Will you make me a quilt?

[GloriaH]

Hey Ann, I like the gene pool saying. I'll have to remember that one. Yes, we may be addicted, however, some of us are less anonymous than others! But what better addiction than quilting? We can constantly learn new things, make new friends, share our talents with others, either by giving a quilted item or teaching, we're job security for lots of people from cotton farmers to cotton mills, to quilt/fabric shops, sewing machine factories! You know, when you really think about it, we're a pretty good bunch of people!!

Sharon in TN staying in the shallow end of my gene pool with my floaties on!

[GloriaH]

Here's my welcome speech for Quilter's Annonymous

Hello, I'm Mandy and I am a quilter. It has been one week since I last sewed a stitch, but I will probably leave this and start sewing right away - I'm in withdrawl I am known to spend hours... ops: ok days... ops: ops: ok really weeks at a time in front of my sewing machine. My family has threatened to report me missing sometimes because they won't see me for so long. I confess that I horde fabric in strange places so my husband doesn't know just how much I have at any one time. Worse, I include my young children by asking them to not tell him when we have been shopping ops: ops: I also confess that I have put the quilts I am making for family members in order from those who would appreciate them least to those who would appreciate them most - I don't feel as bad making learning mistakes on a quilt I know probably won't see much use :? And worst of all I spend way too much time reading stuff on this website :lol: :lol:

Ok, that was fun, now where is the nearest quilt shop??? :lol: :lol:

[eileenkny]

When someone asks me to make them a quilt, I tell them that if they go to the fabric shop and buy the fabric and thread, pick the pattern, and pay my hourly wage, I'll be happy to do it. That usually backs them right off.
Otherwise, I'll tell them it'll cost them between $500 and $1000. You know that "deer in the headlights look"? hehe :twisted:

[GloriaH]

Mandy, I love your QA speech :!:

[Peachykeen]

I'm glad I read this thread. I, too, have a demanding job and a family and limited time to quilt. There are quilts that I make for myself because I like the pattern or a certain fabric. I'm not going to reproduce it for someone else. That's too much like work. Then there are quilts that I make knowing that it's intended for a certain person. I don't have a problem letting them go. I encourage recipients to use the quilt but, as others have said, a gift is a gift. My worst experience was when I started making a quilt for myself and my youngest stepdaughter commented that a close friend of ours would love it. I couldn't believe it when I said that I would give it to this friend. :shock: I loved that pattern and fabric so much that I had to buy more fabric to make another one for myself. My consolation was my friend's reaction. She loved it and appreciated all of the work that went into it. I don't feel guilty saying no when asked to make a quilt on commission. I'm glad I'm normal, as normal as a quilting addict can be.

Peachykeen

[Peachykeen]

I have made over 50 quilts. I really didn't keep count and I didn't take photos of them all, I only own two of them. It's so funny to hear the stories here.

Well out of no where really out of the clear blue sky,someone's DH told me they were having a quilt raffle at a camp ground party and says to me "why" were they having one because they don't need any more quilts. LOL! Guess I can mark you off my list! Thats how I feel. Tell me how someone like that could appreciate a quilt gift. They had already gotten theirs,never ever again! Too bad Too sad ""I've improved my workmenship in quilting since then"". HAHAHA................................

I just gave a quilt to a Uncle and Aunt and they sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers. That was a nice surprise. They did appreciate the gift. They offered to pay me for making them one ((but It was a gift)).
I have found that "most" of my recipients appreciate their quilts.
Though I'm really really picky to whom I will give one to now as a gift.
If someone asked me for a quilt now its depending on who that person is.

I had another Uncle that told me that I could make good money selling my quilts "no duh ya think" then ayear later he added; So are you getting up there with the pros doing all the fancy stuff! He wasn't really interested by the way he spoke to me about it. He was Compare-ing my workmenship was all. Knowing I'm not a pro, I responded and said I could give them a run for their money!!!LOL! The look on his face was so worth it. Like he was in dis-belief. How ya like me now! No quilt for you unless you pay me my worth. To you that will be $500.00 bucks! That look would be worth it too.You may examine my quilts at the family re-union next year, No touching because I will have a guard watching over them. It's funny I gave My DB/DS one at the last family re-union and she told DH to go lock it up in the car so noone steals it! She's so Cute!

I could sell my quilts yes like many others but haven't yet. I'm really thinking about it. Who would better appreciate them. I have no problem saying no if anyone ask for a quilt. Too busy doing my own thing. I don't take hints very well either!! So unless I find I want to make someone special a quilt. Know you're not on my list because I have no list!!!

Quilting is a Labor of Love and it should be equally shared. ((I Love my Quilts))

[cutup]

Katzzz
I could not have said it better, only the deserving and for those who appreciate it. I love making quilts for the people I love, Puts a smile in my heart........Jean

[Stinki]

I make my quilts for those I hold dear and each holds a special meaning for that person. For my DIL Heidi I made a quilt for her BD this year of teacups and teapots because she collects them and loves tea..... anyway.... when she opened it she started to cry and said "I didn't think I was going to get one..... u DO love me!" Made me feel so good that it meant so much to her.... that is a part of what quilting is about for me.

Carla
In temporarily sunny Oregon

[Stinki]

I think the most special giving of a quilt to someone for me was last Fall I made a baby quilt for a young Mother at my church. Her situation was not the best, but she is so sweet and something about her touched my heart when I first met her. When she opened the quilt, she began to cry and said that nobody had ever taken time to make her anything in her life. It was such a simple thing, but spoke many things to her. I'll never forget that and it reminded me that we never know when something small will mean the world to someone.

Dana in Olive Branch, MS enjoying my favorite time of the day.

[QuilterLynn]

I have 2 daughters and 2 SIL and have wondered if they would care if I made one or not? Since they are guys, they appear as tho they might not, but then I watch them admire the ones for the DD and think, "Hmmm. Maybe they would really like one.

Input?

Thanks.

[snowplow3840]

Lynn you asked for input on quilts for guys-- actually I have more quilts that were for couples or for a single man than I have for women. The first quilt I made for our nephew was red, white and blue stripes. He had painted his iron bed with red white and blue trim and four years later it was the only personal thing that he took to basic training last year so I know he loved it. I need to start on his wedding quilt for DEC 2008.hope this one will be as treasured as the first one was.

hope to meet you in person in Houston in Nov. Ann

[QuilterLynn]

Yes, ma'am! For sure!

[QuilterLynn]

two years ago a lady on my bowling league asked me to make 6 lap size memory quilts for her to give away as gifts at Christmas to her siblings. She supplied the clothes and paid for the extra materials needed and my time. Now her mother has passed and wants 6 more done. I also had a friend ask me to make two lap size quilts for to give as gifts for this Christmas. I ended up suggesting that I teach her to make the quilts. It would mean that much more to her mom and sister plus I have added two more quilters to the world. (Her daughter also wants to learn). THat frees up some time for me to finish my own bed quilt. If they are willing to learn, then they will understand what goes into a quilt.

Cheryl

[QuilterLynn]

All of my co-workers know that I quilt (a LOT). They've seen most of my quilts (which are numerous). They all want me to: a. give them one, b. sell them one for maybe $100, or can I make them one of their choice. What do you say? And what do you say to the person who says, "What do you do with all your quilts?" I often liken this to asking an artist what he does with all his paintings! I make them because I just have to!

Here are some of my answers to similar questions:

1. I charge $45 plus / an hour cause I demand time and a half to work on someone else's quilt.

2. I get to pick the color and the pattern because it has to be interesting to me to work on it. YOU just get to pay the bill.... By the way most quilt fabrics, batting, supplies are over $100 a quilt .... We QUILTERS just do not tell our husbands the true cost.

3./ I would need to buy a long arm quiting set up and that cost over $17,000. How much do they want to pay toward my project.

4. / Sorry but their quilt would have to get in line behind all the quilts I WANT TO MAKE .... behind the quilts I want to give to my loved ones and family. .... behind the quilts I need to make for the quilt show, competition, quilt challenges..... behind all the other orders/ request I have ahead of them. Their quilt might be available in 2050 IF ....I do not have any more grand children.

5/ WHAT DO YOU DO WITH ALL YOUR QUILTS? I hoard them in my home till I give them to my loved ones. Quilts by master quiltmakers / quilt artist go FOR REALLY BIG BUCKS. AS far as I am concerned I am a master quiltmaker / artis t compared with anyone else who wants to hire me to make a quilt.

I DO GIVE OUT THE BUSINESS CARD TO A YOUNG WOMAN THAT MAKES QUILTS TO ORDER FOR MONEY. I just let everyone know that the woman needs to earn her money at home she is not cheap but she is fair and her workman ship is par excellance.


As you can probably tell I am a bit of a prima donna.... either that or a pain in the butt.

[QuilterLynn]

i just want to say thank you to all those who posted such good advice on this thread. the other day my husband got a call from a friend that wanted to ask me to make a quilt for him with pics of his children on it. not could he pay me for one but would i like i would do it for free. lucky for me i had time to get on here and read your replies because it worked. first i was upset that he acted like i would do it for free and i barely have time to finish my own projects let alone others then after telling him minium 500.00 because he has 5 kids and wanted pics which that printer fabric is expensive. i find out he wanted his kids and the kids from his girl friend who has 6. 11 kids total on this quilt. as i was breaking down the price of fabric and everything my husband who was relaying every thing to him said the girlfriend (who i have never met) said she knew someone who would do it for 150.00 i told them to jump on that because i really think she was saying it to get me to lower my price and there really isn't another person. also i offered to teach them how to do it themselves. but that idea was brushed off also. so again i want to thank you all for helping me out of a bad deal.