i have done 3 quilts for my sisters , i let them pick and buy out the material and backing if i needed a certain color thread that i dont have i tell them to purchase it also , that is all they have to pay, they are my sisters so i dont charge them but they get it when i am done (no deadline on finishing it)and it is for them not anyone else !!! they love there quilts and cherish them

My SIL never realized when I gave him a specially made quilt a few years ago that it was worth money. When he divorced my daughter he gave her the quilt, which she returned to me to sell since he had never used it and thought of it as "nothing." Since it was a hand made Seattle Seahawks lap quilt, I auctioned it off and got $350.00 plus postage to mail it to the buyer. He was surprised when I sent my daughter the check. Oh well.

I do like Virtualbernie. I give them a price quote for my labor based on the quilt pattern they think they want and explain the price may change if they decide they want a different pattern. Next I give them a list of everything they will need to purchase for the quilt and let them know I will go to the LQS with them if they would like for me to do so. This lets everyone know in advance what to expect as far a cost and also weeds out those that are expecting to either get a free quilt or pay $25 for one.

I also let my family and friends know that I may be retired but this is my new job and that I do not work for free. LOL

I say yes when I want to make a quilt for someone and put them on my list accordingly. People who I don't know to well I tell them they can go to the bottom of my list and wait when I really don't want to make them a quilt. My list is very long and my granddaughters and daughters have the option of always going to the top of the list. I also have the option of putting anyone I like on the top including myself. So for those on the bottom they have to just keep waiting.

I'm running into the same sort of problem right now. I have been trying to make so extra money to help foot the bill for all the quilts that I've been making for the soldiers. Last year I spent well over $5,000. just in materials. I'm not complaining it was something I wanted to do but in order to keep this going I was going to make a quilt to raffle off and use the money I get from it to buy more fabric for that cause. Well in talking with a lady that is involved with helping me distribute some of the quilts to the hospital, I some how ended up agreeing to making about 6 quilts. One to raffle off and the others will be given to the soldiers at the VA hospital. So I'm feel like I'm stuck footing the bill again without even knowing if I can get enough out of the raffling of one to pay for the fabrics.

Now she did bring me some scrap materials that she had picked up from who knows where and a lot of it I can't use because it really stained. Looks like it had gotten wet some where and bled on each other. First of all, I have never done a scrappy quilt, I just don't know where to start. I guess I'll have to learn huh! After washing most every thing she brought me by hand (because the pieces are to small for normal washing, I find that most of the pieces are not fit to be used. So I guess I'm back to square one, using my own fabrics and NEVER asking anyone for help in keeping me going on this. I figure if I can't afford to do it, then it's time to stop. So heart breaking since I really enjoy doing it.

Anyway, be thankful that she at least pays for the fabrics but I agree with every ones else, they have NO IDEA what it cost or the time it takes to make them. It's hard to tell family members NO but I'm learning that some times you have to whether it's family or not.

I don't mind spending the time or effort on a quilt..because that is what I like to do..but when someone wants a quilt, I tell them sure, get me the fabric and we'll see what we come up with...and I leave it at that..if they come to me with the fabric great but if not I guessed they saw just how expensive fabric can be and changed their minds...works for me and I don't spend any monies on fabric...

I agree with Carreen, very will put.

About a year ago, a young man I knew from church started talking to me about making him a quilt for his upcoming wedding. I told him I would be glad to do it if he furnished the fabric, but that I would charge him for the labor. He then said he had some clothing that he would like me to use for the quilt. I then told him there would be extra charge for cutting up the clothes. I quoted him $350-$400 for a complete quilt, no matter what fabric was used. He finally got the message and I haven't heard from him again.

This is what a "close friend" said???? Ask for an apology!

OTOH you occasionally get a really good customer. I once was asked to make a Tumbling Blocks quilt from a picture in a book, of a vintage quilt, all in solids. We figured there were about 30 different colors to buy. We gave the buyer a price for the quilt, and told him, you can get the fabric, or for an extra $200, we will get the fabric. (This was 25 years ago)He said go ahead.
And when we delivered it, he paid in CASH from a big roll of bills!! Wish I had more customers like that!!