a high price tag to boot! ;)  Hope that lady becomes a quilter!  It's a hard fever to beat! LOL!!!

Comment by Linda Christianson on March 16, 2013 at 2:51pm

I try to get $10 hour for my quilting and plus all fabric cost. Even then small quilt is worth $100 or more. It does take me about 15-40 hours to make any quilt.

I did the receipts with my daughter- in- law, "she said, What is all this?" and "Why so much?" People really do not understand. I met a lady last week that wished for a graduation quilt for her son in a year. When she heard that quilts cost over $150 for twin she acted surprised. I did give her some options and CT web site to check out kits and fabric. She came back the next day and said, "Would you help me if I made my own?" I said, "Sure" and even offered to let her quilt it on my frames. It does help for the customer to price their own.

Comment by 3boykinsmommy/CT on March 15, 2013 at 7:38pm

You ladies are so wise and kind! Thank you!

PQ, you are so right with what you learned about prices.  I think I might try the risk factor though and tell her that I truly don't know what to charge and if they only pay for materials that is fine.  If they feel they want to donate something above and beyond that I am thankful but not requiring it. I think I will let her know what most folks charge for their time..you know, an average.  Then I can tell her that since I am a newbie and trying to gain experience, I will not charge for labor this time but will let them consider a donation.  I may end up with nothing but then again, I did gain a whole lot of experience.  Pray for me as I will be showing this to her on Monday...wish it could be right now so I could get it over with! :)  In the future though I will do as you say, I will give a labor charge up front and say that is what it is wether they like it or not....not that I want there to really be anything in the future...at least not the near future...I need some more time to build my skills.  Right now I need to take a class on squaring up the final quilt and then binding neater.  I'm getting better at both and my binding is the best it's been in a long long time so that's encouraging. 

Carol, I will be a coward with you!! :)  I've been thinking of upgrading my machine but after tonight I am thinking maybe I won't.  If I get a new machine, my mother will volunteer me to all her friends for stuff like this! ACK!  If I don't upgrade I can say, "Aww, gee, I'd love to but I only have this small machine so I can't...sorry!"  Will get me out of trouble....I'm with you, I don't need this stress AT ALL! Too bad I have blood sugar issues because I really could use that bottle   (oops did I say that?) "glass" of wine...right now!  Will you have one for me?  Make mine a double! :)

Terry, I agree with you, doing things because we want to is much better.  I did want to do this but am regretting it majorly now.  I had hoped somehow I'd manage to pull it off...I'll post a pic tomorrow so you all can see it....It's not horrid, just not as good as it should or could be...

 

Thank you all for your wonderful advice!  You are all so wise and I appreciate your taking the time to help me figure this whole thing out.  *~*~*~*HUGS*~*~*~*~

Comment by Terry F on March 15, 2013 at 7:00pm

Lots of good advice from everyone.  Nobody would ask me to quilt anything for them, but I have been  asked to make a child's garment (have done lots of sewing and smocking for children) several times.  I will only do it if I want to and am giving my time as a gift.  Not to be arrogant, but when someone says "but I want to pay you for your time", I say "you couldn't afford me"!  They pay for the materials, and I only do it if I want to.

Comment by Carol Ann Hinton on March 15, 2013 at 3:57pm

PQ, you are very wise!  I have had that same discussion with a new long arm quilter!  I cautioned her to never charge an "overall" rate for a "custom" job.  It would be very hard to go back later with the same customer.  Besides, customers talk to each other!

3boykinsmommy, I'm glad you filled in more information about your agreement with the customer.  I thought those strips might be BaliPops (pricey), but since the customer chose them herself, she can hardly argue with their price!  Sorry you felt so stressed by the commission; I, too, would really rather make things for myself on my own schedule.

You know how much of a coward I am?  I would love to buy a long-arm machine, but when I mentioned it to some of my quilting friends, they immediately began telling me how much they would love for me to do so because they wanted me to do their quilting!  At that point, I dropped all idea of getting one.  That kind of stress I don't need!  Have a nice glass of wine.

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