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-   -   How much to charge for hand quilting (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/how-much-charge-hand-quilting-t89731.html)

andifar 01-11-2011 07:27 PM

I have been asked to hand quilt a feedsack quilt made in the 30's. I will see it on Saturday to get the size. The owner has the backing, and I will provide the batting, quilting and binding. I know what to charge for the batting, but not sure about the quilting and binding. Any recommendations?

Up North 01-11-2011 07:35 PM

How intricate of quilting are you doing? give her a price per stitch, you can estimate this by counting the ones in a certain area. I did one but it was for Cancer donation so only charges $60.00 but that was a lot of work! I considered it a worthwhile cause so gave her a deal on it.

gmaybee 01-11-2011 07:37 PM

I've heard some people charge by the inch of thread they use. I'm not sure of the amount per inch.

shequilts 01-11-2011 07:38 PM

I always charge maximum amount for any hand quilting. The least I charge is $600 for a twin. Time and deadlines make me crazy. If they want me, they have to pay.

andifar 01-11-2011 08:29 PM

I like the way you think.... :thumbup:

hperttula123 01-11-2011 08:43 PM


Originally Posted by shequilts
I always charge maximum amount for any hand quilting. The least I charge is $600 for a twin. Time and deadlines make me crazy. If they want me, they have to pay.

At least $600. That is alot of time put into it.

mrspete 01-11-2011 09:17 PM

A lady here charges 35 cents an inch.

sak658 01-11-2011 09:51 PM

Boy talk about prices, my mom use to handquilt for people and she would get $25. a quilt. That was in the 50's and 60's.....Talk about cheap. Wow...

mayday 01-12-2011 01:40 AM

depends of course on size and patterns required , but think that $600 is way out of most peoples budget , OK, I know that you do need to charge but am always amazed at what most of you think is right.
A very fragile subject I agree but unless you are in business then a smaller charge should be levied.
Sorry but IMHO.

ckcowl 01-12-2011 02:18 AM

many charge 2 cents to 2 1/2 cents per square inch. around here hand quilting is always charged by the square inch. ... a couch throw that measures 60"x80" = 480 square inches. at 2cents a sq.in. = $96

117becca 01-12-2011 03:29 AM

you can google hand quilting prices and get a general consensus...If you're doing it to pay yourself $x/hour - it'll never work out.

ptquilts 01-12-2011 04:35 AM

I used to charge about $1. to $1.25 per yard of quilting - I figured I could quilt around 4 yards an hour. Figure out a unit of the quilt (block or whatever) figure how much quilting will be in that area, multiply by number of units. Similar for borders, figure out how much quilting will be in each running foot of border, multiply by number of feet. Add 10-20% to total. This way I could always give a fairly firm price BEFORE I started quilting.
Nowadays not too sure about the 4 yards an hour, I was hand quilting last night and my wrists started bothering me.
I charge less nowadays, by the way.

Hinterland 01-12-2011 04:57 AM

I've read $1 to $1.50 per yard of quilting thread. If you google hand quilting I'm sure you'll find all kinds of prices.

For those who think it's a lot of money, remember this is a huge time commitment. If people are willing to pay $200 for a quilt to be machine quilted, then hand quilting is worth at least that much, and more. But that's my opinion.

Lisa_wanna_b_quilter 01-12-2011 07:22 AM


Originally Posted by Hinterland
I've read $1 to $1.50 per yard of quilting thread. If you google hand quilting I'm sure you'll find all kinds of prices.

For those who think it's a lot of money, remember this is a huge time commitment. If people are willing to pay $200 for a quilt to be machine quilted, then hand quilting is worth at least that much, and more. But that's my opinion.

I have never paid to have anything quilted, but I agree hand quilting should cost more than machine quilting. Hand quilting is a dying art form and should be rewarded as such.

andifar 01-12-2011 12:44 PM

Thank you all for the suggestions. I've come up with a formula. Fingers crossed that I get the job.

andifar 01-12-2011 12:44 PM

Thank you all for the suggestions. I've come up with a formula. Fingers crossed that I get the job.

mrshalibut 06-28-2013 12:07 PM

Twelve cents per square inch for medium quilting. That's what I charge.

bearisgray 06-28-2013 12:24 PM

I think it would be hard to come up with a $ amount.

If I were paying, I would want to see a sample of the person's work - and get a fairly solid idea of what the total might be.

Not all hand quilting is equal - - -

For hand quilting, I think the fairest way of figuring cost would be for the amount of thread (actually) used. Although I'm not sure how one would keep track of that, either.

Maybe load 10 needles with 41 inches of thread - figure 5 inches for 'manuevering' on each thread - and charge for 10 yards of quilting at so much per inch - and have some sort of system to keep track of thread used.

For me, hand quilting will be for labors of love and/or recreation.

teddysmom 06-29-2013 06:26 AM


Originally Posted by hperttula123 (Post 2245188)
At least $600. That is alot of time put into it.

I totally agree. I just hand quilted a large lap quilt (probably closer to a full size bed quilt) for my DD to give to her MIL for Christmas. It was purely an act of love (although DD is giving me $100 for my work). Never again!!! Too many hours involved and .........

leaha 06-29-2013 06:51 AM

I bought 2 quilts made by an Amish lady, both were hand quilted, $300. each, pieced on a treadle machine, and her quilting was lovely no puckers on the back, her 8th and 9th quilts, oh my I sure was not that good, still am not, LOL
I do a lot of my quilts by hand, have to have some kind of hand work while I watch TV in the evening, but have NO idea what I would charge for doing it for some one.

Janice McC 06-29-2013 05:56 PM

Right now I'm finishing hand quilting a lap-sized log cabin that I "rescued" after the previous owner quit hand-quilting mid-stream. Even though this is my first serious hand-quilting project and I've learned a lot, I know I could never charge what I think hand-quilting is worth. The time investment is enormous, more than money can reasonably buy, imho. Good luck though! Make sure you charge enough to satisfy yourself as it is definitely, without question, a true art.


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