If you sew, please come in!
Pelusa214
member
DD #2 is coming in a few weeks, and our glider (which was the floor model when we bought it for DD#1) cushions are looking stained & skanky. I tried to find replacement cushions, but the glider has been discontinued. Paying an upholstery place to re-do them was going to cost more than buying a new glider, so I decided to buy the fabric & try to re-cover them myself.
Well, I can barely sew a button back on, so it wasn't long before I realized I needed help. Thankfully, SIL's mother offered to do it for me. She has like 4 sewing machines and makes things for people all the time. She even made herself a ball gown! Anyway, I don't imagine it's a terribly complicated job for her to do, but I would like to give her something for her time. I feel like giving her cash would be awkward, so I was thinking about a gift certificate either to the supermarket she shops at, or to a local fabric store, along with maybe a lottery ticket or two.
Does anyone have an idea of what would be approriate, and how much would be appropriate. I spent about $30-$35 on the fabric & velcro for the straps. We're re-using the cushions, and I took off the old covers so she could use them as a pattern. Any suggestions would be appreciated :-)
Thanks!
Re: If you sew, please come in!
I think the gift card idea is great. I've done cushion cover and that sort of thing before, and they're not difficult, but I feel like gestures of appreciation are always a good thing. You could also consider a gift card to a restaurant that she likes.
As for how much, I feel like there are a few options. You could A) gift her the "retail value" of her work (approx. 200% of the cost of materials), or
whatever would be a reasonable amount for her to use the card for a purchase without having to put forth much if any of her own money in addition to it.
I had a very similar thing done by a woman who reupholsters from her home. She charged me $30, I think, which I felt was a STEAL. I would give your SIL a gift certificate of at least that amount. I like the idea of to a fabric store. Otherwise, to somewhere she might not splurge to, but would enjoy. Like dinner out?
(sidenote: I really don't like massages or manis/pedis so I don't like when people assume that's what I would want.)