if you want to make money making quilts it is very important to discuss cost before any purchases or cutting a single fabric- people who do not quilt have no idea what goes into making one- i hope the person you made these for expects the $300 you spent already ---or you may be in for an unpleasant surprise---
and to expect more is kind of wishful thinking- all money matters should be discussed in the beginning.
since it is next to impossible to really know how long you will take to piece, quilt, bind ect- a "rule of thumb" for pricing arts & crafts is materials x 3---the fact that you spent $300 on materials really makes this an unrealistic amount for a kids quilt- in the future you may want to have the recipient purchase the fabrics/batting ect themselves- then you can just charge for your time.

I've posted this before but it bears repeating here. I used to have this posted on the wall in my shop in Dallas, TX, and got many "aha" comments from quilters and non-quilters alike. Now I bring it out on occasions like the one described and say, " I hardly expect someone to actually pay me over $10,000 to make a quilt, although there ARE nationally known quilt artist receiving that regularly, but minimum wage consideration would be nice considering the hours that go into making one, wouldn't you think?"

What It Really Costs To Make a Quilt

QUEEN SIZED, MACHINE PIECED, HAND QUILTED

MATERIALS:

Fabric 12-16 yards @ $9per yd. $108 - $144 (This was figured 3+ years ago!)
Batting $25 - $40
Thread $8 - $16

Total $ invested $141 - $200


LABOR HOURS:

Piecing 20 to 60 hours
“Setting” (designing your quilt) 10 to 20 hours
Quilting 100 to 750 hours

Total hours invested 130 to 810 hours


TOTAL COST

Paying $1 per hour (Would you do this type of work for $1 an hour?!)

Materials $141 - $200
Labor $130 - $810
Total $271 - $1070


Paying minimum wage $7.25 (by law in 6/2009)

Materials $141 - $200
Labor (130-810hrs) $942.50 - $5872.25
Total $1083.50 - $6072.25


Paying skilled labor wage $20 per hour (Do you consider yourself trained and skilled labor in this craft?)

Materials $141 - $200
Labor (130-810hrs) $2600 - $16,200
Total $2741 - $16,400


(Found on the Internet 1995; unknown author)

Jan in VA

My good friend asked me to make a queen sized wedding quilt for her 32 year old daughter whom I haven't seen in over 20 years. She said she thought that would make a really nice gift, with no mention as to who would be paying for this really nice gift me or her. I just told her it was too expensive for me to make quilts as gifts. Peggy

I *never* give people a price for just the fabric and batting. Anytime I'm spending time making something for somebody else is time I'm getting farther behind on my own stuff. They can pay me for my time or do it themselves.

I just say "no", not doing it. Even told my dear friend,"no". Been taken in twice, not again!

Copied and saved this, thank you!

What an excellent idea to take the person who wants the quilt to the LQS and let them pick out and pay for the fabric, thread and batting. Even if we don't get paid for the time, stress and/or frustration at least we aren't out the money for materials.

My cousin asked me to make a quilt for him to give his sister for christmas. We talked about colors and a pattern and I told him I didn't think it would cost more than 200.
The quilter for some reason charged me 185 just to quilt it! So, yeah, I was out a lot of money. When I sent it to him, he asked how much and I said "I didn't think it would cost more than 200, so that's fine". so, that's what he sent me. oh well... live and learn

Nancy Lee has it right. We want everything at cheap prices, but then wonder where all the jobs have gone. We cannot have our cake and eat it too. My husband has made us some beautiful furniture pieces. People will say, why don't you make it and sell it? Well, we have a 5 piece entertainment center, an original one of a kind design. To make it for someone else, you are looking at $11,000 minimum. How many people do you know who would be willing to pay that? Yes, I know the market exists, but we have no idea how to tap that market and unless it was a commission, we don't have the money for speculative pieces. My husband is not young so he isn't looking for a new career. He does what he likes when he feels like it and that is all he wants his crafting to be at this stage of our lives. Quilting is the same way, unless you are willing to put in the time and energy to develop a realistic market, having it as a creative outlet and helping those in need is enough. Family is tricky, as we all have different dynamics and levels of communication. Having spent many years communicating with students, parents and fellow teachers I would like to humbly offer this observation: What we assume someone else means or what they assume we mean is rarely completely accurate. You have to say what you mean and mean what you say. Just sayin'...:)

I have a friend in the moving business and every time someone in the church was moving they just expected he would do it for them for free. One day he asked the jeweler if he could get a ring for his soon to be bride since he had been expected to donate his business for free maybe the jeweler should too. Well, you can imagine the look on the jewelers face when he understood that because he owned the store he would be expected to give his goods for free. They never had anyone else asking to be moved for free. These people that expect quilts for free wouldn't give you the time of day for free. We just need to stand up for ourselves.