Newbie asks, "how much does it cost to make a quilt"?
07-20-2011, 12:08 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Cessnock AU
Posts: 187
Can I run this one by the members please?
I know there will be many variables cause every quilt is different, but say you wanted to make yourself a quilt next month - how much would you want to budget so see this project to completion (assuming you are going to quilt it yourself)
I will attempt to quilt it myself and cut out my own fabric from yardage.
Cause I figure I gotta start preparing for my first.
I know there will be many variables cause every quilt is different, but say you wanted to make yourself a quilt next month - how much would you want to budget so see this project to completion (assuming you are going to quilt it yourself)
I will attempt to quilt it myself and cut out my own fabric from yardage.
Cause I figure I gotta start preparing for my first.
07-20-2011, 12:46 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 605
Hi, not sure how much it would cost, but Ido know that fabric in Australia and NZ is really expensive. I now buy most of my fabric online, and even with postage it is still heaps cheaper. I'm sure others have lots of suggestions for the best online places :)
07-20-2011, 01:03 AM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 3,453
As the other member said fabric is expensive here in Australia. Check out the classifieds on this board but also look on ebay and Google Quilt fabric. Don't know if you have a Spotlight Store near you. Not 100% sure but think someone told me there is one in Maitland.
Some are better than others with sales but they are getting more expensive. I get most of my fabric from America these days. Even with postage it works out cheaper.
Quite often members will put links up for sales.
Some are better than others with sales but they are getting more expensive. I get most of my fabric from America these days. Even with postage it works out cheaper.
Quite often members will put links up for sales.
07-20-2011, 01:40 AM
#4
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Russellville AR
Posts: 1,942
Well you didn't mention what size quilt, or if you want quilt shop quality fabric, threads and batting, but let's just say 12 yards of fabric, for the top and the back.
$132 for fabric.
$35 for batting.
$10 for thread (piecing and quilting)
Your labor? Priceless.
$132 for fabric.
$35 for batting.
$10 for thread (piecing and quilting)
Your labor? Priceless.
07-20-2011, 01:40 AM
#5
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Out searching for some sunshine :-)
Posts: 58,856
It also depends on the size of the quilt, baby, lap, utility, twin, etc...
If you do applique, there can be additional expenses, as well as specialty threads, etc...
So it is really hard to say how much you would spend, it really is an open question :D:D:D
If you do applique, there can be additional expenses, as well as specialty threads, etc...
So it is really hard to say how much you would spend, it really is an open question :D:D:D
07-20-2011, 02:41 AM
#7
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
since fabrics vary from $1 a yard- right on up...
figure 8-12 yards for the top (depending on the pattern chosen- and of course you can make it easy- big block= in theory make a queen for less fabric- but for a quilt with a block = many pieces- it takes alot more than people realize.
then you have your backing/batting/thread-
you can make a quilt for anywhere from $20 right on up to thousands--
a tuning 20 quilt- with borders to make it into a queen takes- 20 fat quarters (and if you buy fq's instead of yardage figure about $2- $2.75 each for fq's- then another 3 yards or so for borders-
if you use a wide back (108"-118") you need 3 yards=(108") to back it- wide backs can be found from anywhere between $8.99 up to $25 (more or less)
of course you can pick up lesser fabrics-
there are shops that advertise $20 quilts-(for the top)
it can get a bit overwhelming when you look at a pattern that calls for 12-20 yards of fabric-just for the top- i guess that's why i tend to do scrappi-er quilts- work from my stash- watch yardsales- thrift stores- sales-
if i actually have to go buy yardage it's only a yard or 2 (3 if i want a continuous border)
it takes alot of fabric to piece a quilt
i've made quilts for as little as $60 and for as much as $700 (yes in materials-before quilting)it's all relative to what you are doing
figure 8-12 yards for the top (depending on the pattern chosen- and of course you can make it easy- big block= in theory make a queen for less fabric- but for a quilt with a block = many pieces- it takes alot more than people realize.
then you have your backing/batting/thread-
you can make a quilt for anywhere from $20 right on up to thousands--
a tuning 20 quilt- with borders to make it into a queen takes- 20 fat quarters (and if you buy fq's instead of yardage figure about $2- $2.75 each for fq's- then another 3 yards or so for borders-
if you use a wide back (108"-118") you need 3 yards=(108") to back it- wide backs can be found from anywhere between $8.99 up to $25 (more or less)
of course you can pick up lesser fabrics-
there are shops that advertise $20 quilts-(for the top)
it can get a bit overwhelming when you look at a pattern that calls for 12-20 yards of fabric-just for the top- i guess that's why i tend to do scrappi-er quilts- work from my stash- watch yardsales- thrift stores- sales-
if i actually have to go buy yardage it's only a yard or 2 (3 if i want a continuous border)
it takes alot of fabric to piece a quilt
i've made quilts for as little as $60 and for as much as $700 (yes in materials-before quilting)it's all relative to what you are doing
07-20-2011, 04:59 AM
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Cessnock AU
Posts: 187
Originally Posted by katesnanna
Don't know if you have a Spotlight Store near you. Not 100% sure but think someone told me there is one in Maitland.
Originally Posted by cjtinkle
Well you didn't mention what size quilt, or if you want quilt shop quality fabric, threads and batting, but let's just say 12 yards of fabric, for the top and the back.
$132 for fabric.
$35 for batting.
$10 for thread (piecing and quilting)
Your labor? Priceless.
$132 for fabric.
$35 for batting.
$10 for thread (piecing and quilting)
Your labor? Priceless.
I've read and am grateful for all the responses - seems like a quilt is about $200.
How long does it generally take to make one of these rewarding projects, a month or so?
Guess I'm pretty nosey, but I figure I better know what I'm getting myself into. Maybe it's a male thing?
07-20-2011, 05:38 AM
#9
Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 90
Unfortunately, this is one of those things for which there truely are many variables, making it hard to give solid answers.
I am a Stay at Home Mom (SAHM) of a 6yo boy and a 3yo girl. I started quilting 7.5 years ago and have finished 3 quilts (2 crib and 1 twin). I have 4 UFOs (2 crib, 1 twin and 1 a bit smaller than a crib) that ONLY need a bit of quilting done on them. My WIP is a hand pieced Queen sized GFG.
The GFG I started basting the first hexes the last week of May. I am getting towards a sixth of the way through (just a couple more flowers to get there). I don't have a stash so had to buy the fabric. It took 7 yards of black for the pathway and 12 yards for the flowers. That was $400. That does not include ANYTHING else. No thread, batting, backing, binding, etc. JUST the fabric for the top.
So, how long? Depends on the complexity of the pattern, how much time per day you put into it, etc. A month? Entirely do-able depending on the size, pattern, amount of time per day, etc. Some women here have finished a top in a day. I am hoping to get my GFG done by Christmas.
Prices? Australian prices seem a bit more in line with Canadian prices. The prices listed by Americans are nothing like the prices here. Batting $16/yard. Fabric is $16 to $24/yard. When this top is done I will find out the price of the LAs here since there is no way in you know where that I will be shoving a Queen size through my sewing maching. I already have to stand to shove a twin through there. Not happening with a Queen.
I have also figured out that I am a topper. I love all the steps of a quilt except the actual quilting. You'll notice all of my UFOs only have quilting to do.
I love quilting. How many quilters are there? Yet you won't find identical quilts unless someone has worked to do so. Even then you rarely get two exactly the same. This keeps my hands busy, my mind engaged and gives an outlet for the creative side of my mind with non-artistic hands per se. I can't draw, paint, sculpt, etc. But I can sew the more traditional quilts and it makes me happy.
That's what's important to me! LOL
Tara
I am a Stay at Home Mom (SAHM) of a 6yo boy and a 3yo girl. I started quilting 7.5 years ago and have finished 3 quilts (2 crib and 1 twin). I have 4 UFOs (2 crib, 1 twin and 1 a bit smaller than a crib) that ONLY need a bit of quilting done on them. My WIP is a hand pieced Queen sized GFG.
The GFG I started basting the first hexes the last week of May. I am getting towards a sixth of the way through (just a couple more flowers to get there). I don't have a stash so had to buy the fabric. It took 7 yards of black for the pathway and 12 yards for the flowers. That was $400. That does not include ANYTHING else. No thread, batting, backing, binding, etc. JUST the fabric for the top.
So, how long? Depends on the complexity of the pattern, how much time per day you put into it, etc. A month? Entirely do-able depending on the size, pattern, amount of time per day, etc. Some women here have finished a top in a day. I am hoping to get my GFG done by Christmas.
Prices? Australian prices seem a bit more in line with Canadian prices. The prices listed by Americans are nothing like the prices here. Batting $16/yard. Fabric is $16 to $24/yard. When this top is done I will find out the price of the LAs here since there is no way in you know where that I will be shoving a Queen size through my sewing maching. I already have to stand to shove a twin through there. Not happening with a Queen.
I have also figured out that I am a topper. I love all the steps of a quilt except the actual quilting. You'll notice all of my UFOs only have quilting to do.
I love quilting. How many quilters are there? Yet you won't find identical quilts unless someone has worked to do so. Even then you rarely get two exactly the same. This keeps my hands busy, my mind engaged and gives an outlet for the creative side of my mind with non-artistic hands per se. I can't draw, paint, sculpt, etc. But I can sew the more traditional quilts and it makes me happy.
That's what's important to me! LOL
Tara
07-20-2011, 05:43 AM
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: howell, Mi
Posts: 2,345
Are you an engineer by profession? lol Time is relative. Depends on how complicated the pattern is, size of the blocks, are you counting the cutting time or just the piecing? How many hours a day are you going to sew? Generally I figure it takes me about an hour for a block that is in the middle (as to difficulty). That doesn't count for any hand sewing or applique. Maybe it you pick a pattern and the fabric we would be able to better help you.
Sue
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