I have been hired to quilt 2 queen tops. Nothing fancy, just basic stitch in the ditch and then bind both. My dilema is that the lady who hired me is the mother in law of my sister in law so there is the family "thing". She doesn't expect me to cut my prices, but I know I will get a lot of repeat business from her and she will refer me to her quilting group so I want to give her a good deal. What would be a good price to charge her? I am thinking around $65 per quilt. Too much or not enough?? What does everyone else think or charge?

I think that's low. I don't know what a fair price would be, but you need to consider the time you will spend on finishing the quilts. Will you do hand sewn binding?

I will attach it by machine then finish it by hand.

That seems a little low to me, too.

sounds like that is a low price

Sounds low to me. The problem you will have is the repeat business will expect the low price to continue. If you get a ton of business and don't have time to do anything else, how much would you want to get for them? We change our mind quickly when it is a business instead of fun. When it becomes work, it becomes an issue of ...I won't do it for less than....

Good luck!

If you are going to do basic quilting, nothing fancy, go for something like a penny a square inch. The binding extra, so much per running inch. A friend does basic quilting for me for a penny an inch. I feel that is fair, and something I can afford. Good luck!

In my area that would be very low for SID and binding.

My prices start out at .015 per square in. and goes up from there and you have a low price to me...

I was charged for over all pattern machine quilting .04/inch
A queen size quilt is roughly 60x80 which is at least $192... I wouldn't charge less that $100

this might help too.
http://www.cascadequilting.net/sizechart.htm

If you want referrals, you may want to give her the 'family' price, but make it clear that others will be charged a good price (fair price) for a good job. Just ask her not to advertise your 'family price'.

Wow if you only charge $65 I will have to send my quilts to you! You are talking about machine quilting, right? If you are talking hand quilting, well, you are ridiculously low! I had a double quilt done by machine which was stitch in the ditch and she charged me $128. Now I do understand that on a frame, SID is supposedly more difficult.

Wow, I must be getting a steal of a deal, my long arm quilter is cheaper than that, but then again there are alot of long armers to choose from here and they have to compete with one another for work.. Mary is so articulate, and so much better than the one I use to go to which was almost twice as much as what Mary Charges me.. Mary only quilts my quilts, I do my own binding though..

But I agree with everyone.. Figure out your worth, time,materials and think about what you would think was fair if the tables were turned...

I agree. But yes, it sounds like $65 would be really low.

Double it at least! Think how many hours you will work! I don't care if it's family or not, it's time you might have used in making something else you would enjoy more (or making dinner! lol)

Don't sell yourself too cheap. $100. minimum to quilt it and and extra $35. for the binding at the very least.

i charge $20 to attach bindings regardless of size. the quilting part...are you doing this on a home machine or long-arm? have you wrestled many queen quilts through your machine? especially if doing this the (hard-way; home machine) i would think that $75-$90 would be reasonable for the quilting part...then add the binding amount. when i do any sewing for anyone (hemming, mending, what ever) i charge $20 an hour. for quilting it is based on the size of the quilt.

many years ago i had someone bind a quilt for me and she charged $25 so that means you are only getting $40 for many hours of hand quilting. Search the net for Amish quilters. I had a site but can't get to it now. To me $350 would be a but right.
Estimate the amount of time you will take and multiply by the minimum wage in your area as a start.
I agree with the previous post. If you charge that you will get a house full of quilts to do.
You need to do more research before giving a price and agreeing to do it.

I would charge by the inch/sq inch then all would know what your prices are. Don't short change yourself!!

In my area, binding costs almost as much as the quilting. Binding a quilt is charged by the inch just like the quilting.
Your prices are to low for what you plan to do.

I agree it's low, but it is a "relative". . Set a price per square inch - and let her know what a good discount she is getting. My quilter sews on the binding, but I hand sew it to the front. Sometimes I buy the batting, sometimes she uses hers from a big roll. Many of mine are quilted with an all over meandering design which she says is easy. A few are more intricately quilted and the price reflects that. Maybe you could make up printed cards with your prices and hand her a few with the quilts.

$65 for completed queen size hand quilted = low!

I suggest you establish a per/inch price for different types of quilting i.e. crosshatch, in the ditch, simple design, complex design etc. Ask other hand quilters what they charge as a guideline.
Also set a price for binding (future customers may choose to do their own) My quilter charges .15/inch
Then you will have a standard to follow & won't be in the same situation when the next person comes along.

Also offer a 'family' discount on total cost. 15-20% seems fair

In my area, it would cost about $90 for just the binding on a 90" square queen size quilt. The quilting would depend on the type, but that would probably be $160 and up here in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

IMHO-- There's family....and there's family. MIL of your SIL sounds pretty far to me. Everyone will be expecting those special prices. I would let it be known what your regular rate is and let them decide if they want it done. REmember this is your time, equipment, expertise, etc. Don't sell yourself short. Good luck.

you can tell her that you will do hers for a low price but not for anyone else that way she can tell that to other quilters. 65.00 is low

I would charge more. If this person tells people how much it cost, then they will ecpect the same price.

Maybe its just me...but there is no way I would ay 300.00 for a quilt...that is a car payment...though my cars are paid off...

my thought...It all depends on if its a job or a hobby. If you price low you will get more business...but if you get too much business it will seem like work and not a hobby. I am going to start doing it for free for raffles....so when I do walkathons I don't have to beg for money...I will use the raffle tickets. I also am donating to a animal thrift shop. all profit goes to the animals

How about setting an hourly rate? Tell them that, since you are just starting out with commission work, you will be using their projects to figure out a rate to charge in the future.

My quilter charges (for basic quilting design) .015 psi plus $13 (for a queen) for machine attaching the binding on front
Then I hand sew it to the back

I have altered clothes for years and sold various crafts and am a free lance Home Economist/Consultant- all work where I set my own prices.

This is my best advice- esp since this customer is NOT IMMEDIATE family, really she isn't. Charge more -think of what you would or have paid and charge at least that. I believe when you cheapen yourself and your skills you send a message to others and yourself that you are not worth it. Set a good price, a fair price but do not discount yourself. Tell the customer your price and make no apologies. If you are questioned, the answer is "frankly I am committed to great work and charge a price that makes me be able to devote the time and effort to give you the wonderful results you have a right to expect." IMHO It is better to lose those customers that want too low prices and get paid for the quality work you do.This family discount - and lets face it she is much removed- phooey- creates a bunch of extra layers. Are you going to keep doing more at a discount, even when it eats into your family, personal time?? Would she discount for you? How much are your lives entwined?

I also stress that I do not alter for just anyone- this is true- it weeds out bargain hunters that do not respect your skill and time and also creates a feeling of exclusivity. I only take referrals-keeps the payment problems down. This philosophy has worked for me- I can not handle all the work I am offered.

Do not cheapen or discount your talents! We women tend to do that, I believe because of the fact that so much of our life/family work we are not monetarily compensated or recognized for.

Now I relinquish my soap box to someone else...

I agree $65 is too low - I think my person charges .015 per sq inch for overall design.

Way to low in my way of thinking as well! Child that is alot of work!

not enough. Go to ebay or google your question. I have seen others charging as much as $.75 per inch. Adds up to much more.

Very, very well said!!

When you charge for your services its a job not a hobby so family or not you are entitled to a fair price , I think your to low. If you charge everyone the same it cannot come back to haunt you that you did Jane Does for less . Things do leak out and it could hurt your future business with others or hurt feelings. good luck!

I agree - this is not immediate family. I always try to figure just how "ticked off' I will be to do hours and hours of work and get paid a pittance. If I'm doing it mainly as a favor for family and the little bit of money makes them feel like they've paid - then OK. I've often told them DO NOT TELL ANYONE WHO DID THIS or I'll come and take it back! :) But if your sister-in-law's mother-in-law's best friend Marge is going to expect the same price, then be carefull about charging too little. Like $65 is.

We have places in east Tn that do over all pattern quilting starting at $50. includes batt and backing but if I do them myself I charge alot more. Moosegirl

AMEN!

How many hours is it going to take to do the job?? What do you charge by the hour to sew.

I think too low even at "family" price.