Discussions

I am wondering how people who make crafts/purses/bags etc to sell at craft sales etc, come up with how much to charge? I would like to support local but sometimes the items seem very expensive.

Come on down to the Southview Flea Market Sunday from 10 to 4 at the old duck barns south of town. Lots of items available including what you are looking for! Last day of the year, lots of stuff 50% off!

My mom doesn't make purses but she used to make baby blankets to sell. I've made some blankets too using her pattern, so I have a good idea of the costs.  
 
For the extra-large, double-thick receiving blankets, if you really watch for deals you can get the fabric for about $15 dollars for the amount you need. Usually it's closer to $20 to get the good quality flannel that doesn't pill like crazy. Sometimes you need a bit more, depending on the amount of your waste. You also have your notions, such as thread, which is a relatively small cost, maybe a buck if you have really good thread.  
 
Then, you have to prep the fabric by laundering it (cost of running the machines and detergent), ironing it (time) and trimming selvages etc. Then you measure and cut, align and pin. Then you sew, turn, and top sew. The whole process you can do (less the time in the laundry) in 1-2 hours depending on how meticulous and skilled you are (I am not). A really skilled seamstress can maybe do it in 30-45 minutes.  
 
But assuming it takes an hour, and I pay myself $5 for that hour's work, a single flannel receiving blanket costs at least $20-25.  
 
I can't even imagine to guess what cost of materials and notions goes into a purse, or the time spent cutting and sewing. If you made a lot of them you'd get proficient, but it's still labour intensive.  
 
Hopefully that helps puts things in perspective. My mom ultimately quit making blankets to sell because people would complain about the price, even through in the end she was basically just charging for materials just to get rid of them.  
 
edit: I neglected to add the time spent actually shopping for fabrics. Searching, coordinating patterns, etc. That takes more time than you'd think. I know quilters that will spend HOURS picking fabric. My mom usually was good in the fabric store for at hour or two if she had lots of fabric to pick. You can get fabric online too, but it still takes time to source and order it.  
 
Edited by Abbysmum, 2019-09-07 23:46:11

Abbysmum you are so right. I quilt, but not to sell. I have made a number of bags, a make up kit, and one purse - again not to sell. For purses and bags, in addition to good quality cotton fabric, you also need batting, stabilizer, interfacing, zippers, lining, and hardware such as D-rings, swivel rings, clasps, buttons, buckles, etc. I sprayed my purse and the make up kit with Scotchguard as well. You will likely have made at least one 'prototype' in order to work out any kinks and be sure you can make a quality bag to sell. The time involved in making a purse or bag is much more than you would think.

If it’s a sewn bag, the cost of materials may be around $15 but then the person may take two hours cutting and sewing. What’s the minimum hourly wage right now?? So it’ll already cost over $20 just for their time, but surely you don’t want to stiff them on the materials otherwise they will be making nearly zero profit.  
If you want to support local that’s great. Supporting handmade is a completely different thing. It does cost for quality.

Too many people do not know the true cost of things.  
 
If you are buying handmade expect to pay more.

That’s why I’m asking!

I love to sew... one of my latest projects is travel pillows that have a pocket and handle. But after all the materials and time I wonder if asking $20 too much...

The biggest problem today is handcraft artisans comparing their prices to Walmart. You can never ever be close to their price.