Hi, everyone, some advice needed please... When someone asks you "how much" can you please let me know how do you come to a figure that suits everyone???

Great question and anwers ;D *2U

It's always hard to know how much to charge. Sometimes I consider how much I would pay and charge to little. However, people who can't sew, or craft are willing to pay more. Also, don't make the mistake of doing things for free. I did that for a couple of people when I got my machine, and they came to expect it. Hmm, maybe I should replace that zipper with water soluble thread LOL. I really need to learn to say no.

2 comments

by mad14kt 15 Jan 2009

This season I have learn to say "NO"! I too use to do things for free. ;D *2U

by sherylac 15 Jan 2009

Yes, I have done exactly what you have done, I also need to learn to say "no" love the idea of the water soluable thread. lololol

When I had my first sewing machine my next door neighbour asked me if I could embroider a towel for her, just a name. So I gave a price and after it was done she told my she used to go to an embroidery shop some 25 km away, which saved on fuel and paid twice the price. That was over 15 years ago. And I'm still charging the low price, although I upped a little bit when we changed from guilders to euros - just enough to get the nearest round figure. I don't mind that for her, BUT she has been telling all and sundry that I do embroidery at that price and that I do mind. So think twice what you charge and if it's a friend tell her not to broadcast the price she pays.

2 comments

by ssarner 15 Jan 2009

Or you can come up some kind of referal fee. If she refers a customer to you, you give her discount. Without referal, she won't get discount. When people gets direct benefit, they will stick with rules.

by sherylac 15 Jan 2009

I know sometimes I can charge to little. I don't like to charge too much but, also want something back for me

For me, there are two types of how much. For embroidery, I charge $1.5 per 1000 stitches with normal stabilizer and minimum of $5 which means even though the embroidery is only 2700 stitches will cost $5. With special stabilizer like wash away extra or tear away sticky, I charge $5 or $2 extra because the price per yard of those two stabilizers are more expensive. For other sewing projects like sewing clothes, draperies, quilt or alterations, I charge per my estimation of hour that spend and notions that I provide. For example, a customer calls me and asks me how much to do a costume like for Alice in Alice in Wonderland. It will take me about 7 hours to finish and $10 per hour which is kind of minimum wage in US, so the cost will be $70 and the customer has to provide all the fabric, lining, zipper, interfacing, and thread. Some customer just has no clue what zipper and interfacing are, then I will provide a second price. Most simple dress, $10 will cover zipper, interfacing and thread. If the dress or suit is more complicated, $20 will cover interfacing, thread, boning, shoulder pads, zipper and buttons. For me, quilt and draperies are the most easy to sew and mainly straight line, they will be slightly cheaper. On the other hand, roman shape requires lot of hand work, it will cost more. The key thing is customer has to provide all materials and log your time. You may estimate too much time or too less time for the beginning. After for a while, you pretty much know how long will take you get done. Remember, cheap material also give your equipments wear and tear, so suggest your customers provide good material. For me, I won't accept any sewing unless the customer provides all the stuffes that are exactly what I listed. The most important part, make sure you charge that 50% labor down. There are few just won't pick up their items. The 2nd important thing is make sure your customer sign the liability form which says something to protect you like if they don't pick up their items with certain time like 3 monthes, you are going to sale them to other customers or donate to charity. If you need that liability form, you welcome to email me at soi.sarner@us.meadsintl.com. Hope this information will provide some kind of basic ground for you. If you want further detail, I can write more.

2 comments

by sherylac 15 Jan 2009

Thank you so much for all of this information. I used to do dressmaking years ago, and charged similar to you as in regards to---if I supplied all the essentials or they supplied them. And the charge for the embroidery is very interesting.. Thank you

by nonna57 15 Jan 2009

This is what I charge also. A Lady who has a shop & does emb as a side line told me this :)

When I charge for something I try to recoop my expenses - you'll never be able to recoup your time, so just charge what you are comfortable with I've done embroidered dishtowels for $5, lap quilts for $75, baby quilts for $35 and a king quilt for $300. To some it's to much to some it's to little, but it's what the market will bear and I've made a profit on my supplies and had fun in the meantime.

1 comment

by sherylac 15 Jan 2009

Thank you, I know that with any sort of craft you never recoup your time,its just so hard

Very question, I'd like to know the answer too!!!! somethings take so many hours and so much wss and thread !!!but when comes to regular embroidery probably be more profitable.*****

Good question,its a tough one as most of the time its someone you know that asks you to do some embroidery. You have lovely FSL in projects. flowers for you.

1 comment

by sherylac 15 Jan 2009

thank you for your lovely comment