Sew What’s Up Presents
The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: Sailorliz
Date: 09-01-2004, 11:32 AM (1 of 18)
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I have been toying with the idea of doing some sewing on the side out of my home. I have been making custom burgees for our sailboat owners association via their web page on the internet. I like to do sewing for our boats. I have made several projects for our boats, such as binimi's, sail bags, a mosquito netting enclosure for the sailboat, a tiller cover and have recovered boat (inside the cabin) cushions. Well, I have a sewing friend who sews for a living out of her home (doing alterations). I have spoken with her about starting a business & pricing. Anyway she has referred to me one of her clients. I took on the job, as it is an easy one. She wants 6 box cushions recovered. She already has purchased the material. She wants me to reuse the zippers from the old covers. She wants nothing fancy, no piping, etc. She took me by surprise as she just showed up at my door. Of course I wanted to do the job, so I blurted out $50.00 for my time. She thought that was very reasonable and said if I thought it would take more of my time, to call her and she would discuss paying more. Anything else (notions, more material) would be at her expense. I have since ordered today two books from Amazon, Sew to Success and Pricing without Fear. I live in a rural area and there aren't many sewing business's that I'm aware of that specializes in canvas, boats, etc. Do any of you do these large projects? If so, how did you come up with a charge. Especially, if I sew for boats, they would most likely be custom jobs. Boat covers, binimi's, dogers, etc. So am I way below the market?? Charging $50.00 for my first client/job? Fair Winds, Liz Happy sewing/quilting/crafting
Liz Visit my photo page http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sailorlizmi/albums |
User: Sailorliz
Member since: 07-20-2004 Total posts: 386 
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From: HHH
Date: 09-01-2004, 12:46 PM (2 of 18)
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Liz, $50 sounds pretty low for 6 cushions. Even if everything in the way of materials is supplied and the construction is very simple (no piping, etc.), you're still going to have to rip the old zippers out, measure and cut the new fabric and put it all together. It's probably going to take most of a day to finish. I'd use this project as mostly free advertising; tactfully let this customer know that you're giving her a whale of a bargain, just this once, to establish your business. Then do an exceptional job on her cushions; she'll be pleased and spread the word. I'll bet you'll end up with more business than you can handle, and get your price! Good luck with it! |
User: HHH
Member since: 02-10-2004 Total posts: 87 |
From: MaryW
Date: 09-01-2004, 02:14 PM (3 of 18)
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Well said HHH. I too think $50. is too cheap but it may just be the jumping off point. Be very sure to never price yourself that low again. Good luck with your new business venture and please stay in touch with us. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: shadylady
Date: 09-01-2004, 10:26 PM (4 of 18)
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I agree with the others. You're definitely charging way too low. Size is one factor. The bigger, the more it costs. And boxed cushions always cost more than a square pillow. The mimimum you should be charging is $35 PER CUSHION, and that's maybe for up to a 20", extra for other embellishments. And then you should charge extra for reusing the old zippers, because now you need to rip apart (should be charged by the hour). Generally speaking, it should cost more to reuse any part of an old cushion, then to make it from new. And when you charge this low, any new customers coming from her will expect the same low prices. This isn't the kind of business you want to generate. Value your time and skills and charge well for it, so you can make lots of $$$. Not everyone can do what you do, especially boat items, so up that price! Becky |
User: shadylady
Member since: 09-19-2003 Total posts: 58 
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From: Sailorliz
Date: 09-02-2004, 08:04 AM (5 of 18)
Thanks for your advice! I should have waited to take the job, until I had a chance to do some research on the pricing! I will take a loss on this one, but I will also tell her like HHH suggested, since she is my first customer, that I gave her a great deal. She is a retiree and these cushions are for her daughter. They came from ratee (SP)? furniture, that she is giving her daughter. I will track my time working on her stuff, so I have a better idea how long it takes me to work on projects like this. I thought back to all of my other sewing projects and how long they took, but I never really tracked the time. I didn't ever think I would do this as a business. Also, I work full-time at another job (I work with technology), so I only sew in my spare time. So those projects took forever to complete. But I'm hoping that eventually, I can quit my full-time job to sew for the rest of my working life. Again, thanks for your help, and I'm sure I will have more questions!  Have a great day! Liz Happy sewing/quilting/crafting
Liz Visit my photo page http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sailorlizmi/albums |
User: Sailorliz
Member since: 07-20-2004 Total posts: 386
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From: MaryW
Date: 09-02-2004, 08:46 AM (6 of 18)
Liz, I have heard from other professionals that a timer is almost imperative to your work. It is a real eye-opener how much time some jobs take. Keep one in your sewing area. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: Carol in ME
Date: 09-02-2004, 06:32 PM (7 of 18)
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I'm always cautious, too, when the customer wants me to cut corners. Piping adds stability and longevity to the cushions, as well as making the seams look more professional. And every time one of us sets up a business working for nothing, or next to nothing, it makes it hard explain that what customers are getting here is skilled labor. A lady down the street from me wanted me to hem her skirts for $3 or $4 . (I didn't give her the speech that starts out, "I'm not going to apologize for charging more per hour than the 16-year-old who sets his backside on the seat of your riding mower and steers it around the yard...) When I was making extra money at home, it didn't matter. But now that I'm trying to pay the bills, it makes a difference. There's overhead, electricity, heating and cooling bills that are higher because I'm home all the time. I should have extra insurance, too. And gas, milage on the car. If you price too low now, you may find your customers unhappy in the future. Sadly, they won't look at it as if they got a great deal in the past. They'll feel you're being unfair. |
User: Carol in ME
Member since: 01-27-2003 Total posts: 105 |
From: Alison
Date: 09-09-2004, 11:33 AM (8 of 18)
Hi everyone, I'm back I wanted to say hi to MaryW. I realized looking around on the new site that you live in Nova Scotia. I traveled to Yarmouth NS last month on the 'CAT' ferry from Bar Harbor, Maine. Had a wonderful day up there. I realize Halifax is a bit of a drive from there, but I hadn't made the connection until now that you are up there. So close, yet so far away. I also have an at home business and wanted to comment on that, too. I have a longarm machine quilting business. I use a timer as Mary mentioned. It's more to double check what time I spend on things. Unless I'm starting a completely new thing,l I have a pretty good idea how long things take me now and I charge accordingly. My issue is self motivation! Or lack thereof. And the isolation issue is a tough one. I hear it a lot from a lot of at home workers. But there are a lot of advantages to working out of the home. Especially in these rural settings that some of us live in. I like the new formats of the site. So far so good. Do many people use the private message section? Oh, and Carol - where are you in ME? (I assume that means Maine) Alison in Maine Alison E. Miner
<email address removed for privacy> Harborside, Maine Longarm Quilter |
User: Alison
Member since: 02-06-2001 Total posts: 19 
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From: MaryW
Date: 09-09-2004, 11:47 AM (9 of 18)
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Hi Alison, glad to see you're back. My son and his fiancee rode the Cat a few weeks back. I'm afraid she was green as grass when she got off. I totally understand what you are saying about motivation. I know how hard it is sometimes when you are the only one. I used to talk to myself A LOT! When I read bios of people like the Quilt In A Day lady, it changes my outlook completely. Everyone needs and deserves a huge pat on the back for the work they do. Whether we get it or not is another story. I found the more I talked with others about what I do, the more it helps. They are usually quite inquisitive and marvel at what someone else does. Is there a group of machine quilters you could join in with to swap stories, etc. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: Alison
Date: 09-09-2004, 03:30 PM (10 of 18)
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Mary et al, Well, was your daughter-in-law on the CAT on August 17th by any chance? I heard about someone being pretty ill, but I thought it was an older person. I, in fact have started gathering information to have a get together for Mainers. I have about 30 confirmed people with longarms interested, but I haven't finished the thought process. I belong to two longarm online groups and that connection does help me, but I have to be careful that I don't stay on all day.  Hope your day is going well. Alison in Maine 
Alison E. Miner
<email address removed for privacy> Harborside, Maine Longarm Quilter |
User: Alison
Member since: 02-06-2001 Total posts: 19
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From: Carol in ME
Date: 09-11-2004, 11:24 AM (11 of 18)
| Alison, I'm in Hollis Center. No one seems to know where that is, so I'll say it's near Buxton. Everyone seems to know where Buxton is! I don't quilt, myself, but my Mom has been doing it for some years now. She lives down in York. |
User: Carol in ME
Member since: 01-27-2003 Total posts: 105 |
From: Alison
Date: 09-11-2004, 12:57 PM (12 of 18)
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Carol, I think I've been through Hollis, ME, on my way to NH - does that make sense? Because I remember thinking I was in Hollis NH, which I used to live near, but then remembered I was still in Maine. Wow, neither Hollis, nor Buxton are on the list of towns on my gazette! Must be a small town. Well, so is Harborside (800 people year round) So, you are in the 'sewing' business? Not quilting business? I do know where York is! Alison Alison E. Miner
<email address removed for privacy> Harborside, Maine Longarm Quilter |
User: Alison
Member since: 02-06-2001 Total posts: 19
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From: Sailorliz
Date: 09-15-2004, 10:50 AM (13 of 18)
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Hi Alison, I appreciate your comments about working out of the house. We live in a rural area in Northern Lower Michigan. My husband has a (computer) business that he runs out of the house. He started it when we moved here from the rat race about 15 years ago. I work for a governmental agency, also in technology. It provides a steady paycheck and good medical benefits. We have raised three daughters, the youngest just started her freshman year in college. The problem I have in going full-time in starting this sewing business, is giving up the security of the medical benefits. Our youngest daughter was just diagnosed with a brain tumor and will have surgery over the holidays. She has had medical problems since she was born, which we now know what has caused the problems. Seizures, etc. Anyway, with the costs of surgeries, specilaists, prescriptions, etc. having medical insurance is very comforting. Are any of you self-insuranced? If you are, what company? Is there some sort of way to purchase medical coverage as a sewing professional in the US? Happy Sewing! 
Happy sewing/quilting/crafting
Liz Visit my photo page http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sailorlizmi/albums |
User: Sailorliz
Member since: 07-20-2004 Total posts: 386
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From: Alison
Date: 09-15-2004, 03:00 PM (14 of 18)
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Liz (is it?) My husband was self employed for 25 years, so I understand the dilemma with cost of health care. It's even more of an issue today. We made a similar move by coming up to Maine 11 years ago and he started working at a boatyard which had good health insurance. However, when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, we switched to two private policies, one for him and one for me. The decision was made because he was about to change jobs at the same time his diagnosis was made and decisions had to be made. We chose Anthem Blue Cross - which was Blue Cross/Blue Shield at the beginning. Larry had a reasonable deductible and his monthly cost out of our pocket was $435 per month. Mine is a large deductible ($5000) with a premium of $235 per month. I figure I can beg, borrow, or steal the deductible in a huge emergency, but need to keep my costs down. It was the best decision we could have made for him, during all his treatments and hospitalizations. Since he died in March, I've still kept my individual policy. But I do surely think about getting a job just to have health care. It's a problem everywhere. And the jobs giving benefits are becoming fewer and fewer. Good luck with your decision. Alison in Maine Alison E. Miner
<email address removed for privacy> Harborside, Maine Longarm Quilter |
User: Alison
Member since: 02-06-2001 Total posts: 19
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From: Sailorliz
Date: 09-19-2004, 08:24 AM (15 of 18)
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Dear Alison, My condolences on the loss of your husband. I can't imagine. My mother passed away at a young age from cancer (three years ago). My father is still having a hard time dealing with living without her. When I get some extra time I'm going look for medical coverage and the costs. It is good to hear that there is something reasonable for self-insurance. I also bought an electronic timer for my sewing room. I'm glad I did, as I couldn't believe all of the interruptions I get while sewing (mostly phone calls from our daughters). I told my husband, that they don't even live here anymore, and they still interfere with my time for sewing.  So now I can start and stop the timer, when the phone starts ringing.
Happy sewing/quilting/crafting
Liz Visit my photo page http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sailorlizmi/albums |
User: Sailorliz
Member since: 07-20-2004 Total posts: 386
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From: Alison
Date: 09-19-2004, 09:20 AM (16 of 18)
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I'm going to try pushing a few buttons on this message, so it may look funny. I just wanted to remind you to look into your state's medical coverage issues. I know in Maine they have a medical policy for people who have 'no' insurance. Again, it's always us who are in the middle who pay for everything, but you never know, your state might just be smarter than the rest of us. I know Maine has been first in several areas in regards to health insurance - one being as long as you are 'insured' and you want to switch policies, you cannot be penalized because you have developed a disease or illness - came in handy for my husband. Alison in Maine PS. I don't get how to use the buttons at the top of the message. Alison E. Miner
<email address removed for privacy> Harborside, Maine Longarm Quilter |
User: Alison
Member since: 02-06-2001 Total posts: 19
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From: Sailorliz
Date: 10-24-2004, 04:39 PM (17 of 18)
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I did finally finish the project. It took time as my daughter got sick in the middle of it. My customer also had to get more fabric, as there was not enough to complete all of the cushions. She was very happy with the outcome. I explained to her not to advertise what I charged her. I told her in the future I would charge a lot more per cushion. Anyway, she did give me more money. She gave me a $100, instead of the agreed upon $50. I want to thank all of you for your hints and support. I really want to do this, but for now, until I can figure out what to do with medical insurance, I will have to do this on a part-time basis. Here is a link to pictures of the finished cushions. http://www.photofun.com/IM/Templates/index.cfm?Position=1&Username=SailorLiz&SubSite=49177&LinkedPage=56573 Happy sewing/quilting/crafting
Liz Visit my photo page http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sailorlizmi/albums |
User: Sailorliz
Member since: 07-20-2004 Total posts: 386
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From: shadylady
Date: 10-24-2004, 06:24 PM (18 of 18)
| Beautiful! Very nice! Difinitely need to charge more in the future. Whether you do this full time or part time, price should still be the same. MUCH MORE! |
User: shadylady
Member since: 09-19-2003 Total posts: 58
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