Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
How much to charge for sewing?
We do a lot of sewing for money, but we usually have to figure in materials cost + labor, and we grossly undercharge for our labor. Always. Well, almost always....we did charge the going rate for wedding dress alterations, and I now understand why they charge so much. 
We are making curtains for someone who provided the fabric, and can't decide what would be fair to charge. There are four panels that are 94" long finished. They have borders on the top and bottom, that we sewed 'hot dog' fashion so no seam allowances show from the back side, and they have a nice finished look. They match perfectly, too...unlike panels you purchase from the store.
They were horrible upholstery fabrics that frayed and weighed a ton. Some of it had been pre cut into panels, but everything needed to be squared, measured and recut to the right proportions, as well as sewn, serged, pattern centered on the borders, etc. Nothing that difficult, but it was it took time, a bit of math, and it was back breaking (I am really sore today-lol).
Any ideas on pricing? TIA!
Re: How much to charge for sewing?
Well, when I started doing custom window treatments (many years ago), the going rate was $35-50 per piece (exclusive of fabric and lining, etc). For example, and swag and jabot treatment would be $105-150 plus material(s).
So for 2 panels, $70-100. Factor in the degree of dificulty and how much you like/dislike the customer.
I sometimes wish I could overcharge just for the trouble or how much of a PITA the customer was.
HTH or gives you an idea.
L'isle Sur la Sorgue, Provence
lol. I hear you. We have dealt with some doozies for sure. I turn down work rather than deal with them again.....life is too short.
This woman has really been a huge influence in my creative life, (not a pita) and has been a great supporter...not to mention that she gave me a zillion dollars worth of supplies from her late mil's stash.
The days of her needing cheap labor to support the arts have passed though. She runs a successful Pilates studio and is expanding, and can afford to pay us...and is willing. We are just so used to practically giving her our labor, that it is hard to make that leap...kwim?
A-freaking-Men!
L'isle Sur la Sorgue, Provence