World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of February 28, 2000:
Our question this week comes from Sonia Stacey
How do you get started on selling what you make - Is there much interest in people buying smaller projects OR is custom work in larger quilts preferred?
NGJ :
I agree that it is nearly impossible to be paid for the actual time one spends in making a quilt. My most finiancially successful quilting friends charge more closely to what their quilts are really worth and cater to the well-to-do who can afford to pay for their time. If you have to sell yourself short, don't sell.
shannon :
interesting book on this subject "Quilting for Fun & Profit" Sylvia Landman
H.Verdijk@fontys.nl :
Maybe you could ask a shop that sells babyclothes or furniture if they are willing to put your cribquilts on display or for sale. Maybe you could also make leaflets to go with them, ask friends and family to sprerad the word that you're willing to make things for them for a reasonable price. I think you'll never get a 'fair' price as far as your time and efforts are concerned, the quilt would be sooooo expensive. As a matter of fact: I'm thinking of starting up something like this myself, so I'll check the answers every day!
Lwr :
I've found it easier to part with a treasure that I've quilted if I give it away. At one time I quilted tops for a shop, and I probably made a quarter an hour. But I did enjoy the work and learned a lot. However, since then I have only given away my quilts as presents or for fund-raisers for charities.
CB :
I teach quilting, and make samples for
all my classes. With classes four to
five days a week, I have a lot of samples.
Every three years I sell them, at local
craft fairs and shows. I don't make a
lot from them, but enough to cover their
cost. I can never cover the time put in
them. I have sold bed quilts, and made
a little that way, very little. I have
done commissions, but I avoid them.
Making a quilt that I don't enjoy making
is work, and I like having fun with my
quilting.
minipieces@aol.com :
If you want to make a little money with quilting, contact your local quilt shop and ask to be paid for making their samples. You can charge by the hour or by the job OR maybe you would just like to work for fabric.
mrsbandmel @ hotmail.com :
People im general are not willing to pay the price to make quilt making profitable.
Laura Valdez :
Our guild did a small quilt sale at our show this year and could not keep enough on hand. We kept them reasonably priced and used the season as a majority of them. But I would say that people will buy if the work is good and the prices are within reason.
World Wide Quilting Page * Question of the Week