How much can I expect to pay for a hand knitted jumper?

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, one of the mums at my daughters school has agreed to make a Katie Morag jumper for my daughter in an age 13. (She's very tall!)
I have jumped at the chance, but I'm wondering how much it'll cost, and if she asks me, I'd have no idea. Could someone give me a clue please.

I should think anything from twenty quid to fifty depending on her! Ask her...say "How much will it be for materials and time?" and then if it's too much you can back out.

It depends on the wool she uses - some wools can be hugely expensive. Some people just love to knit and will do these things willingly, if you pay for materials.

You need to ask in advance though, because she might buy really expensive wool.

Thank you. I was thinking it would be £50+ so it should be o.k. I'll ask her as well.

Depends what she charges for....

AwfulMaureen- HAHAHAHAHA

Yarn of a decent quality at least £20 and more like £30 plus. Less for crappy acrylic.

If she charges for her time you probably couldn't afford it. I'm a good knitter and a 32 inch chest sweater would take me all my knitting time for 2-3 weeks... thats 2-3hrs a night x21 maybe . LOL

Let her choose the yarn and you pay for that, and then ask her what she wants for the knitting up.If I wanted to knit something for someone and I was allowed to choose the yarn (I wouldn't let you choose the yarn if you didn't knit- it'd either not work for the garment or be horrid to work with!) . If I have lovely yarn to work with then the " rate" I've been paid is the same as the yarn eg I've knitted display socks for a shop in really lovely expensive yarn, and been given the same amount of the same yarn in payment.

Theas no need for your rudeness. I have paid very little for things because friends have knitted them....I assumed this was a similar situation. No need for the ostentatious HAHAHAHAH crap. Nobody likes a smart arse.

I'd do it for the cost of the yarn. To give you an idea though the yarn I used to nark my mum's Christmas present cost £60.

Thanks everyone. I didn't get Theas comment. I thought I must be missing something.
It could end up costing quite a lot then as she's not a close friend of mine, I just asked on facebook if anyone knew of anyone and she said "yes me!" I'll ask her and see what she says.

I made a decision a few years ago not to charge for my time any more, because nobody would be able to afford it. I do very lovely Shetland (Fair Isle) jumpers and to simply buy the wool for a normal adult jumper would be about £50.
So if someone asked me to do one I would say I'd gladly do it, because I know what the wool I want to use for it is. I agree with Theas that working with crappy acrylic is a pain. I once asked my ddil whether she would like a garment for her birthday and she said she would like a long line black cardigan, but she was allergic to wool. I do still love her very much and she is tiny, but I wouldn't do it for a stranger.
So, yes ask her and if she says she will do it for the price of the yarn, then just give her a lovely present as a thank you.
The nicest I got was a huge box of daffodils from the Scilly Isles in return for and appletree blanket for someone here on MN

I'd suggest anything hand made of wool would be at least £50 more likely double if you are counting in time.

the rule of thumb I've heard is double the price of yarn for a simple item and 2 1/2 to 3 times for some thing complex.

I have jumpers in my wardrobe that have £70 or £80 worth of wool in them.

I have a beret I made several years ago that has more the £20 worth of wool in it. granted it only took 3 hours to knit as it has some multi stranding colour work. But is i was to sell it I'd have to charge between £30- £40.

I think Thea is alluding to the issue that lots of knitters come across which is people assume you knit something because its cheap. Knitting a jumper takes hours and hours of skilled labour so an estimate of £20 is really undervaluing the skill involved.

This is a tricky one. Knitting is very skilled, and if it's a time-consuming, complicated pattern the working hours could run into dozens.

Skilled work is not minimum wage work. Hopefully she will do it for the love of knitting and charge you a token fee, but people should really think things like this through before they ask favours like this. Would you want to take on a commitment providing hours and hours of very skilled and laborious work for 20-50 quid? When you could be knitting something lovely for yourself? I know I wouldn't.

Dn't be too hard on the OP. At least she has thought about it and asked for advice in how NOT to take the knitting friend for granted.

Just to give you an idea of retail costs, a pair of peerie flooers mittens retail at about 45 quid.

NO, I'm certainly not going to take her for granted. I know how skilled it is, as my mum used to knit before she developed arthritis in her thumbs. I'm quite willing to pay what ever she asks. I thought £50 sounded very cheep to be honest. That's why I asked, just in case she asks me how much I'd want to pay and I didn't have a clue. I didn't want it to be awkward.
It will be something she'll treasure forever, I hope!