tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post3587656546313777758..comments2024-03-08T03:16:15.407-05:00Comments on Quilt Matters: An Exercise in Value and WorthM-R Charbonneauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089657334279122457noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-53517866910078199842014-01-20T01:25:23.825-05:002014-01-20T01:25:23.825-05:00Right on, M-R :)Right on, M-R :)Susan aka Zuzuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00407941878676452541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-48045164773931726332014-01-19T14:01:48.543-05:002014-01-19T14:01:48.543-05:00Thank you so much for this post, M-R. Doing the c...Thank you so much for this post, M-R. Doing the cost breakdown is a real eye opener - isn't it? This is my first encounter with this topic, so am off to read the links.Katherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01576487047505755889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-57645289734864252362014-01-18T20:04:09.620-05:002014-01-18T20:04:09.620-05:00I`ve never sold my quilts but I`ve had offers on t...I`ve never sold my quilts but I`ve had offers on two of them that really surprised me because people so often underestimate the amount of time, work and skill that goes into them. In my case the offers were fairly `generous` but at the same time didn`t come anywhere near what the true cost would be. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05599854177052949797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-84119939533564882662014-01-18T13:57:53.954-05:002014-01-18T13:57:53.954-05:00thanks for costing this out for us. I always say m...thanks for costing this out for us. I always say my quilts only have two prices -- free or four figures. Your math proves that I'm in the ballpark!Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09029115839076216849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-61309586697419889602014-01-18T10:53:11.327-05:002014-01-18T10:53:11.327-05:00Very interesting indeed - thanks for sharing!Very interesting indeed - thanks for sharing!Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13176881247438721622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-41340930782689987142014-01-18T03:41:18.714-05:002014-01-18T03:41:18.714-05:00Loved your article - I've recently made a few ...Loved your article - I've recently made a few commissions of "memory cushions" using photgraphs printed onto fabric... I've taken into account the price of materials, thread, zipper, etc etc and a realistic price for my time, and the biggest factor that there's NO WAY someone could buy one of these from a shop.... a few "non-quilting" colleagues have been aghast at what I charged... but the orderss have still been coming in...so I must be doing something right ;) Nicolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09797013777988066555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-28292582907609565452014-01-17T22:01:09.417-05:002014-01-17T22:01:09.417-05:00I too have been following that discussion. You ar...I too have been following that discussion. You are definitely not off your rocker for thinking your time is worth 25$/hr. Unfortunately, very few people are willing to pay the price. It's up to all of us to educate our friends and family members and the general public for those who sell their work, and when the tables are turned and we are buying handcrafted items, we also have to recognize the work that others put in their craft. Very interesting topic...Dominiquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08296662922008830021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-58632262086481120692014-01-17T21:44:41.846-05:002014-01-17T21:44:41.846-05:00Great discussion. I think this is why you don'...Great discussion. I think this is why you don't see "professional" quilters selling their quilts as a means of making a living. I take quilt classes from quilters/teachers who have one international awards but they make a living by teaching and selling products and kits. I also wanted to mention that the artistic value of the quilt isn't accounted for in your spreadsheet.Claudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11444958007628185473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-7668594426376452232014-01-17T20:12:47.764-05:002014-01-17T20:12:47.764-05:00Sam Hunter of We Are $ew Worth It here! Bravo for ...Sam Hunter of We Are $ew Worth It here! Bravo for taking on the conversation M-R! I appreciate the link-up as well :-) You are not off your rocker to think that $25 an hour is a reasonable rate for a skilled craftsperson (my car mechanic charges $99). Yes, we are up against the lower perception of the value of women's work, but I think that every time we offer the education (show the buyer the true numbers) what we do gains a bit more respect - and that respect is going to lead to a higher perception of value, and higher wages for us. I know that, right now, most of us don't get that higher wage, and many of us will make a deal for less because we need the moola (this girl included!) But that education component is critical... most people offer us less because they are benignly ignorant, bless 'em. Let's teach them!Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13345473780237234041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-15743126281359155682014-01-17T19:50:25.424-05:002014-01-17T19:50:25.424-05:00Loved your spreadsheet evaluation. I've not be...Loved your spreadsheet evaluation. I've not been keeping track of my time, but I love seeing yours. I have made quilts for others, and yes, undervalued myself. I do it for love of the game. I've not gotten serious about it because I know I won't get paid my full value, so I keep it a hobby. It bothers me greatly that an auto mechanic, who has similar education and experience to mine, can charge $65 dollars an hour, and people expect our time to be much less valued. It is a centuries old perception that "women's work" has never been as highly valued. Keep up the discussions. Great work.Kitchener Quilterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12512045004228156470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-75630979504211863732014-01-17T19:37:12.565-05:002014-01-17T19:37:12.565-05:00It is interesting because people are not so troubl...It is interesting because people are not so troubled to pay that much for a smaller painting. Your quilt is lovely. Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16285223648285145607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-49557468390470275582014-01-17T18:34:56.255-05:002014-01-17T18:34:56.255-05:00Your spreadsheet results are well worth the time t...Your spreadsheet results are well worth the time to actually see what not only you are worth but also others who make from their hands and heart. This is why I give my creations instead of trying to sell them and be disappointed. I learned long ago from my Grandma the value of time and knowledge that others do not appreciate. Thank you for sharing this lesson. Creative Blessings...Createologyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17141896048450385243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-39264157818973558082014-01-17T17:44:16.931-05:002014-01-17T17:44:16.931-05:00Your work is worth it. The trick is finding som...Your work is worth it. The trick is finding someone willing to pay for it. Cindy Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04694393041670847676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-55120667301176092842014-01-17T17:16:43.674-05:002014-01-17T17:16:43.674-05:00Thank you for sharing this! I absolutely think tha...Thank you for sharing this! I absolutely think that the rates you're charging here are reasonable, particularly when I compare to my seamstress who does a great job and (with reason) charges about $30 an hour for simple but time consuming alterations to clothing. <br /><br />I always get a little disheartened when I see the Etsy shops with the priced to move quilts. It undermines everyone when we charge that little, although I do understand the desire to recoup the costs quickly and play with something new. Sherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06355969043412582588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-29632420761701108862014-01-17T17:03:09.341-05:002014-01-17T17:03:09.341-05:00I think a lot of people - too many people - discou...I think a lot of people - too many people - discount how much our own attitudes toward what we're worth affect the people who might buy the things we make. Every time someone on Etsy sells a baby quilt for $60 or every time someone sheepishly suggests a middle of the road but high by WalMart standards price ($500, say, for a queen size quilt) or every time someone says "It's just a hobby, I don't need to make money, just to recover enough to pay for the materials for the next one" they're sending out a silent but damning message that what quilters do (and what many artists do) isn't worth anything. If we don't value ourselves, nobody else will either. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-44645638248170739332014-01-17T16:53:50.471-05:002014-01-17T16:53:50.471-05:00Excellent article -- I tell all my craftspeople ar...Excellent article -- I tell all my craftspeople artist friends -- you should be able to choose your<br />charity -- I do not mind making the occasional item for a charitable benefit but I never like to<br />think that I owe it to anybody to make them an inexpensive (cheap) quilt when I know they pay<br />the asking price for so many other things in their lives.... and that is what I mean by choosing<br />your charity -- are all your customers entitled to your charity? And if so, why? -- We need to teach ourselves and our customers the value of our work.... perhaps including that spreadsheet with every quilt would be a good start.<br />teach them to value your work by marj khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10583131009401998355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-23043058632706436152014-01-17T16:40:09.530-05:002014-01-17T16:40:09.530-05:00what a great post! I only wish I was making that...what a great post! I only wish I was making that much...LOL<br />I enjoy the process;so, I charge according to that? cover the actual cost, and justify buying fabric for another quilt...lolMarjorie's Busy Cornerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06652147996698707692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-69511399372666216912014-01-17T16:34:05.751-05:002014-01-17T16:34:05.751-05:00I don't sell my quilts for a couple of reasons...I don't sell my quilts for a couple of reasons - one being exactly what you've described here - I'd never get what I would consider to be a fair and reasonable return on my investment of time, expertise and resources (by the way you missed the "non-tangibles" - the overhead items required to actually produce a quilt, electricity, machine costs/depreciation, space costs etc. - all things that are legitimate business costs and should be included before your profit margin). The second reason is I don't want to turn my hobby which I love to do on my time into a business which has to be done on someone else's timeline, and takes my enjoyment away. Excellent post!What Comes Next?https://www.blogger.com/profile/17290766425199467892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-7401982799159272512014-01-17T16:11:30.048-05:002014-01-17T16:11:30.048-05:00Nope, I don't sell quilts. Someone once asked ...Nope, I don't sell quilts. Someone once asked me what one that I had made would cost. I told them, they were clearly shocked. I don't think you're average by a $60 quilt at Target shopper really understands what they cost. <br /><br />On the flip side, I do know of some quilters that get what their quilts are worth. There are fair buyers out there!Susan at TheBoredZombie.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087416472619298547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-19189694035770878302014-01-17T16:08:56.417-05:002014-01-17T16:08:56.417-05:00I've been keeping up with this lately as well,...I've been keeping up with this lately as well, and was commissioned to make two quilts this year--one is about 40 x 70, with detailed quilting, and I estimated $800--though I think I completely under estimated how long the piecing would take (it was 7 hours), or the straight line quilting (almost 2)...and I've just only started the FMQ. The second quilt is a queen, and I've estimated closed to $1200 for. I'd rather charge what I'm worth for my time than undersell myself in the name of a sale! Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11843675387693755387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-86613611168871150152014-01-17T16:05:28.059-05:002014-01-17T16:05:28.059-05:00I do sell my Kwilts at prices I am comfortable wit...I do sell my Kwilts at prices I am comfortable with. We can make lists that show the value..but those buying won't "buy it". Unless of course someone has unlimited funds. Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasureshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10100520212558169850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-88605270671316894552014-01-17T15:57:53.374-05:002014-01-17T15:57:53.374-05:00Love the spreadsheet. Speaks to a very valid busi...Love the spreadsheet. Speaks to a very valid business case. And you're right, most people are willing to pay for the materials only and even then they think we're crazy when they find out how much the material alone cost. In this example, your material costs are very moderate indeed with the solids.<br /><br />Quilters in general under value themselves, in the same way that everything we do 'free' is under valued. <br /><br />Time especially is VERY important. Some painters for instance can knock out a painting in a matter of hours and sell them for several hundred dollars. Quilting is a very time intensive art and our time should be valued and like everything else, skill and experience comes into play.<br /><br />In using this evaluation for advance quotes, we quilters would have to be very vigilant not to under estimate the time it would take us for quilts not yet made, ie. labour intensive appliques, piecing, etc.<br /><br />Love this post :)ebeequiltinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08486638209759675508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-9616025445911513652014-01-17T15:39:30.146-05:002014-01-17T15:39:30.146-05:00Having had many conversations about quilt prices I...Having had many conversations about quilt prices I fully relate to this post. I set up at craft fairs and try to sell online and many times people are barely willing ot cover material costs in this area and when you add in labor they usually won't complete an order even though the item is hand made and one of a kind. At craft fairs I try to sell larger throws for $150 and people think I'm crazy, perhapse I should make a sign like this one to show the real valus of the goods produced to show how great a deal the person is getting. Katie https://www.blogger.com/profile/00038688621670404023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-37227846577438675902014-01-17T15:35:08.586-05:002014-01-17T15:35:08.586-05:00Oh hells to the yes!!! I'm so glad you do this...Oh hells to the yes!!! I'm so glad you do this, now I don't feel like such a crazy person! When I first took up this "obsession" of quilting a friend off-handedly told me, "it's really an expensive hobby." I laughed it off and thought, how much is fabric, really?! How naive of me! The more people we have doing this type of exercise, the more vocal and educational we become about our own value as quilters, and ultimately artists. Thank you for a well presented post! (And... I've got something brewing for the end of this month that you will most certainly enjoy...)Molli Sparkleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04680071565672716879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1373100723178299298.post-49080962724576401262014-01-17T14:59:21.329-05:002014-01-17T14:59:21.329-05:00I have had these conversations as well. I don'...I have had these conversations as well. I don't think people would not be willing to pay the actual worth, or even in the range of what it costs. I would rather make thinks for family/friends and thank yous then be so undervalued.Dresden Quilterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14271910749619198419noreply@blogger.com