Never, never surprise a customer. Make sure they know the charge is up front, while the quilt is still in her hands so she can easily walk away with it in case it is more than she wants to spend. You should accept the job with a set percentage down....especially if you have to buy materials such as backing or batting or matching fabric. You are a professional, and are expected to be a great estimator of time required. If you miss calculate, suck it up, and get better at your job. Have an agreement, like dry cleaners, if you don't pick it up and pay within 30 days (?) of done, state what happens to the quilt.. (goes to charity, whatever). If you are offering a discount, state that up front. Make out an order form, fill in some information, estimate, fine print, ......something......, and give her a copy as she leaves. No surprises. You'll get better at this, and you will thrive or quit based on outcomes. But you wont worry, whine, or be disappointed. Best wishes in your endeavor. There are many quilts that need to be repaired, loved, and cherished. It is wonderful that you contribute to this great cause.

I like what Teen suggested. If it is a joint project, they will feel a part of it and they will also understand the time and complexity of the project. It may also be a satisfying teaching experience. Be sure that they purchase all material and supplies you will use up front.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. Just reading your description of what's wrong with the quilt is making me cringe. So many, many, MANY frustrating, long hours of work. If it is truly in such bad shape, and the owner has a very small budget, you will never get paid what you should. You will end up feeling resentful and regret it. Some things are just beyond repair.

If the quilt has sentimental value, it might be better to not repair it, but instead frame a portion of it.

i totally agree with peckish.

I agree with Peckish completely. It is obvious that the quilt has not been well cared for for some period of time. You could spend all that time and supplies on trying to restore it (not repair) and it will still be an old quilt. It will not look good. The person who owns this quilt probably thinks it will look new and fresh again. I think I would tell her that it will still be an old, deterioriating quilt and that maybe a replica would be a better choice.
Some things just can't be restored.

You all are so right on every level. I sent my quote to her last night. $10/hr. Plus cost of materials. I always get materials cost up front. No way am I getting stuck with that family or no. I also tell people that mending is just that, a mend, not a brand new quilt. I include specific care instructions for all things I make but even more so for repairs/mending. I already told her on day one, this will be a display only afterwards. It really can't ever be serviceable. Just admired.

You all helped to remind me that my time is valuable, even if it's family. She is a nanny and tutor, if I were to use her services, she would expect to get paid her regular wages. As she should. Thanks ladies!!

Also agree. It sounds like a total wreck. Why is it people think we can work miracles - they wouldn't take a pile of splinters to a woodworker and ask them, Please repair my coffee table.

And as for paying a fair wage? "Well, it's not like it's real work, is it?"

I would nopenopenope my way back away from that quilt. Tell them to fold it and display on a shelf.

Ugh, sounds like a nightmare. And I wouldn't call your nephew's mother-in-law family. That's a stretch!

Whatever time you estimate it will take, double it. Seriously, we all underestimate time to complete things. Even my doubled estimates have been short of the actual time I've taken.


IF (!) you decide to take this on (my advice here is in addition to what others have said, not instead of it):


Since you're doing this as a business, I would give everyone a written quote. When I'm hiring a contractor or someone to do something around the house, I always ask in advance if they'll give an itemized written estimate. No one has ever said no, however some people don't actually give me a written estimate (even after I remind them), or they'll give me a piece of paper with a dollar amount on it that doesn't describe the work being done or something like that. I don't hire these people.

One contractor I work with gives all his customers itemized written estimates, meaning I never have to ask. Sometimes it's a range ("$1100 to $1500 depending on how much of the sub flooring has to be replaced"). The estimates describe exactly what's being done and exactly what materials are being used. He charges for the job, but obviously he's coming up with the numbers by adding the cost of materials to the cost of his labor. I would do it like that.

If they accept the quote, have them sign it (marking any choices they've made) and give one copy to them and keep one copy for yourself. I might forego the signature, but I would definitely have one copy for each party. If you email it you'll both have copies.


I would have to think about this more to come up with better wording, but it would be something like this:

[Price] to salvage quilt blocks (have a picture of the quilt and clearly mark the blocks being salvaged) and create a new quilt from the blocks (then describe the design and size of the new quilt to be made from them, with additional 100% cotton fabric to be determined)

[Price] to redo the embroidery on these sections of the quilt (have a picture of the quilt and clearly mark the blocks included) (describe the embroidery to be done)

[Price] to hand appliqué these sections (have a picture of the quilt and clearly mark the blocks included) (describe the appliqué to be done)


Although this is extra work up front, I think it helps to prevent misunderstandings and is as much a benefit to customers as it is to the server providers. They might see your estimate and never mention the quilt again, but that's probably better than hurt feelings on both sides.

Did you include your estimate of the number of hours this project will take? And more importantly, is the estimate truly realistic? Take a look at your past repair projects of what your initial impression of how long it would take, and how long it actually took. As a software engineer, even after more than 20 years of experience, I have to multiply my initial impression of a coding (and designing) task's length by at least 2 or 3. Your past projects will give you some idea of what your multiplier to should be. (It could be 10 or higher!) As you gain experience in an area, your multiplier will go down, but for many people, it never hits 1. (I think we naturally tend to be optimistic for tasks we at least some-what enjoy.)

I tend to agree with Peckish this may be a project to walk away from. Maybe encourage them to frame a section of the quilt to enjoy it. (Even after all this work, they're going to end with a display-only item.)