Quilting prices, good or what?
 

I live in a rural area in southern Illinois in a town of about 15,000. This morning I went to a very small QS in a small town close by. I was talking about the cost of quiling and she gave the name of some folks that quilt. I was suprised at how cheaply I can have a quilt done. Their prices range from $25.00 for a baby quilt up to $60.00 for a king size, if you supply the batting and backing of course. She also had a sheet of paper with all their quilting designs to choose from. The woman at the quilt shop has used these people herself and she was very satified.
Soooooo what do you think? Aren't the prices very resonable or am I wrong in thinking so? :sew::wave:

This sounds too good to be true to me, although I have never used a long arm quilter so I have nothing with which to compare.

I think they sound like they are setting up their machine and letting it do the quilting. If it's a utility quilt, that's fine. If you want a more personalized design with feathers and such, the price would possibly be higher.

I thought the same thing when she gave me the price sheet. I will probably let them quilt a throw that I'm making and see how it goes.

Great price. Let them do one and see if you like the quality of their work.

Here is a price list from a small shop near us in Claremont, NH. I've used their service and they did a nice job. I really like the people - it's a mother/son team. Remember there are many factors such as experience of the quilters, local economy and so forth. This page is very open about what they do. If you want something special, or hand guided designs, you need to talk to the quilter. http://fourpinesquilting.com/machine_quilting.php

Silly me, I immediately thought WOW!! As a hand quilter I couldn't begin to match those prices. I keep forgetting that the majority of those who post on this site machine or long arm their quilts. I paid a member of my guild $150 to long arm a king size quilt I gave my step-daughter for her 20th wedding anniversary. I had purchased the top from a vendor at our guild quilt show. I think the quilting was just a simple over all meander. I supplied the batting and backing. I got my husband to pay for the quilting as it is his daughter. Her marriage broke up within a year of that anniversary.

I would go and look at sample of their work.. if its exceptable to you go for it, but do it with a small project first. Where I am in IL that is a fabulous price.

My SIL does long arm quilting and those prices are about what she charges if you supply the batting and backing material. And if you want alot of specialized quilting done, she'll charge a little more, but not much. We live a small town though and she has a full time job on top of quilting.

I definitely would check their work. I keep my prices equal to the lowest around because I live in a rural area away from the city and I charge $.015 per square inch. Take the length times the width to get the square inches and see where they fall in line with what I charge. I also charge $1.00 per bobbin for pre-wound bobbins that way the denser the pattern you choose the higher the cost and vice versa.

I love to quilt your quilts but I refuse to work for less than minimum wage just to say I am busy.

That is so cheap it's scary.

I just picked one up from my quilter and she charged 83.00 for quilting an all over pattern, backing and 80/20 hobbs batting. The size is 96x96 and the quilter did a good job.

My longarmer (rural NH) also charges $.015 per square inch (for edge to edge hand guided) with a minimum charge of $40.00. At that rate, with no minimum charge, a baby quilt would be $29 and a king size would be $175. She quilts full time and is outstanding at it.

I agree with the others who advised seeing examples of this quilter's work before having her do any work, and not just give her something to "see how it goes". She's charging roughly $.013 psi for a crib quilt and $.005 psi for a king size one. Hard to figure why such a great difference, and like dunster said, scary. Be sure to get a written agreement up front.

I just keep thinking..."if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". :rolleyes:

I too charge .015 per square inch, which seems to be a common price in most places, other than larger cities (I'm in a rural area too). When the price is as low as you quote, I would be careful of the quality. Some LA quilters only have a few low density patterns, and you get what they happen to be in the mood to do that week, not necessarily a pattern that will enhance YOUR quilt top. They may only offer one or two colors of thread. They may not baste down the edges of the quilt as they work. (Yes, basting takes more time (more time = more $$), but it ensures that your finished quilt is square and straight.) Their stitch length may be uneven or too long (toe catchers! LOL). Their tension may be unbalanced. Is the quilt loaded and advanced carefully so there are no pleats or puckers on the backing when they are finished? When the thread breaks or bobbin runs out in the middle of a design, do they unpick enough to hide the new starting place, or just double stitch on top of the break for a half-inch or so? Do they have business insurance in case something happens to the quilts in their care?

If you just want the three layers of the quilt held together, and don't care about the items mentioned above, then it may be a good deal. Ask to see samples of their work, and if you do decide to try them, give them one top, something you don't care much about, to see how well you like their work.

Andi

I live in rural central Missouri. The quilters in our area charge what the lady from Illinois. They also for that price will provide batting of my choice and hem the quilt. I love it.

I've paid $150 a number of years ago for a twin size comforter to be done for my mom. I ask for feather design, but still thought it was extremely high.

years ago I had meandering stitching done on two quilts for just over $80.00. so yes, that is a good price if done well.

Sounds cheap! If they do a good job I'd go for it.
Cindy

Really! I'm glad I don't live where the wages are so low.
Cindy

That is less than half of what I pay for edge to edge no frills. Could the price be that much difference because of your location and the number of LAers vying for customers? It sounds too low to me.

I just paid almost 90.00 for a king size that they did a all over sports design, it wasn't custom, and they supply either cotton or poly batting..your choice. Si I would say go for it, sounds about right fr over all quilting. IMHO

My long arm quilter is 84 years old and does panto's across the entire quilt, all by her hand guiding the machine. She does very good work, a queen size quilt is $45 with me supplying backs and batting.

I think there are two things possibly at play here - the first being that prices vary greatly depending on where you are located...and also that with the increase of long arm owners - the cost of service is starting to level out. Fifteen years ago nobody had a long arm, so you might have to drive an hour or more to find someone with one of these mystery machines and pay a small fortune. Now just about everyone is free motion quilting and long arms are becoming more and more affordable to the average hobby quilter. So I would say, if she does a good job, chalk it up to changing times and enjoy! Also remember that there are different types of quilting - pantographs are a wonderful affordable option - but custom quilting will cost you a bit more while on the same note every square inch of your quilt will recieve a little more attention. ;)

Wish that person was around here.

I think that is fair for an all over pannogram. If it is for a quilt that you want to be used-not an heirloom-and you like her work try it with a small one to be sure. One other thing to consider is if you can just drop it off or if you have to send it-the shipping cost both ways adds an extra expense.

This lady's prices are about what my son and I charge for quilting; no difference in price for size differences, except for a baby quilt. He does stitch down all the edges, top and sides, if you want; or in the case of all-over free-hand design, he just goes clear to the edges; and the finisher has to use a stitched-on binding. A lot of the time, depending on my free time, I'll finish the sides for them myself (machine stitching the binding on one side and hand finishing on the back.)...if they leave enough extra fabric for me to do that.

I've never had a quilt quilted before, but I would think that I'd like to send them a small lap quilt or twin size, to see the quality and workmanship of their quilting. I think I'd rather do that than send out a king size quilt only to be disappointed. It's worth a chance, especially if you have received a recommendation from the LQS.

I agree! Look up references! Ask their relationship with the references also.

Where I am in Texas that is a very good price, although I use a LAQ who is quite reasonable, and I furnish batting and backing. Once again, the prices depend on what you want.

We are also in a rural southern town and we have a lady in a nearby town whose prices are similar and she has always done a great job. If it is a custom quilting job, she charges $125 for a queen size. She has done about 20 quilts for me. There are those who do it for the love of quilting and do not want to make a living out of it. I can understand charging more if you are trying to pay for an expensive machine or want to enter it in a show. My quilter has a 12 ft, $15,000 Gammill but got it for her own quilts and just does it as a past time. Good luck. You might want to try a small baby quilt and see if you like their work.

I have found it is so much cheaper in smaller rural towns. I have paid less than $30 for a king size and she supplied the batting. Just check the quality of work because it does vary.

wow, those prices sound very, very reasonable... like all of the previous posts, you just want to see what you're going to get for your money. Please share your experience, it might be worth some of us mailing our quilts to your little rural area for quilting if they do a quality job.

Ooh do you mind sharing the name of your quilter? I have several tops that I would like to have quilted for me. I am in the St. Louis burbs also. PM me.

Mary

Wow, I am glad I don't live there! I do longarm quilting as a business and my prices start at $0.02/sq. inch up to $0.10/sq. inch. I mostly do custom quilting, not edge to edge, and mine is all hand-guided, not computerized. My customers supply their own backing and batting or they can buy their batting from me if they want. You definitely want to see samples of their work and know definitely what you are getting for your money. I can't do quality work that fast - even working with a friend's longarm that is computerized, I spent 12 hours a day for 8 days working on my daughter's wedding quilt...I will finish it on my longarm! If you just want a simple pattern, they may be able to help you out!

Thats close to what I paid my last 2 LA and they are great!!!!!

quilting price
 

King size $60 that's GREAT pricge.

$60 for quilting King Size quilt that is a great price!!!!

prices are phenomenal and she will be inundated with quilts. I also use a lady in WV. for a few of my quiltsa

GREAT price $60 for King size.