A lady asked me how much it cost to make her a purse of a well known style in cotton fabric of a particular design and colour. ÂŁ35 - I said. She said she thought that was a bit dear for a purse. I asked her how much she thought it would cost her to make one then. She thought about ÂŁ10 as you can get similar in Primarni for ÂŁ8 OK, so for ÂŁ10 do it yourself I said Her reply was - I donât know how to. I said for ÂŁ10 Iâll teach you how to. So besides saving you ÂŁ25 youâll get the knowledge if you ever want to make another. She seemed pleased and agreed. OK I said, youâll need a machine, cutting mat, rotary cutter, rivet press and the pattern. Oh wellâŠ.. I donât have many of things and I canât justify buying all that just to make one purse. Well then for another ÂŁ10 more Iâll lend you my stuff to you so you can do it at my house. Okay, she says. Great, I replied, come round on Tuesday afternoon and weâll make a start Oh, I canât come on Tuesday Iâm having my hair done! Sorry, but Iâm only available Tuesday to teach you and lend you my stuff. Other days are busy with other bags and purses. Bugger, that means Iâll have to miss my haircut. Oh, I forgot, I said, to make one yourself you also have to pay for the sundry costs. Now sheâs confused â what on earth are they?? Fabric search time, electric, wear and tear on the machine, blades for the cutter etc She looks at me and says â but thatâs ridiculous you can absorb all that cost as you are charging me to borrow your stuff. I could, I said, but Iâm not spending time looking for the fabric you need you can do that yourself â you need 3 fat quarters of fabric, buckram, woven interfacing, non woven interfacing, a lock, rivets and matching thread. So she then says - Iâve been thinking, I think Iâd rather pay you the ÂŁ35. Itâs too complicated to make one for myself, it wouldnât be as well made and it would cost me a hell of a lot more than ÂŁ35. When you pay for a hand crafted item, you pay not only for the material used, but also: - knowledge - experience - tools - services - time - enthusiasm Only by knowing all the elements necessary for the production of a certain item can you estimate the actual cost.
