As I was browsing through my rather extensive blog reading list yesterday, I came across a link to an interesting article at Hunter’s Design Studio. In it Sam Hunter dissects what a quilt is really worth, which I thought was really interesting. Please note that as she atests, what it’s worth and what you’ll get for it are not necessarily the same thing though.
I’ve been navigating my way through pricing issues for a while, and I have to say I use different formulae for different crafts, but I do wonder about whether or not I should. Maybe I need a unified pricing structure for it all? Saying that though, there’s a few things to take into consideration.
Quilt Material Prices:
Quilting cotton print = £13-£14/metre within the UK, or about £10/metre if I import it, including postage and duty
Quilting cotton plain = £5-7/m
Batting = £10/metre
Aurifil thread = £7.50-£8/1300m
Long arm hire = £15/hr + £10 thread charge
Bag Material Prices:
Quilting cotton print = £13-£14/metre within the UK, or about £10/metre if I import it, including postage and duty
Quilting cotton plain = £5-7/m
Home dec weight = £10-£12/m
Fusible fleece interfacing = £9-£10/metre (Vilene H640) or £8-£9/metre (Vilene H630)
Fusible woven interfacing = £7-£8/metre
Magnetic snaps = £1/snap
Zips = 75p – £1/zip
Strap hardware = £3-£4/set
Grid bag bottom = £4-£5
Gutterman’s sew all thread = £6-£8/1000m
Gutterman’s top stitch thread = £3.50/100m
Bear Material Prices:
Longer, dense mohair = £140+ per metre (all you non-bearmakers, scrape yourselves off the floor now please ;o))
Shorter, sparse mohair = £60-£70/metre
Ultrasuede = £60/metre
Glass eyes = 70p-£3 per pair, depending on size and style
Joints = £1.50-£2 per set, depending on size
Bouncifil stuffing = £10/kg
Steel shot = £8-£9/1.5 kg
Gutterman’s sew all thread = £6-£8/1000m
Gutterman’s top stitch thread = £3.50/100m
Template plastic = £2.50/sheet 18″ x 12″
My time for all + electricity = £10 (I’m feeling generous on the cost of my hours)
There was a long formula to calculate your quilt cost, but if, for example, I charged for my Madrona Corners quilt, I’d be talking:
(90 x 90 x 3)/1440 x £10 = £168.75 for fabric for the top
2.5 x 3 x £10 = £75 for fabric for the backing
0.5 x £10 = £5 for the binding
1.5 x £10 = £15 for batting
0.125 x £7.50 = 94p for thread for piecing
5 x £15 + £20 = £95 for quilting on the long arm (2 x thread charge as I’ve got 2 trips)
30 hrs @ £10/hr = £300 for labour and electricity
Grand total = £659.69
For my recent bear, he would come in at:
3 x £2.50 = £7.50 for template plastic
0.6 x £140 = £84 for mohair
0.05 x £60 = £3 for ultrasuede
£2.50 for eyes
£2 for joints
1 x £10 = £10 for stuffing
0.2 x £8 = £1.60 for steel shot
0.1 x £8 = 80p for sew all thread
0.05 x £3.50 = 18p for top stitch thread
35 hrs @ £10/hr = £350 for labour and electricity
Grand total = £461.58 (and no, I didn’t charge anywhere near that)
This weekend I’ve been working on bags, some I will sell, some I will give away, and some I will sell the patterns for. The pattern price thing is for another day though (check back next week)
Do you sell your quilts or other things you make? How much do you charge? Do you charge what it’s worth or what you think you can realistically get for it?
Those bear fabric prices are eye-watering! Can it ever be economical to make them?
That article was very thought-provoking wasn't it!
Actual cost versus price asked for is a thorny issue, unfortunately there are no shortage of people out there who will quite literally give their work away, so when you try and sell quilts etc of comparable size, even with better quality fabrics, it's an uphill struggle!
Ouch. I'm glad I don't make bears. I'd never be able to horde fur at those prices. I've read similar articles before, and it's not pleasant reading if you are trying to earn a living as a crafter!
This is exactly why I don't sell stuff. No one can afford me.
I don't sell my work either. I just stick to making what I like. When people say, you could sell this, I get totally turned off. I recently made a bag for my friend. She decided she wanted another one custom made. She bought the materials. As we were gathering materials, her total began to tally up as we went to a couple of stores. It was somewhere around $40.00. She was quite shocked. She has always been one to push me to sell. I turned to her near the end of out shopping spree and said," Now do you see why I don't sell? People don't even want to pay what you have in materials.And I'm not in to slave labor." At that moment, she finally understood. Most people don't understand the initial cost that goes in to it unless they are there with you. It would have been an even greater lesson if she was right there with me watching and waiting as I made the bag. Your time is precious, and most don't understand that. I did it because she is my friend, nothing else. Please don't take this the wrong way. If you are able to get what you are worth out of it, that is totally AWESOME! And I wouldn't take a penny less of your calculation;)
It is a bit scary isn't it (especially bear making by the looks of things)? I really don't know what the solution is – will let you know if I ever do work it out! Juliex
I had a shop approach me for some quilts so I looked into pricing etc and realised that it just wouldn't be viable. I found this post and comments interesting:
http://inkandspindle.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/formula-how-to-price-your-wares.html
Your bear looks like he's worth a million dollars!
I price below cost, for sure. I also do mates rates for friends. I rarely sell anything bigger than a baby quilt, though, but I think the way I will pay for my sewing hobby is to begin long-arming for people, so that's my long-term goal. As soon as I have a big enough studio, that is. 🙂
As you know,I cost my quilts as I make them, so if someone absolutely has to have it, then at least I know what the cost to me was and I can start from there with coming up with a price. Nothing nicer than giving them away as cherished gifts, the best ever has to be to Lynne of Lily's quilts :). Otherwise you can't afford me works too 🙂 Hand made is not an excuse to not pay what it's worth IMHO
Love Di's comment but wowzers – that's incredible!!
I have only ever made a couple of things for family friends at a minimal price; I don't think selling at the 'right' price is an option unless you happen to be famous or have stinking rich customers.
I am planning on doing a Christmas fair at school, but I am aiming just to clear out old fabrics and cover all costs excluding labour.
Unfortunately as you can buy blankets and quilts in Tesco/Primark for less than £25 it's a hiding to nothing.
Jesus! Is my response to the bear material!!!! (In Holy Week too! )
Please don't let my husband see this post!!! If in any chance a friend asked me to make a quilt I would get then to buy the fabric so they knew I wasn't cheating them! As I feel the cost sounds made up when I have spoke about what I have spent on my quilts!
I read that article too and thought it was brilliant. Underpricing of handmade is something that really boils my blood. I realise no one will ever pay it's true worth, but it still makes me grumpy.
The main problem you all face is the fact that you buy your materials at retail prices – that's where the commercial makers can undercut you. Add to that the machinery for stuffing bears (Sorry Jock, I know you're watching) and the fact that mass produced bears are made by people who are using a pattern repeatedly. So use mass production techniques and you can win.
All crafts are the same. Photography costs an arm and a leg for the right gear, and even commercial prints aren't cheap. and frames are quite expensive too. Then you are at the mercy of the market. Commercial photographers sell prints for quite a lot of money depending on the prints and whether they are limited runs, but I wouldn't like to try to make a living at it.
So basically, if you can recover your costs then you're doing well.
Alan
I agree with Allen, may be with a slight profit. Hand made good will never be repid for all their time. I certainly know the price of Mohair and Alpaca.
Hugs
Kay
It's so hard to figure out pricing. That bear is so cool. WOW. 🙂
You have not even considered the fact that you are making a one of a kind piece of art/craft and that has value too. I love it when I see quilts prices at $1500 to $2000 (£1000 to £1500) but folks are too afraid to price them in that range. If you are hoping to sell to ordinary folk rather than art collectors and such, then the best you can hope for is the cost of materials, in my opinion. It is much more profitable to sell the patterns.
I've seen similar posts before and they make for depressing reading.I give all my quilts away as gifts but do get miffed if the person does not appreciate the time, effort and cost. I don't know how you can continue to make your lovely bears at those prices!
I have made quilts for friends in request but I always get them to buy the fabric etc. I then make the quilt for them. I also let them know that as I am doing it in my own time I won't be held to a date for finishing it!
I've only 'sold' one thing I've made which was a bag (a prototype so I'd used stash fabric, etc.) but I did a trade for it rather than exchange money and was thrilled with that. I make things for myself, family (mainly my parents – they buy the fabric required) and friends (to give as presents) and I'm unlikely to ever sell anything. If anyone requested a quilt, etc., then I'd definitely get them to buy the fabric because that way they'd see how much it cost and I'd be sure they liked what I was making! Trudi's approach sounds sensible, though!
I either keep or give stuff away to good friends or family. I have sold small items at craft shows and etsy but sold them for what I thought people would pay. I decided that was really disrespectful of my talents so, now, I am using my time on larger items that I will give as gifts to family this year. I have made a couple of quilts for my sister to give as gifts and I only asked to be compensated for materials. I love to sew and turning it into a business was not really fun for me.
Yep I concur with Di. I've never sold a quilt because no one could afford me, and I believe that people who sell them really cheaply are undervaluing themselves and their skills. That undermines mine too. But, I've come to peace with it that that's the way the market place works. I give quilts away lots. Plus I HATE making anything on a time line. It makes me feel pressured and this is about pleasure for me.
realistically what I think i'd get unfortunately – My baby quilts typically run $75 (seems to be the going rate) and this sells — however friends and family who see my work and the time think its grossly low.. but realistically, if my materials are covered.. its more therapeutic for me.. im not on deadlines, I finish when I finish and list it. So its extra fabric money for me 🙂
For a while I only sold to family nd friends, and I'd tell them the cost of the fabric (baby quilt onto fleece) about £25 and ask them to pay what they thought was right. After all, I'd enjoyed making it, and what else would I do with it?
I nearly always got £40 or £50, so now if I take some to the school fete to sell, or I'm selling to someone I don't know particularly well, I just ask £50. That seems to tie in with Jennifer's comment above, so it works both side ofthe Atlantic!
I used to make to sell only but that was jewellery and it was a lot more profitable, however I took up quilting with the expectation of it being a hobby and not a business as I knew I couldn't make money from it and I didn't want to be tempted to either. I do
sell cushions and ipod cases, etc though which is a bit easier but I make because I want to primarily, and it's an excuse to make more if I sell.
The only payment I like is effusive thanks and compliments to feed my ego! Muhahaha! : D