romanojg

I agree, its a way to give the owner an estimated cost up front and also make sure she is paid what she's worth. I'd rather know up front an estimated cost too, one that comes in close to what was stated. Good job

mamagrande

I have been quilting for others for over 3 yrs. I only do pantos and I charge 1 to 1.7 sq inch depending on the density of the pattern and I use solid and varigated Aurifil thread. Others around here charge 1.5 and up plus a $15 set up fee.

I quilt as a hobby and not to make a living so that is why my price is minimum $35 and 1 cent s/i . I just want my quilting to continue to pay for my hobby because I am retired and do not extra monies for fabric and quilt retreats like before.

I would not be able to pay over $150. to have one 100 x 100 quilted. I would have to stop piecing tops.

Peckish

Ok we're still talking about cost per inch vs cost per hour, right? With cost per inch, don't you get an estimated cost up front? Every time I've taken a quilt to my longarmer, she measures the quilt right there in front of me, so we both know how big it is. We discuss thread, batting, density, pattern, etc. I know before I walk out of the store exactly how much it will cost, no estimating at all. If my longarmer told me she charges by the hour, how am I supposed to know how long it will take her to quilt my quilt?

quiltingshorttimer

I'm probably opening another can of worms with this post, but while I charge by the sq. inch, I also will tack on an additional $15 for every 15x15" space of dense fill--this is because it is so time consuming, it uses up a lot of thread, and typically the thread is needing to be a 100 wt. like Superior's Microthread--so it's not one I would typically be buying. I do many quilts for people that applique and they want lots of dense fill around their applique or embroidery.

I also think it's important to point out that there are so many different types of machine quilting that stating a hard and fast price for all quilts per sq. inch is very difficult to do. For instance, if I do a panto or FMQ Edge to edge, use one color of thread, the price per sq. inch is going to be less. If I do that FMQ, but now treat the borders differently (maybe even have to rotate a quilt which means unpinning and reloading)then the price goes up a tad. If I'm asked to do custom quilting with ruler work on all or most blocks, then the price goes up. And if I am asked to use two or more colors of thread, then the price goes up. Ruler work and switching out thread color is time consuming. I do know a couple of long arm quilters that have computer guided machines (mine isn't) and it's possible for them to record on the computer the # of hours involved in the quilt and one of them has switched to charging by the hour. She seems to be able to estimate the cost pretty accurately, too.

Peckish

But most professional longarmers have different pricing levels to accommodate this. For instance, an edge-to-edge panto design might be priced at 1.5 cents per inch, while a dense custom fill might be priced at 2.5 cents per inch. As I stated in my earlier post, pattern and density are among the options my longarmer and I discuss when I hire her.

quiltingshorttimer

Peggi (Peckish)--I totally agree and want to talk about all those factors with someone before quilting for them--color of thread, their vision of what the quilt will look like when finished, design elements that they either love or hate (one client hates feathers for example), timeline for finish, type of bat, way the back, if pieced will be loaded, and most importantly--their price point. I prefer to do this in person and also usually provide a work-up sheet to them (and me) that outlines what we've decided.

Bobbielinks

I charge by the square inch. I have been quilting for customers 18 plus years and have always charged by square inch. My established customers do not want an estimate before leaving their quilt top with me. But with a new customer I give en estimate so they will not be surprised at the cost.