What would be a "fair" price?
 

A very dear friend passed away rather suddenly mid-June, & her family has been cleaning & straightening her stuff. A family member contacted me asking if I could make 1 or 2 quilts from her shirts, mostly tee shirts. She offered to pay me, if I'm interested. I'd like to help them out but need advice on how much I should ask for. I know the cost of materials should be the first part of what I calculate, but how much on top of that would be fair? I'd certainly appreciate any input from the members of this forum.

Google “ cost to make a t shirt quilt” there are many postings there that might be helpful.

The general rule is 3 1/2 times the retail cost of supplies. Go up or down from there.

Most people are not aware of the cost of fabric or the amount of time something like that requires. Some people are aware and are willing to pay a reasonable amount, but in my experience most people back out just at the cost of the materials (interfacing, batting, backing, binding, thread, any quilting stencils or supplies) much less add anything for your time and expertise.

So figure out a materials list and price it out. Then decide what is it worth it to you to make it. You might want to donate some of your effort in honor of your friend but you certainly don't have to. It may sound bad but I don't want to work for other people any more. There have been other times in my life when I was more willing to work/quilt for hire. Me, when I'm asked now I estimate my time as $15/hour and that a pretty good quilt takes at least a month of full time work after all, I figure I'm worth at least minimum wage in the Seattle area. So far no one has gone further in negotiations :p

That all being said, while I don't work for cheap I give freely and quilt a lot of gifts and donations because that is worth it to me on my schedule and my whims of what I want to do and when.

I get asked to do a lot of things I just don't do, whether it is something as simple as hemming a skirt or more complex like covering a couch. Yeah, I can and have done both, but not in about 30-40 years! So I've gotten pretty good at just saying no and explaining that I would not be able to do a quality job for them. Some come back and say something like it can be sub-standard, but no, not for me that's not the way workmanship works!

I think it is always harder to charge for "a friend" -

I think it is always reasonable to at least recover the cost of materials. Or replacement cost, if one is using materials from one's stash.

What you said - me, too!

Great Answer. I did this once for a friend. I took her to the quilt store to buy the additional fabric and supplies needed. She gladly paid for them. I wanted to do this for her so I happily agreed to less than minimum wage. But in no way did I receive true worth for the time spent. People think that because you enjoy doing it you should not receive adequate compensation for your time. Doctors and lawyers enjoy their work but you do not see anyone expecting them to work for next to nothing. We spend time and money learning our craft and acquiring the tools to do it well also.

Thank you for your input. I dont know the number of shirts they're looking at, nor the sizes of the prints on them. This is the friend I made a batik log cabin-type quilt for, about 2 months before her death. I'll check out the shirts & perhaps suggest choosing her favorite & putting it in a shadow box style of frame.

Conchalea, don't know if this is feasible, but maybe you could suggest that her relatives help you make a lap quilt (or 2+) that way you can support them and not feel like you have to do a charge and then feel awkward.

I charge $300 for a full size, $350 for a queen. No bigger, as the quilt gets way too heavy. These are relatives of your friend, not your friend, so if they want to have a remembrance of her made, they should pay for it and not expect you to do all that work 'on the cheap'. You will work for every penny.

If they don't like the going rate they can always not make the quilts.

if you would feel comfortable just asking for the materials needed

Most of the time with friends I charge for materials and what ever they want to give to me for my work. Since most of my friends appreciate what I do they are fair. Fair is different for each person but I wouldn't care if I got anything. If I know that I may encounter some real problems I may choose not to do a quilt only because I don't want to do a poor job or I know that I could never meet with their expectations.

If you don't want to make the quilt, you could refer them to one of the many quilters who make these quilts for customers. That would eliminate any worry about whether you're charging them fairly, and they would still get the quilt they want.

Thank you for the added suggestions. I'm considering all that has been suggested & will post here as to what I decide. Everyone has been very helpful & I thank you all.

If someone. very few, want me to make them a quilt I agree to use whatever fabrics I have and my choice of colors. I just did that for two Ladies. They were happy with them. I make most quilts to donate or give away. Some I make for me.

A gal from my guild charges $500 for a t-shirt quilt and the that does not include fabric for sashing or back. I believe it does include batting. She has been doing these quilts for years and keeps swearing she will never do another then, well, she needs the money for this or that bill and she make one more. :D I have seen her work and it is worth the $500 without a doubt.

Along the same line, when someone sees my quilt cupboard they may ask do you sell any? I really don"t know how to answer. I give quilts to someone that is special to me or has touched me in some way. I guess what I could say is "I guess everything is for sale". Translated - I guess I will sell a quilt but would like a fair price for it and then take it from there.

I did a quick search and found this: https://www.toocooltshirtquilts.com/pricing

I don't know if that's typical, but that at least will give you an idea of where the consumer market is.

I agree with the thought that these people are not the friend, but the relatives. I also think you (sewbizgirl) are underpricing yourself.

This is the hardest thing for everyone who handmakes items. Folks buying generally have no idea of cost. First thing would be to list out the actual costs of the items involved (not a sale price - actual items costs). Line item them - fusible, sashing and border fabric, batting, backing. If they are still interested, then you can discuss your fee. Being a dear friend, you will probably make this a much lower amount than for a 'regular' customer. But, do not be surprised if the balk at this amount. It is incredibly difficult to do this for friends, but, you must put it in writing and you must get a deposit for at least the materials cost. This saves so many problems down the road. Sorry for the loss of your friend.

Mary Fons said on The Quilt Show recently: "If you paid us what they're worth, you couldn't afford it. But, if you know a quilter who loves you, it's free."

I liked that so much that I wrote it down. I'm going to use that quote when I give a quilt to someone who has asked to pay for it.

I made a tee shirt quilt using this pattern, loved doing that quilt.It is very hard to charge a friend or a friend who has passed family but you do need to charge something. Other wise you will feel as if you are being taken advantage of.

If there is nothing fancy in the t shirt.....I suggest you might refer her to a company in Massachuttes that makes t shirt quilts from your shirts. Reviews have been good and price is reasonable. I don’t have company name but am sure you can google.

It is called....projectrepat.com

I made one t shirt quilt for a charity organization to hang in their waiting room. It was t shirts of events they had sponsored in the past. It came out wonderful and they loved it but, I swore never again.
The truth is I hated making it. It is not like regular quilt fabric and very heavy on my old wrists to quilt it with my domestic machine. I know the family loved the sweet deceased lady and want a memento. I would refer them to the site too. But, I hope you know, it is not like quilting with regular fabric and can get heavy to wrestle with.

If it helps in choosing a pattern, I find I can count a cotton shirt (like a man's dress shirt) as at least a fat quarter.
I wouldn't touch the tee-shirt quilt idea -- too hard to handle.

Projectrepat will make one for $75 using one’s own shirts. I read that customers are satisfied with the work. The company is owned by some young folks who develop local busines.

in that situation right now. My husband's sister and her daughter asked me to do two T Shirt quilts for her two boys. How can you say no to family! So they came over a mth ago with OMG 3 shopping bags of all sorts of T shirts, bibs, blankets...you name it, it was everything since birth and the boys are now 9 and 11...for me to cut up and use somewhere in their quilts...If I were to use all the items they'd both have King size quilts. So the bags sit...I made it clear it's not my top priority, when I find the time. They did offer to pay whatever it costs and I will charge for supplies and a small amt for labor but you never get your worth.