Quiltonomics

I made a baby quilt for a friend's daughter recently. She wanted navy, orange and gray.  I think she saw something at Pottery Barn Kids so I am a little worried this might not meet her expectations but I hope she likes it anyway.  It is snuggly and soft.

I have made many, many baby quilts for gifts over the years and I have decided that the best ones are the ones I just make, without trying to follow too closely to what someone else wants or expects.  A couple of years ago I had planned to make a baby quilt for a girl at church.  I had fabric and a pattern and a plan.  Then she asked me to make her a quilt (before I got that one done) and specified what she wanted.  I went and bought different fabric, found a different pattern and made the quilt to her specifications.  It turned out fine, but I ended up making the other baby quilt (my original idea) for another girl and I thought it turned out way cuter!

 I read a fantastic article that is making its way around the internet called "Quiltonomics: The Real Cost of Quilts" by Jennifer Moore.  You can read the whole article here:
http://www.mooreapproved.com/2015/02/quiltonomics-the-real-cost-of-quilts/

In this article she talks about why most quilters do not sell their quilts.  She tells of a man, who goes by the moniker Molli Sparkles, who wrote an article about placing value on quilts.  "Making the simplest baby quilt he possibly could – when accounting for materials, labor, and a 10 percent profit margin (after all, most companies factor in profit!) – the value equaled $225 USD. This was an extremely basic quilt with simple blocks, no design fee (he usually factors in a design fee for the concept and color selection), and faster machine binding."

The article said that Suzy Williams of Suzy's Quilts sells handmade baby quilts starting at $200 going up to $325. Sara Lawson hit the nail on the head when she stated, “I think the general public just doesn’t realize what the cost of materials to make a quilt is, and they also have no idea how long it takes."
In a YouTube video with Marianne Fons of Fons & Porter fame called "So, Do You Sell Your Quilts" - Marianne Fons does not recommend that quilters sell their quilts.
And Jennifer Moore says it all with, "Speaking of making quilts – existing quilters love to see new quilters taking up the craft and encouraging them. Most I talked to would be happier teaching a friend to make their own quilt, rather than making and selling one themselves."
It's a very interesting article!  I encourage you to read it.