How to charge for making a quilt.
 

Good morning everyone! An acquaintance of mine has asked me to make a quilt for her out of shirts that belonged to her deceased Father-in-law. The pattern is a very simple design "Fun With Bricks" by Bonnie Hunter. I will probably have to add a few scraps from my own stash to add more color & for the backing and would charge additionally for that & the batting. The quilt would be tied and lap size. I just don't know what to charge for constructing the quilt itself. I would appreciate your input.

Becky

Honey, i couldn't even get $50.00 out of a co-worker. So good luck. things cost more than others think, so go over how much fabric you would have to get other than the shirts, batting, thread and your time.

Don't forget to add in stabilizers you might need for the tee-shirt parts; that can get expensive.

Might be best to get the coworker to directly pay for some of those things, so they can see the costs for themselves. And don't forget to pay yourself for labor, too!

Co worker and acquaintance are on same level in my book but still closeness is another factor. Actually, often closer than some relatives. Anyway, you still had to pay at one time for your stash. Figure all that in plus what you want to charge for labor. Don't forget binding material also. Tough call but it's your call. BTW don't be afraid to charge for your labor either. I say $10.00 minimum per hour.

This is not a t-shirt quilt, but rather a scrap quilt made out of men's dress shirts. She will be doing a fiber content test on them to ensure they are 100 percent cotton, as all the tags have been cut off the shirts.

JMHO - I do not think that I would worry about the shirts being 100% cotton for a lap quilt - I have a quilt on my bed that is half 100% cotton and the other half is poly/cotton and they have worn the same - both are in pristine condition. Don't know about the cost of your time, etc. though.

I personally would never make a quilt for another coworker, ever again. The first (and only) time I did that, it didn't turn out well. We had a verbal agreement for amount of money to be paid, with the understanding that it would be several months before it was completed. At the end of about 3-4 weeks, the coworker started asking when it would be finished. And, even though the coworker had chosen the fabrics (from my stash) and the pattern, she kept telling me that it wouldn't look good. When the quilt was done, quilted, and bound, the coworker did not want to pay the original asking price, and told everyone else in the department that I was "taking her to the cleaners" for asking $250 for a hand sewn, hand-quilted quilt. In addition, she wanted me to give the quilt to her, and she would pay me when she had the cash. Needless to say, she never got the quilt, and that was that. I have never even considered doing that again. Anyone who gets one of my quilts has received it because I gave it away. to someone who apprecitates the time and love that goes into it.
As for you charging, that is up to you, but you will likely not make ay kind of 'profit' from it. IMHO, I think I would be more inclined to assist HER to make the quilt. To me, that would be more meaningful.

This gal is not a co-worker, simply an acquaintance that I have known for 35 plus years. I have very little interaction with her except on Facebook. I posted a picture of a quilt in progress, and she private messaged me to see if I would make a quilt for her out of her deceased father in laws dress shirts. Her family is very crafty, her dad rents tables at craft shows for his wood crafts, her mom & sister used to make & sell cakes for every occasion. So she knows how much work goes into hand crafted items. That being said, I will name a price for the quilt. If she wants to pay the price, fine. If not, so be it. No feelings hurt here, I don't normally make quilts for others. Just thought I might make some extra cash as things are pretty tight financially for me right now.

First, I think you should consider how you feel about it. Thinking about the quilt and the amount of work you will put in, what amount would you feel good about receiving from this acquaintance for your work, above the cost of the materials?

After you figure that out, thoroughly itemize the material costs involved, add the estimated amount for your work (figured from above), then go to this person with these figures written down, and both of you sign the contract. Insist on the cost of materials up front, and don't start on the quilt until you get the money. When the quilt is done, she gets the quilt when you get the balance of the amount you've agreed on.

People have no idea what is involved in making a quilt, so you have to educate them beforehand. As far as what to charge, I can't help you there, as I've never made a quilt for pay.

If I were to ever sell a quilt again, it would be one that is already made and I feel like parting with it. I know that you have a special situation, where the person is using shirts, but you do want to consider your time as well as the materials involved. I have heard of others who were asked to do this, and the buyer wants to pick the pattern, the colors, and then they want in three weeks for their cousin's wedding. Get any agreement in writing, and something up front.

I wanted to add, one of the big reasons I haven't (and probably wouldn't) make a quilt on commission, is because I know I would have a difficult time asking the amount I felt it was really worth.

There are those of us who just wouldn't make a quilt for pay because we would think we couldn't charge or the person wouldn't pay for what it really costs to make one. I make quilts for the enjoyment I get from it and to do it for money could take the enjoyment from it....too many hard to please people or really can't afford a hand made quilt. If a friend asks me to make a quilt I just couldn't put a price on it but would probably do it for the enjoyment. I make all sorts of quilts which I give away and that is how I want to keep it.

I think your plan is a good one. Making multiple quilts to sell as a business is one thing, making one as a gift for someone is another, and making one - just one - to get a little extra cash is still another thing.

Get a nice fat deposit before you even start.

And figure in the amount of time it will take to prepare the shirts. De bone is what it is called.

Figure the cost of all supplies you will need to use, including batting, backing, and thread.
Figure how many hours you think making it will take, then multiple that by how much per hour you are willing to work for.

I don't care if the requester is your own family, GET IT WRITING with dates AND signatures after a price and time frame is settled upon! Write this on your eyeballs before you even talk to her again.:D

Jan in VA

First of all, unless the person to whom you are making the quilt for makes hand made items, he/she doesn't have a clue what goes into making a quilt. That person would never understand the time that is involved and the total cost of what is required. I quit long time ago making things for gifts. They look at them and say something like "thanks". It is cheaper for me to buy something made in a foreign country. So don't expect to be paid what it's worth.

I agree with SquirrelFood. Definitely get 1/3 to 1/2 of the total price up front for a custom quilt like that (should cover all materials & a good chunk of your labor). Who else is going to want to buy a quilt made with another man's used shirts? And yes, for custom you want to get it in writing. I will accept emails from people (remember I also have the deposit & I spell it out that if the customer has been okay with each progress report then I expect full payment when the quilt is finished or I keep the deposit & the quilt -- I do this because I will then have to spend my time & energy trying to market it on etsy or whatnot and whoever is buying it is not getting a custom quilt anymore so it's not going to be worth as much to them).

As far as pricing goes -- make sure to include everything. Yes, fabric can be pricey, but it is by no means the only expense in making a quilt. Add up the cost of thread, needles, rotary blades (if you are cutting through dress shirts, you will definitely need a pack or two of these -- or else plan to take your scissors to be sharpened a couple times), fabric marker(s), spray starch, laundry detergent, batting, binding/border/sashing fabric(s), electricity & the wear and tear on your machine and reusable products (pins, clips, mat, etc). Beyond that, I would caution you to consider adding on a bit for unforeseen expenses. Especially when it comes to non-quilting people describing used fabrics that belonged to someone now deceased, they tend to describe them in much better condition than reality. I have specifically asked if there were any holes, tears, thread pulls & am always told "no, there are none of those problems". Then I look at the thing & find 6 holes up to 1.5" in wide. Or some fabrics have just been washed to death & cannot be used without first stabilizing them, and so forth. Maybe this lady you know will be the exception to that, but I wouldn't count on it.

Once you've calculated costs, you might check around on the web for prices at some LQS's in your area. I know mine post what they charge for thread changes, batting prep, custom quilting per square inch (I charge 5 cents per sq in), making & attaching binding, and hourly rates for piecing and other work. I've personally done sewing for less than $10/hour for non-family members and just felt awful about myself; when I hit that stage in quilting where you have to force yourself to push through, I started really regretting cheating myself on the price and resenting the amount of work I was doing for less than what the kid at McDonald's gets paid to ask me if I want fries with my order. Of course, your hourly rate is entirely up to you, but my own rule now is not to do work even for friends for less than $15/hour and usually I charge more. The only time I will cut them a break is if there is a particular skill I really want to practice that their project would let me practice (without having to spend my own money on materials).

Probably more information than you wanted to know, but I hope it helps. Happy quilting!:)

A friend of mine that has a small fabric and longarm quilting shop, gets $100 for a throw.., these are all machine pieced and machine quilted.. hope that helps....for an idea.

ESPECIALLY with family -----------------------

Get absolutely everthing in writing with signatures.....all materials paid up front by customer before any construction starts....50% of labor costs as deposit....agree on completion date in writing.....finished quilt delivered upon final payment, no money, no quilt

Good Luck with it, if you decide to do it. Make it a small project is my advice. A memory item, not a huge quilt. Better yet, since she is crafty, offer to sew with her, letting her do it.

Don't use your own fabrics...make a list of ALL the necessary supplies you will need, backing fabric, setting fabric for the blocks, borders, thread, batting, etc. and don't skimp. Then estimate how many hours it will take to piece the quilt and add that figure. Then add the time it will take to quilt it and add that figure. Add a reasonable figure for "incidentals" such as a new blade for your cutter, new needle for your sewing machine, special thread for the quilting, etc. PUT IT IN WRITING. If she wants you to continue with the project, ask her to sign it. Then it's a contract.
I'm going to be surprised if you hear from her again. These are not cheap projects.

I have made lap quilts for several people from shirts and dresses. I charged between $50 and 150 for the quilts depending on what I had to do with the items. For one, the material was rather thin and I had to put muslin behind the material. Good Luck.

Lap quilt, tied, her shirts... I'd charge about $100. If there are additional materials needed (like for backing and binding) let her buy those and bring them to you.

First thing that I suggest ANYONE who wants to make a quilt to sell, go out and buy the current issue of Quilter's Newsletter magazine Aug/Sept 2014. It is one of the most interesting articles I have ever read on "What's you Quit Worth" Then what Jan has suggested is absolutely correct.

I'm in the process of completing the last of my Bonnie Hunter "Celtic Solstice" blocks. My quilt is the KS. My husband asked me what I'm going to do with it. I told him that I don't know, maybe use it on our bed or the bed in the guest room. He said, "too bad you don't sell some of them." I told him, "I don't know anyone with that much money!" LOL There is a tremendous amount of work into most of the quilts I make because I don't generally make the 'quick and easy' type quilts. I should have kept up with the hours on this one, just to see how long it takes, but I didn't.

I'm sure I'll get blowback for this....but if it were me, I'd just make the quilt for the fun of making it and gifting it back to the co-worker. Have her buy the batt and then relax and enjoy putting this simple thing together. It takes all the pressure off you and if she wants to gift you later, then all the better. It seems like this would be a win-win and you could get on with making your own quilts.

On Tuesday afternoon I sent her an email and quoted a price of $150.00 which included the price of batting and backing. She sent me back a thumbs up sign. She was supposed to do a fabric content test that afternoon, but I haven't heard the results of that test. Maybe, after thinking about the cost, she has decided against going ahead with this. No skin off my nose, I have plenty of projects to keep me busy. I thought it was a very fair price.

I have a document titled "How to Value a Quilt for Sale" which was published in one of my guilds' newsletter. If you want a copy, email me at [email protected], and I will send a copy to you.

I agree with Jan in VA. You have to have an agreement about everything and it needs to be in writing.

nothing verbal - put it in writing. It sounds like she understands the time and work involved, but list everything. If you are selling a product, you are a business, so think like a business. Take a few minutes and think thru the whole project making a note of all materials used (thread, rotary blade, etc). Then you can create a work order listing fabric, notions and a per hour labor charge. You can estimate the hours needed, but be sure to add the word estimated. This person is supplying most of the fabric, so I wouldn't charge a deposit. If you are purchasing all the fabric, I take a non-refundable deposit covering most of that cost. This gives the person an incentive to really think about whether they want it or not before you put in the work. If you approach it from a business mindset rather than a friendship way, you should be fine. Or, do it as a gift and expect nothing and be pleasantly surprised at whatever they offer.

I had two string quilts, both approx 33x45. I was showing them off, not with ant intent to sell them. My sister was going to pick one for her soon to be GS. One person asked to buy one and get back with a price. I decided on $45. She said no thanks, maybe if it was less. Got me thinking of the worth. I buy them at yard sales but this one was new.everyone has strings of fabric and I cut up old sheets for the foundation. Even the binding was scraps. The point is the materials were cheap but not when I first bought them. I love to make string quilts, mindless sewing but they do take time. For donation or gift, that is ok but to sell, I would like to get paid for my time. Another note, making a quilt for someone and they know you are making it and expect it in a certain puts pressure on and takes the fun out of quilting IMHO.

You MUST pay yourself minimum wage for the work completed on the quilt!!! THEN you add the supplies that you use... I BELIEVE the $10/hour is a good and fair... You can keep track of ALL the time you put in... People nowadays do NOT appreciate what goes into a quilt... (last visit to Amish country... $1200-$1800 was the going price for bed quilt)

There are a few interesting articles online discussing this question, for example:

http://www.sewmamasew.com/2014/01/pl...your-quilting/

<a href="http://www.sewmamasew.com/2014/01/placing-a-value-on-your-quilting/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://katiesquiltingcorner.com/2013...ll-quilts.html

http://huntersdesignstudio.com/ew-worth-it-2/

I just got paid $35 for making a baby quilt, all my own fabrics, however, it was for my best friend's daughter who wanted me to make one to give to her new niece, Emma, who was born a little early on June 30. First of all, she's a dear friend and I've known Marti since she and my son were babies. I just made a simple 9-patch with alternating squares of fabric, and I used all the fabrics from my stash, a pretty fairy princess fabric in pinks/purples/aqua. Marti loved the other 2 I'd made her before several years ago, and was understanding when I told her it would take 2-3 weeks, although it took longer but she was OK with that. I just can't whip them out like I used to before my shoulder surgery. Anyway, since she is supplying some of the fabrics, i.e. her deceased FIL's shirts, I might charge $50-$75, but I would make that clear up front so there will be no surprises. A friend of mine made a T-shirt quilt for another friend's daughter, but when she heard the price, she complained and only paid her $75, which barely covered the cost of fabrics, especially since she requested penguin fabric, not easily found. Give her an amount up front and see where it goes from there. Unless they are crafters or quilters, people always fail to realize how much work and effort goes into making a quilt, besides the materials. I don't know if this helps or not, I'm just giving you some from my experiences.

I do as someone here suggested, I bought an electric clock & plugged it into a GFI power strip that I can push the button to turn off the clock. When I start I push the button to off then opposite when I stop, the clock does the time keeping for me. Of course you have to watch it when it gets to 12, I write that down & start over then add all the hours up at the end.

I can't thank you enough for these wonderful links. They have put everything into perspective for me! Both of these writers make excellent points (and I love their writing styles).

OK here goes. Even with quotes in writing, I still got SCR..... She had 5 quilts that her Gran had made,even a couple that she had sat at her feet in Gran's quilting group. But one...in pieces that would need assembling and stitching to foundation. Mostly hand pieces dresden plates.
The deal. Turn all the squares into quilts she could give to sons and sibs. Okay 5 in pieces, but blocks done. okay #6 actually in parts. What a challenge. I needed to purchase sashing fabrics, batting and backings.
I quoted prices for each, the went on to finish them all in a month. Sent pictures as progress made and prices each time of finishe product.
So ready? Mailbox full, accepting no mew messages. Mailed at least 10 cards, explaining that I want my money. My expenses about $700.00. Paid out a little at a time yes but it is still quite a bit of cash.
NO responses. My last card was 6 months ago when I told her that I would be selling the lot (5) for $1500.00 and she could have back the pieces of Dresden squares.
So make sure you get a very hefty down payment, at least half. so you have something. Document each step and correspondence.
Good Luck.
I for one have learned my lesson. Never aain without 75% up front to cover my expenses. Peg

I'm really sorry you had to go to this length for the quilt you made, that really takes any fun there may have been right out of it all. :(
So far I've avoided this, BUT..... I make a written contract that states, in part, that "buyer agrees to pay $xxx for the quilt". We both sign the contract and they get a photocopy.

Before delivery I contact them to advise it's ready and will be delivered on such-and-such a date/time and will collect payment AT THAT TIME. If I don't go home with the check, the quilt comes home with me!

IF I had been unable to contact the buyer at that time, after 2 calls and written contact which had to be signed for, if that letter was not delivered, then I'd consider the quilt to be mine to sell or keep. If I have all the written paperwork and copies of attempts to contact, then I feel like my butt is covered if dispute arises.

Then again, I not only try to protect myself, but the buyer as well, because I have also signed the contract that stated the price and expected date of completion.

Jan in VA