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Deborah12687 10-06-2011 06:20 AM

This past sunday I gave my 3 year old Grandson his quilt for his Birthday. He really liked it but he had one problem all the little girls that were at the party wanted the quilt and they were fighting over it. I just used a panel of a teddy bear on a tracter and added a flannel boarder of blue and white blocks. As the day went on I was asked by 6 mothers to make quilts for there kids. What should I charge for the quilts?

chairjogger 10-06-2011 06:21 AM

fun ! we love pictures !! what a compliment ! kid approved is wonderful !

Julie in NM 10-06-2011 06:25 AM

If you want any retunr on you time...I suggest 4 times the cost of materials. Other quilters will give you suggestions, too. This way you will be paid for SOME of the time you're investing into the projects.

If you DON"T want to do the project(s), charge a crazy amount of money and just watch the jaws drop. That's what I do. If I don't want to do the quilt, I say I charge 10.00 and hour and there will be a minimum of 40 hours of work into the baby quilt.

PaperPrincess 10-06-2011 06:25 AM

Many folks say two to three times the cost of the materials. Be sure to include the thread. Then you can determine if your time is compensated.

How long did it take you to make? Do you want to work for $0.50/ hour?

dglvr 10-06-2011 06:35 AM

I think I know the panel your talking about. Blue Jean Bear?
#1piecemaker had some. Thats who I got mine from.
The same thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago. I made my mom and sister one of those bags that have the measuring tape in the top for opening and closing. Now I have 12 to make for them for Christmas. Thats why I'm on board now I'm procrastinating. My sister gave me a $50 gift certificate for JoAnns and my mom will take me shopping when she gets back from Arizona in the Spring. I thought that was a good trade.
As for the price to charge for the quilts I would say for the fabrics it would be about $30 then how ever much time you spend making them. Say 3 hours (I'm guessing on all this) so I'd say atleast $50 or $60. If they like them that much it would be worth it to them and you. Have fun :thumbup:

Glassquilt 10-06-2011 06:51 AM

Give the mothers a supply list with the fabric, thread & batting needed and list your labor as $$$ & approximate time. (Give yourself extra time for what ifs. Customer never complains if you deliver early.)

If they buy the supplies you know they are serious. Each of you can sign a copy of the supply list as a contract.

Another thing to consider is the boredom factor of making the very same quilt repeatedly. If you don't like to make the same thing over & over, can you change it enough to satisfy your creative muse and the mother's expectations.

Add to bottom of list any changes mom makes will cause a change in your labor charge.

blueangel 10-06-2011 07:12 AM

I agree with Glassquilt.

QuiltE 10-06-2011 07:15 AM

Good suggestions from the above posters!!
I recently was asked to do a project with ties by someone ... and said NO! Friends were with me and later shared they thought I should have accepted the offer. I said, no ... have never done ties before, and could only see problems with this guy and never being happy with what I did.

Do you really want the other kids to have one?
Wouldn't it be nice for your grandson to have something unique?

I much prefer to make things on my own ... and not be under the pressure to live up to expectations of others. If they like my work, great!!! And they can appreciate it all the more.

If you wanted to stall ..... tell them you are busy now, and if they contact you after Christmas you "might" consider it. That'll give some time to see if they are serious or not. Plus perhaps in the meantime you could make another and see what realistically the costs would be, plus what extra you would like add on to sell it at.

Raggiemom 10-06-2011 07:19 AM

Sounds like some really good suggestions here. Good luck if you decide to make them.

frarose 10-06-2011 08:01 AM

Good Luck.

RST 10-06-2011 08:09 AM

In your situation, I would find it much more fun and interesting to offer to teach those moms how to make the quilt. You could give them a list of all the supplies, tell them where to purchase,maybe you could offer to buy a quantity of batting or backing and pass the savings along to them. Offer to teach them (as a group) how to make a basic quilt. Give them two dates when you would be available, and if they are really interested, they will figure out how to do it. You may get some quilting buddies out of the deal. If there are steps that they don't feel up to (quilting or binding) you could offer to do those for an hourly rate that you specify in advance-- say $10/hour.

RST

Deborah12687 10-06-2011 08:48 AM

I just made the blue jean bear for my Grandson, I only had 1 of the panels. The other quilts I am free to do what I want just so the quilts are single bed size girly quilts and want warm and natural batting and simple quilting. I gave them all a call and asked them what they are willing to pay for the quilts and they all agreed to $100.00 per quilt.

QuiltE 10-06-2011 09:17 AM


Originally Posted by RST
In your situation, I would find it much more fun and interesting to offer to teach those moms how to make the quilt. You could give them a list of all the supplies, tell them where to purchase,maybe you could offer to buy a quantity of batting or backing and pass the savings along to them. Offer to teach them (as a group) how to make a basic quilt. Give them two dates when you would be available, and if they are really interested, they will figure out how to do it. You may get some quilting buddies out of the deal. If there are steps that they don't feel up to (quilting or binding) you could offer to do those for an hourly rate that you specify in advance-- say $10/hour.

RST

Sounds like a perfect solution .... plus the Moms can get an appreciation of the amount of work it takes to do the job! And best case scenario, they become quilters!

mim 10-06-2011 10:31 AM

I always charged $50 for a baby (playtime) quilt. No matter what the design was. Sometimes it was a panel which I handquilted the outline and embroidered the childs name.

loves_2_quilt 10-06-2011 12:41 PM


Originally Posted by Julie in NM

If you DON"T want to do the project(s), charge a crazy amount of money and just watch the jaws drop. That's what I do. If I don't want to do the quilt, I say I charge 10.00 and hour and there will be a minimum of 40 hours of work into the baby quilt.

I do this too!

K.P. 10-07-2011 03:50 AM

$10/square foot, this was a quote from a textile artist.

gigi10 10-07-2011 04:18 AM

I ran into this. I made a little purple quilt from my scraps for one of my gr daughters. She and her friend were having a problem because they both wanted it. My DIL told me about this as a funny story. I went to my scrap basket and made the 2nd one for the little one who didn't have one. When it was done I got the address and mailed it to her. Her gr parents don't quilt. I literally made the whole thing up, the pattern......and I agreed with myself that everything would have to come from my scrap basket.....The little girl and her Mom were very surprized and pleased. a couple of yrs ago I did this. Recently we were havind sprinkler problems and that is what her Daddy does. He drove from Houston, about an hour each way. He knows his business. It took him 2 days, so that was 4 x .....up and back. My DH promised him a specific amount just for coming . Daddy gave my DH the bill. even with the specific $ on top of it.......He cut the price. I just made the little quilt from a GIGI's heart. It came back to us. I don't think I could find 6 quilts in my scrap basket right now. I just used all of them to make a scrap quilt. If this is something you want to do from your heart, no $, then do it. IF THIS could get out of hand, be bigger than you want, more time than you want to give it.....say NO to all of it. If it is something you want to do, I agree with the supply list idea. Sometimes people get caught in the moment and after it cools, they aren't interested any more.

cdufur 10-07-2011 04:27 AM

Good idea!

Originally Posted by Glassquilt
Give the mothers a supply list with the fabric, thread & batting needed and list your labor as $$$ & approximate time. (Give yourself extra time for what ifs. Customer never complains if you deliver early.)

If they buy the supplies you know they are serious. Each of you can sign a copy of the supply list as a contract.

Another thing to consider is the boredom factor of making the very same quilt repeatedly. If you don't like to make the same thing over & over, can you change it enough to satisfy your creative muse and the mother's expectations.

Add to bottom of list any changes mom makes will cause a change in your labor charge.


Steady Stiching 10-07-2011 04:32 AM

Its been my experiance that everyone wants something handmade but few are willing to pay for what its really worth. "Ah she sewes what can i get out of her"
Be very careful with your pricing.
I had a distant family member HOUND me for a bag "just like your daughters", once I suggested charging her she shut up quick.

quiltmom04 10-07-2011 07:32 AM


Originally Posted by Deborah12687
This past sunday I gave my 3 year old Grandson his quilt for his Birthday. He really liked it but he had one problem all the little girls that were at the party wanted the quilt and they were fighting over it. I just used a panel of a teddy bear on a tracter and added a flannel boarder of blue and white blocks. As the day went on I was asked by 6 mothers to make quilts for there kids. What should I charge for the quilts?

Search on this board for the post about the actual cost of making a quilt. You'll be shocked! Here's MY 2 cents. Charge enough so that you won't begrudge the time if you really don't want to do them and don't know how to say no. Seriously, $200 would not be out of line for a child's size quilt. so if you'd be willing to make them for that price, and they are willing to pay it, go ahead. If you really want to make quilts out of the kindness of your heart ( which I don't!) do that. But don't let people take advantage of your good nature !

annthreecats 10-07-2011 07:35 AM

One more tip, don't hand over the quilt until you see whatever money you are charging for materials and/or time. Lots of sad stories on the board about folks who make things for other people and never get paid. Be careful.

quiltingfan 10-07-2011 09:26 AM

I bet that out of all 6 of them that want one, once you give them a price they wont have you make them. I always tell people, that if they buy the material I will make it. Not one person has bought the material for me to make them a quilt. Which honestly I would love to do. One guy wanted a King size, I told him with material and time the minimum would be 600.00 his jaw dropped and he did not say another word. But I do love to give my quilts away. I am usually inspired to give a certain person a certain quilt.

mucky 10-07-2011 02:22 PM

If you want to do it charge at least double the cost of materials and if you don't charge 4 times the cost of materials.

joyful1 10-07-2011 05:32 PM


Originally Posted by Deborah12687
I just made the blue jean bear for my Grandson, I only had 1 of the panels. The other quilts I am free to do what I want just so the quilts are single bed size girly quilts and want warm and natural batting and simple quilting. I gave them all a call and asked them what they are willing to pay for the quilts and they all agreed to $100.00 per quilt.

Maybe it would be a good idea to ask for a deposit, that way you have the funds to buy the supplies that you need and also know they are serious about it. :)

LivelyLady 10-07-2011 05:53 PM


Originally Posted by Glassquilt
Give the mothers a supply list with the fabric, thread & batting needed and list your labor as $$$ & approximate time. (Give yourself extra time for what ifs. Customer never complains if you deliver early.)

If they buy the supplies you know they are serious. Each of you can sign a copy of the supply list as a contract.

Another thing to consider is the boredom factor of making the very same quilt repeatedly. If you don't like to make the same thing over & over, can you change it enough to satisfy your creative muse and the mother's expectations.

Add to bottom of list any changes mom makes will cause a change in your labor charge.

Great advice!

julybaby8 10-07-2011 06:20 PM


Originally Posted by Deborah12687
I just made the blue jean bear for my Grandson, I only had 1 of the panels. The other quilts I am free to do what I want just so the quilts are single bed size girly quilts and want warm and natural batting and simple quilting. I gave them all a call and asked them what they are willing to pay for the quilts and they all agreed to $100.00 per quilt.

Sounds fair. You should get a deposit if you are purchasing the material. My church quilt group got stung when we had a lady order a quilt. The material was bought in the colours she wanted ,then when it was finished being quilted she said that she didn't want it. We did end up selling it.

dublb 10-07-2011 06:27 PM


Originally Posted by RST
In your situation, I would find it much more fun and interesting to offer to teach those moms how to make the quilt. You could give them a list of all the supplies, tell them where to purchase,maybe you could offer to buy a quantity of batting or backing and pass the savings along to them. Offer to teach them (as a group) how to make a basic quilt. Give them two dates when you would be available, and if they are really interested, they will figure out how to do it. You may get some quilting buddies out of the deal. If there are steps that they don't feel up to (quilting or binding) you could offer to do those for an hourly rate that you specify in advance-- say $10/hour.


I like this idea the most!

RST


Halo 10-07-2011 08:41 PM

I am working on a 4 generation family photo quilt for a lady that lives over 100 miles from me. She saw one I done for someone else & called me about it. I didn't give her a specific dollar amount, but tried to do my best of approximate the cost when she ordered it. I just told her that it would be twice the amount I spent on all supplies & would do my best to get the best prices for the supplies. Anyway, when she sent me the photos for the quilt, she also sent me over half of what I thought it would cost for a deposit. Also told her it would also depend on how many photos she wanted on it. She didn't care what it would cost & sent 45 photos.

jitkaau 10-08-2011 02:55 AM


Originally Posted by Deborah12687
I just made the blue jean bear for my Grandson, I only had 1 of the panels. The other quilts I am free to do what I want just so the quilts are single bed size girly quilts and want warm and natural batting and simple quilting. I gave them all a call and asked them what they are willing to pay for the quilts and they all agreed to $100.00 per quilt.

I would be inclined to ask for a deposit on each quilt as well = it keeps them honest and interested and you are not stuck with 3-5 quilts to get rid of.

G'ma Kay 10-09-2011 03:38 AM

Quilting is my hobby. I love it. If it becomes a "job", would I love it as much?


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