I charge friends and extended family for materials (including fabric, batting, thread, etc.) times 2. It doesn't pay me for all my time, but I do it because I love it, and I love that they have asked me to create something for them. I like that quilt!! Pretty colors!!

Awesome job I can see why she wants to buy it. Don't know a price though I don't think you can put a price on this work.

I like that plan, it is VERY reasonable and shows your time is worth something (although, I don't think we can ever really cover the cost of our time!)

And, Dawn, I love that quilt. It is beautiful!!!

Since I give most of my quilts away...for a dear friend, I might ask her to pay for the supplies and what ever more she feels she can afford. Monthly installments for a set amount of time might be do-able. Sue T

This is the ONE quilt I would love but doubt that I will ever make. In coming up with a fair price.... if it is more than she can handle at one time.... let her pay for it a little each month until it is paid off. I would do it that way if it were me. That is such a beautiful and historic pattern. Let us know what you decide.

no less then $850.00

Beautiful beautiful quilt!!! I don't think I could part with it!!

I have had this question several times and have been told 3x's all your materials used that should cover some of your time. But when it is a close friend I agree with the others what you give in love comes back to you ten fold.

I would not charge her anything and give it to her as a gift of love for her friendship.That is just my opinion.I am sure that she will always treasure it.

I might be tempted to give it to an older friend on a fixed income. But if you do charge her a little bit, so she will feel at least she paid something, I'd try to make it clear she is NOT to advertise the price and that you will not honor that price for annyone else!

Dawn,
I know how much time this took you, not to mention
the fabric and the time it will take you to quilt it.

To me, it would depend on how good a friend she is to you
and how attached you are to the quilt. I would probably
just offer to give it to her, or maybe just ask for the cost of
the fabric.

I know there are places that charges hundreds,
even thousands of dollars for a quilt and I guess
there are people that can/will pay that. If you
were in business to sell your quilts, it would be
completely appropriate to price yours in that
ballpark.

But, which would give you more satisfaction - knowing
your quilt was with someone that would cherish it who couldn't afford it otherwise, or making some money
off it. None of us could ever recoup the time and love
we put into making a quilt, and for me the real
satisfaction is knowing that it goes to someone
who will really cherish it.

Ultimately you have to decide, but I think giving it
to her would be great. If you do go the route of
charging her, I like someone's suggestion that you
charge her in installments.
Have a Great Day!
Marcia

You said she is a dear friend. If she is a DEAR friend, it is a present. Only if you can part with it, without payment.

It's hard to charge a dear friend.
I can't charge for all the time it takes to make a quilt.
I just love doing them. If I get what it cost to make it...I'm happy!
For family & dear friends they usually get a gift.
But if you feel she'll be happier paying something for it. Charge what you feel you can live with.

Why not simply give it to her and feel the genuine joy of the giving? If she is a dear friend now, you will be a dearer friend to her forever. After all, what is life about in the end anyway but people and connections to them? Besides that, fixed incomes are killers.....especially when the government has decided that the cost of living hasn't gone up at all (!!!!!!!!!) and seniors aren't getting any increases this year.

That is beautiful! Did you think of bartering? If she is an excellent cook, maybe she could feed you. This is what I do for my babysitting privileges. My neighbor either has me for dinner once a week or brings me a meal, in exchange for my watching her precious kiddies when she is in a pinch. I also sew for her, and she gives me an occasional gift card to Wal Mart. Work out something with the lady so she doesn't have to pay it all in "dollars". My DDIL takes me to her favorite garden center and gives me carte blanche with the plants.

I think the original poster HAS ALREADY GIVEN ONE QUILT to this friend.


" . . . I did give her one she has been eyeing for awhile for her birthday in July. She has commissioned a quilt from me before too made from her deceased hubby's shirts and loved it. . . . "

How would it be if you would ask her to purchase the batting and backing for the quilt so you won't be out any more money? Then maybe charge her for actual cost of the fabrics for the top. Your quilting would be a gift to her. The quilt is beautiful. I want to make the double wedding ring quilt but haven't made any plans yet.

I am not attached to the quilt at all. It really was fun to make tho.

She won't let me give it to her, she wants to pay for it. I think I'll just let her pay me what she wants because then we both will be happy with that.

I have made a few lap quilts for her for other people which she paid for everything and I did the work for free.

I just LOVE to make things for other people out of the goodness of my heart, because it makes me feel good.

Which reminds me... I'd better get started on the quilting! :lol:

Gorgeous quilt top. My opinion is if you love this friend and you want her to have the quilt give it to her and make yourself another one. True friendship lasts longer than any material thing.

This is a beautiful quilt. Like the others, I find it hard to say. She is your friend and on a fixed income. Does she really have any $$ to spare? If she were a good friend, I would make it a Christmas gift. If she were just an acquaintance, ask her how much she can afford and see if that is fair to you. Of course, that is only my opinion.

In a word...A LOT. I made a double wedding ring quilt once and it took so much of my time...all those little pieces to put together...UGH. It was for my first child's wedding and a labor of love but I probably won't make another in my lifetime if I can help it. Love your color choice.

Go to the URL that was posted and print the page with the quilt and it's price on it -------- if she feels she MUST pay you something for the quilt (and I agree that she should) hand her the printout and ask her to go from there with payments or bartering being just fine.

Could you barter with her? Is there any skill she has that you could benefit from? Maybe a trade would be better than cash for both of you.

I love how you put it "quilting is a time consuming act of love............ hard to put a price on it".

I'm totally clueless as to the answer to that, but your quilt is gorgeous and for sure a labor of love.

beautiful quilt!

if i wanted to be kind, i would give her a written breakdown of the actual costs of everything that went into the making. then i would add the amount of time and give a low figure for that. apologize if you feel you must (i don't feel you must) but explain that it's what it costs you in time and money. once she sees the actual value, she may realize she's putting you in a hard place and make an offer that's in line with reality. i'll bet that you didn't charge enough for the other quilts you made for her, so she feels free to keep buying from you not realizing that she's putting you out a little each time. if she wants it, maybe her kids can help her buy it for herself. at least she'll appreciate the gift you're giving her at the low price. or, as others have said, she may offer to make payments or trade for the rest of the value.

No help with pricing but this is a beautiful top and one of my favorite patterns. Your colors are beautiful

What I was told when I attended a class on small business was to either charge an hourly rate or charge three times your materials.

That is a beautiful quilt. Can't help you with what to charge. I know that queen size quilt go for quite a bit.

sewnsewer2 - IF you can afford to - I would finish the quilt (keep stalling on how much you will charge!) and the surprise her by GIVING it to her. If you can't afford to replace the $$ you spent on fabric - I would just charge her for materials and your time would be the GIFT part. IF you need the money for income - figure out time and materials and ask her what she thinks it is worth. work WITH her so you are both happy with the end $$. Cause you sure don't want to lose a DEAR friend over a silly thing like $$$.... Just my opinion

Absolutely beautiful, I have no idea on the selling price, I give mine away, to family, friends and people I think need a quilt.

It's beautiful. Do not undervalue your work.

I think what you said sounds good - let her name the price since you both will be happy with that outcome. I hope she'll cherish it for many years to come! It's a tough spot to be in so hopefully this will be a good compromise. Money and friends/family just don't mix well.

Lordy, that's a pretty quilt. I couldn't sell it at any price.

:thumbup: Your wedding ring quilt is wonderful. I have made one and promised myself that I would never make another!! Don't know about price, but think of all your labor!

Beautiful quilt and as far as pricing, I can't say cause I am too tender hearted when it comes too dear friends and dear family members. I would probably not charge anything because that is just the way I am. But most of the time they will offer something and insist that I take it even if it is just a flower bulb I have too share. A lot of work goes into all of yall's quilts and money too!

I have no idea regarding the price, but I know that this quilt is beautiful.

no help with price but love the quilt

This is a beautiful quilt and if it were mine, I would find it hard to part with it especially after it's been quilted. These quilts when hand quilted sell for thousands of dollars. I would not sell this lovely quilt. I'd want to keep it. But that's just me.