I never offer to make a quilt for anyone unless I want to give them a gift of a quilt I made. I make quilts for children's hospital and nursing homes. That's the extent of my making quilts for anyone. When someone asks me what I would charge to make a quilt I say Nothing, because I don't quilt for anyone but me.

my son asked me last week to make a full size and twin size bunkbed size quilts for his girlfriend's daughter...because, if she has to buy them from the store...it would cost her $150.
I'm not making her 2 quilts...you and I know how much it would cost me...and I wouldn't be paid for them.

If you adopt a wait & see attitude I fear that is what you'll be left doing"waiting & seeing nothing". Why are we all so afraid to give people a price for our hard work and artistic skills. I can hear a lot of you saying Oh! I don't have artistic skills, but you do. You are quilters - not everyone does it and a lot would say "can't be bothered". If someone asks you to make a quilt tell them up front. If they choose not to go ahead just go back to your own work. They will be the losers.
The stress of wondering what to say is not worth it.

When someone asks, I smile and say sure, lets' go pick out the fabric! It is always way more money than they expect! So I happily make most of my quilts for charity. I love to process and know they will be used and loved. I make cuddle under quilts, not always perfect but the very best I can do

I won't start on a quilt unless I have monies in hand.

Just remember you can say "no". Practice this :)

Seriously this comes up so often on this board. Its great that quilters are so generous but too often we end up in a bind like this.

My rule is I don't so for anyone unless I offer. Then they usually are expected to pay materials and I make sure to be specific about this before starting.

Waiting and seeing will end up with a lot of waiting and not much seeing.

Sorry this happened to you.

Bernie, that is a wonderful way to handle the situation. I will remember that. Since I decided this would be my year to make what I wanted, it is going to be easy for me to say "maybe next year dear."

I think that most people think they are going to get a bargain if they have someone make something rather than by ready-made at a store. And, I also think most people do not have a clue what fabric/notions cost!!! I imagine in this case you have a good reason for not pressing for pmt for you time but I sure would (in the future) explain that in addition to the cost of the materials that you will need to be paid X amt for your time.

My wonderful husband did this for me. I made a quilt for my MIL and gave the top to her for Christmas (I wanted her to choose the quilting pattern). She said thank you, but seemed underwhelmed. My husband (her son) stepped in and told her she needed to call her insurance company and have it insured for $7000. Her mouth dropped open and she asked why? He replied in great detail, telling her how much time I had spent making it, and he turned the top over and showed her each and every seam, and told her that I had put every single stitch in it. This quilt was a monster at 120" x 120", with over 9000 pieces. She finally understood and was so overwhelmed that she started crying.

Making my MIL cry - priceless! tee hee hee

Bad girl, bad girl! (tee hee hee)

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!!

I agree, that many people want to take advantage of your skill. Everyone is looking for a deal, my husband is Htg/Air conditioning teacher, many times someone asks him to come look at there a/c, he fixes it and they'll ask what do I owe you, he says whatever you think its worth, they hand him a $20 which doesn't even pay him gas for him to get there. Taking advantage of someone with a kind heart.
I usually give people a good deal on a quilt if they are my friends. But my husband has his brothers neighbor, people he doesn't know, and once this happens, they expect him to keep their furnace going for 10 plus years.
Moral of the story, up front say $250 plus cost of materials... (that is what I estimated for a t shirt quilt, start to finish)
kind heart is great, but it doesn't pay the electric bill.

This has been what I've learned to do also over the years. I've even offered to help people learn how to do it on their own but after a trip to the fabric store they change their mind :D

I enjoyed virtualbernie's reply as well as others "take them shopping."
But don't forget to add in the cart quilting notions, pins, needles, cutting mats, rulers, cutting implements, starch, threads batting like you were just making a quilt for the first time. Hey you had to prepay for all that too. Let alone all the machines you may use. Add up all that stuff they forget about too. Then when they get shocked, and snotty tell them your not even asking for payment of education! Not to say the sewing time. See what happens then. If you use a LQS ask them if they mind you setting up a basket of notions like mentioned and add them up. Explain why and you would even be willing to put them away afterward too.

May even be a good idea for LQS to have a pre set basket on display for gift giving ideas
I also have an embroidery machine people think you push a button so I set up a time for them to come sit a spell while I do something simple like putting on a name or worse yet digitizing the logo. Why do they think you shouldn't get the 75.00 logo charge. . I seldom get asked
I prefer to do what I want, not what I have to do. Much more fun that way.
dawn227
Rochester NY

Old, ugly quilt
 

Yes, it did hurt, but what really made it laughable was to see a handmade quilt on the gift table at the reception! It was lap sized and a preprinted panel fabric, which is fine, but IMHO, not the level of quilt that I had shown her. So the wedding couple received an "old, ugly quilt" anyway. It was probably mean of me to think it funny, and I never mentioned it to the mother. After that experience, when I showed the friend another quilt, I mentioned how much it cost from initial fabric to the cost of having it quilted. Her eyes popped! So, sometimes it's better to wait and educate folks than ask for an apology. It did hurt, though, and I have stopped sharing my quilts that way.

This is a great idea I have been trying to come up with some formula. Thank you for sharing this. I used it to compare to some I have sold and this is very close and much easier than the way I was doing it.

Kelley, you have a good heart. However, at some point, you may realize that the name you have out there is that of one others can (and will) take advantage of. If you do not value your services, others will not, either.

My stock reply is no but I can teach you how to do this and help you make one if you are interested. Nobody ever takes me up on it.

I gave that black white and red purse to a charity over the weekend. It was stuffed with 350 bucks worth of wrapped items so they had to bid on it blind just knowing that the "stuff" was worth $350....thought that would be fun. One of the more affluent women in the group quit bidding at 200 and then came over to ask me if I would make her one just exactly like that. No but you can bid on that one!

I have a lot of people ask if my quilts are for sale or ask if I will make them one and my answer is no. They would have to get in line behind my ufo's and it is a very long line. Every now and then, I will make one to order, but very seldom. I made a small quilt for one of my patients, his wife had asked me to. He is 90 yrs old. It was a picture of the ship he served on in Canada. He actually was in the service in the USA and Canada, served in the navy for both!! Amazing. I had his wife sneak a picture of him on the boat. It was a such a surprise to him, he actually cried when I gave it to him. Made me cry. I did not charge him for it, I just wanted to do it for them. His wife came in a week later and gave me a thank-you card with $50 in it!!
I had a woman tell me awhile back that I could make a lot of money on my wall rugs, even up to $40!! I smiled and thanked her for the compliment and shook my head when out of view. I love quilting and so far I don't need to sell them. So many people do not realize the time and money and skills that go in to them.

I have had similar experiences. I have made T-shirt quilts for some of the students from my children's high school. I have charged between $150 - $250 depending upon the size of the quilt. I have had several people decide not to do it when I tell them the cost. Most recently I explained to someone who asked that for a Twin size quilt it would take 6-7 yards of fabric for the back at $10/yard. Then there was the cost of batting, and thread for another $30 dollars. There would be additional fabric needed if borders or sashing was added. In addition I would need something for my time - designing/piecing/quilting. She said she would gather the shirts - but I am not holding my breath.

I was asked to make a quilt for a friend. I gave her the materials list and asked her to choose her color combinations at the LQS. She was astounded at the price and decided not to have me make the quilt even with free labor.

sewsecksy
 

Yes I am just now finishing the second of two quilts which I have embroidered the middle and built a quilt around. I did have my friend purcharse all the materials and I have charged her $200.00 a piece to make and quilt them. And since she does know the value of time and talent.
Johanna

Oh, I hope they paid for the material up front!...or you may be in for a rude surprise! Don't give the quilts till they pay for the fabric at least.

If this was a friend or coworker...and you don't have a regular quiltmaking business (even from home)...you may have just volunteered your services!

Very Nice Peckish! GiGi

You sound like my kind of quilter. I love to piece tops, but hate to quilt them. You don't by any chance live in the Kansas City, MO area, do you?

No, but the mail comes here every day except Sunday! :)
Send me a PM if you want to

Whenever someone asks me to make something for them, I always say, " We'll go to the fabric store and you can buy the fabric, the batting, and the backing. Then I'll make the quilt." Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. Sometimes they are put out and surprised that I expect them to pay for the materials. I don't mind giving my time because I love building the quilt. I also tell them the name of a long arm quilter to get it quilted.

Also those who do pay for the fabric, etc.. always say that they are very surprised at how much it all costs - they had no idea!

I've had a couple of friends ask me to make a quilt for someone and have gone as far as to give them a list of supplies. I write down how much 100% cotton fabric, batting and even thread to purchase, and tell them when they get those together to let me know. I don't make enough to really have to figure out how much to charge for my time but if too many start asking for quilts that will also be discussed. There's a reason it's said to never "do business" with family and friends. It's because they think everything grows on a neat, nice, little tree in the backyard. LOL!!

People ask me all the time to give them a quote for a quilt. I lay it all out fabric costs, pattern, batting, etc. I seldom hear back from them again. Oh well. I have enough projects to keep me busy that deal with someone that wants to get something like a hand made quilt for nothing.

I sure have. Made a quilt for a friend(so called).Went with her to pick fabric out.She paid for that.Bit I ran out of the fabric.she kept changeing the size 1st full went all the way to a king.It took me over 80 hours to make.All I got for paymet was what she paid for the fabric.Which was 56$. I had to put another 33$ for extar fabric. so never paid any other maoney to me.I learned real fast. NEVER AGAIN!!!!!! I do everything up front now.

My daughter had a friend whose cousin wanted me to make a tee-shirt quilt from her daughter's high school and college tees. I went online to check out the styles (with and without sashing, cornerstones, etc.) and costs of these quilts done by commercial businesses. I sent a link to the woman so she could look at the various styles and prices, then get back to me about what she wanted done. The sites were charging $250-350 and I told her that as a courtesy, I would do it for a little less than the business charged. Never heard from her again!!! Perhaps we should all have sites to which we can refer potential customers to so they get a dose of reality before they expect us to make a quilt for $20.