Pricing Stitched Items |
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--------------- From: Suzanne Pricing one's work can be tricky -- one method I have used is to price it out as so much per square inch, then add extra depending on the complexity of the detailing. That gives me a ballpark figure and then adjust a final price based on a gut feeling not very scientific. This has worked well in giving estimates when I have been asked to stitch large projects that someone wants to give as a gift. For me it doesn't pay to calculate it based on hours -- too depressing. I kept track of time once and figured I made about 10 cents per hour. Good I stitch for pleasure and not profit!
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From: Jetta L "The system I used was taught to me by a dear friend who manages The Cross Stitch Peddler in Decatur, Alabama.
It is:
Add on for supplying materials, extra thread used, if the piece is solid or requires specialty work or a lot of detail stitching. Maybe this gives you an idea for future reference."
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From: Tara Dewdney A friend of mine that has 20 years worth of needlepoint on her walls, and she had a special waiver put in her insurance. Do you know what value you have on stitched work? One cent per stitch.
Cameo's note: Please note, this is for insurance purposes, not necessarily for pricing pieces for sale.
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From: Brenda Lambert Another way to calculate cost on a stitched item is this:
As I remember it, she included her costs of materials into that -- but not the framing.
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From: Tony Meineck Thought you might like some input from a manufacturer in the U.K. We have some people who help us by test stitching our new designs. As a rule of thumb, the price agreed is equal to that of the price of the kit. So a £30.00 kit (retail) would generate a fee of £30.00. This is for kits though, and I think you are talking about working from a chart. My suggestion is this - how much would the chart cost as a kit? Fix the price at that! If no kit comparison is available, try chart cost x4. It's not a great amount of money, I know, but think of the fun you'll have stitching it!
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From: Leslie I can give you two quick formulas to figure out out how many hours it will take you to stitch the piece.
First one - Generally most people who do surface embroider figure on stitching 1 sq. inch per hour. In that case an 8" x 10" piece should take about 80 hours to do.
The only problem with this is counted cross stitch pieces. The same design done on 18 count will be smaller than on 14 count. You'll get paid less even though the design may actually be more difficult because you are working smaller. I prefer the second method
Second one - Multiply the number of stitches (height x width) together and divide the number by 200. That seems to be the average amount a stitcher can do in one hour. If the design looks difficult (i.e. lots of color changes, fractional stitches , etc.) divide by 150 or 100 instead. I like this method better as it takes into account the exact size of the pattern.
If your design is 128 x 160 it will take about 102 hours to complete. This will be closer if you have a lot of work to do on the pattern.
Once you have come up with a number of hours you can make a stab at a price per hour. This way you won't quote a $40.00 price on something that is going to tie you up for months. ( I did this once and regretted it immensely. I did the job for the price I said I would but I really felt cheated. And it was my own fault. LOL).
You are correct in saying you will never get what the project is worth. But at least you have a shot at a fair figure.
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