I quilt because I like to not because I have to. People tell me I could sell things I make but then the "hobby" would be gone.

I learned the hard way to "JUST SAY NO". It's sew easy now, it just comes out before I even have time to think about it! LOL! I only sew what I want to sew for my enjoyment.

Yes Jan, it seems surprising. . . until you think about it. There are over 100,000 people on this board. How many of them are regular readers of our wonderful advice? ? ? LOL And there are new people coming on every day. We need to rehash things every once in a while.

We all have stories like this .I would bet..as said those who don't quilt do not know the time or money involved..I learn the hard way ..I now like u have them buy everything..then quote a price..it is surprising how many decide they can live without a quilt..I am the only one in my WHOLE family that quilts..so even if I do it for free for them they buy all..that stops a lot of it..unless for something special..hopefully u can sell the quilt..maybe after she see the price she will re-think ..and take the one already made..if not it will make someone a great gift later.

I'm so very sorry you got burned by this lady. The ONLY way I take or do a commision for someone (even friends and family), is if we sit down and fill out an order form (you can get a carbonless box at any business store, they come in different sizes they have the white original and the yellow copy). When we are talking I put down what they are asking for - :ie - 1 (or 10), twin sized quilt, bright colors (no brown or what ever), the pattern to be used if they know or scrappy (again what ever), anything special to be added to the quilt (names, words, embellishments, matching shams or dust ruffles, etc.). After all is filled out with the date of the order and the amount of the deposit (the bottom of the receipt always says after cutting of fabric is started "NO" refund of deposit can be given), so times people want to change the color or pattern. I have the person read over all that I have listed and sign and date the bottom of the order when they give me the deposit. I know this sounds hard, but we shouldn't have to eat mistakes. My friends and family know I will make them quilts or let them come pick out a quilt I have finished, and I will give that to them very happily. If I'm wanting to just make them a quilt because, I will ask questions like color, etc. But if they are coming with a request, then they are just like anyone else with filling out the book (they only pay for the fabric). They know they are getting a deal (family and friends, because they only pay for fabric), because they are getting what they want for themselves or as a gift for someone else. You can care an order book with you, or you can tell the person with the request to meet for coffee and fill it out then. People will only treat you the way you let them treat you, so be better to yourself.

I post pics of the quilts I make on my FB page. I'm always getting comments from people 'thinking' they want to buy them. One of my cousin's wife posted one time regarding a KS quilt I made, "I bet you could get $600 for the quilt." I had $750 in fabrics, thread, batting and quilting in it!

So sorry you wound up in this predicament. Unless they quilt themselves, nobody can appreciate all the money that goes into a quilt, fabric, batting, backing, thread, to say nothing of paying you a decent price for your labor. I think Pegasus and lynnie gave good advice. Since you cannot possibly make another identical quilt, give her a new quote for two quilts, maybe even take her to a quilt shop to choose and pay for her fabrics or at least give you a deposit of one-third of the cost of fabrics, so she will realize the actual costs of making quilts. If she declines, then so be it. I realize you now have a twin size quilt you may not have made otherwise, perhaps there is a charity in your area that could use the quilt, plus it would be a tax deduction. Good luck, but I think all of us have been in somewhat similar positions in the past at one time or another. I once made a commission quilt for my best friend who wanted a quilt for her new log home (the builder said it was too big to be a log cabin-LOL), of course I only charged her about $100, although the majority of the quilt came from my stash and she is my best friend. She loves it, is proud to hang it in her home and I learned so much from making that quilt.

doesn't matter if you want to make a profit or make for cost. Doesn't matter if you are selling online, at church or to a relative - ALWAYS GET IT IN WRITING. It can be as simple as 'I want to make sure I get your request correct' or 'I can forget things sometimes, so let me write it down' all the way to a formal contract. Just get it in writing.

I paid $189 just to have a quilt quilted, but not bound. (It was 110" x 120"). For $100 dollars total, for a whole quilt, I would expect it to be shodily done, by someone in a third world country. I would expect to pay much more for even a twin quilt. You gave her a gift of your art, and it was not good enough? She needs to get her "matching twin quilts" at Walmart. That is what she is budgeting for, so point her there. You deserve much more for your art. Would a DeVinci sell, or be worth much to you, if I offered it at $5? If you got a famous painting for cheap, would you value it? Would you trust it to be real? JMHO (Steps off soap box and slinks away silently......)

I agree with this. In fact, this may be mean but I would not do another quilt(s) for her. You have already made one and she didn't specify that she wanted 2 and they had to be the same. I would probably be doing a slow burn while working on 2 more for her.