Do people ask you to do a certain project?
By bonbon50
@bonbon50 (659)
United States
March 2, 2007 7:52am CST
She's not a friend or co-worker, but someone recently saw one of my doilies and ask if I could make her one up using certain colors. I haven't given her an answer yet as I don't know what to charge. Most people have NO idea how much work is involved in making most projects. Has anyone else encountered this? If so, how did you handle it?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@twilight021 (2059)
• United States
2 Mar 07
I sell my knitting and pricing is the hardest thing for me to do. Remember to keep in mind yor time and your materials cost money. The biggest mistake people make is not charging for thier time. Also you are making something by hand, and custom to her colors. So that makes it much more special than just buying something at a store. If I had a nickle for everytime someone looks at a pair of hand knit mittens for $15 and says..."but I could get mittens at Target for $5", well, I could probably retire :-) Remember, your craft is your art.
I would check out www.etsy.com and see what people there are charging for something similar.
I may turn out your co-worker decides that what you are charging is too much. I would try hard not to cave. you don't want to sell yourself short (literally in this case). Good Luck!
1 person likes this
@bonbon50 (659)
• United States
3 Mar 07
I know exactly what you mean. People have NO idea the amount of time that goes into our craft. My girlfriend asked me to make an afghan for her mother, with only 2 weeks notice! There were some days I had to work on it for 6 hours in order to get it done as I was also working outside the home. (And this is a 'favor', no charge. This same friend just brought over material for me 2 make 2 poodle skirts for a kids sock hop; I had 2 days to do it in. Again, just a 'favor', no charge! I'm not going to let her do this to me again. I like doing things for friends but not on such short notice and she could at least offered to take me to lunch for my work!
Ironically, I find myself picking up vintage doilies and such at garage sales because I know the work that went into them! Then I usually put those out instead of my own even though I do very intricate work. I posted a picture of the swan doily she wants me to make for her in varigated thread. (The leaf one is mine, too..)
1 person likes this
@bonbon50 (659)
• United States
4 Mar 07
Thanks for the compliment! That's a good idea, having a mind-set as to what to ask, pricewise. When I was growing up (showing my age here) is was affordable for people to make their own clothes. Now materials and yarns are costly by the time you're through with a project.
@twilight021 (2059)
• United States
3 Mar 07
Wow! Your work is amazing!!!! I think if you charge her any less than $35, she is getting a bargin.
It's hard to get out of the business of doing "favors" for people, and people certainly do start to take advantage. Now, when I get people asking me to make stuff, I say "I would love to make you that scarf, I get $20 for something like that. Are you comfortable with that?" If you make it sound like you have already established a bit of "business" people tend to go along with it.
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@cutepenguin (6430)
• Canada
3 Mar 07
I've had trouble with this in the past. I always underestimate how long it's going to take me, and people never understand how much work it is.
I've finally settled on making about $5 per hour plus materials. It's not much, but I like doing it and I don't do it as a job so to speak.
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