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I don’t mind giving masks away. I don’t mind sewing them. I find it relaxing and sew a variety of patterns so I don’t get bored. I will sew up several at one time. I have sewn tons of them! I have donated many masks to those in need.


People tell me that they like my choice of fabrics and the fact that I use comfortable elastic that is adjustable as well. I found a soft gadget to attach to the elastic for that and it works well.


I never use cheap thread that breaks. I buy expensive thread. I have a high quality sewing machine that sews well.


Some people are insisting that I take money for my material and labor. I bought lots of stuff online to keep myself busy during earlier days when we were staying home more.


These people are not my friends that want to pay me. It’s acquaintances of people that I know or their family members. Or it’s people in the community. It has also become a word of mouth kind of thing.


People have started calling me the ‘mask’ lady! Hahaha Hey, if it keeps people wearing a mask I am happy!


Let me give an example. I went to get my hair cut. My stylist loved my mask and asked me where I bought it. I told her that I made it and that I would give one to her. She was thrilled.


The next day when I delivered the mask she told me that she wanted 12 more for family and neighbors but does not expect me to give them away for free.


I ate at a restaurant and just about the entire staff wanted one, including the manager. Everyone has to wear mask!


The people at my local coffee shop asked about purchasing some. I don’t know how to handle this. Is it wrong to sell a mask in a public business?


I get approached by women to buy jewelry that I make and the owner of the shop where I buy supplies said it’s legal as long as it doesn’t exceed a certain dollar amount. He said it holds true for any items that people make and are sold occasionally. I have sold several pieces of jewelry.


I looked on Etsy. There is a wide range of prices for masks.


The price to make them depends on the fabric. Retailers have jacked up NFL fabric! So those masks cost about $8 - $10 to make. The other fabrics are more reasonably priced and the masks cost $2 - $4 to make. That includes shipping costs for the materials.


I use quality fabric in all kinds of prints. I make holiday designs for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have made some that are reversible so it’s two designs in one! I do some patterns that are unisex, and some feminine designs for divas!


I make children’s masks in juvenile prints. I make styles for all age groups and taste. I make neutral mask for office attire. I make a style to fit over nurses masks and so on.


I have never sold on Etsy. I am thinking about that too. I suppose I could do an instagram account or Facebook page.


Thoughts?

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In my area they are selling for about $8.00 on Facebook.
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Thanks. I appreciate the feedback.
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My hairdresser was making masks for $10 apiece; they had a filter which came out before washing. I was happy to pay her $10 (ordered 4) but she used very thin elastic which broke the first time DH wore his.

On eBay, where I'm a seller, they've sold for all sorts of prices, all 72K of them:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=cloth+face+mask&_sacat=0&_sop=15&rt=nc&LH_Sold=1&LH_Complete=1

You should just take orders locally & sell them for $10 each or thereabouts, that's what I'd do! The aggravation of online selling, and the competition factor, just isn't worth the hassle.
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NeedHelpWithMom Oct 2020
Thanks. I guess online could be a pain.

I have noticed that all mask sellers have a no return policy! I would too.

I wonder if your stylist fried the elastic with an iron and it weakened it. Elastic can be ironed. If she hit it with the iron by accident it will be destroyed.

I pay for quality material. I am not going to put effort into something only to have it break because of an inferior product.
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It sounds like it would be quite a little business for you, NHWM. I purchased 4 high quality masks for $20. My home town drug stores sells one for $8. I love the adjustable elastic idea. Good luck.
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Nothing wrong with adjusting the price based on what they cost you to make.. if they want the pricier fabric, then $10,, less for the cheaper ones. The going rate here for basic ones is about $5. But remember it takes your time also!
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NeedHelpWithMom Oct 2020
Thanks, Pam.

If someone would have told me that I would be sewing up mask a year ago I would have thought they were nuts! LOL
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I see masks from $5 to $35 in my community.

Remember to factor in your time, electricity, wear and tear as well as your supply costs. Even if you already have fabric on hand, you spent money on it when you bought it.
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NeedHelpWithMom Oct 2020
Thanks. I appreciate your input.
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NHWM, have you bought fabric in bulk? You can do that on Joanne's website and save LOTS of moolah. I looked into sewing and selling masks that I would make. Bought expensive thread, 1/8" elastic (happened to have some) and a couple yards of fabric from a local quilting store (one was a pony express print). All were reversible. Decided I just did not have the time or energy for the endeavor. I have a great machine too about 35 years old, a Pfaff. Funny, I learned to sew when in 5th grade from mom, a home economics teacher, on her probably 30 year old Pfaff which she eventually swapped for a Bernina.

Even the liquor store here has a drawer full of masks to sell.
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I have bought at the best prices on several websites. Yeah, some places are trying to gouge shoppers and take advantage! I have been sewing since I was 12. My mom is an expert seamstress and I know quality fabric and which brands and types of fabric that I prefer.

You are absolutely right. It pays to compare which places to shop at. I look for sales too. Of course, I take advantage of free shipping when I can get it and coupons.

Years ago I went to New York and decided to go to a fabric shop there. Oh my gosh, Glad. I was in heaven! We have nothing like that in New Orleans. I can't imagine anyone not being able to find you can't find something in NY. I fell in love with New York. I adore the museums, the shopping, the food, the theatre, Central Park, the hotels, the entertaining taxi drivers, and so much more!

It makes sense that the fabric shops are so incredible in NY. They have incredible fashion and designers. We are podunk compared to them.
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I have been to New York a couple of times, but not a fabric store. They have great bars and restaurants too. That was a previous life.

Two fabric store options here... The quilting shop and Wally World.

🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐏🐏🐏🐏🐏🐏🐏🐏
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NeedHelpWithMom Oct 2020
hahaha, Glad. I see the sheep. I am going to bed as soon I finish typing. Goodnight.
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make them because you want to. give them to people you like.
anything other than that.. ask your cpa.
some areas if you are "selling" may ask for business license et. ask cpa.

there is no reason you cannot accept for the cost of the goods you are using.
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NeedHelpWithMom Oct 2020
Mayday,
I agree.
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Glad,

Yeah. the bars and restaurants are fantastic in NY.

Well, many years ago I managed a small independently owned craft store. I had a great boss. I loved making the window and store displays. I also taught the classes. The owner was very good to me. He told me that whatever I made I could triple or quadruple the price and keep the profit. He loved that I sold merchandise and kept making new displays. I paid for the materials so he wasn't losing out. I made the profit on whatever I sold.

But I don't think people would pay that for a mask. So I wanted to get a feeling for what people felt was fair. I would like at least double since I am making quite a lot of masks. The NFL ones are extremely popular as well as the university designs. This is Tiger country! Die Hard LSU fans!

I have orders for holiday masks. I think it's funny that people love the Halloween ones and have asked me for Christmas designs. I already have Christmas fabric from other projects that I have done.

What will we do with all of our masks after Covid? LOL
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MAYDAY Oct 2020
QUILTS !! :)

and the flip of a second turn of events of covid comes around again. separate the squares and sell them as masks... They will already be done and ready to go.
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went on a walk the other day, passed a couple, the woman was wearing a HUGE PINK MASK WITH THE WORD: TRUMP::
no thank you. the disposable blue ones work just fine and not controversial.

i have a friend who makes her own.. they look like her curtains.
they those look like her old bed sheets.

This reminds me of : THE SOUND OF MUSIC : THE ORIGINAL ONE :)
Julie Andrews that is a good movie. I think I will watch it again this weekend.
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NeedHelpWithMom Oct 2020
Mayday,

That is so funny! hahaha

I love Sound of Music! Of course, I had to learn every song from it in Chorus at my Catholic school! I had a nun that would rock out on the piano. She had us singing harmonies that were fantastic! I loved chorus.

I still watch Sound of Music too. I am a huge Julie Andrews fan!
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$5.00 is what we paid.
Would pay $10-$12 for a Christmas themed mask.
The face of rudolph with a red nose, or the green Grinch.
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Here in Italy they cost from 6 to 20 dollars. I think it's normal if you ask more for the more precious fabrics and difficult patterns. I have sewn one this morning for the daughter of the friend who offered me last Galbraith's book. She plays the piano and I found a nice fabric with musical notes.
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If you are looking to make a profit then figure the cost of the materials and add a $1 or $2 to the cost.
If you are looking just to purchase more fabric and supplies then figure the average cost and charge that.
If someone wants to give you more then accept the extra and use it to buy a real nice fabric or use the excess to make a mask and donate it.
Might even want to look into making some with clear panels so that more of the face can be seen. Much easier for people with dementia or people that are lip reading to communicate. And teachers would probably like clear masks so that young children can see the shape of the lips when words and sounds are made
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