Whoops! I didn't see that you will be hand quilting. I don't think that is enough to charge for a king size quilt!!

I just picked up my double bed quilt from the top quilter. The charge was $250. I figure my materials cost $250. So
$500 with out putting on the cost of design, time spent collecting the fabric, sewing the top and then sandwiching and top quilting.....hours. Your $800 is a kindness due to the fact cotton prices are rising...right now $10.50 a yard.

$25 per square foot or the appraised market value.

I do hand applique,needleturn. Scenic and old buildings and barns. with silk ribbon embroidery and fancy stitch embellishments, I never sell for less than 1000 dollars. and more if I need to. If I want to give one away,then I choose the person or family to do so.

I love this thread - it's great to see how so many of us really value what we do. When I saw that you plan to hand quilt I needed to tell you that your $800 price was simply too low. Best have a nice conversation with your friend and I think when your done enlightening her on what goes into the making of a quilt she will be so happy to pay whatever you ask - quote the Amish prices to her!

This is such a hard question to answer. Usually, people think quilters can compete with a chain store. We can't, plain and simple.

I think $800 is more than reasonable, but, don't be surprised if your friend doesn't agree.

my sister charges at least that much for her quilts and most people don't blink an eye

I agree with this totally. I made an applique quilt and it is appraised for $3400. I will never make this same quilt again, so it is a "one and only."

If you go to http://www.westmichquilter.blogspot.com/ there is a link at the bottom of today's blog that will take you to a blog that shows you how to calculate the cost of a quilt. Very interesting. It has some information you might not think about including.

Charge what you feel is appropriate, especially if she can afford it. I live in NW Ohio, and there is a quilt auction every year, where the prices are routinely over $1000. In the Amish country of north central Indiana, they run about that much,, also. I recently wnet on Judy Martin's site, whre she was offering some of her quilts for $1500-$2000 to sell them. Just rmember that your handmade quilt is probably worth every penny, because of the love and care tht you put into every stitch.