Lauralorene

The above suggestions are the best I’ve seen so far. I too have struggled with pricing. By the inch at .015-.02 should be only for the most simple edge to edge pattern PLUS a fee for loading, squaring up, winding bobbins and machine set-up. If all that is done right you get great results but not if you rush it. So my thought after 25+ years is anything other than edge to edge simple stippling (or similar) should be at least triple that amount. I think if you run the figures it makes sense. Our work is skilled, artistic and valuable.

I have been playing with ruler  work.  I like the results but find it very time consuming as I have to mark most of it in advance to loading the quilt.   It takes me  a lot longer to quilt using mostly rulers to guide my stitching.  How does one charge for this kind of quilting?  I can't imagine any of the folks I quilt for paying what I think I should get for all on the time and work involved.  

I still find it amusing that folks think stitch in the ditch is an easy and cheap way to get their quilt quilted. 

Figure out how much more time it takes than doing a pantograph.  I expect it is at least triple so charge at least triple the panto rate.  If you don’t charge enough you will grow to hating doing custom quilting for customers.  It is just like any other business if a customer doesn’t like the price show them a less expensive option.
When you get a reputation as a good custom quilter no one will question your price.
 
Nigel

I agree, people DO think that is easy. I got a last minute quilt last year, for a parent's 50th wedding anniversary. All blocks with photos or drawings. She wanted a "quick" "simple" stitch in the ditch.  She was shocked when I explained that this was a custom job and how difficult so called simple stitching is. Super king size and she'd budgeted only $100. LOL Wanted me to bind it too. When I gave her the cost, she almost fainted. Finally took it on after she talked to the rest of the family and they helped with the cost, but she decided to bind it herself too. She still had to pay over $600. I got that one done and out! in three days. All ruler and hand guided. 

Custom work using rulers - this is a highly specialized skill that take months, if not years to perfect. If it were me, I would charge by the hour, not by square inch. Don't underestimate your time and skills. I rarely do ruler quilting for customers because it's so expensive. I find other ways to quilt, or I choose to use minimal amount of rulers and then freehand the rest (combination) Find the going rate for custom heirloom quilting in your area, or ask other quilters in your area what they charge for ruler work. If I were doing ruler work, I would charge at least $35 per hour. For estimates, you could guess that it takes 40 hours and give them a quote. I'm not giving my time away for minimum wage. No way!  I've had many customers ask me to SID their quilt. I kindly explain the costs and time involved and I offer other solutions for them.