For all my sweet sister Cuties who tend to be door mats: If a stranger walked up to you in the mall and asked you to buy her a $600 dress for her daughter's prom, would you nod sweetly and follow her to the store? When a stranger asks you to make a quilt for a charity that isn't a charity FOR FREE and maybe they'll contribute toward the fabric and batting, ask yourself why! Why do you owe them your 100 or so hours of labor, just because you know how to quilt? Just because you're nice? Just because you're a stay-at-home wife or mom? Why should they have the benefit of all your efforts and training, investment in equipment and equipment maintenance, templates, small tools, etc.? If the person asking has an air conditioning or plumbing business, are they going to come to your house to provide the next 100 hours of labor needed at no cost? If it is really for a charity, they should look around within their organization before asking someone not in the organization to donate time, services and skills for a group you don't know or much care about.

Instead, I propose that you be prepared to inform them that you are for hire and that quilts can be costly. Then inform them of the number of hours it takes to make a lap quilt or king sized quilt, and how much fabric yardage each will require (and batting yardage) at xx cost per yard. Then add in the cost to machine quilt the final quilt, and give a proposed total cost for each size. Don't forget your time selecting fabrics and delivering quilt.

Women are no longer to be valued simply for being willing to sew for free and with a smile.

Also, while I'm on my soapbox, and this has been bothering me a while, NO ONE can volunteer you to make something for someone else just because they don't know how and they know you. Example - a niece is graduating high school and would love a t shirt quilt. Only you can obligate yourself to endeavors for others. This goes double for your sis-in-law who is too cheap to buy Christmas gifts, but instead wants to lean on your family's budget and time instead.

All that said, if you want to do it for pay, say so. If you will do it as a favor, say that instead. But, don't be a constant door mat. That harms other women who stitch for a living. (not me, if you were wondering) Sorry, but I just had to vent all this. Stand up for your time and your skills and artistry. And set limits. Love you all.

All in all, there is a limit to "for free" and a limit to moochers, but it is up to you to set those limits.