I have been asked to take some T Shirts of my DH'd friend and make a quilt from them. First would you tie the quilt or machine quilt it (stitch in the ditch?) and what would you charge to make it? I don't know yet what size/how many shirts she wants so any ideas would be helpful. Thanks!

I have been commissioned to make T-shirt quilts, queen size, tied every 3". The client had to provide the T-shirts I provided all other material and charge $450. This was several years ago. Today I would charge $500. If you look on line for places that do it that is the common going rate. They are quite a bit of extra work because you have to put some sort of interfacing on each T-shirt so the blocks won't stretch out of shape in the piecing process. They sew together quickly but the prep time is what gets ya.

If I were you I would go to etsy.com and just do a search to find what you were going to make. Just try to find a quilt similar to what you are making and go around that price.

Nice timeing with the question.Someone has asked me to make a t-shirt quilt also. I'm like you, in a quandry over what to charge. I will be following this thread for suggestings.
Thank you.

If you WANT to make it........you charge X amount of dollars.
If you really don't want to make it 4 times as much!! :?

I saw a demo at last year's Quilt Market in which gridded interface was used in its construction. The pattern, which contains the grid "i believe" is from
www.crookednickel.com. Go to their web site and click under Memories to a T. There is a video that explains the technique. It looks easy.

WOW!! I did one for free, she brought me the t-shirts and bought the material. I may reconsider and do some for pay!!

I've seen them going for $350 - $500. Like you said just depends on the size.

The only time I did one for free was when it was for a dear friend. Free for family too. Every one else pays!

I made one for myself, out of old shirts and t-shirts last winter. For a guy, the t-shirt material was a pain in the ...... behind to work with--had to be stabilized, sizes aren't uniform, different weights, yuk! I'll not be doing another, paid or otherwise. But, that's just my opinion.

It all depends on size really. I finished one for christmas and I charged her $ 425. It was full size. Picture below. I used decorative stitching.

That is absolutely fantastic! $425? That woman should have paid way more than that for what you did, you do beautiful work.

Hi, I just posted pics of the memorial tee shirt quilt I just completed for a friend. Here is the link http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-108249-1.htm

The one I did was QAYG. I did FMQ on each square, with a different quilting design, after outlining the designs on the shirts. It took me 5 months to do, working almost every evening for a few hours (I work full time). I was very careful with each and every step, since these shirts were entrusted to me by my dear friend, in memory of her son, and thus were irreplaceable.

I made 15" finished squares, and 36 of them made a 90x 90" quilt. If you need more information, please feel free to PM me.

When I try to calculate the time spent and the batting and new fabric for the backing and sashing, I don't think anyone would want to pay what I would have to charge for a quilt like this!

Thank you. I have made a few of these. What I also had to do was send out to have the initials done. Which cost me 25 dollars. I ate the cost of this one. As everyone here on this board knows....when someone asks for prices of your work usually they won't come back. No matter how much we charge it's still to much! This particular quilt my DH's co worker said she had 3 other friends that wanted the same type of quilt....So I gave her a little break. Well you can guess.....I never heard from them! A little disappointed. But I have learned.

I just checked out the pictures of your quilt and it is beautiful. I really like the different quilting designs on each block. Whoever get that quilt should be extremely happy with it.

Your quilt is awesome. I need to consider putting a border on the ones that I do.

I really like the way you did the different quilting in each block... very nice job.

It never ceases to amaze me that someone would ask you to make a quilt, and think that your labor is not even worth $1/hour! I've made/sold several t-shirt quilts and I don't apologize for my prices. I will include up to about 25 shirts in a quilt for $320 total. I always make a coordinating pillow case to either use with or store their quilt in as well. When I total up my cost in a quilt, I assume full retail prices. I see not reason to pass my frugal shopping skills on to the customer.

nice job on all the pics......i usually tell everyone 20$ an hour ...that way if someone wants something really difficult ..cost covered

Be-warn I have a friend who way under charges for her work. A few months back she was asked what she would charge to make a T-shirt quilt, she stated $50. to make one. This was not for a friend nor a relative. Well guess what happened? The lady took her up on it and told her she wants 12 done with 8 of them being done by Christmas, when she dropped off the T-shirts, yes 13 bags filled with T-shirts. I told her she better ask/tell the lady that she also needs to pay for the interfacing, batting and extra fabric. Which the lady did end up agreeing to pay for the extras, but so far my friend bought a bolt of interfacing right after the T-shirts drop off and was suppose to be paid back for the bolt that week and it took nearly 2 months as she just got the $ today (Firday) and now needs another bolt of interfacing if not more.

I charge $15 per shirt for a bare bones quilt. For smaller ones I have a set price - 9 shirts is $150, 12 shirts is $200. After that it's $15/shirt -- 20 shirts is $300, 30 shirts is $450. I have 3 to make this summer and am not taking orders after that. It's the most requested thing I do, but I don't want to JUST do this!

Here's a top .... I'll use Quilter's Dream Poly for the batting since it only requires quilting to be every 12". The template I use is 14 X 18 so I generally just echo quilt around the graphics. I will take pieces I haven't used and applique' them into the blank spaces on blocks where the graphic is small. (The "CC" with an arrow in the second pic is appliqued on the block.

Again - this is as basic as you can get. This quilt with 12 shirts is 60 X 84. The vertical sashing and borders are wider than the horizontal ones to make up for the narrowness of the block (14 X 18). I've found that the larger graphics work best with this size. I also have a 15" square if there are no large graphics - and have even been known to make a row of squares alternating with a row of rectangles.

I'm going to make a king and will charge $650.

I have made several t-shirt quilts for other people. The most I have charged was $250 for approximately a twin size. Several people never contacted me again when they heard the price. I am don't use stabilizer or interfacing unless the t-shirt is very thin. I also might use stabilizer if the shirt is mesh (like a basketball jersey). I quilt each block differently. I use the 'Too Cool' layout method.The blocks are not all the same size. They are in increments of 4 inches. for example 4x4, 4x8, 4x12, 4x 16 - up to 16 x 16. The block size is determined by the size of the design/logo on the shirt. I do not use sashing strips. I do put a cotton border on the quilt top and cotton backing. Here is a link to a post showing one of my T-shirt quilts.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...e-t171597.html - look for the entry by lakekids.

I inform future client that first T-shirts quilts are great and wonderful memory keeper. Then, to avoid sticker shock I tell them $25 per shirt and it takes at least 8 shirts to make a good lap quilt. This is a great sales helper they do the math and in their head $25 is not bad, even though the total will still be $200 and up. Its easier pill to swallow than saying $200 and up. Good luck with your quilt and please post pictures when you are done :-)

Hello, I just watched the demo from www.crookednickel.com. What a great concept! Although it looks like it can only be done with all the same sized blocks, I would do this! I'm wondering f there is a way to do use this same technique with all different size t shirt blocks.... have you ever heard or seen any? Thank you!

I just finished a queen size tshirt quilt. Charged $22 sq foot. Total $1540.... lucky if I made $8.00/hr!

I have charged $20 a block with the other person paying for all supplies. And learned very quickly that I cut the Tshirts not the client. The first one I did she cut all the Tshirts and that was a very big problem since there was no seam allowance.that one was a gift so there was no charge for that one. I felt comfortable at this price for all the work that goes into making one. with 20 blocks. so the entire quilt was $400 for myself.

I charge $350 for a twin/double, and $400 for a queen. I wouldn’t do any bigger than queen, because the quilt is so heavy.

I had a quilt friend who charged $25 per block and that would cover the cost of stabilizer, all fabric for front, back & binding, batting and machine quilting and, of course, her time. She was really quick with them so she actually made some good money.

Will you be doing the machine quilting? Be sure you take that into consideration. Most of what I see on Etsy is actually a $100 . Would have to investigate further to see how much they really charge.

Good luck! They make great gifts!

Two for 150
 

Since it was for a niece for her two boys...charged materials and very little as u can calculate for labor....family!

That is really beautiful work!

I would charge $10-15 per shirt. 9 shirts - small quilt $90. 25 shirts - big quilt $375. Go with the $10 if its a straight set no sash no border. $15 with sashing and borders (I like a nice little scrappy 4 patch as cornerstones)

If you do it for free, what you are saying is your work has no value. Gifts are one thing but if they ask you for it its not a gift.

I made one for a friend and kept track of the hours it took me. I took her shopping for the fabric I used in sashing, binding, and the back, and had her pay for that and the batting and thread. There were 32 tshirts, so it ended up rather large. I did quilt it in the ditch on my home machine and added a hanging sleeve just in case. I charged the ridiculously low rate of $10 an hour for a total of $320. I won't do it again as it was boring, but she was very happy with the result. And I ended up with a lot of rags (what was left of the tshirts) which I'm still using today.