LA Quilter's "going rate"
11-30-2012, 08:14 AM
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Maryland's Eastern Shore
Posts: 223
I too am thinking about starting a business and I too have a Crown Jewel. I have had it for about a year and a half and have done about 25 quilts on it. Some have been for others in our guild who are doing charity baby quilts. Only one was not charity for a 92 year old friend for her great great grandbaby. All have been free so far, but now I am being asked to do quilts for others for pay. I do meander, pantographs, and some freehand. Some are looking quite good. I got the forms for a business license, trade name and tax forms. But I haven't done anything with them yet. I still have that fear that once I start a business, it will no longer be fun. I absolutely LOVE longarm quilting - much more than piecing. I wonder how longarmers who have businesses feel about the work now. Do they still love it?
11-30-2012, 08:24 AM
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Maryland's Eastern Shore
Posts: 223
Mooshie, are you aware of Baby Lock's Getaway weekend in St. Louis? It is 4 days 8AM to 8PM with Kay Capps Cross. I think they are still doing it. You get your own machine and frame to work on the whole time and if you have computer too, they let you use one of those also. I went and it was an expense that I can write off for my business. I had to pay for transportation and room in St. Louis. When I bought my machine at a quilt show, Kay was there and I was able to get the cost of the class included as free. It was absolutely wonderful and well worth the cost. I felt so comfortable with my Crown Jewel afterwards. PM me if you would like more info.
11-30-2012, 12:35 PM
#14
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 183
Mooshie, are you aware of Baby Lock's Getaway weekend in St. Louis? It is 4 days 8AM to 8PM with Kay Capps Cross. I think they are still doing it. You get your own machine and frame to work on the whole time and if you have computer too, they let you use one of those also. I went and it was an expense that I can write off for my business. I had to pay for transportation and room in St. Louis. When I bought my machine at a quilt show, Kay was there and I was able to get the cost of the class included as free. It was absolutely wonderful and well worth the cost. I felt so comfortable with my Crown Jewel afterwards. PM me if you would like more info.
What time of year do they usually have it? It could be tricky getting there and back for me as I have 5 kids in school. But that doesn't mean it'll never work out. If I plan far enough in advance it could work out.
12-01-2012, 06:11 AM
#15
Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Heart O'Texas
Posts: 83
I think you'll find the majority of longarm quilters price by the square inch since everyone's "queen" is a different size "queen". Of course, there are also charges for batting, binding, backing, etc. For a basic meander quilting I charge .017/sq inch. For an actual edge to edge quilting pantograph I charge .02/sq inch. Custom starts at .037/sq in and goes up from there. If you are interested, you can check out my pricing on my website- QuiltedJoy.com It is always a good idea, though, to see what the going rate is in your area. Keep track of your time spent working and determine what you are actually making an hour. Operating a longarm machine takes practice and practice takes time so don't lowball your pricing. You are selling your skill and expertise. I'll get off my soapbox now.
I'll get off my soapbox now.
12-01-2012, 07:05 AM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yankton South Dakota
Posts: 564
If it is for charity or very simple quilting, I will go as little as a penny a square inch. Most of the time it is 1 1/2 cents per square inch for what I call mindful meandering, which is freehand quilting. You really can't go wrong on that. I do charge about $3-5 for thread depending how close it is stitched. I only use the Egyptian top thread and bottom line bottom thread which are very expensive but my machine doesn't get linty with them. It isn't the whole cost of the thread but nobody has complained about it.
12-01-2012, 07:29 AM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: West Central Texas
Posts: 2,586
The LQS in town (rural Texas) charges $65.00 for twin which includes polyester batting and binding the quilt if the customer provides the extra fabric. Warm and natural cotton batting adds another $12-15.00. Full sized is $75, queen $85, and king $95.00. They post their min and max dimensions for each size. This is for an overall medium to large stippling or looping pattern or a simple laser pattern (can't remember the name). Anything fancy costs extra, of course.
Last edited by Belfrybat; 12-01-2012 at 07:32 AM.
12-01-2012, 07:42 AM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,430
Good advice here! Do get your customers to "sign off" on their design so they can't say they don't like when it is finished. Have plenty of pictures for them to look at so they have some idea of what the finished quilt will look like. Good luck. You must be well-organized if you are to succeed.
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