I've done several custom quilts (both t-shirts and memorial quilts). For a charge I calculate how much I will need for materials (sashing, borders, backing, binding, battings, interfacing etc) plus $.02 per inch for quilting, for a twin to full size quilt about $150 to $200. I tell them that is the price for materials. I then tell them I also am charging them $250 or up for my time and labor. The labor charge is based on the complexity of the pattern.

When my quilts are hand pieced or hand appliqued and hand quilted I charge a minimum of $1000 and have been told that I under charged. I have sold many of them. My machine made ones are somewhat cheaper,not that they are not as good or pretty but because they are faster to finish. If I bind a quilt for someone I charge $50 for a hand bound one.

I have yet to charge for a quilt. I have made "Gifts" for many and also have had people buy the fabric for smaller items and I have sewn them at no charge. I do sterling silver jewelry and have always used 3X formula on materials. This seems to cover my labor unless I am working on something very intricate. I also do custom stained glass and have found that the most important component is the communication between my customer and myself. Based on the complexity of the project I charge per piece of glass ($1.00) or by the sq foot ($75-$125). I also let them know that although they may say they want a bluish-purple....the final glass choice is mine as the artist, unless they want to go to a store and buy the glass at retail. I would do the same in quilting. I have had long-armers charge me $300 to over $500 on kings for the quilting. Add material cost for a king and your time and I won't sell one of my finished kings for under $1000. Look at what a finished hand made quilt costs, I live near Lancaster, Pa so I can check these prices on a regular basis. Remember people that don't do hand crafts: knitting, sewing....have no concept of your time and the work that goes into a project from design to finished item. Do not short change yourself, if you were a business what would you charge....electric, maintenance on the machines and so on. I know this is a lot but remember you are now opening a door that once you walk through you have committed.
Good Luck!

WOW! I know there is a lot of time involoved and people that don't do this have no earthly idea. I'm honestly not in a position where I think I can help her right now. If it were summer and I was laid off from work I would say-great. I may be getting laid off but right now I'm just not sure that I can do it with everything else I have going on. I am trying to declutter my house, paint almost my entire house plus put down new floors. We do most everything ourselves so honestly I think I'm just going to tell her that I can't. I really don't think she would want to pay $500 anyway. I signed up to do the Boom 5 and want to devote what sewing time I can to that. ;) Thank you all for your help. I will definately keep all of these ideas in mind if I go to do some work for anyone later on. Fabric is expensive and time isn't cheap....you can't get it back that is for sure.

Thanks.
Angie

Three times what all the fabrics & material cost to make the quilt. (That includes the pattern & thread).

Although I have a long-arm business and would rather finish quilts than make for a customer, this does occasionally happen. Several years ago I had a customer who wanted five quilts made from her father's clothing, i.e. shirts and blue jeans. I estimated hours of cutting clothing, hours of sewing, backing and batting costs, quilting and binding. They were relatively small quilts (not even twin size). My final price was within $25 of the estimate and the final cost was over $1000. So, in this example the cost of the fabric wasn't a factor, but I was so proud of myself for coming so close to the estimate.

I charge $13 to $25 per hr. start to finish. That includes every thing. According to how difficult pattern is. Thats the going rate here in the midwest.

Boy have I been undepricing my items. I am working on a applique queensize and the top has cost me 200.00 in fabric, I haven't bought the batting or backing yet but figure that will cost me around 100.00. I will have it LAQ so I am estimating 200.00 for that. I had thought to put the price at 1000.00, double the cost. The pattern is my own design, a SW desert scence with a running wild horse. I had not thought about thread cost, the fact that most is appliqued and that it was my own design. I have 5 hrs so far and have just got the applique piece pressed down. I don't know if I could sell it if I went up much more. I am planning on putting a invoice pinned to back with amount of fabric used, batting, and LAQ, with the amount of hrs. This is a quilt that has been running around in my head for some time, have to make it. It is not one I want to keep or give to away. So now what do i charge?

When I make a quilt for someone..I estimate the cost of fabric and all that it takes to make..then double it..Take it from experience..take 1/2 up front and the balance on delivery..people you know the best.. will be the ones you won't get your money from if you don't do this..I've had 2 people in the past who never followed through..with 1/2 up front..the material is at least paid for!! Good Luck!!

i have really undercharged for quilts i have done so thanks girls for the advice