Personally I wouldn't even consider selling a queen size quilt for less than $1000.00 and probably more like $1300.00 to $1500.00 My time is worth something. If I'm spending my time on something for somebody else instead of my own stuff then they can pay for that time just like they would for the guy that comes and remodels their kitchen. It's a craft and a skill and that time is worth something. And even at that price they're still paying way less than minimum wage. If they want cheap there's plenty of stores to buy "bed in a bag" sets at.

I personally would not make a queen sized quilt for anyone for only $350. Granted, I quilt professionally and need to make a living at this. But even if you're just doing it for 'pin money', you should consider your time and talent to be worth something - after all, if it didn't take any talent/experience, the person could make their own quilt. So you have a marketable skill that not everyone has - charge for it!

Most people do not have any idea of the cost and time that go into making a quilt. So when I get that question from people, I tell them I'd be happy to make them a quilt, but just so they understand, the cost for a queen would be between $800 and $1500, depending on which materials they choose, the complexity of the piecing pattern, and how much quilting there is. I can tell by the way their eyes bug out of their head :shock: that they didn't have a clue. (Oh, and they expect I could have it done by next week, too! :rolleyes: ) At this point, most of them go buy a Bed-in-a-Bag at their local discount store :D !

Andi

I was just recently told that the going rate is $25 per linear foot.

How would you determine linear foot? Hmm, maybe it's by the square foot? A queen quilt, 90" x 108" = 67.5 sq. ft. at the $25 rate it would come to $1687.50. Now for that price I would consider doing it ;)

When I began making commissioned quilts, many years ago, I charged $15/sq foot and that's what I still charge.

AndiR, that's correct!

I am primarily a handquilter for hire. My business has not done well since the advent of the longarmers. If I were to make a quilt for a customer from scratch they would have to select and purchase the fabric, backing, batting and even the thread. Then I would charge them double what that cost for to make the top and then quilt the quilt by hand.
Right now I am handquilting a quilt for a lady that made a quilt from fabrics that were her mother's. She did about 1/4 of the quilting, much of it I have had to remove. I don't know what she used for batting and she didn't baste it. She also just turned the front borders to the back and whip stitched them down without turning under the edge. I offered to undo that part and bind it properly but she is not interested. It is a little over double bed size and I told her at least $250. She had no problem especially when I told her I could have it done by July. I figured out that the Merceds parked in the yard must be hers as she was meeting me at her sister's farm. All the other vechiles in the yard were pickup trucks. I'll report back when I finish and she sees the result.

I'm painfully slow to begin with,and end up in pain after just a couple hours in front of a machine. So, my quilts are generally ultra simple patterns, often ones I adjust to suit my sewing style. As I read this post, it came to me that setting some sort of price per piece of fabric in a quilt might be a way to start estimating the cost. Of course, actual cost of the fabrics, batting, backing, thread and such would have to be part of the cost.

Since each seam in each joined piece of cloth takes time and effort, maybe that is way to start a cost estimate.

IMO, you are giving away a quilt at $300.

I had an acquaintance who wanted me to make a double wedding ring in a ++ king-size: when I told him how much ($1200 +), he decided that he really didn't want one...had I made it for that, I would still have not been doing myself right...people still want the best for (next to) nothing!