moogiequilter wrote:
Amen! People are amazed at how much it costs to make a quality quilt.

I, too, often get requests that I make the person a quilt, usually followed quickly by "I'll pay you!" My stock response is that I already have a job, thank you, and a very demanding one, at that. I don't need another one.

I work hard at my job. I have many chores within my home and family. But I quilt for enjoyment and for ME. I choose my quilt patterns and fabric for ME based on my whims of the moment and my own interests. I work on my own schedule and I decide whether I'll keep a quilt or give it away. Quilts take a long time to make. One quilt could consume all of my disposable leisure hours for several months. If I made quilts for all my friends and coworkers who asked, I would never have time to do what I wanted. In effect, I would have a second job -- and in the process, I would have spoiled for me the creative hobby I love so much.

So, NO! I don't take requests and I refuse to feel guilty about that!

BethMI

moogiequilter wrote:
I don't know. It bothers me when people refuse gifts. Refusing gifts seems selfish to me -- you are denying someone the joy of giving.

I'm a giver -- there are never any strings attached to my gifts and I don't expect the recipient to reciprocate. Where we live now people refuse gifts, invitations to dinner, extra produce from the garden, etc. It hurts my feelings and also makes life here very difficult for me. I love to entertain and I haven't had a dinner party since we've lived here -- can't get anyone to come. It's even hard to find charities to volunteer with -- they always seem to have enough volunteers. I used to work for non-profits and the idea that you ever have enough volunteers is foreign to me.

But I'm from a different state. It never ceases to amaze me how different people are in the various regions of the U.S.

The local Project Linus coordinator will accept my quilts and I give many through them. Our coordinator once showed me some of the letters she receives from mothers, grandmothers, aunts, even nurses. The letters are very gracious and even sweet. They are all overwhelmed that someone would give something that takes so much time to make to a total stranger.

It's just the way I was brought up -- you give, even if you don't have a lot yourself -- there is always someone who has less. You just give.

gbquilter wrote:
You know the most wonderful people!!

I hate it when someone asks for a quilt, Like MIL, then puts it in a linen closet and tells me she's saving it for "Good". I told her to tell "Good" to get his own quilt when he comes around. I made it to love and use, not to live in a closet. Nothing I say makes any difference. Guess I'll get it back in the same condition when it was given. Then I'll use it and have her rolling in her grave...hehehe

I don't really have that problem. Most people around here know how much work is involved in making a quilt.

I have problems getting people to accept quilts as gifts -- they think it's too much. They stutter and stammer for awhile and then usually get around to saying something like "I don't know what to say." I say, "the word is thank you." They say "thank you" I answer "you're welcome" and walk away leaving them standing there holding their quilt with a shocked look on their face.

When someone asks what I would charge to make them a quilt I say "You can't pay me enough to make you a quilt-I only do it for love."

and if you haven't seen the first show yet (I'll not spoil it) you need to see the show and the song at the end.

I thought I was going to fall out of my chair with laughter at 'regular blue'.

I have found that if I start by noting that the fabric require for a twin sized quilt WITHOUT LABOR will run them between $150 and $200, I can quickly weed out the ones who thought I would supply them with a bargain. If they are still standing, looking me in the eye and saying okay, so how much would labor cost, then we can start talking about real numbers.

and sadly, I have learned to ask at least for the cost for fabric to be supplied up front. I'm amazed that people I know and see every day at work could take something that is completed and then be slow to pay. I figure if I at least cover the cost of fabric, then if they realize they can't pay, I'm not out the investment in the fabric as well.

When asked if I can hand quilt someone else's work or if I will make them a quilt; I smile and say "No, but I will teach you how to do it." The one where she wanted me to hand quilt it--she had hand pieced it. I figured if she liked hand piecing she should like hand quilting. Oh, and they have never taken me up on it. ritzy

I, too give most of my quilts as gifts to family members. Sometimes it's a surprise, sometimes not - depending on how picky some might be!
When someone at work sees a finished project & starts hinting I just laugh & tell them how long it took. That usually stops them, & if it doesn't I tell them how much fabric costs.
On the other hand, SIL recently spoke to DH quietly, asking how to "get back in the quilt line up"
I guess she liked hers after all.

I make baby quilts for friends, nephews, neices, greats. NOT for friends' grandbabies! That is just going too far.

Most of the quilts I have given are well used. Many times I hear "that's his lovey, he must have it to sleep." One of my favorite compliments was "she christened your quilt - it was the first thing she threw up on!"

I take my quilts to work to show. One of the gals there also quilts - well she pieces and pays me to quilt for her. It's working great so far. People that ask me to make a quilt from scratch get a really high price because at this time I don't really want to deal with doing that. I have plenty of my own quilts that aren't done!

Sally in MO

I have a standard answer when I'm asked to make a quilt for someone. I tell them I've won national competitions, and that I charge $150 per square foot for my work. They usually just slink away in shock, or get indignant that I would charge so much when they can get one at Target for much less. I then suggest they might rather buy one at Target. I always have made baby quilts for any of my co-workers who were having a blessed event, but turned down the grandmothers who wanted one for their grandbaby. A co-worker will only produce one baby in a year or more, but a grandmother could have several grandbabies. I offered to show them how to make one, though. I've given away more quilts than I can remember. And, we have a very active chapter of Linus Project here in our little town, I do a lot of quilts for that.

FabricWhisperer wrote:
Well said! I gave a totally hand-appliqued, hand-quilted, even hand bound Hawaiian-style quilt to a friend for his baby. I said make sure this gets used - don't hang it up. When I visited him later, that quilt was the one the kid took to pre-school for naps and it got washed every week! It was well-used, well-loved, and I'm sure he had no idea what went into it. I was happy to see it holding up so well to so much use, too.

One story I think is funny is about a quilt I made for a friend to give her friend who had adopted a baby. One time the baby was sick and throwing up all over the place, and the mom had a moment of being more worried about the quilt than the baby!

I like to sleep under the quilts I make that are leaving me for one night, so I can infuse them with my love and spirit. I do this even with the ones I make on commission, because those are usually made for people I know and care for, too.

Tama