Question that was put to me and I have no answer

[princesssnoopy]

I was working on my current project and my mother in law asked me how much I would charge someone if I was to sell my project. I have no idea where to even begin. Does anyone have a way of working out what they would charge for a finished project?

[Angel]

Supplies +1p per stitch + x

X is based on an abstract number based entirely upon how complicated the design is and how much I love/loathe it. Usually it hovers somewhere around 10%

[princesssnoopy]

What would you charge be stitch if you where in America? I like there and I know that currency is different.

[MaggieM1750]

I'm with Angel
Materials + penny per stitch + Extras for difficulty/ time frame/ being unable to stitch my own project

And US vs. UK vs. Canada, France or anywhere else.. the currency wouldn't change my estimate.

[Rose]

Most US prices range from 1/2 cent to 2 cents per stitch and then the price of supplies. You can't get much more then that and most people don't want to even pay that much.

I did one commission piece and I will NEVER do that again. I did a second piece that was for a friend and she begged and I caved in. We are very close and she knows how to give the big googlie eyes so I always give in. But the price is never worth the work you put into it.

[Mystonique]

Labour of love not of profit me thinks.

[Lessa54]

Labour of love not of profit me thinks.

Definitely! I just worked out that on that rating, if I were minded to sell my HAED, the price (if framed too) would be in the region of £2,000. Sounds quite nice, till I realise that at the speed I stitch, that's really not a very good rate of earning.

[Fizzbw]

And add that to the fact that stitching seems to be wildly under appreciated by the hoi polloi, then you realise it's a rare time you'd get even that!

Niki xxx

[Angel]

The smaller the stitching the more worth while, the larger the stitching...not so much. I blame the throw away society we live in today, you can get machine made prints for next to nothing, so people don't want to pay thousands for something to hang on their wall when there are far cheaper alternatives out there. So I only stitch on request things that I like/aren't very big.

[princesssnoopy]

I've never actually stitched anything for money yet. My mother in law was thinking of having me make one for her to give as a gift and she wanted to know what I would charger her. Most of the time I just stitch them for the love of doing it.

[Nachstenliebe]

I had a big discussion with my friend the other day. She was trying to convince me to start making things I can sell at fairs/events.. I tried explaining that the time it took to make such things for such a little amount of money wasn't something I found to be feasible.. Plus.. after awhile I seriously think it would take the joy out of my stitching.
Faith

[rcperryls]

The only time I stitched for money was a baby afghan. I never got the money and eventually gave the afghan to a friend for her new grandbaby. I had stitched the name and birthdate in bright red thread though (it was ladybug themes and I found some great patterns) and when I pulled out those stitches it left a red stain. I suggested she just sew some fabric over it or something like that, but she was delighted with it anyway, so at least a baby somewhere got to use it. Never again, unless I get my requested fee upfront. Plus, to make it worth it would make the afghan or piece way too costly for the people I know.

Carole

[Corey.G]

The only time that I've ever stitched for money was when I did the polar bears by Dimensions. She wanted me to charge her but I said that the cost of the kit would be enough for me. She still gave me $50 on top of that, despite my refusal.

I don't like stitching for others unless I decide after I'm finished, to gift it. Otherwise I feel too pressured while doing it cause people ask about how it's going and when it might be done.

[cristaltipps]

Corey G said,
"I don't like stitching for others unless I decide after I'm finished, to gift it. Otherwise I feel too pressured while doing it cause people ask about how it's going and when it might be done"

That made me laugh because i think my brother has appointed himself the stitching police, i have done several things as gifts for family members and have kept it secret from the recipient and on an almost weekly if not more often basis he asks me if i am on target and if i am doing the amount of stitches per day i should be to meet a deadline lol.

But back to the main thread question I personally think it is something that can only really be done for the love of it as you would never get anyone to pay the going rate for the hours put into a piece, particularly when they start getting bigger.

[geekishly]

The only time I've done a commissioned cross stitch piece was a simple sampler for my mom to give as a wedding gift. She bought the floss, pattern and technically the cloth (the latter being a gift from her a few years prior that I hadn't found a use for) and then paid me $30 for the finished piece. It worked out to somewhere between $1.50-2/hr spent working on it. So not really something I could make a living off of. However, as a special favor it wasn't too bad a deal.

[BizzieLizzie]

I don't like stitching for others unless I decide after I'm finished, to gift it. Otherwise I feel too pressured while doing it cause people ask about how it's going and when it might be done.

I'm the same. If I were being paid to do a cross stitch for someone it would feel too much like work (and I have more than enough of that already! ).

[Stitchinkitty]

Unless you are a stitcher yourself most people have absolutely no idea how much time and concentration it takes to stitch a design.I used to do sample stitching for a shop.She paid me very well.I told her in advance what I would accept as a minimum payment.Plus how long I would need.
Stitched for another shop and they paid me in hand dyed fabrics which suited me perfectly.
But stitching for friends or on commission is a nightmare,
People will happily pay $$$ per hour for someone to clean their house or mow their yard but they would not pay the same amount for some one to do a cross stitch because they don't deem it to be "real work"
I would be telling MIL that it is not possible to put a price on your stitching.