So I just wrote out what I think is a pretty detailed break-down of my time and materials cost for my quilts. Take a look at it and tell me what you think.
Quilt Price Breakdown
Material Cost: This is a list of all materials required to make a quilt. This is materials estimation ONLY. Please note: the cost of fabric is an ever changing thing. Therefore I have put into this estimate a very low general figure for each yard cost of fabric. Depending on when you purchase your quilt from me, the cost could be more or less, but I am only charging a flat fee for these materials. Also each quilt is completely different in design, shape, size and pattern. Therefore your quilt could end up using more materials than what I have written out here, as this is just a ballpark figure of what it takes generally speaking.
Front Fabric Estimate:
Wall-hanging (36’’X36’’ or thereabouts)---$4/yd X 2 yards= $8
Nap Blanket (50’’X50’’ or thereabouts)---$4/yrd X 3 yards =$12
Twin ---$4/yd X 4 yards =$16
Full---$4/yd X5 yards =$20
Queen --$4/yd X 6 yards= $24
King $4/yd X 8 yards =$32
Batting Estimate:
Wall-hanging-------$6/yd X2 yards = $12
Nap Blanket---------$6/yd X3 yards =$18
Twin ---------------$6/yd X4 yards =$24
Full----------------$6/yd X 5 yards =$30
Queen -----------$6/yd X 6 yards =$36
King --------------$6/yd X 8 yards =$48
Backing Fabric Estimate:
Wall-hanging ---$4/yd X 2 yards= $8
Nap Blanket---$4/yd X 3 yards =$12
Twin ---$4/yd X 4 yards =$16
Full---$4/yd X5 yards =$20
Queen --$4/yd X 6 yards= $24
King $4/yd X 8 yards =$32
Embellishment Estimate:
Pictures---$5 per picture
Appliqué $5 per piece
Embroidery $10 for a name, $20 for inscription
Misc Supplies Estimate
Thread----$3/spool X 2 spools per quilt
Yard (for tied quilts) $6/skein X 2 skeins per quilt
Quilting- thread (for quilted quilts) $12/spool X 4 spools per quilt
Labor Cost Estimation
This is a breakdown of the labor involved in putting together and creating your one-of-a-kind quilt. This is to in no way be the final price that I am held to, rather a peek into the inner-workings of creating your quilt. My labor is priced low because I love doing this and I don’t consider it work. However I do have to charge something for it!
(haven't figured out what to charge yet!)
Drafting/Laying out the quilt
.5-2 hrs (depending on how complicated a design)
Selecting the materials
1-3 hours (again depending on how complicated the quilt design is)
Preparing the materials
1-3 hours (washing the fabric, drying, ironing)
Cutting/piecing
8-12 hours (cutting the design out, piecing the pieces together, pinning, etc)
Sew/piecing
24-48 hours (sewing each block, assembling the blocks into rows, ironing, etc)
Embellishment work (if applicable)
8-10 hours (assembling materials for pictures, adding embroidery, adding names, etc)
Assembling the top
6-12 hours (sewing the rows into pieces to be joined, squaring up, adding borders, etc)
Piecing the back
2-3 hours (making sure the fabric is the right size, cutting, measuring, sewing)
Sandwiching the layers
2-3 hours (getting everything to lay flat smooth and even together, basting, ironing, etc)
Quilting/Tying
24-36 hours (this is quilting these layers together, or securing them by tying with yarn)
Binding
10-12 hours (finishing the edges, ironing, squaring up, etc)
Labeling/Quality Assurance
1-2 hours (getting the label on the quilt, checking for inconsistencies, checking the entire quilt for quality)
(I just added up the cost of making a twin. If I charged $10/hr for my labor, a twin quilt on the low end of the labor scale and materials would cost $950!!! I charge $100! They're getting one heck of a good deal!)