Thursday 8 September 2011

My Creative Space

My Creative Space today has featured the same thing for the past few days and will do for tomorrow too. I am making a quilt to take to Saltaire with me this weekend. I had hoped to have a few ready to go but that just hasn't happened and won't happen due to the fact that I hand quilt all my quilts! So I will be taking a 'display' quilt* just to judge peoples reactions to it - I have made plenty in the past but just as gifts. Want to see it?


You might not be able to see from this picture but I am hand quilting around each animal and that is why it is taking me so long. It feels right though for the material and I think quilting in straight lines just wouldn't work with this fabulous material.


What I am having trouble with is the price - I initially thought £35 but that seems very cheap for the amount of work that has gone into it so far. I have no illusions about claiming back money for all of the time spent on it but I would like to get paid for some of the time! It measures roughly 118cm by 80cm (it isn't finished yet hence rough measurement) and it would be the perfect size for a cot or doubled over in a pushchair/pram. I'm thinking more towards the £45-£50 mark. Would you agree and if not why not?Also please do be honest - I won't be mad!!

*It will be for sale too not just a 'display' quilt :)

13 comments:

Clairep said...

Hi Lynsey! It looks great! The lady at the next table to mine this week had a simple patchwork cot sized quilt she'd made and machine quilted straight lines for £40 if that's any help? Don't think she sold it but she got a lot of interest in it!

Wendy said...

That's going to be beautiful. I think £35 is far too low! I know you don't want to recoup all of the time you've spent, but as crafters we shouldn't price handmade items too low. At least £45, but more like £50 is my opinion.

theothermousie said...

Swirly that is gorgeous, I hand sew everything and I can really appreciate the time and effort spent. I would definitely think £60+ is reasonable. Obviously make sure people know it's hand quilted - as I'm sure you will x

Therese said...

The quilt is very beautiful and the hand embroidery makes it a very unique purchase. I know that my Mum or Mother in law would have happily paid £50 as a special one off gift when my son was born but I know I only spent a minimum amount on my quilts covers and pram covers due to washing. The amount of times quilts went into the wash was ridiculous when my son was little and I had to have a few spares to hand.
I think as a gift it's perfect though.

WendyCarole said...

It's a lovely quilt. £35 is far too low a price.

Hope t see you on Saturday. I get two trips to Saltaire this Autumn. We usually go the second weekend but I was determined not to miss the makers' fair this year.

george said...

That is looking totally gorgeous. Pricing handmade is so fricking hard isn't it! With all that intricacy involved I think 50 is not a big ask at all. Good luck x

linda said...

It looks great... my assumption (as a non-needleworky person) was that it was going to be £65.
If it was £35, I would assume that I was misunderstanding what I was looking at...that somehow it was mass produced, rather than hand quilted.

The general consensus here seems to be £50, so I am going to go with £55- as a happy compromise x

june at noon said...

I agree, you're underpricing yourself! I know a higher price can mean it might take longer to sell, but you need to let your price reflect the value of what you've done, at least partway! Good luck!

Cary-Ann D'Arcy(Cady) said...

Pricing is tough and a constant challenge. The ridiculous thing is people will pay £100+ for mass produced items like this in high end stores but when it comes to hand made everyone expects a bargain. Even £65 is too low for the amount of work but if you are comfortable with that then its better than £35. If you can find the right market £100 would still not be alot. Good luck. Cary from Cady

Anna Bartlett said...

I have some of that fabric and hadn't thought of hand quilting it... yours looks really lovely. All the best with selling it... it must be hard to part with it!

veronica said...

Lynsey, living in our area (East Lancs)we have a problem with pricing that the people lower down the country don't seem to have.I think you can get £45-£50 for it as it is coming up to Christmas present time, but it might take some encouraging words e.g.Hand Quilted, a Special One-Off etc. Good luck.

Jem said...

I think the price increase is definitely reasonable - it looks lovely :-)

Jem xXx

Unknown said...

I think when you're selling handmade stuff you add up the cost of materials and triple it. Does that help?