Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Main
question for LA quilters and their customers >

question for LA quilters and their customers

question for LA quilters and their customers

Old 08-01-2011, 01:56 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Bottle Blonde's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 475
Default

I have been doing research about LA service prices. I am finding the majority of LA quilters charge by the inch, and this amount is subject to how dense the quilt is to be stitched. Such as .01 for open meander, .02 for medium, .03 for dense, .04 for custom designs, so forth and so on. Then there are extra charges such as $10 to seam the backing, $10 to square the quilt top, $30 to add borders, $8 to press the quilt top....(these are just rough amounts, I'm not quoting any professionals pricing here)

Well, it all gets a little confusing, so this is my question. Do any LA quilters -- that you know of -- charge a flat hourly rate? If not, why not? If you are a quilter that hires LA service, would you rather pay an hourly rate? If so, why? if not, why not?

Very few LA quilters charge a flat rate according to the size of the quilt. Is it unwise to charge ---- say $50 to LA quilt a crib size?

I have come across a few LA machine owners that rent time on their machines. Do any of you do that? Is it profitable?

Thanks for your help, I appreciate your comments. :)
Bottle Blonde is offline  
Old 08-01-2011, 02:05 PM
  #2  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
Default

I have read that some LA quilters do charge by the hour, but, I've never met one!
I don't really find the 'caffeteria' style charges a problem. If anything, it encourages the person bringing the top to do as much of the work up front to avoid additional charges. For instance, it's my opinion that you should square up and thoroughly press the top before dropping it off.
I'll be curious to see other's opinions.
As far as renting out the machine, it's an expensive item and i wouldn't want just anyone using it. Also, there are liability issues.
PaperPrincess is offline  
Old 08-01-2011, 02:12 PM
  #3  
Banned
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ephrata, WA
Posts: 8,802
Default

Originally Posted by Bottle Blonde
I have been doing research about LA service prices. I am finding the majority of LA quilters charge by the inch, and this amount is subject to how dense the quilt is to be stitched. Such as .01 for open meander, .02 for medium, .03 for dense, .04 for custom designs, so forth and so on. Then there are extra charges such as $10 to seam the backing, $10 to square the quilt top, $30 to add borders, $8 to press the quilt top....(these are just rough amounts, I'm not quoting any professionals pricing here)

Well, it all gets a little confusing, so this is my question. Do any LA quilters -- that you know of -- charge a flat hourly rate? If not, why not? If you are a quilter that hires LA service, would you rather pay an hourly rate? If so, why? if not, why not?

Very few LA quilters charge a flat rate according to the size of the quilt. Is it unwise to charge ---- say $50 to LA quilt a crib size?

I have come across a few LA machine owners that rent time on their machines. Do any of you do that? Is it profitable?

Thanks for your help, I appreciate your comments. :)
HI,
I may be able to help you on some of your questions. I am a LAQ. I think as far as charging an hourly rate....in most cases it is fair to the customer to charge by the size of the quilt...rather than hourly because every quilter works at their own pace. Some quilt slow...some quilt fast.
It is the same for renting a long arm...I just bought my second machine...I will rent it out to quilters...I would rather charge by the size of the quilt and just give the person however much time they need (within reason)..so they aren't racing to get their quilt done...I want them to feel happy with their own results and enjoy the process. Some may quilt fast...some others may not.

I think some quilters actually do charge a flat rate...for certain sizes...but it is usually for a specific type of quilting...like pantograph quilting or E2E ...that sort of thing.

I hope that helps.
C

I forgot to say...I don't think renting out time on my machine will be profitable....maybe I am wrong. I mean I would have to rent lots of time out on it and you have to take the time to help load it...thread at and roll the quilt. I am hoping to rent it out to people who will not need me as much...but in the beginning there will be a few. So I guess what I am saying is I am not experienced enough to know if that is really all that profitable...but I haven't herd that it is.
charismah is offline  
Old 08-01-2011, 02:43 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Halls Cross Roads, TN
Posts: 987
Default

Locally we have 2 shops that I visit. One charges .01 a square inch and the other one .015 a sq. inch. Dizzy Divas is who I use, so the quilt I need done is 60" x 60" and will be $36.00. They will quilt whatever you want. I guess one might be more if you want to go really fancy, but I don't know for sure.
noahscats7 is offline  
Old 08-01-2011, 02:54 PM
  #5  
Super Member
 
AliKat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,943
Default

I was with a group of LA'er taking LA classes and this was an interesting topic.

Personally it makes more sense to me. After you get enough practice you can generally know a ball park figure.

For example:
-set up time
- guestimate of quilting time
- take down time
- an other time spent such as ironing or sewing backing

ali
AliKat is offline  
Old 08-01-2011, 02:57 PM
  #6  
Super Member
 
AliKat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,943
Default

Originally Posted by charismah
Originally Posted by Bottle Blonde
I have been doing research about LA service prices. I am finding the majority of LA quilters charge by the inch, and this amount is subject to how dense the quilt is to be stitched. Such as .01 for open meander, .02 for medium, .03 for dense, .04 for custom designs, so forth and so on. Then there are extra charges such as $10 to seam the backing, $10 to square the quilt top, $30 to add borders, $8 to press the quilt top....(these are just rough amounts, I'm not quoting any professionals pricing here)

Well, it all gets a little confusing, so this is my question. Do any LA quilters -- that you know of -- charge a flat hourly rate? If not, why not? If you are a quilter that hires LA service, would you rather pay an hourly rate? If so, why? if not, why not?

Very few LA quilters charge a flat rate according to the size of the quilt. Is it unwise to charge ---- say $50 to LA quilt a crib size?

I have come across a few LA machine owners that rent time on their machines. Do any of you do that? Is it profitable?

Thanks for your help, I appreciate your comments. :)
HI,
I may be able to help you on some of your questions. I am a LAQ. I think as far as charging an hourly rate....in most cases it is fair to the customer to charge by the size of the quilt...rather than hourly because every quilter works at their own pace. Some quilt slow...some quilt fast.
It is the same for renting a long arm...I just bought my second machine...I will rent it out to quilters...I would rather charge by the size of the quilt and just give the person however much time they need (within reason)..so they aren't racing to get their quilt done...I want them to feel happy with their own results and enjoy the process. Some may quilt fast...some others may not.

I think some quilters actually do charge a flat rate...for certain sizes...but it is usually for a specific type of quilting...like pantograph quilting or E2E ...that sort of thing.

I hope that helps.
C

I forgot to say...I don't think renting out time on my machine will be profitable....maybe I am wrong. I mean I would have to rent lots of time out on it and you have to take the time to help load it...thread at and roll the quilt. I am hoping to rent it out to people who will not need me as much...but in the beginning there will be a few. So I guess what I am saying is I am not experienced enough to know if that is really all that profitable...but I haven't herd that it is.
Down here the shops that do rent out machines charge a fee for a one time [more if needed] class on operation of the machine. Then after that it is the hourly, 1/2 day, or day rate. There are some LA'ers who do use it for whole days too.

Maybe you could charge that learning fee also.

ali
AliKat is offline  
Old 08-01-2011, 03:08 PM
  #7  
Super Member
 
MellieKQuilter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1,199
Default

Originally Posted by charismah
Originally Posted by Bottle Blonde
I have been doing research about LA service prices. I am finding the majority of LA quilters charge by the inch, and this amount is subject to how dense the quilt is to be stitched. Such as .01 for open meander, .02 for medium, .03 for dense, .04 for custom designs, so forth and so on. Then there are extra charges such as $10 to seam the backing, $10 to square the quilt top, $30 to add borders, $8 to press the quilt top....(these are just rough amounts, I'm not quoting any professionals pricing here)

Well, it all gets a little confusing, so this is my question. Do any LA quilters -- that you know of -- charge a flat hourly rate? If not, why not? If you are a quilter that hires LA service, would you rather pay an hourly rate? If so, why? if not, why not?

Very few LA quilters charge a flat rate according to the size of the quilt. Is it unwise to charge ---- say $50 to LA quilt a crib size?

I have come across a few LA machine owners that rent time on their machines. Do any of you do that? Is it profitable?

Thanks for your help, I appreciate your comments. :)
HI,
I may be able to help you on some of your questions. I am a LAQ. I think as far as charging an hourly rate....in most cases it is fair to the customer to charge by the size of the quilt...rather than hourly because every quilter works at their own pace. Some quilt slow...some quilt fast.
It is the same for renting a long arm...I just bought my second machine...I will rent it out to quilters...I would rather charge by the size of the quilt and just give the person however much time they need (within reason)..so they aren't racing to get their quilt done...I want them to feel happy with their own results and enjoy the process. Some may quilt fast...some others may not.

I think some quilters actually do charge a flat rate...for certain sizes...but it is usually for a specific type of quilting...like pantograph quilting or E2E ...that sort of thing.

I hope that helps.
C

I forgot to say...I don't think renting out time on my machine will be profitable....maybe I am wrong. I mean I would have to rent lots of time out on it and you have to take the time to help load it...thread at and roll the quilt. I am hoping to rent it out to people who will not need me as much...but in the beginning there will be a few. So I guess what I am saying is I am not experienced enough to know if that is really all that profitable...but I haven't herd that it is.
I wish you lived closer... I would be a repeat customer for the rental you are adding!
MellieKQuilter is offline  
Old 08-01-2011, 03:13 PM
  #8  
Super Member
 
Buckeye Rose's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Monroe, IN
Posts: 2,283
Default

Originally Posted by MellieKQuilter
Originally Posted by charismah
Originally Posted by Bottle Blonde
I have been doing research about LA service prices. I am finding the majority of LA quilters charge by the inch, and this amount is subject to how dense the quilt is to be stitched. Such as .01 for open meander, .02 for medium, .03 for dense, .04 for custom designs, so forth and so on. Then there are extra charges such as $10 to seam the backing, $10 to square the quilt top, $30 to add borders, $8 to press the quilt top....(these are just rough amounts, I'm not quoting any professionals pricing here)

Well, it all gets a little confusing, so this is my question. Do any LA quilters -- that you know of -- charge a flat hourly rate? If not, why not? If you are a quilter that hires LA service, would you rather pay an hourly rate? If so, why? if not, why not?

Very few LA quilters charge a flat rate according to the size of the quilt. Is it unwise to charge ---- say $50 to LA quilt a crib size?

I have come across a few LA machine owners that rent time on their machines. Do any of you do that? Is it profitable?

Thanks for your help, I appreciate your comments. :)
HI,
I may be able to help you on some of your questions. I am a LAQ. I think as far as charging an hourly rate....in most cases it is fair to the customer to charge by the size of the quilt...rather than hourly because every quilter works at their own pace. Some quilt slow...some quilt fast.
It is the same for renting a long arm...I just bought my second machine...I will rent it out to quilters...I would rather charge by the size of the quilt and just give the person however much time they need (within reason)..so they aren't racing to get their quilt done...I want them to feel happy with their own results and enjoy the process. Some may quilt fast...some others may not.

I think some quilters actually do charge a flat rate...for certain sizes...but it is usually for a specific type of quilting...like pantograph quilting or E2E ...that sort of thing.

I hope that helps.
C

I forgot to say...I don't think renting out time on my machine will be profitable....maybe I am wrong. I mean I would have to rent lots of time out on it and you have to take the time to help load it...thread at and roll the quilt. I am hoping to rent it out to people who will not need me as much...but in the beginning there will be a few. So I guess what I am saying is I am not experienced enough to know if that is really all that profitable...but I haven't herd that it is.
I wish you lived closer... I would be a repeat customer for the rental you are adding!
me too!
Buckeye Rose is offline  
Old 08-01-2011, 03:19 PM
  #9  
Banned
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ephrata, WA
Posts: 8,802
Default

Thanks ladies!
charismah is offline  
Old 08-01-2011, 03:25 PM
  #10  
Super Member
 
MellieKQuilter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1,199
Default

Originally Posted by charismah
Thanks ladies!
I just googled the distance... about two hours... hmmmm. Maybe you are close enough?? lol. :) :lol:
MellieKQuilter is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
marciG
Main
14
03-01-2012 11:44 AM
Butterfli19
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
30
11-24-2009 09:59 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter