I mainly embroider for my own enjoyment and give away as gifts the things I make. Now I have been asked to embroider some towels and I have no idea how to price the work. Can some of you Cuties who sew for profit give me some tips on how to price my work?

$6-8 small & $10-12 larger with more detail.

I would have them give you the towels they want. Saves you the gas and time. If they bring you the fat fluffly towels, are you prepared to stitch those? If not, tell them the kind of towels you will do.

If you are just doing this for a friend, just charge for stitches...most I know charge about $1/1000 or so. But if you are going to start charging on a regular basis, you need to start figuring out your setup time, your expenses, your time stitching, overhead. I'd also explain this to your friend because she'll start telling her friends how cheaply you do this and that will lead to problems downline. Just ask me.

When I started monograming napkins, I started a notebook of monogram designs. Each time I did a test stitchout, I'd put it in my notebook. I also printed out all the letters of that design so that people could see what their letter looked like. Not all letters are created equal.

Once you do this for your friend, you'll have a better idea what this process entails. And if you mess up a towel, what that entails too!

Thanks to all for your answers. Now I have an idea where to start. This site is a sourse of so much information, I don't know what I would do without it. Pretty much everything I know about embroidery I have learned here from your questions, answers and tips. Thank you.

deprnds on the detail, monogram 5 to 8, larger 10 to 12

wELL I GIVE SMALL TOWELS AWAY WEEKLY LOL BUT THE BIG ONES I BUY FOR FIVE DOLLARS AT WALMART AND I CHARGE FIVE DOLLARS FOR A TOTAL OF TEN ??HOPE THIS HELPS sorry my cap. was on hugs

Sorry I only do for gifts too but a good question.

I'm with Vicki. I chg $5 per towel to just do a monogram or small something...they furnish the towels. If I have to go out & buy the towels, I add the cost of the towels plus some to it. I chg. $17 for a child's hooded towel,which is one bath & 1/2 hand towel, with name & a design on the hood. I just can't chg. the per stitch..sometimes there's a lot of stitches & I know I wouldn't pay that for it!

Many people use the $1 per thousand stitches for pricing the design. For a low stitch count design you should add something for setup and supplies because for towels you have to use some extra disolving stabilizers.

Marcelle

That is a tough one, as there are some variable, but I generally charge a flat fee if things are simple and straight forward. I just did some towels that had a design and text and charged $5 for each towel and she supplied the towels. Vicki

1 comment

by queenofhearts 20 Jun 2012

Thanks Vicki for your input. Anyone else have a comment?