Let’s Talk About Pricing Your Work (and Why You’re Undervaluing It)

Hey Siri — play “Bitch Better Have My Money” by Rihanna

If you’ve ever sold a handmade quilt, tote bag, or patchwork jacket and thought, “Wait… did I just pay someone to own this?”—you’re not alone.

Pricing handmade work is hard—especially when you’re running a creative business. You want to honor your craft and make a profit, but you also don’t want to scare off customers. So you undercharge. Or you guess. Or you go down a rabbit hole of Etsy listings and still feel confused.

Let’s fix that.

In this post, we’re diving into how to price your handmade goods—whether you’re selling quilts, sewing projects, or anything else crafty—without undervaluing yourself (or your time).

Why Crafters Undervalue Their Work

1. You're comparing yourself to mass production.

You are not Target. Your quilt did not come off a conveyor belt. Your pricing shouldn’t reflect that.

2. You feel weird about “charging too much.”

Pricing guilt is real, especially in creative industries. But remember: this is your business model, not a hobby handout.

3. You just want to make a sale.

But what’s the point of making the sale if you’re barely breaking even? That’s not sustainable, and it’s not a business.

Craft Pricing 101: What to Include

This is where we tap into cost-based pricing, a simple formula used in product-based businesses. Let’s break it down:

✂️ 1. Materials / Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)

Add up everything that physically goes into your product:

• Fabric, batting, interfacing

• Thread, zippers, buttons

• Labels, tags, packaging

This is your Cost of Goods Sold. Keep a spreadsheet. Seriously. It adds up fast.

⏱ 2. Labor / Your Time

Track how long each project takes and assign an hourly rate for yourself. Not sure where to start? Try $20–$50/hour, depending on your experience and speed. (Yes, you’re worth that). If that feels like a lot, think about this: the average salary in the US sits at around $66k — which translates to around $31/hour.

This is your labor cost, and it should never be “bonus money”—it’s part of the core pricing structure.

🧾 3. Overhead

These are your indirect business expenses. They don’t go into the product, but they’re essential to making it happen:

• Electricity

• Sewing machine maintenance

• Studio rent or storage

• Website fees or Etsy listings

• Software, apps, and tools

A good rule of thumb? Add 10–20% on top of your base costs to cover overhead.

💰 4. Profit Margin

This is what keeps your business alive and lets you grow. It’s the difference between pricing for survival vs. pricing for sustainability.

Add 20–50% (or more) on top of your total cost to ensure you’re building in profit—not just paying for materials and time.

Simple Handmade Pricing Formula

(COGS + Labor + Overhead) x Profit Multiplier = Final Price

Let’s say:

• Materials: $40

• Labor: 10 hours x $25/hr = $250

• Overhead: $30

  Subtotal: $320

  Add 30% profit: $416

Final Price: $425–450, rounded for simplicity.

But Will People Pay That?

Short answer: Yes.

Slightly longer answer: Not everyone. And that’s okay.

Your handmade quilt or bag isn’t supposed to compete with factory-made goods. You're selling slow fashion, heirloom pieces, and creative originality. You're not for everyone. You're for people who value craft—and those people do exist.

This is part of building your ideal customer profile: focus on people who respect the value of what you do, and stop trying to please the ones who don’t.

The Business Case for Branding & Consistency

Here’s why your prices—and your brand—need to align.

In business, branding is the emotional and visual identity of your product. It’s the vibe people get when they visit your website, scroll your Instagram, or unbox a quilt.

If your brand is consistent, confident, and cohesive, customers are more likely to:

• Take you seriously

• Pay premium pricing

• Recommend you to others

Consistent pricing = confident brand. If your prices swing wildly or feel uncertain, customers will assume your work is less valuable—even if it’s amazing.

Think about it this way: every touchpoint (your labels, your social posts, your tone, your pricing) tells a story. Make it a good one.

The Verdict

You are a maker. You are a business. You deserve to be paid.

Stop apologizing for your prices.

Stop calling it “just a hobby.”

Stop working for free.

Your craft is valuable. Your time is valuable. Your business is real.

So go ahead—raise your prices. We’ll be cheering you on every step of the way.

Time to make some cool shit! ✂️💗

-Manon