I have been sewing all my life but only this past year began quilting. I prefaced my start with conversations among friends about it being a "business" and sold my first quilt just before Christmas. She paid for the fabric when we picked it out and then paid $250 for my time...not a bad deal but hardly profitable...it was king size and fully machine quilted!

"A close friend"???????? IMHO, That seems either ignorant or very mean....to me anyway. I'm sorry that happened to you....must have really hurt.

Here's an idea I got from a skilled carpenter. When he went to look at a job, and then gave an estimate, if the owner objected to the price he would say, "Do you want to save some money?" Always a "Yes" "Then do it yourself." That always shut them up!! LOL!

Since I don't make tops, this is a lot easier for me. I tell them to buy (or make) the top, the backing and the batting and I charge $150, $200, or $250 (depends on size) for the quilting. I also inform them that it will be a long time for hand-quilting. That's all I charge because I enjoy doing it. I figure if I can get paid to do my hobby, it's a good thing!

I always tell them upfront what it will cost. What gets me is that people ask me often if I will "donate" a quilt for one cause or another. I usually tell them what it costs to make one--> fabric, batting, thread, backing, quilting and tell them I'll donate my time if they pay the costs. When they're told what it costs...they never take me up on my offer!!

Some folks also think that just because one may have a lot of fabric in one's stash - that somehow it just "appeared" there - with no idea of the money tied up in "inventory"

I made a baby quilt for a gal to give to her new granddaughter a few years back. I wasn't used to sewing for other people and was surprised myself at what I was out just for fabric and batting! I charged her $75, which was for materials and quilting. I didn't even charge her for the time I put in making the quilt. I had told her she could probably go out and buy one cheaper than I could make one, but she insisted I do it. She was shocked at the $75 and made a disparaging remark. Now I give an up-front estimate before I do a job. I'm still pretty cheap, but I at least make something out of it! And I don't do many for other people....I try to stick with my family...and that keeps me pretty busy.

Off topic but you must like Dire Straights too. Maybe you should have given them the chicks.

All I asked for was for a picture of the teen with the quilt at home in her room so I could add closer to my blog story about it... its been three weeks plus... saw lots of pictures of this teen on fb doing this and that but not one of her quilt. She barely said thank you and she is the one that asked me to make it, and I did it for free, no money up front no how because I knew she didn't have it and because of her situation at home I really wanted to show her some love. I have asked her twice since for the picture... I won't ask again. I have lots of people that ask me for a quilt but not one has ever said they would even buy the fabric, they have no clue. So now I am trying to do some stuff I want to do, for me!

If it were my daughter, she would have had to buy a gift, I would feel perfectly justified in asking for materials cost. Since it was my daughter, I might let the labor slide.