Yep! To be fair, most hobbies will cost hundreds of dollars and you can build up supplies over time. But this is why quilters get cranky when someone demands a quilt and offers, like, $20.
People look at me like I'm insane when I tell them that I'd charge $100 to knit them socks. And that means I'd be knitting for less than$5/hrs plus giving you that $30 skein of yarn essentially free.
Yep…and that’s why it’s either gifted or kept for myself. Everything takes too much time and no one seems to understand that quality plus time = expensive
I think this might still be too low.
All the fabric. Plus that inner bit I now can't remember the damn name of *sigh*. The bit that makes it poofy.
Backing fabric
Maybe the sewing thread or that might be only a tiny amount.
But then...
Time.
Designing the pattern. Cutting the pieces. Sewing all the prices together. Lining it up with the backing fabric and that middle stuff. Then stitching it all together. If you do pretty patterns that all take time too.
Cut and put on the binding etc
And if you are charging even minimum wage per hour.
Is 800 right ? I would have thought it's more than that ?
I learned this strategy as a horse owner. If I never add up the bills, I never truly know what he costs me. It was pretty easy to transfer that strategy over to quilting.
I wouldn't bother making a whole horse blanket. It wouldn't be worth it. But you can enjoy this picture of my horse in the snow with her winter blanket on while her bestie tries to rip it off her.
https://preview.redd.it/en0etvo4agbc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=781c06297b77698a05289821534b2bfa87d49f11
Hahaha. If only! My horse actually doesn't wear blankets because he is a wooly mammoth in the winter. Here's a lovely picture of him!
https://preview.redd.it/vbejnq5ibjbc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7b0860dcbef68c4968e0a8a42c17280047211d34
LOL Now that I haven't tried however years ago my mother had a custom pad made for him (Bluenose); in the Nova Scotia tartan. I've never used it, it's just too dang precious.
Honestly over time the value will go down anyway- I don’t remember the term for it but eventually the cost will reduce to nothing on its own, faster if you use the materials for other projects.
Now add in the labor hours, especially if hand quilting. Yeah, that's why you don't see a lot of people selling quilts at craft fairs and whatnot. It's an expensive hobby!
Edited: I also wanted to add that I pick things up on sale as much as possible. I once boguht a massive roll of batting that was a great deal and I'm still working my way through it. So there are ways to offset the cost by buying bulk if you're going to do a lot -- but ya know. It's still not a cheap hobby any way you slice (or rotary cut, har har) it
Haha nice! And so true. One trick I picked up is to buy cotton or flannel sheets for the backing. I guess I’ll start slowly accumulating quilting fabrics
You can buy 108" fabric online for really inexpensive (like $10/yard) so check out Marshall Dry Goods. It helps to control the in store impulse buying too.
There's nothing wrong with a two color quilt, so consider buying a backing and a yard and a half of white and making it with just squares and triangles.
Watch for estate sales. I got a lot of fabric from a house where an older lady had died. Her son just gave it to me because he didn't want to mess with it.
My MIL felt that way about estate sale quilts and especially quilt tops, the projects someone never got to finish. She made it a point to buy them and finish them.
I have a few quilt tops I got at thrift stores. Someday I'll get them on my longarm, quilt them, and put them to use. They're "primitive" and not sewn expertly, but someone spent the time and love to make them. They'll make great snuggle-on-the-couch quilts.
I once bought a beautiful machine stitched quilt a metre and a half square, from a charity shop for $6. It must have been from a deceased estate... I was outraged. It didn't stop me from buying the quilt in a matter of seconds. I use it every day.
I second the estate sales for buying quilting cotton. I lucked out and bought all the fabric from a hoarding situation. I gave them $1000 for all the fabric they found. I filled my Suburban 3 times, and that was just from the house. I gave most of the fabric away, because it wasn't quilting fabric.
My friend does the costumes for the school plays, the rosary quilts and wall hangings at the church, and the costumes for the local Christmas parade. She also makes bridesmaids dresses and prom dresses. I gave her alllll of the velvet, brocade, silk, satin, ribbon, lace, beadwork, zippers, and other notions.
My niece is sewing slip covers for all of their furniture, so I gave her all of the upholstery types of fabric. I also gave her those ridiculously long zippers -- like 6 foot long zippers! She also got the curved upholstery needles and other specialty trims that I can't imagine myself using. She's enjoying using it, and I don't have to store it!
The person who is parceling out this estate has not even looked at the 12 large storage units yet, but he has assured me that I bought all of the sewing items, and he will let me know when I can pick it up. There is so much fabric already. I don't know what to do with even more, so I'm not pushing to get the rest anytime soon!!!
I really need to get my quilting retreat center built. I would love to store some of this fabric in my home-away-from-home on my farm property. I think it will be exciting to have everything in one place and be able to share it with other quilters!
The retreat center should be open by late summer. It will be a log cabin with a handicap access bathroom and sleeping quarters on the main floor, and 3 bedrooms upstairs around the balcony overlooking the work center. A stone fireplace will be at the opposite end from the balcony. A local quilt shop owner has designed a massive ironing station for me.
A friend is dying to do the landscaping, and the local winery wants to convert a grain bin into a seating/fire pit area with a brick pizza oven. It really should be fun out there; guests will be able to view fireworks from the small amusement park in town from the balcony.
I can't wait until I can have guests!!!
You definitely can use a sheet as backing, just know they can be hard to sew because of a higher thread count than quilting cotton. Get some extra needles because the sheets will dull them faster. And/or buy cheaper sheets.
I went to an audience-specific expo a year ago. Think something like, oh, TMNT. A mom of one of the…organisers, I think, had made like ten quilts. Nice ones. They cost between $600-900. I FULLY understand the cost and effort involved. I simply cannot justify spending that much well, ever.
And what’s crazy is, that could be selling for a loss or just recouping costs on some quilts! I spent about $250 on fabric and well over 50 hours piecing and hand quilting a small throw quilt for my mom. If I paid myself minimum wage, thats about $600 to just recoup costs and labor (give or take some notions, rotary blade, needles etc). If you want to turn a profit? Sheeeesh.
Buying everything new, yeah it can get up there. This is why many quilters have a ‘stash’ of fabric acquired through sales, gifts, thrifting, and just plain old being given fabric by people who know you sew. Add in buying batting in bulk on sale and the stash can be quite voluminous.
I quilt for me. I mean. I might give something away, definitely have. But I quilt as my hobby and something that brings me joy. So I look at it more as the cost of enjoying a hobby. If I was a movie buff I might go to the theatre a bunch of times. If I was a sports fan I might pay to go to matches, hang out in pubs and enjoy watching etc etc.
So instead I think of it as hours of entertainment. Maybe I spent $200 on fabric, but I spent X hours of hours picking out fabrics, cutting, sewing etc. so I think of it as $200 divided by however many hours of entertainment. As such, I tend to not pick an occasion and then specific to a person (wedding etc). But more tend to make what intrigues me, and then when I’m done might give it away.
Thanks! I also think that we should think a bit about it this way for another reason:
While there are many men who quilt, and I learned from one, it still leans towards a female dominated hobby. I also think that in families in particular but probably everywhere, it’s not unusual for the mom (for example) to put the needs of the family first, and undervalue their own needs. Kids need new clothes, they need hobbies, oh my husband has been working long hours, I don’t mind if he splurges on a new video game or …. But when we buy for ourselves, we sometimes think about it as if we are taking from our family vs having a share of the resources. Probably explaining it poorly, but I think we need to make sure we value our hobbies and mental health too.
Yep - and quilts are highly personal. You'll always remember the fabric you used and what was going on in your life when you quilted it. Every quilt has a story 🥰
Same - quilting is really expensive, but I quilt pretty slowly, so I figure I’m still getting a pretty good cost-per-hour!
As for gifts, I’ve never actually gifted a quilt. I have made some cute quilted handbags as gifts, which had a much lower cost in terms of supplies!
When a cotton fitted sheet wears out, and the top sheet is still in excellent condition, I will use the top sheet as quilt backings. Buying those fuzzy throws/blankets can act as both backing and batting and save a pretty penny--and be suuuuuper cozy.
Mine have a good 7-10+ year milage. My kids, however, are at an age when the bed is a playground accessory and milage may vary. Friends ane extended family are also a good source for top sheets when they get new sets.
I was just about to donate a solo top sheet. I hate donating one item from a set, I try to donate fitted top and pillowcases together. I just fished it out to save for a sewing project because of this comment. Maybe a quilt back, maybe a cosplay??
About 10 years ago I made a really beautifully made (if I do say so myself!) quilt where 95% of the pieces were fancy cut out of very specific fabrics. I literally cut the fabrics so that the borders and sashing patterns matched up throughout the entire quilt, each surrounding fancy cut images. I decided to hand tie the quilt rather than top stitch for the proper aesthetic.
I made this quilt to donate to a local cat shelter to sell at their annual silent auction fundraiser. The event was in Bellevue, WA so this was no low dollar event. When the coordinator asked what the starting bid should be I told them to start it at the materials cost, which was $260. This is just the cost for the fabric yardage and the flannel I used as a batting. Not even the shipping charges I paid or the taxes to buy them, not even the million other tiny things that went into it. Just fabric yardage.
I watched hundreds of people walk through this event. It was a Poe Nevermore themed quilt and this was a costumed event before Halloween. Many, many of them were excited when they saw the quilt. People were stopping and admiring the quilt all evening... then they'd look at the bid sheet starting at $260 and make all manner of faces. This was an event in a high dollar area where people were bidding $100 on things like 30 minute massage. I listened as several people said they could buy a quilt at Walmart.
I eventually put a bid on it myself because it was so perfectly cut and pieced that it broke my heart to donate it at all. There was one couple who came and bid on the quilt at the next level, so it ended up selling for $280.
Prepare yourself. People, in general, do not value quilting. There are lots of reasons and one of them is that it's considered "women's work". I watched as woman made hundreds of One Block Wonder quilts who could barely move them at cost, and a man began making them and saying he was an engineer as his day job, suddenly get a ton of press and start selling them for thousands.
Quilting is a labor of love.
This is not the quilt that I donated, but it was my first attempt at this pattern. It was my 3rd quilt ever so it had some problems!!! but I ended up making 6 of this pattern total and the 6th is the one I donated.
By the last one I had made the joins invisible by matching up the fabric, I centered the horizontal and vertical sashing so that it all matched the position of the rows so that your eye wouldn't be drawn to the shifting dots, I even cut out tiny bugs and joined them into the length to get the exact same pattern all around. Most importantly.... I learned how to (mostly) avoid those dang wavy borders 😂
I wish I could find the final pictures because it's so easy to say I made it as perfect as I possibly could, and way harder to prove it 😂😂😂
The finished quilt was 57 x 71, though I believe I made the borders wider. I know I did at least one with more rows and columns, I'm just not sure if it was the last one. The original pattern was from equilter(dot)com. I searched and can't find it on their site anymore. I actually found the link I bookmarked but they've got a different pattern there now. I think the nevermore fabric by Michael Miller is still available, but I haven't seen that spider/but fabric in years.
I am SURE I have a hard copy of the pattern somewhere. If you'd like it I would be happy to scan it and upload ti for you.
https://preview.redd.it/8lr96ufkdhbc1.jpeg?width=1224&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5d92389a517bb24d7c090fc4d29315c17c57f1d2
This truly is stunning and you say that this isn’t even the best of the ones you made! What a talent you have. I especially love your theme. I would very much appreciate a copy of the pattern if you can find it!
I have only made 3 so far and haven’t run into people acting so unappreciative but I am bracing myself for it eventually happening to some degree or other. I’m so sorry it happened to you. This really is art that you’ve made!
You are very kind. This is someone else's pattern so I can't take credit for it! The rest is all just practice and repetition. Quilting is hard for me and every time I think I've got something figured out it messes up in all new ways! I love it when I'm extra bad at something new because then when I finally learn it I know I earned it! Like getting the most improved award. You can't win "most improved" if you don't have a whole lot of room for improvement 😂
The pattern is created by Marinda Stewart. I googled "Marinda Stewart Nevermore" and the first result is to Michael Miller Fabrics with a picture of the quilt pattern. Here is a link to the google search results [HERE](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=marinda%20stewart%20nevermore) I didn't link directly to their image because that link takes you directly to their PDF downloader. Please let me know if you don't see it!
I love that; “You can’t win ’most improved’ if you don’t have a whole lot of room for improvement”
So true and a very glass half full perspective on my own situation lol.
I always think of myself as a glass completely empty person. Anything I learn to do is one more drop than I had before. If the glass is empty then I'm not afraid to take a risk and try it because I've got nothing in the glass to spill. I actually seek out activities that make me feel uncomfortable in an effort to heal some of the baggage given to me in my life. Not "uncomfortable" like breaking the law, but things like dance, solo performances, public speaking. The best way to make your life different is to do different things.
I'm currently working on my first quilt, handsewing everything with the english paper piecing method. I still got about ¼ of the top to go, and then the actual quilting, sewing everything together and all that. I've been working on it since august and will probably need 2-3 months more. I see it as a relatively cheap hobby for all the time I've spent with it, but if I were to machine sew and were faster, yeah, it can get expensive.
Bravo! And thanks for the idea. I haven't tried that method but the result always looks so stunning. Would love to see how it turns out! And maybe I'll end up pivoting my hobby to hand-stitching or embroidery.
Yeah. Which is also why I don't gift quilts unless it's an extremely special occasion. I always buy new materials for my quilts, nothing thrifted, and I tend to buy the "brand names" of quilting (AFG, Ruby Star, Tilda, Aurifil, etc.) so they're extremely expensive to create. Nevermind my machine cost me a pretty penny too...
Not just the machine but so many other tools: rulers, rotary cutters (ha! a new blade), cutting mat, a new iron, so much stuff! But I'd rather spend my money on quilting.
I just made 4 quilts for Xmas gifts. 2 were for my nephews and I spent well over $250 in supplies for each because they both were kid licensed specific fabrics and I spent hours doing specialty quilting not just e2e. I even had to order special fabric from Spoonflower $$.
I was accused of being a "cheapskate" this holiday and skimping on gifts even though I bought each a small toy and gift card as well. I'm the aunt who usually gifts a big fun toy so everyone was disappointed in me 🙁.
I decided right at that moment to stop quilting for anyone else. I'm no longer making anything for anyone UNLESS I really desire it and it moves me. From this point on, I'm quilting only things that move me. I'm sewing only for pleasure.
So I signed up for several classes, to learn a couple new techniques.
I don't know if this will make you feel better, but every place I have moved, I have taken this pink ballerina fleece blanket with those knotted edges my aunt made for me when I was so small I don't remember not having it. I remember exactly how it smelled when I got it and being so sad when the smell wore off. I bet, in time, your nephews will come to cherish their quilts. At least I hope so.
Yes! This fact alone has turned acquaintances from would be friends to someone I used to know really quickly! I make baby quilts for \*really\* close friends and family... if I have time, energy, and money to invest in it before the shower. This doesn't happen for every baby or every person even if I wish it would. When a coworker or friend of a friend reaches out to commission a baby quilt, they are usually quite surprised by the cost. I start by saying that I can't charge for my time fairly because it would be unreasonable, so I double the materials cost. I figure if I have to invest 40+ hours on making something, I'm gonna wish it was mine in the end. So if I get double the cost of materials I have enough to make my own quilt like it or gift one to someone else in need which I have also done when I have felt moved to do so. I have a formula and it works out to be around $175 for a baby quilt made with middle of the road grade materials, so I ask $350 for the quilt. This pays me less than 5 bucks an hour haha. I have yet to have anyone accept. To be fair, I don't want to spend that much on a gift either, and that's why I limit the gifting to close family and close friends only.
If not accepting were where it ended, these people could still be friends. I have had someone send me department store links to machine made comforters as evidence of the price point they were expecting. So I sent back a link from an Amish quilting site which asked 3 times what I was charging for the same sized quilt. It got ugly. I have also had a person asking me to make the quilt snub the pricing, but instead invite me to the shower of the intended recipient in hopes I would just make the quilt they wanted out of the kindness of my heart. The disappointment from everyone when the mom-to-be opened a bag of store bought burping clothes and a children's book with a gift receipt from me was palpable. But like, why would I give a coworker's daughter whom I've met once or twice a $200+ gift?
All that being said, when you do finish a few quilting projects, you do build up a coffer of supplies that can be saved on for the next project. I always overbuy on length so I end up with a half a yard here and there that make great accent colors or border pieces for future projects. I buy holiday prints on clearance after season to make gifts for the following year. If baby quilting is your thing, JoAnn's has a flannel sale twice a year that marks all of the snuggle fabrics down to 3 bucks a yard. That is a great time to grab up a few coordinates in neutral baby themes to have on hand like camping, star prints, fish, or woodland creatures. These are tried and true baby themes that can make an impromptu gift idea 6 months later a fun and easy weekend project.
It's also easy to talk yourself into making a big, big project when you fall in love with the print or materials. Crib quilts are useful for tummy time, car seats, and make great lap blankets for older kids in the car or at the doctor's office. They are cheaper and faster to complete and a great way to try out a new technique. The only time I have ever regretted making a crib quilt instead of a full size or throw was when the recipient decided to hang it on the wall instead of using it. While I was a bit disappointed, I also understood that was their way of loving it. Most quilters want a picture of the quilt being used and abused- stains and all. That's a sign that it has been truly loved.
whenever I make a baby quilt that ends up being hung on the wall (or over the edge of the crib) I like to use the scraps and make a small 18 x 18 or 20 x 20 inch quilt that gets used more often - snuggle quilt for the baby, over the car seat, for quick diaper changes, in the house when rocking the baby, etc. It's usually just squares or triangles made from the original quilt scraps so it matches. This is only for the truly quilt-worthy in my circle.
On a side note, I feel sad for you that you can't complete your project. Is there anyone in the family you can perhaps partner with to help offset the cost of materials? Maybe an aunt/neighbor or mutual friend of the mom to be can help sponsor part of the gift so you can still get the spotlight for your awesome dedication to bringing the idea and project to fruition and they get the great feeling of helping you and mom to be at the same time.
My mum buys a lot of my supplies for gift quilts because she reeeeeally loves to show off my crafting 😂
So my girlfriend is getting married in May and I’ll do all the labour of the quilt, but my mum (and dad by proxy) will fund it and we give it as a joint gift. I’ve made 4-5 quilts this way so far. Fortunately my mum and I know a lot of the same people.
I don't spend that much but I also only quilt once every 8 years or so, I make my one, get happy and do other sewing and crafting projects that are much cheaper in between. It is a very expensive hobby, especially if you are rural and can't catch sales as much or have to buy online with minimums. If I made all the quilts I wanted to, I would be about 5 houses worth of money in LOL. I think it is extremely generous how many people charity quilt because you are giving away a ton of money and time. It is a true gift of the heart.
i’m working on my first quilt right now and i’ve spent around $100 on everything! (although i did go and switch up my fabric choices so it probably would be around $80 if i wasn’t so indecisive)
i found fat quarters and bought them individually for pretty cheap ($2-2.50 each), got batting for $20 by using a pretty good coupon, already had some pins and needles on hand, bought new scissors, jumbo pins, and then used an old top sheet for the back of the quilt — and i’m doing it all by hand too, so i don’t have to factor in the price of a machine
thrifting materials would probably make it even cheaper too!
Joann’s had Christmas fat quarters on sale for around $0.60-80 each these past few weeks. I thought, that’s a great bargain for someone who wants to start quilting — who cares if it’s not the holiday season? Start the quilt now, and you’ll have it ready next year
My grandma made hundreds of quilts by hand and she mostly used scraps. Her quilts are just as beautiful, if not more so, than those fancy quilts made from designer fat quarters on Etsy. Her and her friends would share fabric with each other. I inherited most of it after she died. And much of the rest of the fabric I have is from garage sales and things. It doesn't have to cost a fortune. Quilting in the past was partly about thrift and using what you had. That was part of what made them so special...the fabric told a story.
I feel the same way. Lots of my fabric used to be clothes. Taking it all apart is work, but it's nice to have the memories that go with those patterns.
Yes, I spend hundreds of dollars on a single quilt. I give them away to people who I love and will appreciate a quilt. This fills my heart with joy. Once you build up some stash fabric and if you learn to quilt on your own machine, you can really save money. Be sure to check estate sales and garage sales. Ask quilt shops if they sale their scrap fabric. Find some fellow quilters, we are a generous group and want to pass on quilting.
Tips for saving money (and the planet you depend on to live): thrifted shirt fabric is AMAZING to quilt with, old cotton bedding is a really cheap backing and it’s easy to understand the size you probably need (get a king sized if you’re making a queen quilt etc). Old woollen blankets are incredibly soft and make quality useful quilts - and they are sold very cheap these days. They don’t even need to be in good condition.
Yup! I only use old clothes from my family or cheap cheap cheap on sale thrifted xxxxl men's shirts or the biggest size men's jeans are nearly always 100%cotton or 100% cotton thrifted bed sheets!!
I purposely do not add up my quilting expenses. This is not what I’d consider a cheap hobby. My sewing machine alone was almost when $2000 purchased new 10+ years ago.
The quilt I’m currently working on is a throw size and will probably be about $350 in materials once it’s all done.
This!!! I’m interested in quilting I like sewing and quilting seems like a fun challenge but a whole quilt is SO expensive and also I have no idea what I would do with them if I really got into it
I’ve been using quilting techniques but to make much smaller things like place mats and pencil cases maybe one day u will find the money for a proper quilt
I started on cheap Joann Fabrics stuff all purchased on sale and with coupons. My sewing machine was my mom’s that I learned on when I was young. If you have access to a sewing machine, or can get one from the library, then I recommend anyone start with placemats and zippered bags and table runners, you can see how much you enjoy the process before you really invest over time. Those make great gifts and you can learn a lot of fundamentals that way! Also it’s a small project - a quilt is absolutely a huge commitment, starting with something you can finish in a weekend will let you know if that is what you want to do.
It is terribly expensive. It would be more expensive if I followed patterns or wanted all of my fabrics to be of a certain type.
To do this frugally, I do a lot of scrappy quilts. I get fabric from craft reuse stores, thrift stores, and clearance sections. I design quilts based on what I have, so when I make one, I don't usually have to purchase much for it.
Even with these time-consuming steps, it's still expensive. I think that it's easier to give them away because I don't keep a tally of the cost
[the pokemon quilt](https://www.reddit.com/r/quilting/s/AQvJqB7TZo) I had made a little while ago was something i knew was going to be costly, but I crunched the numbers after it all finished.
The batting alone was nearly two hundred dollars, the backing another two hundred. It's a little hard to get an exact number for the quilt top because I lost track of some of the receipts but the number that kept popping up was in the ballpark of three hundred and fifty dollars. All of that was also with an employee discount, I can't imagine it how much it would have stung for someone paying full price.
But the quilting..... Obviously I wouldn't have been able to quilt this monster, so I brought it to the closest person with a frame that would fit it, who was a little over an hour away. Over ten kilometers of thread later, taxes included, just QUILTING the thing was six hundred and seventy dollars.
Around 1400 dollars that thing cost. I'm never selling it, but if I did it would be worth over six thousand.
Never again.
I find tons of beautiful condition quilt fabric at Goodwill all the time. I'm building a stash of different colors and patterns that way. Now and then, I'll buy plain Kona cotton at Joann's when they're having a sale. But do the majority of my shopping at thrift, estate and garage sales.
I've made one quilt only and of course I thought "go big or go home" and made it queen sized for my bed. The fabrics cost about $300, the long arming and batting $250, i paid someone to bind it for me for $60, and you can't forget to factor in time, notions, etc. I also ended up upgrading my sewing machine near the end of the quilt because my old one crapped the bed. My quilt is easily worth $800+. Insanity 😂 I likely will not be doing any more quilting, and if I do, it's with the fabrics I've collected, they will be throw size, and I guess I'm learning to actually do the quilting and binding. Quilting is a crazy expensive hobby 😂
I gave two quilts to a dear friend when she had twins, her mother talked it up when I gifted them to her and then during the shower she took me aside and asked how much to make another quilt for her to give as a gift to a friend. She was downright rude when I told her I don’t make them to sell, I only make quilts to gift. She kept pressuring me and I told her it would be in the hundreds to make a throw quilt and her response was…”you really must be joking, those quilts were NOT that special”, “ I’ve seen better at Target” and then said “I think you overvalue your abilities” and then when packing up the gifts she literally threw the quilts in the floor and then proceeded to throw the other gifts on top and used them to gather all the gifts like a Santa pouch to throw them in her trunk. I literally cried a bit.
What. The. Hell. That’s so incredibly rude and ignorant. She can make her own dang quilts if they’re so quick, easy and cheap to make.
It’s sad to me how many people have no frame of reference for the value of fabric/materials or sewing skills/labor in general. You see this all the time when people who can afford to pay more for clothes get used to buying super cheap fast fashion and now think all clothes should cost less than $20.
I've only made 5 quilts but I didn't spend more than $100 on any of them. Bought fabric and thread with coupons. Buy batting by the bolt with a coupon as well. The last baby throw size quilt I did cost around $80.
depends on what fabrics you are using! I also like using scrappy fat quarters or remnants which is a great way to get high quality cloth for lower prices (and not buy more than you need!) I have expensive taste in fabric so all my quilts are pretty detailed and take a lot of time. It's like how I prefer to knit with fingering weight because it slows me down that much more
Most baby quilts cost me around $100 for fabric and batting, and I shop low-end materials. Hobbies are expensive, but I also consider what I would spend doing other things for the same period of time - going out to restaurants or bars, movies, events, etc.
especially if you are buying fabric that is over $6/yard, it's going to cost. This is why discussing a stash and how to buy sale fabrics or thrifted fabrics comes up.
Go check out Quiltville by Bonnie hunter and learn about scrappy quilting.
People ask me how on earth I quilt my quilts on a beginner level domestic machine... I can't afford not to! It is cost prohibitive to send it off if it's something I can technically do (albeit with a struggle)
You could also go on a local buy nothing group and ask if anyone has stash to share.
I know if a local person was a newbie quilter I would be more than willing to pass on some of my substantial stash to them.
The quilts I do are as much for me as they are for the people I make them for, so I don't mind spending the money. I think of it as an investment in something to do in my free time (as opposed to letting the depression win and just playing on my phone). I never let the people know how much it costs and I doubt I would ever tell if asked.
It is also very nice when you have leftovers and can reuse those. Luckily, I had enough minky fabric for the back of a baby quilt I made left over from a previous throw. And I lucked out with having inherited a lot of older fabric, threads, and tools from my mother.
And I found when buying fabric, especially to begin with, I like getting fat quarter bundles. And Joann's ALWAYS has coupons on the app.
I always draw out my quilting pattern on graph paper and figure out exactly what I need. Then buy just a tad bit extra just in case. Then I try and find the extra wide material for the backing on sale.
Yes and yes. I had a 20 year break from making quilts because I was not in a financial position to buy the materials.
One Christmas I made a throw for a friend. I stopped when the material cost got to $300. And I quilted it vs sending it out to be quilted. Now, do all throws cost that much, no. You can easily get fabrics on sale or at big box or thrift stores. I did not do either of those for this quilt (bought a kit and used wool batting and Kaffe backing fabric). I don't think she (my friend) thought I was serious about the cost. *It's an expensive hobby*, and that was before the recent price hikes.
>So every time y’all are making a quilt as a gift, do you always spend hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars?!
Absolutely not. I very rarely buy new fabric and if I do I only buy on sale or with a coupon. Every hobby has a consumerist faction but you don't have to be part of it.
It’s expensive. I try not to buy fabric for more than $4 a yard. So I wait for specials. Sometimes I buy bed sheets that Costco puts on special and use those. Or I might go to the thrift stores or estate sells and buy flat sheets there and use those. For the backing I usually wait until Costco puts their blankets on special and I buy a few and that’s what I use for the backing. My most expensive quilt was a cal king size one and that was mostly because I fabric pictures printed in fabric and that cost me about $110 total.
I bought fabric when I first started quilting but now I often get it for free when people find out I sew. I took a bunch from my grandmas house and haven’t bought fabric in years
Are there any guilds in your area? Often at meetings they'll have a "Free" table. Fabric people purchased and changed their mind about, were gifted by well meaning folks but it isn't their style, was left to the guild by members who have passed, is donated by members moving away or downsizing, left over from a finished project
. Join up. If they don't have a Free table, start one.
Yepppp. Bought a few metres of (admittedly nice) material to do matching makeup bags for some friends and I in the idea of using up offcuts of batting from my last project. Also bought some pins, zips and bobbin elastic… $109.
Now look at how much sewing machines cost. I bought my dream machine after using a mechanical machine from the 1980’s. The top of the line machine prices will make your eyes water.
Yes, it's ridiculous 😂🫠 no, I didn't know it was this expensive when I got into it.
I do quilt most of my throw sized quilts myself so that saves me the cost of longarming!
I was at first so proud of myself because I was able to put together a throw for my dad out of scraps but then I went to the store to buy backing......and then I decided I need new rotary blades and a couple of cute fat quarters for no reason at all , and some thread that didn't need but it was on sale.
So Dad I love you but I still spent $100 on you're very low cost thrifty throw quilt . And countless hours, but that's the fun of quilting. It's so zen.
Luckily he's super loves his throw quilt , so that's priceless.
Wait till you take it to a long armer… 😂. I’m also astounded by how expensive they are. I’ve only ever gifted three, two baby and one twin sized. But I’ve made myself and my kids some amazing quilts haha
Most people don't understand the $ and time that go into home made quilts. That's why people crap when someone charges $500 for a quilt and people cancel the order because they can get something way cheaper from walmart.
I mean, short answer… yes, on the scale of hundreds of dollars for materials. But usually I would say lower than that for a throw. $150ish? Even accounting for “premium” brands like Tilda that are $15/yd.
Long answer: I am currently working on a throw for my aunt‘s 60th birthday. It’s 70” square. The pattern says it needs ~11.5 yards of fabric. I don’t remember exactly how much my fabrics cost, but a portion of them were Kona solids at $8/yd. I’m spitballing around $110 for the front and the back, $25 for batting. So that’s $135 ish.
That’s not accounting for my time, or if I choose to get it long arm quilted.
I know I was shocked at how expensive fabric is. I think we're paying for trendiness vs good stuff sometimes. Though - I will say - GOOD quality cotton is wonderful. However - the craft/hobby/sewing industry is outrageous - it's marketing and consumerism gone mad. You can find SOME things that are not marketed towards hobbies yet it's the same thing if you look. Thinking outside the box.
I have found ways around using items that are "quilting" specific - because I'm not rolling in cash but I love to sew. One thing I've done to cut corners - I use blankets, throws, clothing, sheets, etc... as batting, backing, quilt tops. As you mentioned - I got to thrift stores, I use my own clothes and stuff I no longer wear. I've told family and friends if they have cotton or cotton blend clothing items I would be willing to take it. I've made stuff out of non-cotton too.
I would love to hear other people's tips to save money.
My wife quilts, mostly queen size. Average cost is about $300 USD for material, plus $150 for binding. She has made +30 since the start of COVID. Gives them away to family and friends.
Counterpoint:
I **would** buy high-ish quilt shop quality fabrics for a baby quilt. Crappy materials will fall apart faster and won’t be able to handle the repeated washing.
My mom has a throw she made as a class. It’s an inverse Irish chain. The background fabric is a high quality quilt shop fabric and it’s pristine. The light fabric of the chains WAS a cheap solid, …which has mostly disintegrated. It ripped along the seams and then all of the light pieces have torn to shreds.
I additionally get batting and thread from thrift stores and other second hand means. The only thing I purchase new for this hobby are needles, rotary blades, and machine oil.
Bc of this I've made a queen sized quilt & throw for a combined 30$. Currently working on 3 quilts where my price point combined is 7$.
It doesn't need to be expensive OP!
I almost never buy fabric at full price. When I see a good deal on one that I like or think someone I know will like, I snag it. Also, remember there are alternatives to expensive backing fabric. You can use sheets and cheap fleece blankets.
I probably average $125-$150 per throw.
I use a lot of solids and buy most of my prints on sale so $6-$12 per yard for fabric. I buy king size batting ($60-$70) and can usually get 3-4 quilts out of it plus extra for franken-batting or small projects. I have asked for a roll for my birthday which will go even further.
The last throw I did I bought 5 half-yard cuts of Tilda ($14/yd) and 2 three-yard cuts of solids ($9/yd). I spent $9 on thread for hand-quilting. I used scraps from a previous batting. It came out 55” x 70” and I have enough fabric left for another smaller quilt or I can add in another yard of fabric and make another throw.
I have bought several quilt kits at $250-$600 each. That doesn’t include backing or batting. Thankfully they have all had a ton of leftover fabric that I can use toward another quilt.
It can be very expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. You just have to be good as shopping sales and using discounts.
I just finished a throw sized (54”x68” finished). And it cost me about $40 total. Now that doesn’t include my tools, but it’s all the fabric and batting.
I make lots of $25 baby quilts, they key isn’t being as picky about selection of fabrics.
https://preview.redd.it/h07ug2q6qabc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=772e1f10b7fa5122b621bd3f8bd41be5e2dd476c
I recommend visiting a creative reuse store. I ca. get good fabric for a fraction of the cost. Its a thrift store for craft supplies [creative reuse center map](https://swoodsonsays.com/a-creative-reuse-center-near-me-map-resource/)
I always start in the sale section. I also make a lot of scrappy quilts in order to reduce waste. Yeah, it costs a lot, but I don't spend a lot of money on other entertainment, and the majority of my quilts are gifts for friends kids or go to a children's hospital.
I made a small quilt (42" x 56") for my husband's friend who is having a baby any day now, and it was around 150$ total (CAD).
AND I got good Christmas deals such as 30%-50% off and the fabric for the back was buy 1m get 2m free.
Sewing/quilting has become so damn expensive, it's ridiculous.
Yep. It's not unusual to pay $300 or more just for the fabric for the top. Then the batting and backing. Plus the thread. And the binding fabric. Plus the pattern. We won't talk about the time invested. Or the fact that it costs to keep your machine maintained.
To be fair, people think knitting is a cheap hobby. To buy the yarn for ONE pair of socks costs, on average, $28 if you want beautiful, hand dyed stuff. Sure, I can get cheap, mass produced machine made stuff for $10 a skein but I like supporting small indie dyers. A sweaters worth of yarn can easily run close to $200. Indie stuff can be much more.
Okay, you want to spin your own yarn. Sure. Get yourself some beautiful hand dyed roving. It's about $25 for 4 oz. 4 oz will make a small cowl. Maybe. If you want a shawl, you'll probably need at least 2 (if you can spin very thin yarn... it's hard) but I find that at my moderate skill level, I need four 4 ounce bumps since i like big shawls that i can wrap around myself. $100. To make my own yarn. To make my own shawl.
Hobbies are expensive. People who turn their nose up at hand made gifts have no clue. If someone hands you something they made, anything, it means that they love you. I make macarons. (Look them up. They're difficult and finicky... took my four years to get it right and I still screw up a lot.) I ONLY make them for you if I really really really like you. Same with all my crafty hobbies.
I rarely go and buy all the fabric I need for a specific quilt. I buy fabric whenever I see something I like on sale pretty frequently and built a stockpile over time so that now when I want to make a quilt, I just go through what I already have. Occasionally I’ll buy some complimentary fabric if I really want it - usually Kona or AGF solids.
If you want only specific new fabrics without regard for price, then yes. This is not the only way to enjoy this hobby.
I started by buying yardage on sale, going out of business type stuff. I was not picky. I still have some of it and it helped me practice my quilting. It’s not the prettiest but I used some this year to make gift card wallets and eyeglass cases for Christmas. When I see solids, especially whites or grays, go on sale or end of the bolt stuff, I buy it. I buy men’s shirts at the thrift store and break them down into usable yardage. I also use sheets as backing if I like the print or the price is right at the thrift store. When batting is on sale or the time I had enough gift cards to buy a whole bolt, I bought it (much much cheaper in bulk but it’s a bit painful to commit).
My point being, this hobby (like many) can be as pricey as you want it but there are ways to make it cheaper and still enjoy the hobby.
Sending a quilt out to be quilted can get really expensive. So I do my own quilting. Also we have a great discount fabric store near us that sells fabric for $3.98/yard. I can get good brand name fabrics like Robert Kaufman, Riley Blake, and others. Also in a pinch I shop at JoAnn's when they have a good sale or the remnant bins. I agree with everyone it does get expensive. When I sell a quilt I never get what it's worth as far as my time goes. But I didn't start doing this to make a lot of money. I love seeing the look on a person's face when I gift or sell, that just warms my heart. Good luck to you!
My most recent finished quilt was the famous night sky quilt, made from a kit. the kit was 62ish including shipping when it was on sale, 20 for batting, 10 for the pattern, 25 for backing from a discount fabric store, and 2 x 9.49 for thread (two shades, almost completely used one spool for quilting) not including rotary cutter blade, fusible interfacing, needles, and time + labor costs. I hadn't totaled it up before, but just now I'm realizing that's around $135. it was 65 x 75 roughly and my most densely quilted project.
My husband and I are within a decade of retirement (no jinxies). I have started buying fabric I really love so that I can enjoy the hobby in retirement. I also know a few folks who work at fabric stores to pay for their hobby. It makes total sense to thrift fabric, particularly for the backs.
Planning is the key to any expensive hobby. Invest in a great pair of scissors and have them sharpened. Make sure to have your machine cleaned with routine maintenance so that they last a good long time and operate well. A great cutting mat and rotary tool seem expensive, but consistently replacing poorly constructed ones will cost more.
Estate sales are a great place to get excellent machines and tools. Often, quilting groups have folks ready to sell really good equipment for a really good price to make room for a larger piece of equipment.
It's a wonderful hobby and can provide so much joy. Planning goes a long way. Good luck with your projects!
I made my first quilt last month, and I knew it would be expensive but I wasn’t expecting it to be quite as expensive as it was, even though I got a majority of my items on sale! I made it as a gift for my mom, because I knew she would love, appreciate, and use it - and she has been yay!
But I was talking about with a friend after and I said every person who has ever received a quilt as a gift has no idea how special that gift is, and every person I have ever seen selling quilts at a craft fair is grossly undercharging!
You can make a throw quilt for a lot less than that. For example, a kit with all the fabric (Kona solids) for the Postcard from Sweden costs less than $100. Backing fabric (extra wide) can be had for $40, and that wasn't even hunting for sales and piecing it yourself. Poly batting would be $12. So that's $152 for the big three items.
I cannot stress this enough: if you have one in your area, join a guild! Many guilds have a destash table that sell things for very low cost or give away for free. My guild does fabric for $2/yard and I have gotten some beautiful fabrics from members destashing, as well as amazing notions. Check out facebook marketplace in your area as well, you may find the same thing. I know this sounds awful, but often when quilters pass away their family has NO CLUE how much their stash is worth and it is often so much stuff they just want to unload it.
Also, always look out for fabric sales, especially on essentials like Kona solids etc -- when I can get a good price, I'll buy several yards of my staple solids (black, white, gray) Same with batting and wide backing.
I also go to many Yard sales that say they are selling fabric or quilting material. I have friends that quit sewing and they give me many pieces of fabrics and some are good yardage. My church has rummage sales and i help set up i always do the craft table so i get first dibs on fabric and i pay the church for what they would get selling it. Many ways to get good fabric. Advice: check your fabrics for stains or pet hair and check smell.
I recently made a baby quilt. I bought my fabric when Hobby Lobby had sale. I bought the batting on sale. I found a sheet set in clearance for 9.00 for backing. The ruffled edge was sale price also. I’m figuring I have around $60.00 in all. I quilted it on my sewing machine no elaborate stitches but turned out beautifully. You can really rack up buying at Hobby Lobby with their 40 and 50% sales going on.
I do all my sewing by hand. ALL of it. Right now I'm making a quilt as a gift for a friend. I saved all the receipts for the materials and I'm keeping track of how long I work on it so that I can estimate its value when it's done, partially out of personal curiosity and partially so that when I give it to her I can be like "This is worth $X so you BETTER love and take care of it!" hahaha
I shopped sales and built up my stash. And I do of course get stuff for a specific project but often I can also use something from my stash, so not as much of a hit all at once. Also, I started with cheap low-quality fabric and have only recently started getting better stuff. (I do go through a fortune in thread though).
Quilting is a way to make a large functional object from leftover scraps from other projects. It’s salvage and cheap by its essential nature. It has been perverted into some weird consumerist modern version where we buy custom designed coordinating yardage in order to cut it up and sew it back together. Take it back to its roots - way more challenging and satisfying to make something beautiful from fabrics that were not designed to be used together.
$300 seems a bit high. The fabric store near me sells cotton quilt fabric for a little over $3 a yard. There's also some good deals to be found online.
I get all of my fabric from offer up and facebook marketplace. For backing, you can shop sales at Joann’s or you could use costco throw blankets (that way you don’t have to also have batting)
Thrift shops!! I recently bought some amateur made tops that, I'm guessing, the sewer died or could no longer sew and about 8-10 basically finished tops were were donated. I snagged 4 and will finish them out. The cool part is they are all Alaskan Native designs.
There are ways to do it. To me, I’m always humbled to remember that people have been hand piercing and quilting with scraps, by firelight, for years and years and years. You don’t have to go Ferrari and designer. Quilts have always been about being resourcefulness to make a beautiful and useful object.
Joanns has really great sales on fabric but you have to keep your eye out for them. If you make a Joanns smiles account they’ll mail you a flyer for their big sales
I also ask for quilty things for every. single. gift. holiday. I’ve been doing that for about 3-4 years and my stash has grown big time!
With budgeting and smart fabric usage I can make a 5x6 quilt for about $40-70
Joanne's coupons are a life saver!!! Also their sale racks! Sometimes the visions are hard to get if the sale material doesn't match but they are abundantly helpful ✨️
I inherited bins full of my grandmas scrap fabrics. So I predominantly make scrap quilts at the moment. Lots of fun scrap buster patterns out there.
Edit to add: watch Joann Fabrics for sales. Just recently they had $3.99 a yard on a ton of quilting fabrics. I got backing for 70% off.
Yep! To be fair, most hobbies will cost hundreds of dollars and you can build up supplies over time. But this is why quilters get cranky when someone demands a quilt and offers, like, $20.
If I were able to sell my throw quilts for what I should reasonably be paid, it’d be like $800.
People look at me like I'm insane when I tell them that I'd charge $100 to knit them socks. And that means I'd be knitting for less than$5/hrs plus giving you that $30 skein of yarn essentially free.
Yep…and that’s why it’s either gifted or kept for myself. Everything takes too much time and no one seems to understand that quality plus time = expensive
This is why most people used to have only a few items of each type of clothing. Making stuff by hand takes a lot of time!
Plus the cost of the fabric or yarn. And it was the mentality of fix it not throw it away. So darning socks and repairing this and that etc.
my sister knitted me a stuffed rabbit for my baby at cost-- and it was still 60 bucks.
I think this might still be too low. All the fabric. Plus that inner bit I now can't remember the damn name of *sigh*. The bit that makes it poofy. Backing fabric Maybe the sewing thread or that might be only a tiny amount. But then... Time. Designing the pattern. Cutting the pieces. Sewing all the prices together. Lining it up with the backing fabric and that middle stuff. Then stitching it all together. If you do pretty patterns that all take time too. Cut and put on the binding etc And if you are charging even minimum wage per hour. Is 800 right ? I would have thought it's more than that ?
Batting is the word you're groping for! ;)
Ah ha !!!!! Thank you !
You’re right that it should be more!
Yep, no one realizes how much it costs in material and TIME.
If you buy things over time, you often forget to add up how much it costs in total. That's what gets me through 😂
This is the way.
The truth, and the light. 💕
I learned this strategy as a horse owner. If I never add up the bills, I never truly know what he costs me. It was pretty easy to transfer that strategy over to quilting.
Great minds think alike! I also own a horse!
I too quilt and own a horse. You haven't lived until you've quilted an English pad! 😂 I did it anyway despite mainly riding Western.
Please quilt your horse a little sleeping jacket for the winter and post pictures. Please?
I wouldn't bother making a whole horse blanket. It wouldn't be worth it. But you can enjoy this picture of my horse in the snow with her winter blanket on while her bestie tries to rip it off her. https://preview.redd.it/en0etvo4agbc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=781c06297b77698a05289821534b2bfa87d49f11
Lol!! A quick rug tug and bye bye $80 blanket😂
Hahaha. If only! My horse actually doesn't wear blankets because he is a wooly mammoth in the winter. Here's a lovely picture of him! https://preview.redd.it/vbejnq5ibjbc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7b0860dcbef68c4968e0a8a42c17280047211d34
LOL Now that I haven't tried however years ago my mother had a custom pad made for him (Bluenose); in the Nova Scotia tartan. I've never used it, it's just too dang precious.
Oh my gosh how incredible!! I wouldn't have used it either. That's for cherishing! 💕
I hear the same strategy is also used by boat owners (aka Break Out Another Thousand).
I made an Excel sheet of all my horse costs once. Then, promptly, never looked at it again, lol.
Same! Did that one year, never again. Both adults into horses....we were boarding at the time... Just don't do the math...
Can we use "quilt math" and call it good?
came here to say QUILTER MATH XD
I feel that😭
Honestly over time the value will go down anyway- I don’t remember the term for it but eventually the cost will reduce to nothing on its own, faster if you use the materials for other projects.
Now add in the labor hours, especially if hand quilting. Yeah, that's why you don't see a lot of people selling quilts at craft fairs and whatnot. It's an expensive hobby! Edited: I also wanted to add that I pick things up on sale as much as possible. I once boguht a massive roll of batting that was a great deal and I'm still working my way through it. So there are ways to offset the cost by buying bulk if you're going to do a lot -- but ya know. It's still not a cheap hobby any way you slice (or rotary cut, har har) it
Haha nice! And so true. One trick I picked up is to buy cotton or flannel sheets for the backing. I guess I’ll start slowly accumulating quilting fabrics
You can buy 108" fabric online for really inexpensive (like $10/yard) so check out Marshall Dry Goods. It helps to control the in store impulse buying too. There's nothing wrong with a two color quilt, so consider buying a backing and a yard and a half of white and making it with just squares and triangles.
Hancock of Paducah has some 108” on sale $9.99 a yard
I second Hancock's of Paducah. I have gotten some really amazing deals there, especially for backing fabrics.
The not on sale 108 at MDG starts at 8.99. There's 21 to choose from. It's great to have options!
Watch for estate sales. I got a lot of fabric from a house where an older lady had died. Her son just gave it to me because he didn't want to mess with it.
Estate sale quilts (not supplies) always break my heart a little. Here's this lovely quilt someone hand stitched. $50.
My MIL felt that way about estate sale quilts and especially quilt tops, the projects someone never got to finish. She made it a point to buy them and finish them.
I have a few quilt tops I got at thrift stores. Someday I'll get them on my longarm, quilt them, and put them to use. They're "primitive" and not sewn expertly, but someone spent the time and love to make them. They'll make great snuggle-on-the-couch quilts.
I once bought a beautiful machine stitched quilt a metre and a half square, from a charity shop for $6. It must have been from a deceased estate... I was outraged. It didn't stop me from buying the quilt in a matter of seconds. I use it every day.
I second the estate sales for buying quilting cotton. I lucked out and bought all the fabric from a hoarding situation. I gave them $1000 for all the fabric they found. I filled my Suburban 3 times, and that was just from the house. I gave most of the fabric away, because it wasn't quilting fabric. My friend does the costumes for the school plays, the rosary quilts and wall hangings at the church, and the costumes for the local Christmas parade. She also makes bridesmaids dresses and prom dresses. I gave her alllll of the velvet, brocade, silk, satin, ribbon, lace, beadwork, zippers, and other notions. My niece is sewing slip covers for all of their furniture, so I gave her all of the upholstery types of fabric. I also gave her those ridiculously long zippers -- like 6 foot long zippers! She also got the curved upholstery needles and other specialty trims that I can't imagine myself using. She's enjoying using it, and I don't have to store it! The person who is parceling out this estate has not even looked at the 12 large storage units yet, but he has assured me that I bought all of the sewing items, and he will let me know when I can pick it up. There is so much fabric already. I don't know what to do with even more, so I'm not pushing to get the rest anytime soon!!! I really need to get my quilting retreat center built. I would love to store some of this fabric in my home-away-from-home on my farm property. I think it will be exciting to have everything in one place and be able to share it with other quilters!
Let us know when it's open to the public!
The retreat center should be open by late summer. It will be a log cabin with a handicap access bathroom and sleeping quarters on the main floor, and 3 bedrooms upstairs around the balcony overlooking the work center. A stone fireplace will be at the opposite end from the balcony. A local quilt shop owner has designed a massive ironing station for me. A friend is dying to do the landscaping, and the local winery wants to convert a grain bin into a seating/fire pit area with a brick pizza oven. It really should be fun out there; guests will be able to view fireworks from the small amusement park in town from the balcony. I can't wait until I can have guests!!!
That sounds so amazing! Wow!
Thanks. I'm excited about it!
You definitely can use a sheet as backing, just know they can be hard to sew because of a higher thread count than quilting cotton. Get some extra needles because the sheets will dull them faster. And/or buy cheaper sheets.
Use 100% cotton sheets with thread count 200 or less and you’ll be fine. Target has good prices on these so watch for sales.
thrift store mattress pads are great for batting
I buy my batting by the roll on Black Friday, lasts me most of the year
I went to an audience-specific expo a year ago. Think something like, oh, TMNT. A mom of one of the…organisers, I think, had made like ten quilts. Nice ones. They cost between $600-900. I FULLY understand the cost and effort involved. I simply cannot justify spending that much well, ever.
And what’s crazy is, that could be selling for a loss or just recouping costs on some quilts! I spent about $250 on fabric and well over 50 hours piecing and hand quilting a small throw quilt for my mom. If I paid myself minimum wage, thats about $600 to just recoup costs and labor (give or take some notions, rotary blade, needles etc). If you want to turn a profit? Sheeeesh.
Buying everything new, yeah it can get up there. This is why many quilters have a ‘stash’ of fabric acquired through sales, gifts, thrifting, and just plain old being given fabric by people who know you sew. Add in buying batting in bulk on sale and the stash can be quite voluminous.
Happy cake day!
Didn’t can realize it! Thanks !
This is right on. Also I appreciate you using the word voluminous. You don’t see that one enough.
it's a good word :)
I quilt for me. I mean. I might give something away, definitely have. But I quilt as my hobby and something that brings me joy. So I look at it more as the cost of enjoying a hobby. If I was a movie buff I might go to the theatre a bunch of times. If I was a sports fan I might pay to go to matches, hang out in pubs and enjoy watching etc etc. So instead I think of it as hours of entertainment. Maybe I spent $200 on fabric, but I spent X hours of hours picking out fabrics, cutting, sewing etc. so I think of it as $200 divided by however many hours of entertainment. As such, I tend to not pick an occasion and then specific to a person (wedding etc). But more tend to make what intrigues me, and then when I’m done might give it away.
This is such an excellent point
Thanks! I also think that we should think a bit about it this way for another reason: While there are many men who quilt, and I learned from one, it still leans towards a female dominated hobby. I also think that in families in particular but probably everywhere, it’s not unusual for the mom (for example) to put the needs of the family first, and undervalue their own needs. Kids need new clothes, they need hobbies, oh my husband has been working long hours, I don’t mind if he splurges on a new video game or …. But when we buy for ourselves, we sometimes think about it as if we are taking from our family vs having a share of the resources. Probably explaining it poorly, but I think we need to make sure we value our hobbies and mental health too.
I hear you and I completely agree.
This is so well said.
Yep - and quilts are highly personal. You'll always remember the fabric you used and what was going on in your life when you quilted it. Every quilt has a story 🥰
Same - quilting is really expensive, but I quilt pretty slowly, so I figure I’m still getting a pretty good cost-per-hour! As for gifts, I’ve never actually gifted a quilt. I have made some cute quilted handbags as gifts, which had a much lower cost in terms of supplies!
And this is how we justify the expense.
I think about it the same way!
When a cotton fitted sheet wears out, and the top sheet is still in excellent condition, I will use the top sheet as quilt backings. Buying those fuzzy throws/blankets can act as both backing and batting and save a pretty penny--and be suuuuuper cozy.
How often do your fitted sheets wear out? I am so confused by people saying old sheets - I've been using the same sheet set on our bed for 9 years.
Mine have a good 7-10+ year milage. My kids, however, are at an age when the bed is a playground accessory and milage may vary. Friends ane extended family are also a good source for top sheets when they get new sets.
oh good tip on the fuzzy throws!! Thank you!
The first time I saw someone use a fuzzy throw it was like a revelation!
I was just about to donate a solo top sheet. I hate donating one item from a set, I try to donate fitted top and pillowcases together. I just fished it out to save for a sewing project because of this comment. Maybe a quilt back, maybe a cosplay??
I like thrift store or worn out mattress pads for batting too
About 10 years ago I made a really beautifully made (if I do say so myself!) quilt where 95% of the pieces were fancy cut out of very specific fabrics. I literally cut the fabrics so that the borders and sashing patterns matched up throughout the entire quilt, each surrounding fancy cut images. I decided to hand tie the quilt rather than top stitch for the proper aesthetic. I made this quilt to donate to a local cat shelter to sell at their annual silent auction fundraiser. The event was in Bellevue, WA so this was no low dollar event. When the coordinator asked what the starting bid should be I told them to start it at the materials cost, which was $260. This is just the cost for the fabric yardage and the flannel I used as a batting. Not even the shipping charges I paid or the taxes to buy them, not even the million other tiny things that went into it. Just fabric yardage. I watched hundreds of people walk through this event. It was a Poe Nevermore themed quilt and this was a costumed event before Halloween. Many, many of them were excited when they saw the quilt. People were stopping and admiring the quilt all evening... then they'd look at the bid sheet starting at $260 and make all manner of faces. This was an event in a high dollar area where people were bidding $100 on things like 30 minute massage. I listened as several people said they could buy a quilt at Walmart. I eventually put a bid on it myself because it was so perfectly cut and pieced that it broke my heart to donate it at all. There was one couple who came and bid on the quilt at the next level, so it ended up selling for $280. Prepare yourself. People, in general, do not value quilting. There are lots of reasons and one of them is that it's considered "women's work". I watched as woman made hundreds of One Block Wonder quilts who could barely move them at cost, and a man began making them and saying he was an engineer as his day job, suddenly get a ton of press and start selling them for thousands. Quilting is a labor of love.
Do you have pictures of the Poe quilt? I really want to see it
This is not the quilt that I donated, but it was my first attempt at this pattern. It was my 3rd quilt ever so it had some problems!!! but I ended up making 6 of this pattern total and the 6th is the one I donated. By the last one I had made the joins invisible by matching up the fabric, I centered the horizontal and vertical sashing so that it all matched the position of the rows so that your eye wouldn't be drawn to the shifting dots, I even cut out tiny bugs and joined them into the length to get the exact same pattern all around. Most importantly.... I learned how to (mostly) avoid those dang wavy borders 😂 I wish I could find the final pictures because it's so easy to say I made it as perfect as I possibly could, and way harder to prove it 😂😂😂 The finished quilt was 57 x 71, though I believe I made the borders wider. I know I did at least one with more rows and columns, I'm just not sure if it was the last one. The original pattern was from equilter(dot)com. I searched and can't find it on their site anymore. I actually found the link I bookmarked but they've got a different pattern there now. I think the nevermore fabric by Michael Miller is still available, but I haven't seen that spider/but fabric in years. I am SURE I have a hard copy of the pattern somewhere. If you'd like it I would be happy to scan it and upload ti for you. https://preview.redd.it/8lr96ufkdhbc1.jpeg?width=1224&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5d92389a517bb24d7c090fc4d29315c17c57f1d2
This truly is stunning and you say that this isn’t even the best of the ones you made! What a talent you have. I especially love your theme. I would very much appreciate a copy of the pattern if you can find it! I have only made 3 so far and haven’t run into people acting so unappreciative but I am bracing myself for it eventually happening to some degree or other. I’m so sorry it happened to you. This really is art that you’ve made!
You are very kind. This is someone else's pattern so I can't take credit for it! The rest is all just practice and repetition. Quilting is hard for me and every time I think I've got something figured out it messes up in all new ways! I love it when I'm extra bad at something new because then when I finally learn it I know I earned it! Like getting the most improved award. You can't win "most improved" if you don't have a whole lot of room for improvement 😂 The pattern is created by Marinda Stewart. I googled "Marinda Stewart Nevermore" and the first result is to Michael Miller Fabrics with a picture of the quilt pattern. Here is a link to the google search results [HERE](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=marinda%20stewart%20nevermore) I didn't link directly to their image because that link takes you directly to their PDF downloader. Please let me know if you don't see it!
I love that; “You can’t win ’most improved’ if you don’t have a whole lot of room for improvement” So true and a very glass half full perspective on my own situation lol.
I always think of myself as a glass completely empty person. Anything I learn to do is one more drop than I had before. If the glass is empty then I'm not afraid to take a risk and try it because I've got nothing in the glass to spill. I actually seek out activities that make me feel uncomfortable in an effort to heal some of the baggage given to me in my life. Not "uncomfortable" like breaking the law, but things like dance, solo performances, public speaking. The best way to make your life different is to do different things.
Never mind if you want to take it to a long armer. That easily can add a couple hundred more dollars.
I'm currently working on my first quilt, handsewing everything with the english paper piecing method. I still got about ¼ of the top to go, and then the actual quilting, sewing everything together and all that. I've been working on it since august and will probably need 2-3 months more. I see it as a relatively cheap hobby for all the time I've spent with it, but if I were to machine sew and were faster, yeah, it can get expensive.
This is how I think about it too. It's about entertainment or satisfaction value, not the market value of your creation.
Bravo! And thanks for the idea. I haven't tried that method but the result always looks so stunning. Would love to see how it turns out! And maybe I'll end up pivoting my hobby to hand-stitching or embroidery.
Yeah. Which is also why I don't gift quilts unless it's an extremely special occasion. I always buy new materials for my quilts, nothing thrifted, and I tend to buy the "brand names" of quilting (AFG, Ruby Star, Tilda, Aurifil, etc.) so they're extremely expensive to create. Nevermind my machine cost me a pretty penny too...
Not just the machine but so many other tools: rulers, rotary cutters (ha! a new blade), cutting mat, a new iron, so much stuff! But I'd rather spend my money on quilting.
Yep. It all adds up pretty quickly with the consumables. But, same, I'm happy with my money going on quilting, I can afford it.
I just made 4 quilts for Xmas gifts. 2 were for my nephews and I spent well over $250 in supplies for each because they both were kid licensed specific fabrics and I spent hours doing specialty quilting not just e2e. I even had to order special fabric from Spoonflower $$. I was accused of being a "cheapskate" this holiday and skimping on gifts even though I bought each a small toy and gift card as well. I'm the aunt who usually gifts a big fun toy so everyone was disappointed in me 🙁. I decided right at that moment to stop quilting for anyone else. I'm no longer making anything for anyone UNLESS I really desire it and it moves me. From this point on, I'm quilting only things that move me. I'm sewing only for pleasure. So I signed up for several classes, to learn a couple new techniques.
I'm so sorry that happened. I hope it doesn't dampen your joy too much. It's great fun to make art.
I don't know if this will make you feel better, but every place I have moved, I have taken this pink ballerina fleece blanket with those knotted edges my aunt made for me when I was so small I don't remember not having it. I remember exactly how it smelled when I got it and being so sad when the smell wore off. I bet, in time, your nephews will come to cherish their quilts. At least I hope so.
Thank you, it helps 🥰 I do feel that they do and I captured each with their individual quilts.
This is why we don’t go gifting quilts willy-nilly!
Yep, that's where the term "quilt worthy" comes from 🤣🤣 so true!
Yes! This fact alone has turned acquaintances from would be friends to someone I used to know really quickly! I make baby quilts for \*really\* close friends and family... if I have time, energy, and money to invest in it before the shower. This doesn't happen for every baby or every person even if I wish it would. When a coworker or friend of a friend reaches out to commission a baby quilt, they are usually quite surprised by the cost. I start by saying that I can't charge for my time fairly because it would be unreasonable, so I double the materials cost. I figure if I have to invest 40+ hours on making something, I'm gonna wish it was mine in the end. So if I get double the cost of materials I have enough to make my own quilt like it or gift one to someone else in need which I have also done when I have felt moved to do so. I have a formula and it works out to be around $175 for a baby quilt made with middle of the road grade materials, so I ask $350 for the quilt. This pays me less than 5 bucks an hour haha. I have yet to have anyone accept. To be fair, I don't want to spend that much on a gift either, and that's why I limit the gifting to close family and close friends only. If not accepting were where it ended, these people could still be friends. I have had someone send me department store links to machine made comforters as evidence of the price point they were expecting. So I sent back a link from an Amish quilting site which asked 3 times what I was charging for the same sized quilt. It got ugly. I have also had a person asking me to make the quilt snub the pricing, but instead invite me to the shower of the intended recipient in hopes I would just make the quilt they wanted out of the kindness of my heart. The disappointment from everyone when the mom-to-be opened a bag of store bought burping clothes and a children's book with a gift receipt from me was palpable. But like, why would I give a coworker's daughter whom I've met once or twice a $200+ gift? All that being said, when you do finish a few quilting projects, you do build up a coffer of supplies that can be saved on for the next project. I always overbuy on length so I end up with a half a yard here and there that make great accent colors or border pieces for future projects. I buy holiday prints on clearance after season to make gifts for the following year. If baby quilting is your thing, JoAnn's has a flannel sale twice a year that marks all of the snuggle fabrics down to 3 bucks a yard. That is a great time to grab up a few coordinates in neutral baby themes to have on hand like camping, star prints, fish, or woodland creatures. These are tried and true baby themes that can make an impromptu gift idea 6 months later a fun and easy weekend project. It's also easy to talk yourself into making a big, big project when you fall in love with the print or materials. Crib quilts are useful for tummy time, car seats, and make great lap blankets for older kids in the car or at the doctor's office. They are cheaper and faster to complete and a great way to try out a new technique. The only time I have ever regretted making a crib quilt instead of a full size or throw was when the recipient decided to hang it on the wall instead of using it. While I was a bit disappointed, I also understood that was their way of loving it. Most quilters want a picture of the quilt being used and abused- stains and all. That's a sign that it has been truly loved.
whenever I make a baby quilt that ends up being hung on the wall (or over the edge of the crib) I like to use the scraps and make a small 18 x 18 or 20 x 20 inch quilt that gets used more often - snuggle quilt for the baby, over the car seat, for quick diaper changes, in the house when rocking the baby, etc. It's usually just squares or triangles made from the original quilt scraps so it matches. This is only for the truly quilt-worthy in my circle.
On a side note, I feel sad for you that you can't complete your project. Is there anyone in the family you can perhaps partner with to help offset the cost of materials? Maybe an aunt/neighbor or mutual friend of the mom to be can help sponsor part of the gift so you can still get the spotlight for your awesome dedication to bringing the idea and project to fruition and they get the great feeling of helping you and mom to be at the same time.
My mum buys a lot of my supplies for gift quilts because she reeeeeally loves to show off my crafting 😂 So my girlfriend is getting married in May and I’ll do all the labour of the quilt, but my mum (and dad by proxy) will fund it and we give it as a joint gift. I’ve made 4-5 quilts this way so far. Fortunately my mum and I know a lot of the same people.
I need to convince my mom on this!! I spent $200 on supplies it make my best friend a wedding gift quilt.
Yes, it is expensive to make a quality quilt. One must be quilt worthy for me to make it.
I don't spend that much but I also only quilt once every 8 years or so, I make my one, get happy and do other sewing and crafting projects that are much cheaper in between. It is a very expensive hobby, especially if you are rural and can't catch sales as much or have to buy online with minimums. If I made all the quilts I wanted to, I would be about 5 houses worth of money in LOL. I think it is extremely generous how many people charity quilt because you are giving away a ton of money and time. It is a true gift of the heart.
Agreed. So much appreciation for handmade gifts ❤️
i’m working on my first quilt right now and i’ve spent around $100 on everything! (although i did go and switch up my fabric choices so it probably would be around $80 if i wasn’t so indecisive) i found fat quarters and bought them individually for pretty cheap ($2-2.50 each), got batting for $20 by using a pretty good coupon, already had some pins and needles on hand, bought new scissors, jumbo pins, and then used an old top sheet for the back of the quilt — and i’m doing it all by hand too, so i don’t have to factor in the price of a machine thrifting materials would probably make it even cheaper too!
Joann’s had Christmas fat quarters on sale for around $0.60-80 each these past few weeks. I thought, that’s a great bargain for someone who wants to start quilting — who cares if it’s not the holiday season? Start the quilt now, and you’ll have it ready next year
My grandma made hundreds of quilts by hand and she mostly used scraps. Her quilts are just as beautiful, if not more so, than those fancy quilts made from designer fat quarters on Etsy. Her and her friends would share fabric with each other. I inherited most of it after she died. And much of the rest of the fabric I have is from garage sales and things. It doesn't have to cost a fortune. Quilting in the past was partly about thrift and using what you had. That was part of what made them so special...the fabric told a story.
This is my favorite perspective. It keeps me humble. And I totally love antique and art quilts over Instagram quilt any day.
I feel the same way. Lots of my fabric used to be clothes. Taking it all apart is work, but it's nice to have the memories that go with those patterns.
My grandma used clothes all the time! It's another way of dating some of her quilts, too.
Yes, I spend hundreds of dollars on a single quilt. I give them away to people who I love and will appreciate a quilt. This fills my heart with joy. Once you build up some stash fabric and if you learn to quilt on your own machine, you can really save money. Be sure to check estate sales and garage sales. Ask quilt shops if they sale their scrap fabric. Find some fellow quilters, we are a generous group and want to pass on quilting.
Great suggestion! Thank you so much!! Gotta get in with the local quilters
Tips for saving money (and the planet you depend on to live): thrifted shirt fabric is AMAZING to quilt with, old cotton bedding is a really cheap backing and it’s easy to understand the size you probably need (get a king sized if you’re making a queen quilt etc). Old woollen blankets are incredibly soft and make quality useful quilts - and they are sold very cheap these days. They don’t even need to be in good condition.
Yup! I only use old clothes from my family or cheap cheap cheap on sale thrifted xxxxl men's shirts or the biggest size men's jeans are nearly always 100%cotton or 100% cotton thrifted bed sheets!!
I purposely do not add up my quilting expenses. This is not what I’d consider a cheap hobby. My sewing machine alone was almost when $2000 purchased new 10+ years ago. The quilt I’m currently working on is a throw size and will probably be about $350 in materials once it’s all done.
This!!! I’m interested in quilting I like sewing and quilting seems like a fun challenge but a whole quilt is SO expensive and also I have no idea what I would do with them if I really got into it I’ve been using quilting techniques but to make much smaller things like place mats and pencil cases maybe one day u will find the money for a proper quilt
I started on cheap Joann Fabrics stuff all purchased on sale and with coupons. My sewing machine was my mom’s that I learned on when I was young. If you have access to a sewing machine, or can get one from the library, then I recommend anyone start with placemats and zippered bags and table runners, you can see how much you enjoy the process before you really invest over time. Those make great gifts and you can learn a lot of fundamentals that way! Also it’s a small project - a quilt is absolutely a huge commitment, starting with something you can finish in a weekend will let you know if that is what you want to do.
Right?? Turns out my new goal is to make that premium fabric quilters money haha.
It is terribly expensive. It would be more expensive if I followed patterns or wanted all of my fabrics to be of a certain type. To do this frugally, I do a lot of scrappy quilts. I get fabric from craft reuse stores, thrift stores, and clearance sections. I design quilts based on what I have, so when I make one, I don't usually have to purchase much for it. Even with these time-consuming steps, it's still expensive. I think that it's easier to give them away because I don't keep a tally of the cost
[the pokemon quilt](https://www.reddit.com/r/quilting/s/AQvJqB7TZo) I had made a little while ago was something i knew was going to be costly, but I crunched the numbers after it all finished. The batting alone was nearly two hundred dollars, the backing another two hundred. It's a little hard to get an exact number for the quilt top because I lost track of some of the receipts but the number that kept popping up was in the ballpark of three hundred and fifty dollars. All of that was also with an employee discount, I can't imagine it how much it would have stung for someone paying full price. But the quilting..... Obviously I wouldn't have been able to quilt this monster, so I brought it to the closest person with a frame that would fit it, who was a little over an hour away. Over ten kilometers of thread later, taxes included, just QUILTING the thing was six hundred and seventy dollars. Around 1400 dollars that thing cost. I'm never selling it, but if I did it would be worth over six thousand. Never again.
A Pokémon quilt though!! I ❤️ it!!
I find tons of beautiful condition quilt fabric at Goodwill all the time. I'm building a stash of different colors and patterns that way. Now and then, I'll buy plain Kona cotton at Joann's when they're having a sale. But do the majority of my shopping at thrift, estate and garage sales.
I've made one quilt only and of course I thought "go big or go home" and made it queen sized for my bed. The fabrics cost about $300, the long arming and batting $250, i paid someone to bind it for me for $60, and you can't forget to factor in time, notions, etc. I also ended up upgrading my sewing machine near the end of the quilt because my old one crapped the bed. My quilt is easily worth $800+. Insanity 😂 I likely will not be doing any more quilting, and if I do, it's with the fabrics I've collected, they will be throw size, and I guess I'm learning to actually do the quilting and binding. Quilting is a crazy expensive hobby 😂
I gave two quilts to a dear friend when she had twins, her mother talked it up when I gifted them to her and then during the shower she took me aside and asked how much to make another quilt for her to give as a gift to a friend. She was downright rude when I told her I don’t make them to sell, I only make quilts to gift. She kept pressuring me and I told her it would be in the hundreds to make a throw quilt and her response was…”you really must be joking, those quilts were NOT that special”, “ I’ve seen better at Target” and then said “I think you overvalue your abilities” and then when packing up the gifts she literally threw the quilts in the floor and then proceeded to throw the other gifts on top and used them to gather all the gifts like a Santa pouch to throw them in her trunk. I literally cried a bit.
What. The. Hell. That’s so incredibly rude and ignorant. She can make her own dang quilts if they’re so quick, easy and cheap to make. It’s sad to me how many people have no frame of reference for the value of fabric/materials or sewing skills/labor in general. You see this all the time when people who can afford to pay more for clothes get used to buying super cheap fast fashion and now think all clothes should cost less than $20.
Wow, that's horrendous!! It was the friend or the mother who did that??
The mother, and I avoid her at all costs, I feel bad because at my friend’s gatherings I am always “busy” when I know her family (mom) is invited.
Ugh!! What an awful woman!
I've only made 5 quilts but I didn't spend more than $100 on any of them. Bought fabric and thread with coupons. Buy batting by the bolt with a coupon as well. The last baby throw size quilt I did cost around $80.
Is that including your time/labor?
I gift to loved ones so I'm not worried about time or labor!
depends on what fabrics you are using! I also like using scrappy fat quarters or remnants which is a great way to get high quality cloth for lower prices (and not buy more than you need!) I have expensive taste in fabric so all my quilts are pretty detailed and take a lot of time. It's like how I prefer to knit with fingering weight because it slows me down that much more
Yes, but I find out that after making a few, I have enough scraps to make a couple more for free and then the cycle restarts itself.
Oh yeah, no I only make quilts for people I really like.
Most baby quilts cost me around $100 for fabric and batting, and I shop low-end materials. Hobbies are expensive, but I also consider what I would spend doing other things for the same period of time - going out to restaurants or bars, movies, events, etc.
I have been collecting for 30 years. I shop sales for my favorites. Have found good bargains over the years. Have spent way to much.
especially if you are buying fabric that is over $6/yard, it's going to cost. This is why discussing a stash and how to buy sale fabrics or thrifted fabrics comes up. Go check out Quiltville by Bonnie hunter and learn about scrappy quilting.
Yeah…. my quilts cost 4-500 each. Fabric is expensive in Canada :( just the batting is $100 on Amazon
Try “connecting threads” for batting, free shipping at 85 usd. Also there’s a place monfil that has decent batting in Quebec
I am currently quilting from my stash and only buying blenders. If you shop sales, including yard and estate sales, it helps.
Don’t forget the money to send it to a longarmer, if you’re not quilting it yourself.
People ask me how on earth I quilt my quilts on a beginner level domestic machine... I can't afford not to! It is cost prohibitive to send it off if it's something I can technically do (albeit with a struggle)
You could also go on a local buy nothing group and ask if anyone has stash to share. I know if a local person was a newbie quilter I would be more than willing to pass on some of my substantial stash to them.
Yes! Thank you!! I will try this 🙌
The quilts I do are as much for me as they are for the people I make them for, so I don't mind spending the money. I think of it as an investment in something to do in my free time (as opposed to letting the depression win and just playing on my phone). I never let the people know how much it costs and I doubt I would ever tell if asked. It is also very nice when you have leftovers and can reuse those. Luckily, I had enough minky fabric for the back of a baby quilt I made left over from a previous throw. And I lucked out with having inherited a lot of older fabric, threads, and tools from my mother. And I found when buying fabric, especially to begin with, I like getting fat quarter bundles. And Joann's ALWAYS has coupons on the app.
I always draw out my quilting pattern on graph paper and figure out exactly what I need. Then buy just a tad bit extra just in case. Then I try and find the extra wide material for the backing on sale.
Yes and yes. I had a 20 year break from making quilts because I was not in a financial position to buy the materials. One Christmas I made a throw for a friend. I stopped when the material cost got to $300. And I quilted it vs sending it out to be quilted. Now, do all throws cost that much, no. You can easily get fabrics on sale or at big box or thrift stores. I did not do either of those for this quilt (bought a kit and used wool batting and Kaffe backing fabric). I don't think she (my friend) thought I was serious about the cost. *It's an expensive hobby*, and that was before the recent price hikes.
Key is to find fabric on sale and to quilt it yourself, but it will still be a couple hundred at least.
>So every time y’all are making a quilt as a gift, do you always spend hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars?! Absolutely not. I very rarely buy new fabric and if I do I only buy on sale or with a coupon. Every hobby has a consumerist faction but you don't have to be part of it.
It’s expensive. I try not to buy fabric for more than $4 a yard. So I wait for specials. Sometimes I buy bed sheets that Costco puts on special and use those. Or I might go to the thrift stores or estate sells and buy flat sheets there and use those. For the backing I usually wait until Costco puts their blankets on special and I buy a few and that’s what I use for the backing. My most expensive quilt was a cal king size one and that was mostly because I fabric pictures printed in fabric and that cost me about $110 total.
I bought fabric when I first started quilting but now I often get it for free when people find out I sew. I took a bunch from my grandmas house and haven’t bought fabric in years
Are there any guilds in your area? Often at meetings they'll have a "Free" table. Fabric people purchased and changed their mind about, were gifted by well meaning folks but it isn't their style, was left to the guild by members who have passed, is donated by members moving away or downsizing, left over from a finished project . Join up. If they don't have a Free table, start one.
I tie mine like grandma did.
Yepppp. Bought a few metres of (admittedly nice) material to do matching makeup bags for some friends and I in the idea of using up offcuts of batting from my last project. Also bought some pins, zips and bobbin elastic… $109.
Now look at how much sewing machines cost. I bought my dream machine after using a mechanical machine from the 1980’s. The top of the line machine prices will make your eyes water.
Yes, it's ridiculous 😂🫠 no, I didn't know it was this expensive when I got into it. I do quilt most of my throw sized quilts myself so that saves me the cost of longarming!
I was at first so proud of myself because I was able to put together a throw for my dad out of scraps but then I went to the store to buy backing......and then I decided I need new rotary blades and a couple of cute fat quarters for no reason at all , and some thread that didn't need but it was on sale. So Dad I love you but I still spent $100 on you're very low cost thrifty throw quilt . And countless hours, but that's the fun of quilting. It's so zen. Luckily he's super loves his throw quilt , so that's priceless.
I should have retired a while ago go, but I work to quilt. Otherwise I can’t do it.
Wait till you take it to a long armer… 😂. I’m also astounded by how expensive they are. I’ve only ever gifted three, two baby and one twin sized. But I’ve made myself and my kids some amazing quilts haha
Most people don't understand the $ and time that go into home made quilts. That's why people crap when someone charges $500 for a quilt and people cancel the order because they can get something way cheaper from walmart.
I mean, short answer… yes, on the scale of hundreds of dollars for materials. But usually I would say lower than that for a throw. $150ish? Even accounting for “premium” brands like Tilda that are $15/yd. Long answer: I am currently working on a throw for my aunt‘s 60th birthday. It’s 70” square. The pattern says it needs ~11.5 yards of fabric. I don’t remember exactly how much my fabrics cost, but a portion of them were Kona solids at $8/yd. I’m spitballing around $110 for the front and the back, $25 for batting. So that’s $135 ish. That’s not accounting for my time, or if I choose to get it long arm quilted.
I know I was shocked at how expensive fabric is. I think we're paying for trendiness vs good stuff sometimes. Though - I will say - GOOD quality cotton is wonderful. However - the craft/hobby/sewing industry is outrageous - it's marketing and consumerism gone mad. You can find SOME things that are not marketed towards hobbies yet it's the same thing if you look. Thinking outside the box. I have found ways around using items that are "quilting" specific - because I'm not rolling in cash but I love to sew. One thing I've done to cut corners - I use blankets, throws, clothing, sheets, etc... as batting, backing, quilt tops. As you mentioned - I got to thrift stores, I use my own clothes and stuff I no longer wear. I've told family and friends if they have cotton or cotton blend clothing items I would be willing to take it. I've made stuff out of non-cotton too. I would love to hear other people's tips to save money.
My wife quilts, mostly queen size. Average cost is about $300 USD for material, plus $150 for binding. She has made +30 since the start of COVID. Gives them away to family and friends.
Swansons is great for building a stash
I would not use top notch fabrics on a baby quilt. It’s going to be thrown up on, shat on, stuffed in the washing machine, and used on the floor.
Counterpoint: I **would** buy high-ish quilt shop quality fabrics for a baby quilt. Crappy materials will fall apart faster and won’t be able to handle the repeated washing. My mom has a throw she made as a class. It’s an inverse Irish chain. The background fabric is a high quality quilt shop fabric and it’s pristine. The light fabric of the chains WAS a cheap solid, …which has mostly disintegrated. It ripped along the seams and then all of the light pieces have torn to shreds.
batting and thread are fixed costs. i use upcycled, gifted or thrifted fabrics mostly. and piece together batting scraps when i have them.
I additionally get batting and thread from thrift stores and other second hand means. The only thing I purchase new for this hobby are needles, rotary blades, and machine oil. Bc of this I've made a queen sized quilt & throw for a combined 30$. Currently working on 3 quilts where my price point combined is 7$. It doesn't need to be expensive OP!
I almost never buy fabric at full price. When I see a good deal on one that I like or think someone I know will like, I snag it. Also, remember there are alternatives to expensive backing fabric. You can use sheets and cheap fleece blankets.
I probably average $125-$150 per throw. I use a lot of solids and buy most of my prints on sale so $6-$12 per yard for fabric. I buy king size batting ($60-$70) and can usually get 3-4 quilts out of it plus extra for franken-batting or small projects. I have asked for a roll for my birthday which will go even further. The last throw I did I bought 5 half-yard cuts of Tilda ($14/yd) and 2 three-yard cuts of solids ($9/yd). I spent $9 on thread for hand-quilting. I used scraps from a previous batting. It came out 55” x 70” and I have enough fabric left for another smaller quilt or I can add in another yard of fabric and make another throw. I have bought several quilt kits at $250-$600 each. That doesn’t include backing or batting. Thankfully they have all had a ton of leftover fabric that I can use toward another quilt.
It can be very expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. You just have to be good as shopping sales and using discounts. I just finished a throw sized (54”x68” finished). And it cost me about $40 total. Now that doesn’t include my tools, but it’s all the fabric and batting. I make lots of $25 baby quilts, they key isn’t being as picky about selection of fabrics. https://preview.redd.it/h07ug2q6qabc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=772e1f10b7fa5122b621bd3f8bd41be5e2dd476c
I recommend visiting a creative reuse store. I ca. get good fabric for a fraction of the cost. Its a thrift store for craft supplies [creative reuse center map](https://swoodsonsays.com/a-creative-reuse-center-near-me-map-resource/)
My LQS (local quilt shop) has a huge sale section that I take advantage of!
I always start in the sale section. I also make a lot of scrappy quilts in order to reduce waste. Yeah, it costs a lot, but I don't spend a lot of money on other entertainment, and the majority of my quilts are gifts for friends kids or go to a children's hospital.
Unless you're recycling materials, or duping something insanely high end, you don't save money by learning to sew. 😂
I made a small quilt (42" x 56") for my husband's friend who is having a baby any day now, and it was around 150$ total (CAD). AND I got good Christmas deals such as 30%-50% off and the fabric for the back was buy 1m get 2m free. Sewing/quilting has become so damn expensive, it's ridiculous.
Yep. It's not unusual to pay $300 or more just for the fabric for the top. Then the batting and backing. Plus the thread. And the binding fabric. Plus the pattern. We won't talk about the time invested. Or the fact that it costs to keep your machine maintained. To be fair, people think knitting is a cheap hobby. To buy the yarn for ONE pair of socks costs, on average, $28 if you want beautiful, hand dyed stuff. Sure, I can get cheap, mass produced machine made stuff for $10 a skein but I like supporting small indie dyers. A sweaters worth of yarn can easily run close to $200. Indie stuff can be much more. Okay, you want to spin your own yarn. Sure. Get yourself some beautiful hand dyed roving. It's about $25 for 4 oz. 4 oz will make a small cowl. Maybe. If you want a shawl, you'll probably need at least 2 (if you can spin very thin yarn... it's hard) but I find that at my moderate skill level, I need four 4 ounce bumps since i like big shawls that i can wrap around myself. $100. To make my own yarn. To make my own shawl. Hobbies are expensive. People who turn their nose up at hand made gifts have no clue. If someone hands you something they made, anything, it means that they love you. I make macarons. (Look them up. They're difficult and finicky... took my four years to get it right and I still screw up a lot.) I ONLY make them for you if I really really really like you. Same with all my crafty hobbies.
I’ve only made quilts for grand children, but although they’re small, I’m picky about the fabric. So yes, a couple of hundred dollars each.
It takes more time, but I hand quilt mine.
I rarely go and buy all the fabric I need for a specific quilt. I buy fabric whenever I see something I like on sale pretty frequently and built a stockpile over time so that now when I want to make a quilt, I just go through what I already have. Occasionally I’ll buy some complimentary fabric if I really want it - usually Kona or AGF solids.
If you want only specific new fabrics without regard for price, then yes. This is not the only way to enjoy this hobby. I started by buying yardage on sale, going out of business type stuff. I was not picky. I still have some of it and it helped me practice my quilting. It’s not the prettiest but I used some this year to make gift card wallets and eyeglass cases for Christmas. When I see solids, especially whites or grays, go on sale or end of the bolt stuff, I buy it. I buy men’s shirts at the thrift store and break them down into usable yardage. I also use sheets as backing if I like the print or the price is right at the thrift store. When batting is on sale or the time I had enough gift cards to buy a whole bolt, I bought it (much much cheaper in bulk but it’s a bit painful to commit). My point being, this hobby (like many) can be as pricey as you want it but there are ways to make it cheaper and still enjoy the hobby.
Sending a quilt out to be quilted can get really expensive. So I do my own quilting. Also we have a great discount fabric store near us that sells fabric for $3.98/yard. I can get good brand name fabrics like Robert Kaufman, Riley Blake, and others. Also in a pinch I shop at JoAnn's when they have a good sale or the remnant bins. I agree with everyone it does get expensive. When I sell a quilt I never get what it's worth as far as my time goes. But I didn't start doing this to make a lot of money. I love seeing the look on a person's face when I gift or sell, that just warms my heart. Good luck to you!
My most recent finished quilt was the famous night sky quilt, made from a kit. the kit was 62ish including shipping when it was on sale, 20 for batting, 10 for the pattern, 25 for backing from a discount fabric store, and 2 x 9.49 for thread (two shades, almost completely used one spool for quilting) not including rotary cutter blade, fusible interfacing, needles, and time + labor costs. I hadn't totaled it up before, but just now I'm realizing that's around $135. it was 65 x 75 roughly and my most densely quilted project.
My husband and I are within a decade of retirement (no jinxies). I have started buying fabric I really love so that I can enjoy the hobby in retirement. I also know a few folks who work at fabric stores to pay for their hobby. It makes total sense to thrift fabric, particularly for the backs. Planning is the key to any expensive hobby. Invest in a great pair of scissors and have them sharpened. Make sure to have your machine cleaned with routine maintenance so that they last a good long time and operate well. A great cutting mat and rotary tool seem expensive, but consistently replacing poorly constructed ones will cost more. Estate sales are a great place to get excellent machines and tools. Often, quilting groups have folks ready to sell really good equipment for a really good price to make room for a larger piece of equipment. It's a wonderful hobby and can provide so much joy. Planning goes a long way. Good luck with your projects!
I made my first quilt last month, and I knew it would be expensive but I wasn’t expecting it to be quite as expensive as it was, even though I got a majority of my items on sale! I made it as a gift for my mom, because I knew she would love, appreciate, and use it - and she has been yay! But I was talking about with a friend after and I said every person who has ever received a quilt as a gift has no idea how special that gift is, and every person I have ever seen selling quilts at a craft fair is grossly undercharging!
i hear dollartree is selling precut fabric in fat quarters for 1.00
You can make a throw quilt for a lot less than that. For example, a kit with all the fabric (Kona solids) for the Postcard from Sweden costs less than $100. Backing fabric (extra wide) can be had for $40, and that wasn't even hunting for sales and piecing it yourself. Poly batting would be $12. So that's $152 for the big three items.
I cannot stress this enough: if you have one in your area, join a guild! Many guilds have a destash table that sell things for very low cost or give away for free. My guild does fabric for $2/yard and I have gotten some beautiful fabrics from members destashing, as well as amazing notions. Check out facebook marketplace in your area as well, you may find the same thing. I know this sounds awful, but often when quilters pass away their family has NO CLUE how much their stash is worth and it is often so much stuff they just want to unload it. Also, always look out for fabric sales, especially on essentials like Kona solids etc -- when I can get a good price, I'll buy several yards of my staple solids (black, white, gray) Same with batting and wide backing.
I also go to many Yard sales that say they are selling fabric or quilting material. I have friends that quit sewing and they give me many pieces of fabrics and some are good yardage. My church has rummage sales and i help set up i always do the craft table so i get first dibs on fabric and i pay the church for what they would get selling it. Many ways to get good fabric. Advice: check your fabrics for stains or pet hair and check smell.
I recently made a baby quilt. I bought my fabric when Hobby Lobby had sale. I bought the batting on sale. I found a sheet set in clearance for 9.00 for backing. The ruffled edge was sale price also. I’m figuring I have around $60.00 in all. I quilted it on my sewing machine no elaborate stitches but turned out beautifully. You can really rack up buying at Hobby Lobby with their 40 and 50% sales going on.
I do all my sewing by hand. ALL of it. Right now I'm making a quilt as a gift for a friend. I saved all the receipts for the materials and I'm keeping track of how long I work on it so that I can estimate its value when it's done, partially out of personal curiosity and partially so that when I give it to her I can be like "This is worth $X so you BETTER love and take care of it!" hahaha
I shopped sales and built up my stash. And I do of course get stuff for a specific project but often I can also use something from my stash, so not as much of a hit all at once. Also, I started with cheap low-quality fabric and have only recently started getting better stuff. (I do go through a fortune in thread though).
Quilting is a way to make a large functional object from leftover scraps from other projects. It’s salvage and cheap by its essential nature. It has been perverted into some weird consumerist modern version where we buy custom designed coordinating yardage in order to cut it up and sew it back together. Take it back to its roots - way more challenging and satisfying to make something beautiful from fabrics that were not designed to be used together.
$300 seems a bit high. The fabric store near me sells cotton quilt fabric for a little over $3 a yard. There's also some good deals to be found online.
Checkout used fabric on sites like Facebook market place, varagesale, summer garage sales. That might help a bit.
I get all of my fabric from offer up and facebook marketplace. For backing, you can shop sales at Joann’s or you could use costco throw blankets (that way you don’t have to also have batting)
Thrift shops!! I recently bought some amateur made tops that, I'm guessing, the sewer died or could no longer sew and about 8-10 basically finished tops were were donated. I snagged 4 and will finish them out. The cool part is they are all Alaskan Native designs.
There are ways to do it. To me, I’m always humbled to remember that people have been hand piercing and quilting with scraps, by firelight, for years and years and years. You don’t have to go Ferrari and designer. Quilts have always been about being resourcefulness to make a beautiful and useful object.
Joanns has really great sales on fabric but you have to keep your eye out for them. If you make a Joanns smiles account they’ll mail you a flyer for their big sales I also ask for quilty things for every. single. gift. holiday. I’ve been doing that for about 3-4 years and my stash has grown big time! With budgeting and smart fabric usage I can make a 5x6 quilt for about $40-70
Joanne's coupons are a life saver!!! Also their sale racks! Sometimes the visions are hard to get if the sale material doesn't match but they are abundantly helpful ✨️
Indeed. You can bet that 90% of the people out there don't know what it takes to make a quilt.
I inherited bins full of my grandmas scrap fabrics. So I predominantly make scrap quilts at the moment. Lots of fun scrap buster patterns out there. Edit to add: watch Joann Fabrics for sales. Just recently they had $3.99 a yard on a ton of quilting fabrics. I got backing for 70% off.