Thanks. That is great advice! I might just try that.

Wow. Wouldn't it be the best kind of surprise to put a price on it that really reflects the time you spent, and someone bought it!? :shock:

IMHO, you get what you pay for!! If acquaintances are asking you to make quilts for them, they must like your work! The $600 estimate from the Pennsylvania Dutch is a low estimate. I've seen the queens go from about $600 - $1200. My neighbor had one made (wedding ring) and paid over $1,000.

The queen size I’m working on for my Brother’s family is an ‘easy’ crosshatch pattern, but still it is time consuming when done by hand. Leslee has encouraged me to go ahead and give the machine quilting a try though my family has seen the hand stitching and expect it now. Mom said that the kids (niece and nephews) wouldn’t appreciate it as much till they’re older, and told me not to spend a lot of time quilting. In my mind though that is a cop out since yes, they will get older and hopefully still have the quilt. What would they think of me then when looking at something less than what I’ve done for others?

The original plan (don’t you just love how they change daily?) was to do them according to size so that my skills would improve as I worked to larger projects. In making the Double Irish top for my brother my thoughts turned to diving right in and having no fear. Now well, I’m not so sure.

My mantra: One stitch at a time.

I don’t think I’d ever be able to offer my DNA (hand stitching) for any price. It’s a heck of a lot of work no matter how you slice it. If anyone grumbles over an extra zero in the checkbook, I say let them deal with it; that’s simply their price for admission.

Value your work or no one else will!

Amen to that. I quilt heirloom tops for my friends and I charge $200 or so for a queen size. They buy the materials. That is fair to me and them. They think it is a lot, but worth it to have Grandma's quilt finally done.

You should be paid adequately if you are hand quilting a quilt for someone. What is your time worth?

The people I know who hand quilt for money charge by the job. They figure out how many hours it will take and base their charge on that.


It is expensive to have a quilt hand quilted.

I've never used a hoop or frame. I baste the quilt sandwich very well, then quilt in my lap. Very easy and portable!

I agree with you Lisae. I never use a hoop. I have tried at times but found it a chore. I just put in a lot of basting and quilt with out a frame, either sitting with it on my lap or at the table. Both work well for me over the years.

I don't think machine quilting represents something less. It is just done in a different technique. Different projects lend themselves to different techniques, and as the creator you get to chose what suits you and the project. I have been given both handquilted and machine quilted
gifts and treasure both them and their makers!

That's a bargain! I just insured a runner to the folks for several hundred. I figured if the post office looses it they're going to pay big time.