Vent about a baby quilt I'm making

My sister asked me to make a baby quilt for her stepdaughter who is due in November. I showed her my pinterest feed in June, she chose one that she loved. I took her oldest son shopping for fabrics, he chose 14 fat quarters at JoAnns for $1 each, plus yardage for borders, plus backing, which I paid for, and he knew the cost for. All in, with batting, I'm looking at around $60-$75. Since this quilt is for my sister to give, I am only charging for materials. Fair, right? Well....

I was talking to her this evening. I told her that the quilt is almost done, and that I would need payment soon since I'm out of work. She said talk to my nephews, the gift was from them. I said OK, split 3 ways its $25 each. She was like "WHAT????? They can't afford that! I thought you were making a cheap quilt! I told the boys to choose a rag quilt and go to the thrift store for old clothes. How can it possibly be that expensive?"

So now, I'm in a very hard spot. She's my sister. But I can't afford to give her the quilt - I need my $$ back.

This is the quilt. Its about 45x60, xl crib. I have quilted the patterned portion of the top, and only need to quilt the blue and purple borders, and put the binding on, as soon as I decide on a simple pattern for the borders.

Attachment 54770

This is a tough one. I would still talk to the boys and tell them how much. It is not your fault that she did not set a limit and you did the best you could on saving money for them to get a beautiful handmade quilt. You should not have to pay for this on your own. The only other thing to do is sell it to someone who appreciates the value of such a beautiful quilt.

Some people have no appreciation for good quality work. Fat qtrs. for a buck each is definitely a bargain. A lesson learned. Next time collect the $ up front! Maybe you should sell it to someone who will appreciate all your hard work. It's a lovely quilt. Personally, I would never make a quilt for someone else to give as a gift. I hope things work out for you to get reimbursed. JCY

Not fair. $25 with 3 people chipping in is a steal. $75 for a quilt is beyond a bargain. Sometimes our families just take advantage. She shouldn't expect you to be stuck paying for this. Frankly I would tell her that her son was there and knows what the materials cost so the price wasn't an issue with him and that you need your money.

I am really sorry this is happening.

Thank you both for saying it is a beautiful quilt. Unfortunately, I cannot sell it to anyone else. My nephews have seen it in every step of construction - it is for their stepsister. How can I now say that they cannot give it because their mother is balking at the price? And if I had asked for money upfront, I would have been asked "what, don't you trust me?", again a tough spot. The only thing I can hope for now is for her to come around - they were never told they had to pay for it, and two of them really don't get the concept of not spending their allowance at the corner store yet.

Lisa - I was almost afraid I was overcharging until I sat down with my calculator. With the move, I can't find all my receipts, so I did range the marble yardage for the borders, and I remember getting 4 yards for the backing, at $5 a yard, and I think the batting was around $10. So $75 is fair then? This is my first quilt for "sale", and I'm not even charging a profit margin, just materials. I hate the idea of making a profit until I can make fewer mistakes :(

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Originally Posted by nyscpa2be

Lisa - I was almost afraid I was overcharging until I sat down with my calculator. With the move, I can't find all my receipts, so I did range the marble yardage for the borders, and I remember getting 4 yards for the backing, at $5 a yard, and I think the batting was around $10. So $75 is fair then? This is my first quilt for "sale", and I'm not even charging a profit margin, just materials. I hate the idea of making a profit until I can make fewer mistakes :(

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$75 is still beyond a bargain. Have you ever seen a mass made machine quilt? I have a black and white one that is from Better homes and garden. It has mistakes. Hubby and I looked at the ones from China at the Crackerbarrel restaurant, they have mistakes. There is no such thing as a perfect quilt and if there is it just isn't natural or an original.

I come from 9 children. 2 are millionaires and frankly I would not make a quilt for any of them (except big brother Mark, I have his heart) without getting the money first. It eliminates a lot of problems and if they choose to not pay and not have it made that would be fine by me. I know I sound harsh but I have been taken advantage of too many times now. I am making a quilt for my best friend and she is paying for the fabric, she is also my business partner and we both feel that I shouldn't tie up my money while I am working on her quilt. Why should I? Why should you?

I got in the same situation with my sister. She asked me to make a simple quilt for her son's girlfriend who had his baby. I sent my sister so many pictures of fabrics that I thought would be so cute for a baby quilt and she rejected them all. Then she finally found the fabric she wanted...and I bought about 9 charm packs. Then I checked and found out that the charms she had picked out were not flame retardant. She said forget the quilt and I never got reimbursed for the fabric I bought. So I know how you feel, for the most part. I just chalked it up to experience. But I think you need to talk to the boys and find out if they can afford $25 each. What about the boys Dad? Can you talk to him? I'm sorry you're in this situation.

Pam in Vegas

I would put it on Etsy and make a panel quilt for her. That's pretty cheap.

I would just hold the quilt until you get paid for it. You don't have to keep asking them about the money......just keep the quilt until they pay you. If they ask ......say it's ready I just need you to pay for it. If they don't pay for it then sell it. Sounds like they are taking advantage. It sounds like this happens a lot with family and friends of forum members. If they complain they can buy one at Walmart for $20. Hope this works out for you.

Sorry this has happened.

Not easy to swallow but we crafters have to accept that non crafters have NO IDEA what these things cost. Home made is supposedly cheaper than Chinese mass produced. And NO concept of time put in.

My advice to everyone is make clear upfront an approximate cost. They'll squeal like stuck pigs but the balls then in their court.

In this case I can't see a way to win this. Everyone's gonna be upset and angry, especially the boys. You have no choice but to sell it, or just give it to them for what they CAN afford. It's their mums fault not theirs.

Quilt is lovely.
It's not fair that you weren't told upfront this was going to be a gift from your nephews. Maybe she's saying this now thinking you will back down from charging her. i'm guessing the boys are young and have little or no income? and really, getting enough clothes from a thrift shop wouldn't be cheap either, at least not around here.

Okay, wait a minute....I reread your original post three times to make sure I was reading it right. Your SISTER picked out a pattern SHE loved....never mentioning it was to be a gift from the boys. She knew you took the oldest to pick out fabric etc. Having raised 4 sons, I can imagine he did not volunteer that his mother said something "cheap", he more than likely didn't know what a rag quilt is or here is what could be the snafu in the whole thing--- that they (the boys were paying for it). My question would be, did the boys know that they were supposed to pay for it before this got started, if so that should have been the first point brought up after the idea of making a quilt. Depending on how old the boys are I can only imagine that they more than likely do not have $25 each & if they do, no matter how excited about a new baby sister....they probably don't want to spend that much on a baby. Sounds like sis is wanting a lot for nothing. :( If all else fails, I would get the boys to "work off" the cost of the quilt, doing chores for you, but that even sounds unfair....based on the fact that sis picked out the pattern. If she still refuses to pay for it....like someone else suggested, talk to the Dad. It is his daughter having the baby. You have until November to get this resolved. Hope there a good outcome for you.