Quilting Business Success Podcast · Real talk with real quilters · by Gammill

What longarm quilters charge and earn

35 quilters, the same metrics. Each list ranks every quilter who gave that figure. Click a figure to hear the guest say it. Estimates are marked and rest only on what was said.

Answers come only from the interviews on this site, with links to the moment each figure was said.

Edge-to-edge rate

20 of 35 quilters gave this · measured in ¢/sq in

  1. Norma StarkEpisode 38 3.5 ¢/sq in
  2. Jeri SoensEpisode 40 3 ¢/sq in
  3. Andrew SnavelyEpisode 44 3 ¢/sq in
  4. Donna GoldbeckEpisode 51 2.9 ¢/sq in
  5. Denise FriedEpisode 56 2.5–3 ¢/sq in
  6. Kate WellenEpisode 47 2.8 ¢/sq in
  7. Jami GotoEpisode 30 2.5–2.8 ¢/sq in
  8. Cynthia WheelerEpisode 46 2.5 ¢/sq in
  9. Deborah JenkinsEpisode 52 2.5 ¢/sq in
  10. Holly PotvinEpisode 35 2.5 ¢/sq in
  11. Colleen GrangerEpisode 36 2.5 ¢/sq in
  12. Page JohnsonEpisode 60 2.3 ¢/sq in
  13. Alex WilhelmEpisode 34 2.1–2.2 ¢/sq in
  14. Lisa TottyEpisode 63 2 ¢/sq in
  15. Karna LackeyEpisode 49 2 ¢/sq in
  16. Charlene SmithEpisode 45 2 ¢/sq in
  17. Claire MarksEpisode 41 2 ¢/sq in
  18. Robin JordanEpisode 37 2 ¢/sq in
  19. Christine DuvallEpisode 62 1.8 ¢/sq in
  20. Traci SmithEpisode 32 1.5 ¢/sq in

Custom rate

8 of 35 quilters gave this · measured in ¢/sq in

  1. Holly PotvinEpisode 35 8–9 ¢/sq in
  2. Claire MarksEpisode 41 8 ¢/sq in
  3. Alex WilhelmEpisode 34 5–10 ¢/sq in
  4. Donna GoldbeckEpisode 51 4.9–6.9 ¢/sq in
  5. Denise FriedEpisode 56 5 ¢/sq in
  6. Colleen GrangerEpisode 36 5 ¢/sq in
  7. Kristi DroeseEpisode 48 4 ¢/sq in
  8. Cynthia WheelerEpisode 46 3–3.5 ¢/sq in

Queen-size price, edge-to-edge

5 of 35 quilters gave this · measured in $

  1. Sandy KuhlEpisode 55 $200–$230
  2. Don SutcliffeEpisode 54 $175–$200
  3. Deborah JenkinsEpisode 52 $170
  4. Cathy KleinschmidtEpisode 33 $130–$150
  5. Shanon Peters & Sue BurnettEpisode 39 $110

Quilts per year

20 of 35 quilters gave this · measured in quilts

  1. Shanon Peters & Sue BurnettEpisode 39 900–1,200 quilts
  2. Karna LackeyEpisode 49 855–900 quilts
  3. Kate WellenEpisode 47 800–900 quilts
  4. Ava BootheEpisode 50 672 quilts
  5. Charlene SmithEpisode 45 600–720 quilts
  6. Jami GotoEpisode 30 450 quilts
  7. Brenda FarrisEpisode 58 400 quilts
  8. Jerry PetersonEpisode 59 300–450 quilts
  9. Vivs Laliberte & Russ LeeEpisode 42 300–350 quilts
  10. Andrew SnavelyEpisode 44 300 quilts
  11. Donna GoldbeckEpisode 51 200–300 quilts
  12. Norma StarkEpisode 38 220 quilts
  13. Don SutcliffeEpisode 54 200 quilts
  14. Kristi DroeseEpisode 48 200 quilts
  15. Danielle ButlerEpisode 43 200 quilts
  16. Sandy KuhlEpisode 55 168 quilts
  17. Jeri SoensEpisode 40 80–256 quilts
  18. Lisa TottyEpisode 63 52–104 quilts
  19. Denise FriedEpisode 56 50 quilts
  20. Linda ThielfoldtEpisode 61 25 quilts

Turnaround time

15 of 35 quilters gave this · measured in weeks

  1. Jami GotoEpisode 30 4–12 weeks
  2. Vivs Laliberte & Russ LeeEpisode 42 3–4 weeks
  3. Colleen GrangerEpisode 36 2–4.3 weeks
  4. Cynthia WheelerEpisode 46 0.3–5 weeks
  5. Sandy KuhlEpisode 55 2–3 weeks
  6. Charlene SmithEpisode 45 2–3 weeks
  7. Norma StarkEpisode 38 2–3 weeks
  8. Kristi DroeseEpisode 48 1–4 weeks
  9. Trudy ClevelandEpisode 31 2 weeks
  10. Christine DuvallEpisode 62 2 weeks
  11. Kate WellenEpisode 47 2 weeks
  12. Holly PotvinEpisode 35 2 weeks
  13. Shanon Peters & Sue BurnettEpisode 39 1–1.4 weeks
  14. Jeri SoensEpisode 40 1 week
  15. Karna LackeyEpisode 49 0.4–0.7 weeks

Quilting hours per week

24 of 35 quilters gave this · measured in hours

  1. Charlene SmithEpisode 45 60–70 hours
  2. Ava BootheEpisode 50 55–65 hours
  3. Shanon Peters & Sue BurnettEpisode 39 55–60 hours
  4. Kate WellenEpisode 47 50–60 hours
  5. Christine DuvallEpisode 62 50 hours
  6. Karna LackeyEpisode 49 45–54 hours
  7. Andrew SnavelyEpisode 44 40–50 hours
  8. Jami GotoEpisode 30 32–50 hours
  9. Holly PotvinEpisode 35 40 hours
  10. Brenda FarrisEpisode 58 15–60 hours
  11. Robin JordanEpisode 37 35 hours
  12. Danielle ButlerEpisode 43 30–36 hours
  13. Donna GoldbeckEpisode 51 30–35 hours
  14. Trudy ClevelandEpisode 31 30 hours
  15. Colleen GrangerEpisode 36 30 hours
  16. Alex WilhelmEpisode 34 20–30 hours
  17. Leslie and Sarah SissonEpisode 68 20–25 hours
  18. Jerry PetersonEpisode 59 20 hours
  19. Cynthia WheelerEpisode 46 20 hours
  20. Lisa TottyEpisode 63 15–20 hours
  21. Sandy KuhlEpisode 55 15–20 hours
  22. Don SutcliffeEpisode 54 15–20 hours
  23. Claire MarksEpisode 41 14 hours
  24. Deborah JenkinsEpisode 52 12–15 hours

Annual earnings (est.)

14 of 35 quilters gave this · measured in $

  1. Kate WellenEpisode 47 $198,000–$222,800 est.
  2. Karna LackeyEpisode 49 $153,900–$162,000 est.
  3. Charlene SmithEpisode 45 $108,000–$129,600 est.
  4. Shanon Peters & Sue BurnettEpisode 39 $99,000–$132,000 est.
  5. Jami GotoEpisode 30 $101,200–$111,400 est.
  6. Andrew SnavelyEpisode 44 $81,000 est.
  7. Colleen GrangerEpisode 36 $72,000 est.
  8. Norma StarkEpisode 38 $69,300 est.
  9. Donna GoldbeckEpisode 51 $52,200–$78,300 est.
  10. Jeri SoensEpisode 40 $21,600–$69,100 est.
  11. Don SutcliffeEpisode 54 $35,000–$40,000 est.
  12. Sandy KuhlEpisode 55 $33,600–$38,600 est.
  13. Lisa TottyEpisode 63 $9,400–$18,700 est.
  14. Denise FriedEpisode 56 $11,200–$13,500 est.

Years in business

34 of 35 quilters gave this · measured in years

  1. Jeri SoensEpisode 40 45 years
  2. Page JohnsonEpisode 60 25 years
  3. Colleen GrangerEpisode 36 25 years
  4. Shanon Peters & Sue BurnettEpisode 39 24 years
  5. Linda ThielfoldtEpisode 61 24 years
  6. Kristi DroeseEpisode 48 23–24 years
  7. Cathy KleinschmidtEpisode 33 23 years
  8. Vivs Laliberte & Russ LeeEpisode 42 22 years
  9. Jerry PetersonEpisode 59 21 years
  10. Deborah JenkinsEpisode 52 21 years
  11. Don SutcliffeEpisode 54 20 years
  12. Jackie Paulson & Carrie RadloffEpisode 53 20 years
  13. Karna LackeyEpisode 49 17–18 years
  14. Sandy KuhlEpisode 55 15 years
  15. Jami GotoEpisode 30 14 years
  16. Donna GoldbeckEpisode 51 14 years
  17. Charlene SmithEpisode 45 13 years
  18. Trudy ClevelandEpisode 31 13 years
  19. Robin JordanEpisode 37 12 years
  20. Norma StarkEpisode 38 8 years
  21. Kate WellenEpisode 47 8 years
  22. Holly PotvinEpisode 35 7 years
  23. Cynthia WheelerEpisode 46 6 years
  24. Brenda FarrisEpisode 58 5 years
  25. Claire MarksEpisode 41 4 years
  26. Danielle ButlerEpisode 43 3–4 years
  27. Denise FriedEpisode 56 3 years
  28. Alex WilhelmEpisode 34 2 years
  29. Andrew SnavelyEpisode 44 2 years
  30. Ava BootheEpisode 50 2 years
  31. Lisa TottyEpisode 63 1 year
  32. Traci SmithEpisode 32 1 year
  33. Leslie and Sarah SissonEpisode 68 1 year
  34. Christine DuvallEpisode 62 0–1 years

Machine payback (stated)

5 of 35 quilters gave this · measured in years

  1. Karna LackeyEpisode 49 4 years
  2. Christine DuvallEpisode 62 3 years
  3. Colleen GrangerEpisode 36 3 years
  4. Cathy KleinschmidtEpisode 33 2 years
  5. Danielle ButlerEpisode 43 1 year
Full table: every quilter against every column

Scrolls sideways. The same data as the lists above, one row per quilter.

QuilterEdge-to-edge rateCustom rateQueen-size price, edge-to-edgeQuilts per yearTurnaround timeQuilting hours per weekAnnual earnings (est.)Years in businessMachine payback (stated)Machine (model, throat, table)
Karna LackeyEpisode 49 2 ¢/sq in––855–900 quilts0.4–0.7 weeks45–54 hours$153,900–$162,000 est.17–18 years4 yearsTwo Gammill Statler longarms: both Optimum 30-inch, one upgraded to Ascend, both on-site at the quilt shop.
Colleen GrangerEpisode 36 2.5 ¢/sq in5 ¢/sq in––2–4.3 weeks30 hours$72,000 est.25 years3 yearsGammill Classic, 14-foot table, upgraded to Statler in 2017, now has Ascend
Jami GotoEpisode 30 2.5–2.8 ¢/sq in––450 quilts4–12 weeks32–50 hours$101,200–$111,400 est.14 years–Gammill Statler (original in 2010, second/newer in 2013, currently using 2013 model with Ascend upgrade)
Shanon Peters & Sue BurnettEpisode 39 ––$110900–1,200 quilts1–1.4 weeks55–60 hours$99,000–$132,000 est.24 years–Four Gammill longarms; original was hand-guided, later upgraded; two run by Sue, two by assistant Jenny; all Gammill brand.
Sandy KuhlEpisode 55 ––$200–$230168 quilts2–3 weeks15–20 hours$33,600–$38,600 est.15 years–Gammill Classic 26" throat, 14' table (original); upgraded to Vision, then Vision 2, now Gammill Ascend (main machine); second machine is Vision 2 at daughter's house
Cynthia WheelerEpisode 46 2.5 ¢/sq in3–3.5 ¢/sq in––0.3–5 weeks20 hours–6 years–Gammill Statler, 30 inch throat, 12 foot table; previously HQ16
Charlene SmithEpisode 45 2 ¢/sq in––600–720 quilts2–3 weeks60–70 hours$108,000–$129,600 est.13 years–Gammill Optimum with 14 foot table, computerized (Statler, later Ascend upgrade)
Christine DuvallEpisode 62 1.8 ¢/sq in–––2 weeks50 hours–0–1 years3 yearsGammill Ascend (brand new); second Ascend ordered; uses Gammill laptop and Creative Studio software
Donna GoldbeckEpisode 51 2.9 ¢/sq in4.9–6.9 ¢/sq in–200–300 quilts–30–35 hours$52,200–$78,300 est.14 years–Gammill Optimum with Statler (computerized), currently with Ascend upgrade
Kate WellenEpisode 47 2.8 ¢/sq in––800–900 quilts2 weeks50–60 hours$198,000–$222,800 est.8 years–Gammill Statler Optimum (30-inch throat, 12-foot table); Gammill Classic (26-inch throat, 10-foot table); Gammill Optimum (30-inch throat, 8-foot table)
Holly PotvinEpisode 35 2.5 ¢/sq in8–9 ¢/sq in––2 weeks40 hours–7 years–Gammill freehand (2003-2009), then Statler Stitcher (owned four over time), ran two Statlers at once 2009-2016
Denise FriedEpisode 56 2.5–3 ¢/sq in5 ¢/sq in–50 quilts––$11,200–$13,500 est.3 years–Gammill Statler (26-inch at home), Statler Ascend (30-inch in town)
Lisa TottyEpisode 63 2 ¢/sq in––52–104 quilts–15–20 hours$9,400–$18,700 est.1 year–Gammill Statler with Ascend retrofit, color purple
Don SutcliffeEpisode 54 ––$175–$200200 quilts–15–20 hours$35,000–$40,000 est.20 years–Started with a non-Gammill, stitch-regulated, hand-guided machine for ~19 years; switched to a Gammill Statler (computerized) less than a year ago.
Jeri SoensEpisode 40 3 ¢/sq in––80–256 quilts1 week–$21,600–$69,100 est.45 years–Started with industrial longarm (1976), now has Gammill (upgraded to Statler, hand-guided and computerized, non-stitch regulated originally, Statler retrofit 4 years ago)
Norma StarkEpisode 38 3.5 ¢/sq in––220 quilts2–3 weeks–$69,300 est.8 years–Gammill Statler Ascend (current); previously Gammill Statler; previously Baby Lock Crown Jewel (computerized)
Alex WilhelmEpisode 34 2.1–2.2 ¢/sq in5–10 ¢/sq in–––20–30 hours–2 years–2016 Gammill Statler, snappers, bobbin winder, light bar, 40 bobbins
Deborah JenkinsEpisode 52 2.5 ¢/sq in–$170––12–15 hours–21 years–Current: Gammill Statler; previously: Gammill Classic (with Intellistitch), Vision 2 (with iPad).
Kristi DroeseEpisode 48 –4 ¢/sq in–200 quilts1–4 weeks––23–24 years–Three Gammill longarms: original hand-guided (no stitch regulator), one with stitch regulator, and one with Statler Stitcher (computerized).
Andrew SnavelyEpisode 44 3 ¢/sq in––300 quilts–40–50 hours$81,000 est.2 years–Gammill Statler Ascend
Danielle ButlerEpisode 43 –––200 quilts–30–36 hours–3–4 years1 yearGammill Vision 2.0, 22 inch head, 12 foot frame
Claire MarksEpisode 41 2 ¢/sq in8 ¢/sq in–––14 hours–4 years–Gammill Vision 2.0 (22" throat, 10' table); Gammill Statler (30" throat, 14' table)
Jerry PetersonEpisode 59 –––300–450 quilts–20 hours–21 years–Gammill Optimum Statler, 30-inch throat, 12-foot table, computerized
Trudy ClevelandEpisode 31 ––––2 weeks30 hours–13 years–Gammill Statler, purchased 2011, computerized; single machine, no size stated.
Cathy KleinschmidtEpisode 33 ––$130–$150––––23 years2 yearsGammill Classic, 26 inch throat, purchased 2001, upgraded with stitch regulator in 2005 and Statler in 2011/2012
Ava BootheEpisode 50 –––672 quilts–55–65 hours–2 years–Gammill Statler, 22-inch (possibly Classic), computerized
Vivs Laliberte & Russ LeeEpisode 42 –––300–350 quilts3–4 weeks––22 years–1991 Gammill green machine (manual, 14 ft steel table), 2001 Gammill Classic Plus (now Statler Annie, computerized), 2021 Gammill Statler (computerized), all with large throats and 14 ft tables.
Robin JordanEpisode 37 2 ¢/sq in––––35 hours–12 years–Three Gammill longarms: Vision (22" head, 12' frame), two 30" head Gammills (Statler computerized).
Brenda FarrisEpisode 58 –––400 quilts–15–60 hours–5 years–Statler Optimum (Gammill), upgraded with new computer and track system about 4 years ago; original machine ~20 years old
Linda ThielfoldtEpisode 61 –––25 quilts–––24 years–Gammill Statler (current); previously hand-guided Gammill; 30-inch machine mentioned for current setup
Page JohnsonEpisode 60 2.3 ¢/sq in––––––25 years–Five Gammill longarms (Statler, Stewie, Stella, Stormy, Optimus Prime); original was Classic Plus with stitch regulator, later added Statler; all Gammill brand.
Traci SmithEpisode 32 1.5 ¢/sq in––––––1 year–Gammill Classic, upgraded with regulated stitch, Vision One
Leslie and Sarah SissonEpisode 68 –––––20–25 hours–1 year–Gammill Ascend, 30 inch throat, 14 foot table, Statler computerized
Jackie Paulson & Carrie RadloffEpisode 53 –––––––20 years–Gammill (various models, including Statler and Statler Ascend; hand-guided and computerized; retrofits possible)
Doc WigintonEpisode 57 –––––––––Two Gammill Ascend longarms: one 30-inch throat, one 26-inch throat. Previously used a Statler and briefly a small Nova.

Full detail for every quilter, including the metrics not shown here, is in each article and in the dataset.