charge for starch and steam method?

[bonbon 50]

What would you charge to do the starch and steam method of taming quilt tops, wavy borders?

Seems I've done this several times this summer and have been letting it slide but with lessons to the customer on how too avoid this problem. Working too much for free! Time to nip this in the bud.

Bonnie Botts~your CD on Starch and Steam has been a very smart purchase on my part!!! What do you charge?

Thanks for any help or ideas.

[Primitive1 802]

Is there a "like" button to push? I totally agree with you, it takes time to tame those friendly borders!

[calicokat 33]

I've got one that I pinned on just last night and I'll be S&S-ing when I go home from work today!

On my intake/work order form I have a section for "Other Labor" and this would be noted in there. I might make comment like: "Steam and Starch for fullness 30 minutes". Put a notation there of what the charge is, my labor is $20 per hour, so $10.

Then you have the option to "write it off" "since this is the first time" but explain to the customer what the extra labor was, and how much it will be next time.

Be careful, if the customer thinks it's a bargain, she may just continue to pay the $20/hour and let you deal with it

[Sandra Darlington 117]

I like that suggestion. It seems that about half the quilts I have gotten in the last few months have all been very difficult quilts. I need to buy stock in starch and probably soon a new iron, at the rate I am going.

That's a nice way to word what comes to my mind, as I refer to it as a PITA fee, but would not call it that on my invoice.

[Bonnie 14]

I would figure out a fair hourly charge and add that to the intake sheet.

[ffq-lar 3,612]

I'm with Bonnie. Last S&W I had took an hour and a can of starch. Soooo much easier to quilt though.

Bonnie--have I told you lately that I love you--and your BFS&S method? Saved my arse a number of times! Instead of "Bonnie's Fabulous" method I call it my "best friend's" method! Haa!

[jeri 1]

Sometimes it's really difficult to handle those PTIA QUilts. Still haven't figured out the PTIA charge and I've been quilting since 2003. Usually it's the 90+ year olds or the newbies and you feel sorry for them and don't charge what you should.

This example is from a referral from neighbor of a quilting friend. My last PTIA quilt was a 95 yo who had made lots of hand pieced quilts and the daughter was so proud of her. Piecing was awful!! I charged my minimum 1.5 cents per sq inch ($35.00 per quilt) plus batting, thread charge, and backing. as she wanted basic quilting and small quilts. --didn't even care what I put on it for quilting or what kind of batting . I probably made $3.00 per hour. Nothing was even, hand stitches from tiny to 1/2 inch in the piecing. UCK!!! I stabalized it the best I could with the quilting. I don't think it will fall apart the first time they are washed now. Put lots of notes on the reciept regarding the problems and told them I did the best I could with what I had to work with. Also told them that up front when I accepted the 3 quilts for her great grand chlidren that they would not be perfectly squared and they had problems in the piecing and if I quilted them I would stabalize them the best I could with no quarentees. . Her previous quilter had told her she wouldn't quilt for her anymore. She was used to paying $25.00 per quilt including batting and backing and binding!!!! I told them I would not do the binding--though I do have binding available--it's expensive cause it's not my thing. Showed her daughter how to bind a quilt.

Definately not financially worth it to do these kinds of quilts. But....your heart goes out to the effort and those like me do them anyways. And try to make them look incredible!!

[moonwoman 0]

So, Bonnie A cd with your fab starch and steam method where could I go to purchase such a cd? please advise dale in Astoria one of the moxies I might add

thanks

[LadyLake 43]

I charge a custom rate when I have to finick with anything due to poor piecing.

[cblevins 260]

Originally posted by moonwoman

So, Bonnie A cd with your fab starch and steam method where could I go to purchase such a cd? please advise dale in Astoria one of the moxies I might add

thanks

Me too!!!!!!!!!!:)

[GrandmaLKB 223]

Yes, Bonnie............is your DVD still available???? I would be interested as well............

[Carla Danczak 0]

Bonnie,

Me too.

[lovetwoquilt 0]

Bonnie,

I too, would love to purchase your S & S DVD...........

Lani

[Bonnie 14]

Lani, Carla, Linda, Cheri, and Dale...thanks for your interest in the CD....I have sent you each U2U's. I won't be close to a computer until Sunday, but let me know if your still interested.

[o2b Quilting 142]

Me too, me too!!

[anita 8]

OK...add me to the list.

Right now I only quilt for myself, and you know I'm perfect...NOT...and one day I'll exceed my own tolerance level of imperfection.

Anita

[Grace 0]

Bonnie,

You can add me to your list of interested people.

Thanks.

[fineseams 47]

OH yes please. Me too.

[CrazyAboutQuilting 156]

Me too! Bonnie, please add me to the list!

[bonbon 50]

Thanks y'all. $20/hour is exactly what I was thinking. I do let the customer know that I spent time on the S&S method and discuss/teach proper border attachment. It is also on my handouts but I'm not sure if they are reading them or what.

Linda Rech~thought you were telling ME you loved me! But you meant Bonnie Botts!!

Can't blame you! She's awesome!

Keep selling those CD's of yours! Y'all won't be sorry!!!!

[SKQuilts 3]

I want in on the cd also!!!!!!

[Sandra Darlington 117]

I got Bonnie's CD last year and it is very helpful. You will be glad you ordered it.

[alnaquilts 1]

Sounds interesting--add me to the list as well!

[WestieMom 29]

Bonnie, Please add me to the list also. Thanks!

[luv2kwilt 5]

Mee toooo Bonnie! Soup cans can only go so far!

Thanks!

Monica Gum

APQS MILLENNIUM