How much to charge
 

Just a question here. A young lady brought me a big bag of baby blankets, swaddles, etc that she wanted cut up and turned into two separate quilts.. I decided to make rag quilts from them. I managed to get 390 6 inch squares from them. I used up my scrap batting for the middle layer, and cotton from previous projects for the bottom layer.
I'm making each row 13 squares wide, and 15 squares long How much should I charge her? I have no idea, but it's been a lot of work! Thank you!

Before you go further, I highly suggest you talk with her about what her price expectations are. What are you going to do if she balks at the price after the fact?

You should have established the price first - she might be thinking it's going to be only $25 and you could actually have several hundred dollars of work ahead of you that you aren't going to get paid for.

Totally agree on all points!!!!!!!!!!

Always establish price ahead of time.

Good advice but the ship has sailed. Now... personally I have never done this type of work, but I my own ruminating I thought $10 per block to be a fair price for this type of work. After all, it's time, talent, batting, and scraps. That said - it's a almost $4000 project by that metric....steep for a memory quilt. Perhaps $$2000? Still steep, but perhaps other quilters who do commissions of this nature can chime in with an educated voice. I think a lot but actually know diddly -squat.

This may turn into one of those "learning experiences" that you will not want to repeat.

I also totally agree with the other comments that price should have been discussed before proceeding.

This also sounds like something you have not done before, so how would you know how much to charge?

Is this person a friend of yours? relative? any idea of her financial situation?
Anyway - you are where you are now -

In my limited experience, people that do not sew think you can charge less than Walmart for anything sewn -

And when I have agreed to a project, most times it has taken way longer and been more complicated than I anticipated.

Good luck.

if you didn't have to spend much on the materials, I would suggest $600-1000.

I am sure that my views on this matter will not be accepted very well, but I think that it is a side of the discussion that needs to be addressed. Since the issue of price was never discussed at the time the project was given to you, it is my opinion it is now a moot point, as you will have to accept whatever she is willing to pay. You lost control of the situation when you continued to work on the quilts and never expressed your concerns about time and costs to the gal. The prices that have been suggested may seem reasonable to other quilters, but to someone unfamiliar with quilting and unprepared for the bill, they are outrageous and shocking. You need to sit down with this person and talk this over to reach a price, and as bearisgray suggested, chalk it up to a learning experience when you get paid much less than you feel you deserve.

It was suggested by a friend of mine $1.25 per square. If she isn't happy with the price, I will give her all the squares back for the second quilt and she can find another quilter instead. The idea of this project just appealed to me as a fun project. It truly has been that. Although, a lot of work too. I told her I would be reasonable when she asked how much I would charge her. Truly, since I have managed to use what I had on hand that kept her from having to buy anything extra. The batting was all cut from scraps I had on hand. 4 1/2 yards of scrap cotton fabric for the back, from my stash.
All in all, I just wanted to price somewhat fairly. Thank each of you for your input. Actually, I don't have plans to repeat this process! I have to many other sewing projects of my own to accomplish. Just want to help out a local girl from our small town

Sometimes, I don't consider the cost of my time. Sometimes the project is just a labor of love. Sometimes it just feels good to make something for someone else. Sometimes, that "feel good," is payment enough.

If you charge very little, others may come around and want the same thing done for them for the same price.

You could make it a gift - and as it was a learning experience- call it a "prototype" - so if any other people want the same thing, you would have a better idea of what is actually involved.

I consider what it would cost me to replace the scraps with yardage as "fair game" in pricing a project.

$15 per hour. And that's CHEAP.

The only time I made a quilt for pay was a t-shirt quilt, which involved cutting up the t-shirts and backing them with iron on interfacing before sashing and putting them together. I asked $10 an hour for my time, and I had the customer (a friend) come with me to the fabric store to buy the fabric for the sashing, binding, and back, as well as the batting. This worked well as she was able to see how much fabric costs nowadays. I think I'd charge more for my time now, but I resolved not to do anything like this again.

I think you may just need to finish what you started. You already cut up all of the 'blankets etc.' and to only do one quilt and return the rest of the square you already cut is kind of low. It is a project you already started, agreed to do, and you should finish it, even though you didn't do the pricing up front. To expect her to find another quilter to somehow utilize the squares you already cut is wrong and unfair in my opinion. (doing this you are giving back her remaining blankets - damaged)

So if I was in your position, I'd take it as a learning experience and just go with it being a gift. I agree with the fact that most who don't sew/quilt would probably consider 'Walmart' pricing to be what they would be thinking you are going to charge, and honestly it would not be fair to charge her the high price that quilter's deserve for their work, since a price was not decided on before you cut up all the blankets and started the quilts.

Since you feel that you don't want to do this again, I also agree with the others that you will be inundated with 'orders' for other quilts if you charge her what she is probably expecting (the Walmart price).

So again, I'd take it as a lesson learned - finish both quilts and give them to her as a gift.

So many things could be factored into charging for this project. Charging for time is anyone's guess but materials is another topic. I think you would be within reason to start with the cost of replacing the fabric you used for the back, Even though it came from your stash, you paid for it. She has supplied the front and you used scraps for the batting. Unless you had another project of your own planned for the batting, you may be glad to have used that! Batting pieces seem to accumulate faster than fabric scraps for me anyhow!
Rag quilt. I assume you are talking about the one with the "fringe" between blocks. Yes, a lot of work and hard on the hands. I'd suggest starting on doing the clipping on that, showing her how it's done and ask her to finish doing the clipping.This would make the work a part of her own and she might appreciate your time/talent more.
A rag quilt from those soft blankets, ohhhh, I love that idea.

I like Illinois idea of asking for help on cutting the fringe that is hard work, time consuming and hard on the hands.
You could ask in the way that you thought she may wish to contribute to the making of the quilt...and it would save you time and her money. Win-Win!

Illinois ... Smart! Smart! Smart!! :)

The one and only time I made a quilt by request was for my cousin when she had the idea I could make a quilt for her grand nephew and perhaps one for any further nieces and nephews that came along. I was doing a bit of machine emboridery at the time and had a collection of designs that involved critters driving vehicles of different types. Well, I said yes but that she could come with me to the fabric store and pick out the fabric. Solids of various colors and a couple of fun prints for sashing, borders, and backing. She did, was surprised by the cost of the fabric, but paid for it (I did donate some of my stash to the project). Then I had requested that she also help me with the embroidery meaning she could pick out the colors of the thread from the thread chart, help me hoop the fabric, and also do some of the pressing as the quilt was assembled. That way, I could just keep the embroidery machine going. Well, it did turn out cute. But after it was done, she decided that it would be a quilt that would be passed down to the next child as they arrived. She had had enough of "quilting" Oh, and I did make a baby quilt for each of new ones that arrived, but not as time consuming.

Just to get an inkling, just ask what she had in mind to pay for the work you did. That could be your starting point.

I agree with Quilted Sunshine!

Every so often I get someone asking me would you make a quilt out of ________ for me and I'll pay for you. No matter who it is or what the quilt is for I know I don't want to make it. Unless you really want to make the quilt or do it for the pay then don't let heart strings tie you down. I have learned to say, No I don't do that type of quilt making but I know someone in my guild who does and she is very good. The cost will not be cheap so be prepared. I then change the subject.

Are you certain this lady expects to pay you anything? I think sometimes people think, since that's what you do, you're happy to do it for them.

I agree with all the comments about establishing terms beforehand.

I agree with quiltsfor. A memory quilt in particular is bound up with many emotions. If you quit now she has nothing--not her precious blankets nor the memory quilts. Please honor your word. Finish both quilts with your best work. Then add one more beautiful memory--surprise her by giving them as a gift.

I have the 8" rag die for the Go machine and use pre cut batting squares. A good size rag quilt can be made in just a few hours. If this is something you want to get into for pay it will be a good investment to buy the cutter and dies. All the quilters I know that do make quilts for customers use the Accuquilt die cut machines. One of the tricks is to sew the top, middle (if using) and back together all around then quilt however, then run through the die. All the snips are done. Keep the middle at least one inch smaller then the square. Then sew the squares together. The fast way is to overlap the squares so there is rags on front and back. Missouri Star sells the pre cut batting. The 6 1/2" size is perfect for the 8 inch rag die. To sit and snip each block by hand is misery and time wasted especially if you do it for customers.

A friend once told me that "No" is complete sentence. I often add "No, sorry" and let it go. Changing the subject is good

When asked to make t-shirt quilts, I tell them that they can find cheaper places on the internet--I'm expensive.

From the amount of responses and range of comments, I think there’s a wealth of experience on QB for this topic. Can we call this Alice and you will get to the other end. Adventures along the way, some pleasant and some overwhelming.

So the easiest way to figure out how to price a quilt is to make a square mini-quilt, and use that to get an idea of a base price-per-unit for your work. I made a 20x20 doll quilt and cost of materials and labor put the price at $50, so now I know the absolute floor for a finished quilt is $25 per 10" square.

After that, I personally have a tiered pricing system based on what a person wants.
Tier 1- Don't care what it looks like or when you get it? Then it's a gift and free.
Tier 2- Choice of color way, size, and simple pattern- $10-15 per 10"
Tier 3- Total input on fabric selection and pattern- $25+

Since quilting is my hobby, I don't my factoring my desire to do it anyway into pricing for people if they're flexible about what they get. I think since you took this project on out of personal interest, it's not unreasonable to offer a deal or even make it a gift if you feel that's an acceptable outcome. Just don't hesitate that you did this for you if this person or anyone else comes around expecting free quilting.

Pokeweed; yeah. Agree. It’s a valid approach. There’s lots of ways to consider this.

Life is full of learning opportunities.

There are four 10" squares in a 20x20 quilt, so wouldn't your price per 10" square be $12.50?

You said it was just a young lady. Is she a good friend, relative, or just someone who approached you cause they heard you make quilts?
I don't advertise, or sellll my quilts, I just like keeping busy. A couple of friends have approached me in making memory things, some of them difficult some not so much. I don't really charge, but if they ask, then I tell them I like a specific beer. One even brought me some boiled crabs with beer. Since you didn't discuss $$ it seems, I would tell her whatever she feels or a gift card. I know many will not agree, but doing things with our talent for someone every once in awhile is worth more than money. Though that's just me.