I have only sold one custom quilt so far, it was an oversize king that I designed - and I think I undercharged them at 1000 dollars. The materials and LAQ cost me 500. But the quilt turned out really beautiful and they have been ecstatic over it since they got it last year.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/voxwoma...70979/sizes/l/

This pricing discussion has been very enlightening. It's really difficult to know what to ask. I had never thought to base fees on the square footage of a quilt before, but I will now :-)

quiltlious that is a beautiful quilt! I love the light teal color.

Big Sky Quilts in Great Falls, Montana has this (finished) on their web site and is selling for $975, flannel back, 76" x 93".

depending on complication of quilting design $15 to $25/ square foot, including all that ktbb cites.

absolutely beautiful..i would say it;s worth about 700.00 and not a dime less...

Thank you so very much!! :)

There are so many factors involved in pricing, I'm thinking:
If I saw this quilt as a finished quilt and really wanted it, I would pay around $800 to $950 to just pick it up and take it home.

That is why I only make quilts for family. I could never charge what they are really worth. When someone asks me to make something for them I just tell them that they don't have enough money to buy the love that I put into my Grandkids quilts.

I have made this quilt. It is my avatar. It is very labor intensive. I also handquilted the one I did and I gave it to my oldest son. He treasures it. I have no idea what I would charge to make it for a customer. Let me say this, I love the pattern, the finished product, but I would never make another one. Really think about it before you set a price. It will take you sometime to complete it.

I would charge 1 million dollars, because there is no way in h*** I would attempt to make that difficult of a quilt. Good luck to you though.

I have done quilts for a couple of friends, and I KNOW that I did not charge enough. On one of them I just gave a total.

If I were to do it again, I believe I would charge by the hour. Make it understood, up front, that you value your time. Maybe get the details in writing. (That might sound a bit tough, but you have to be fair to yourself) I have been burned a few times and now I am very wary.

Wow!!!

I agree....$800. Most people don't know what goes into making a quilt and therefore are not willing to pay your price. When they offer much, much less it's almost a slap in the face but you do have to realize that they are not quilters and just don't know. Stick to your price!!!!!!

I agree with most of what has been said. My first estimate was $800; then I considered more, as the LAQ costs would be variable. Most people don't "get it" that this is a highly skilled endeavor, and think because you "enjoy" this, your time is worth less. Give her an estimate that is fair to you, and if that is too much, perhaps someone else will make it for her for less.

I agree - that would figure into the cost as well. If you were dying to do it, then charge less, but I agree with others that AT LEAST several hundred dollars over and above any materials.

I do custom quilts and if the kit was complete with backing, batting and binding, I would make it for $600.00.
If I hand quilt, at least $300.00 more.
It is a beautiful design.
To echo a previous poster, be sure to get half in advance and a signed work order.

Quiltilicious, what was the name of the quilt you gave us the website for:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/voxwoma...70979/sizes/l/

Love that quilt.

I call it "Hours in the Garden" and I designed it myself (In EQ6). It's in the queue for getting written up as a pattern.

I have no idea, but it sure it pretty.

Our quilt guild made this quilt in about 2000 - 2003 for their opportunity quilt. It took many quilters to make it and quilt it. If you can't get your money's worth for for time, it would be like giving it away. I charge close to $2000 for a large bed quilt if I make the whole thing. And at that it's like 2 cents/hr. Most people don't realize the time it takes to make a quilt. They think it's just the cost of the fabric. The fabric, thread cost may be $150-200. But the time and skill it takes to put it together are what the cost really is.

just my 2 cents.

Cynthia

I think 800 is fair even in Indiana. Usually if you have to ask you can't afford it. You can always surprise her with less afterwards if its not as complicated as it looks.

I have seen this quilt done in fall golds and browns. Its stunning. Looks like a fun one to do too.

We made this pattern in our quilt guild, it was a kit, and the maple leaves were all wrong. so we had to get some more material and make them right. But it turned out great.

I have no idea, but I would definitely get a contract signed and be sure to let her know that this isn't a project that can be done in a couple of days or even a week. That all quilting takes time, and your time is as valuable as those in plumbing, electrical, automotive repair, etc. and they always charge an hourly rate for labor, plus parts. When I decorated cakes for the public, I charged by the slice, plus extra for extra decorations, roses, lattice, etc. I once had a lady who wanted a wedding cake done and when I quoted her a starting price, she thought I was too high. Her husband was a locksmith and I informed her my time was as valuable to me as his was to him, and he charged for parts and for his labor. She went somewhere else, but I didn't lose sleep over it. You also need to include the factors of thread, batting, backing and whatever else that is not included in the kit. Your labor is worth a lot my dear. I don't think $800 is at all too high, maybe just a little low. I don't quilt for the public because most don't want to pay for your time and ability. If she isn't happy with your quote, then too bad. Do you really want to do this particular pattern, if you don't please do not commit yourself to something you will regret getting into.

About a million dollars, and you can pick it up in 2112, cos that's when I will have it finished :lol:

Do you think someone would pay me the $75/hour I have to pay my plumber? Can I have their phone number?? :lol: :lol: :lol:

I also went to the Charm City Cakes website (that's the "Ace of Cakes" guy) and their cakes START at 1000 dollars and go up from there... suffice to say, my daughter got her sweet 16 cake from a local baker instead ("only" 300 dollars, but it was worth it!) :-D

Thanks everyone for your advise. I am going to rethink making this quilt as I don't think I can be paid fairly for my time. For the time I would take on this quilt I could be making one for me! Knowing this customer and the area in which we live, there is no way I could charge $800. for this quilt. She may even struggle with $200. This womans daughter buys these kits for her mom, sight unseen. I may just offer to purchase the kit from her or maybe trade her a longarm quilting job for it. Either way, I will be ahead.

Sewing is a skill, even if you are sewing a straight line but you are also having to keep two pieces of material together at the same time. You'd be somewhat surprised at how many people can't do or won't sewing. Fine sewing is learned just like being the plumber, or guy/gal who repairs cars and look how much they charge for their skills. I have done some custom clothes (bridemaids) and I tell the client up front how much I will charge and it's up to them to decide and I require a down payment. Get a clean understanding from your client.

Fabulous discussion here. As I sell my quilts, I have this pricing problem too. I have had other sellers on artfire tell me that they appreciate the way I price my items. Many folks can't even be covering fabric costs for the prices they ask. I'm not "giving" anything away. $800 is certainly reasonable - and if you can't get it - don't do it. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Way to cheap. Think of how many hours it will take to do that and multiply it by the amount you want to be paid per hour.

Sounds like a plan - - -

I think you made a great decision!

Good decision, hope you get the kit!!!

I think you are making a very wise decision. Hope you can get the kit , I know you would do a great job on quilting it.

Very good idea. You will be happier and can get to your own sewing more quickly.

I once had someone offer $400.00 for a quilt that I had made for myself. It happens that I had kept pretty good track of how long it took me to make it. The $400.00 worked out to about 83 cents an hour!

Yes. Non quilters just do not comprehend.
.................
You might also tell her your cost would be more than you 'feel' she would want to pay. When she ask, show her a generic worksheet leaving some room for adders. There may be a day in her future she wants to save to have you do the quilt of her dreams./Regards, Dorothy

That pattern looks like a quilt that I saw in a quilt show.
I would charge at least $1000.00

I have done quilts chosen by a personal request. First I charge them for any fabric that is used. Then I charge 2.5 cents per square inch for the work. I chose to do only simple patterns and simple quilting. You can charge more if the designs are more complicated and the quilting is more complicated. Most people I know do not have that kind of money.

Whatever you charge, I bet it won't be enough!!!

I am an applique nut so I know how labor intense it is if you needle turn. I am having the same delima for an elderly gentleman that wants a queen size quilt because he remembers them on his Grandmother's bed. He is a really sweet old guy, and I know he's on a fixed income, so I hope he wants something simple that I can do fairly fast.