When you sell a quilt....

If I am thinking of selling a quilt on E bay I always look at the completed items to get a more accurate idea of what sold and how much was actually paid for it. Personally anything in the range of $350-$600 is reasonable for a hand made king quilt. As davids girl said, alot depends on the pattern and how much time it takes you to piece it. The more difficult the pattern the higher the cost. Can't see it costing $200 in fabric unless you used only pre cuts. But I also agree you should get half up front which should cover cost of materials.

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Originally Posted by rebeccas-sewing

WOW! Quite a variation in price on Ebay! I just wonder how many of those quilts that are going for $400/$500 are actually being sold. You might also check Etsy! I haven't looked there lately but that will also be a good way to judge price. I guess you could track one similar to the one you want to make and see if it sells. Etsy might be a better place to do that.

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I was glad to see this discussion. I have been asked several times to make bed quilts for friends, relatives, etc. and when I quote them a price they get upset because, like you said, non-quilters do not understand the time and expense involved. So I eventually just started telling people "no". I would rather give the quilt as a gift for their enjoyment than have to go through the hassle of haggling over price and then getting stiffed (yes, that actually happened). A friend asked me to make a baby quilt for a shower gift; she gave a brief idea of what she wanted and I quoted her a price. When I delivered the finished product she said it wasn't what she wanted and didn't pay for it. Never again!!!

OMG boy have I not been chargin people enough lol I can't imagine anyone buying my quilts for that much I normally charge for material and depending how many hours a few hundred especially if it is a simple pattern, good luck.

I'm with Tslave57.....I told DH when I started quilting that I won't do custom quilts, if I make one and someone wants to buy it - I might sell it to them. I just finished up one tonight for a little girl and it will be a gift to her. Besides that I have a full time job and I don't want my hobby to turn into a job because, then for me, it won't be fun anymore.

I have sold a few baby quilts, and one king to my niece. Not my priority right now. Havin to much fun makin quilts for the hospital.

Pricing is really difficult. I think folks are so used to getting readymade items so cheaply that it's not understood how much time and effort goes into a one-of-a-kind handmade quilt. Also, I'm sure folks are willing to pay more for quilts in an Amish Quilt shop in Pennsylvania than the exact same quilt of the same quality made by an individual. It becomes more attractive because of it's location and who made it. There is definitely psychology involved when it comes to how much someone is willing to pay.

By the way, is there an easy way to see what price someone paid for an item on Etsy once the sale is made? How does one know if an item actually sold and sold for the price listed?

Don't know about etsy, but on ebay you can search completed items to see what sold and for how much.

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Originally Posted by rebeccas-sewing

By the way, is there an easy way to see what price someone paid for an item on Etsy once the sale is made? How does one know if an item actually sold and sold for the price listed?

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When I first started quilting, my sister-in-laws begged for a quilt, and I made them one. There were five inlaws and then I have two sisters. Except for one sister who used her quilt until it was threadbeare, they did not appreciate them. The one I gave my mother in law was either thrown away or given away when she died, because I forgot to ask for it back! I did not charge anyone for them. If EVER anyone asks me to make a quilt for them, I think I would tell them it costs $1,000 for a lap quilt! Like Rebecca says, no one, absolutely no one, understands the costs and the hours needed to make a quilt. Get the idea of how I feel about this??? P.S. I did make my wonderful sister a replacement quilt for free. I know SHE appreciated it.

I sew agree with you madampolo.....nonquilters do not realize the cost let alone the work involved in making a quilt. Each quilt I make has a piece of me in it too. I put my heart into each one I make. To see any of them mistreated or unappreciated comes back on me. It hurts when you put your all into something only to see it thrown to the side.
When I make a quilt for sale I do not customize it. I will make one in the colour range someone may want or to suit what they may want to use it for but that's it. And yes, a hand made quilt is in itself priceless. Charging $600 for a kind size quilt is to me an average or even slightly low price.