What should I charge to make a quilt?
 

http://thesweetteagirls.danemcoweb.c...-die-hard-fan/

I have never made a quilt on commission, what would you suggest?

My mother in law wants me to make the above quilt in a twin size, to give as a Christmas gift to her boyfriend. Since it is for family, I don't really want to charge her... but she is insisting. (isn't it weird to use a term like BF for someone that is nearly 70?)

Take her shopping and let her purchase the fabric & thread. Then, you can determine if & how much you want for your time to make the quilt. That way, the only thing you can lose is your time.

I would charge her for the fabric and batting etc. And then at least 6 cents a square inch for the quilting. If she doesn't want to spend that much give her the name or contact information for someone else.

AT least have her buy the pattern, fabric, batting, and thread.

She sounds like a classy lady to insist on paying - but on the other hand, she may not have any idea how much it costs to actually make a quilt.

If I were you, I would start out by giving her an estimate of how much JUST the components of the quilt will cost - and see if she wants to continue. She might have sticker shock when she finds out!

Yes, she is going to pay for all of the materials... and I warned her what it would cost.

Wouldn't 6 cent per square inch be like $350? 67 x 87 = 5829... X .06 = 349.74. That is a lot more than I would want to charge... is that really what people charge to make a quilt on top of the cost of materials?? I mean, I know long armers typically charge .02 per square inch, which would be $116.58 alone.

I agree, and don't forget the batting and the pattern. It's amazing how many people will back out, that were so gung ho before.

Yes, charge her. She is a willing customer. Because what would happen next is the boyfriend's daughter (theoretically speaking) will want one. And then the daughter's brother-in-law will want one. Making quilts per others' requests is not the same as making what appeals to you. Time and labor and money will be spent to do this for the MIL's boyfriend, which is time that you can't recoup. I would specify a price of $350 for the quilt shown in a lap size. Negotiable from there if the customer feels differently, in which case you and she can arrange some type of bartering arrangement.

Yes, I did. I started rattling off what it would cost... Batting around $20 (off the roll from the local APQS dealer), backing around 6 yards at $10-13 per yard, front probably around $100 alone. Her eyes got a little bit big, but she wasn't deterred. I purchased the pattern today and she is supposed to pay me for it.

Wow, the prices you guys are giving are much higher than I would have ever thought! People really pay this much for a quilt? I was thinking I might charge her $50-75 on top of the cost of materials, and was feeling a little guilt about it.

I already know this is going to be different than what appeals to me. I started looking at patterns and the one I chose is the only one that remotely interested me. I prefer more intricate things. For this I had to choose a completely different mindset. And, I HATE ECU. Nothing to do with sports, but I grew up in Greenville. My house was positioned between dorms and their football stadium. I could happily go a lifetime without ever seeing purple and gold paired together again.

I would feel strange charging so much as well. But, i would get everything paid for before starting, just to be safe.

You know, I realize I agree with you, considering that your customer is your MIL, then that would be a good labor price to keep the harmony. But do say, "I would not be able to charge so little for everyone. This price is just for you."

I have done that ....make a quilt for next to nothing since I already had the backing, and they supplied the t shirts. But I specifically said, this is only because it is you.

Seemed to work for me.

No, I don't think most people get the amount of money they should for a quilt, and I don't think most people ask what they should for a quilt. I think non-quilters have no idea of what goes into a quilt, and they think if they can get a store-bought one at Wal-Mart for $50, a lowly homemade quilt shouldn't cost them more than $20.

It's up to you how you want to approach this. The trouble is, when we ask someone for $50 for making them a quilt, we're teaching them that's what a quilt is worth, that's what a quilter's time and skill are worth. I think, as an exercise for yourself, I'd make a realistic estimate of the time it will take you to make the quilt (including shopping for fabric, pre-washing, pressing, cutting, piecing, sandwiching the top, basting, quilting, preparing the binding and binding the quilt), and multiply those hours by a skilled laborer wage, say $20/hour minimum. Add to that the amount for materials. Now you have a realistic estimate of what that quilt is worth (that your MIL probably thinks won't exceed $20). Going from there, you can ask whatever you feel comfortable asking; but that should at least eliminate the feeling of guilt you have when asking far less than the quilt is worth.

It's up to us to educate people in what goes into a quilt, or they'll keep thinking a quilt is worth $20.

At my church, we charge 65 cents a yard of thread. That way the thread as well as the work is paid for. The quilts run pretty expensive anyway--also depends on the amount of quilting you put into it. You would need to add for the time it takes to assemble the blocks, etc. and the time for making the binding and sewing it on. Nothing is cheap these days. We measure off 36 one yard pieces of thread at a time by wrapping it around a yard stick. Just an idea for you to consider.

Think about how much time it takes to make a quilt. Now divide that into the 50-75 dollars you were thinking. You will see that you are not even making close to minimum wage. Often times, people charge 2 to 3 times the cost of the materials. This case, however, is in that grey area concerning relatives. I would tell her that you normally would charge $300, but for this one quilt only, as a special favor, you are only going to charge her whatever.

Normally, I am the first person in line to insist on charging a liveable wage for quilting. It drives me nuts when people undercharge for their work, but ... this isn't some neighbor or distant cousin, it's your mom. I don't know what kind of relationship you have with her or how long she's been with the boyfriend, but assuming he isn't just some guy that dropped into her live within the last few months, I would probably charge my mom for 100% of the fabric, thread, rotary blades, needles, batting and such plus probably add on $60-75. I would not feel terrible about giving it to her just the cost of materials, but it sounds like she maybe wants to commission a quilt for him. Part of the amount I listed goes to cover electricity, water, wear-and-tear on durable supplies like cutting mat & sewing machine and the rest is a super modest charge for my time. I'd be very clear to tell her that it's clear that this man makes her very happy (assuming that's true) and that since I love her I want to give her the special one-time "Just for Mom discount".

If she absolutely insists on paying full price for my materials and time, I think $350-400 (including materials) is probably appropriate since you're not only quilting, but also cutting, piecing and binding the quilt. If you are doing anything more than the basics (for example, if you plan to do any applique, design work, embroidery, or custom quilting), I believe the price should reflect that. We all know that making a twin sized quilt from start to finish can easily exceed 35-40. Only allowing yourself $10/hour (what people in my area pay someone to clean their house or take orders at McDonald's) is already devaluing your skill as an artist. I pay $70 for a 60-min basic mani/pedi. I find it hard to swallow when people insist I am only 1/10th as skilled as a nail tech whose work lasts for 2 weeks max while my quilts should last for 20 years. The only struggle I'm having is that it's your mom that's asking. Otherwise, here's what I'd charge:
$20/hour for washing, pressing, cutting & piecing
$0.03 - $0.06/sq in for quilting (less for all over design, more for multiple designs) + $5/spool for thread
$3/linear ft for binding (making binding & attaching binding -- I also include label for this price)
PLUS cost of materials & pattern (from preferred designers only since most designers do not allow the use of their patterns to make quilts for sale)

Yes, that means either I or my vendor end up selling appliqued baby quilts for $700-900 a piece. They're still getting them on the cheap when you figure that at $600 (since materials cost at least $100), that means I have to do the entire quilt in only 60 hours to make $10/hour. Fortunately, I live in an area where people appreciate fine art & understand quality or I'm sure it would be worse. I'm hoping as I get better at hand applique & hopefully maybe get recognized for the quilt I'm planning to enter in QuiltWeek next Spring, Irish Sea, perhaps I can turn them out faster and maybe increase my prices.

Good luck finding an answer to this age-old but impossible question.

Have her buy materials, determine a price, put it in writing, and get half down, rest due on delivery. Many times I have seen too many people lose money due to not setting a price and getting in writing, and then people bail when they don't have the money leaving the person making the quilt out on all their time in vested and with a quilt they don't want or like.

I would not feel right charging my MIL. I would have her pick out and purchase all of the materials, then make it for free. If she insists on paying, let her pay what she wants. My MIL and I are close friends.

It looks like some complicated piecing, so I'd charge $30 per square foot.

I have made quilts and bags for fellow quilters. They select the pattern and then purchase the fabric. I don't charge as such for friends but they pay for a class we go to . Different number of classes based on degree of work. This meant small bag friend paid £15.

I never thought to charge family or friends, I couldn't. If someone asks for something to be made, and they insist on materials, thats great, it will help, but otherwise, I have never charged my own family.

Nope. The quilt is for a boyfriend....not family. Charge an appropriate price or this thing will snowball into more quilts...as mentioned earlier. For me, no is my answer.

Sandy

6 cents per square inch for quilting? That's high unless it is very dense and intricate quilting and this is for family.

Did I mention that I am a "handquilter" I only machine quilt the Linus blankets I make because they will be washed a lot as they are for children.

I wouldn't charge my MIL for making the quilt. Yes, I would have her pay for the fabric, including the backing and the batting if there's a specific kind of look she wants re the batting. The quilting itself is another story. I'd do Stitch in the Ditch myself but if she wants another pattern of quilting I'd confer with her on sending it out professionally.
Also, I'd tell her the work of putting it together is my offering to her.
I've made quilts for friends' grandchildren, fun quilts to make them smile. Charged only for the fabric.

People who DO NOT quilt, they don't understand the expensive. I would take her shopping and let her buy all your supplies. She is family and there is NOTHING WORST than having an upset MIL who thinks you overcharged her.

I would charge her for supplies plus $200. If it was for her, I'd just make it and give it to her as a surprise for her birthday or something, but since it's for her boyfriend, and it's a gift from her to him, not you to him I think you should charge a reasonable, if discounted price. Also, keep a diary of the time you spend working on it, and when you give her the completed quilt, you can show it to her and calculate what your hourly rate ended up lol. That will also make her think twice about asking in the future and it will make you more aware of what you should charge if this comes up in the future. I agree that if you only charge for materials word will get out and pretty soon you'll be overwhelmed with requests. Trust me, they will come out of the woodwork.

...me too.....boyfriends come and go......

I agree. This way she can also say it came from her. And yes you can have a BF at 70. I have a friend who has adopted my "SOSE" for her friend and he the same for her. They spend a lot of time together. SOSE (my definition)= Significant Other/Spousal Equivalent! or some say GF (Gentleman Friend).

I, too would have her pay for all fabrics & supplies. As far as labor you can negotiate for her only.

huskyquilter makes a good point. The quilt is not for your MIL, it is for your MIL to give away. Big difference, imo.

Also for me, making a quilt that I want to make for a family member because I want to make it, is very different from making a quilt for a family member because they ask for one. The former is what I routinely do, but I doubt I will ever make a quilt on request.

I live in North West PA and some of those prices seem high. I would have her pay for fabric, backing, batting and pattern.
Then estimate how much time you will have involved to make the top and quilt it and charge her accordingly. Long arm quilters in this area charge anywhere from .01 cent per square inch to .04 cents per square inch. Custom quilting is usually the .03 to .04 cents per square inch depending on how much quilting is involved. It is hard to charge relatives, but if you don't you may be quilting for everyone else and not yourself which may takes the JOY out of it for you. (Of course, that depends on whether you want to make money at quilting or just keep it for a hobby with no pressure ... only you can decide that!!)

I live in OH, near the Amish to the west, and Mennonites to the north. It is not at all unusual to see quilts selling for upwards of a thousand dollars for a simple pattern. A more complicated pattern is much more. Also, when I went to Keepsake Quilting a few years ago, they had completed quilts on sale for 995-1585. So don't sell yourself short. Your time, skills and effort are worth the cost. If you feel guilty about the cost, invite your MIL over, and she can make the quilt while you work on something else.

I would have her buy the fabrics, batting, etc. and then make the offer for her to pay what she feels comfortable with. Explain to her that pricing would be much different for other customers, but for family, you want to be more than fair.

I wish I had the privilege of making a quilt for my MIL to give to ANYBODY. If your relationship with her is precious to you and if you will enjoy making the quilt just because of the pattern and fabrics, then I would accept the money for the supplies and tell her that she can take you to lunch and give you a gift certificate to your favorite store if she wants to. If it were my MIL, I would tell her that she has already given me something so much more valuable than money -- her son!

I haven't read all the replies yet, but since she insisted on paying you at the very least have her pay all cost of all materials, including however many spools of thread, and all sales tax if you have that in your state. I would suggest if you are purchasing when she is with you she could just pay, if you are making the purchase keep the receipt and have her pay you the total. Then I would suggest you check with 3-4 quilters in your area who quilt for pay LA or those who do so on dm. With that there should be a range in prices: I know many LA charge a range basic lowest price is usually a straight stitch in the ditch or grid, custom work is a design such as echo or feathers or any other thing besides straight stitching. This way you have an ideal of what the cost would be for commissioned work minus your labor.
At the very least you should have her pay for materials involved since she is making the request and offered to pay for it. Once she has paid for cost of all materials you can if you want offer to quilt at no charge but let her know about what the cost would be if she wants to pay for the quilting too. If you do all of this, she knows what all of the material, batting, and thread costs; and if others (his niece, 2nd cousin, etc.)want you to make them a quilt you would have an idea of what it would actually cost. I would also suggest you keep track of how many hours you spend preparing, sewing the top, and putting everything together. Because if others want to ask you to make them a quilt they should also be paying you for your time, even if it is lower than minimum wage you should be getting something for it in a commission.

I too could not charge a close relative. It certainly is fair to let her buy the supplies since she is giving the quilt as a gift. Quilting is my hobby; if it was my business I might feel differently. Sounds like you have a kind generous MIL and I bet she will find someway to show her appreciation.

I have made that quilt. The directions were great and easy to follow. Also, the large squares with the University fabric take up a lot of space. If you do charge her for your quilting, keep that in mind. If she pays for the supplies, it would be all right to low-ball your labor charge.

Totally agree!

tell her to pay what she is comfortable with? I Can't wait to see how "comfortable" she is! Wow! $20 if you are lucky. Good luck.
sandy