weezie

I never keep track and I can't really calculate the cost per quilt anyway. I have several "going" at one time, some of which take me years to complete. In the meantime, I buy fabric as I need it or as the mood hits me, all of which goes into my stash. When I pull fabric out for a quilt, it could be anywhere from brand new to 10-15 years (or more) old. For the most part, I buy everything I use for quilting at sale prices. I made 1 quilt last year for which I specifically bought all the fabric over a few weeks' time. Most of those fabrics were not a bargain so the total cost was high, but I had lots of those fabrics left over, from which I made a second quilt top and I still probably have enough for a couple more.

FroggyinTexas

I haven't kept track of every quilt, but I am estimating that each full sized quilt, counting the cost of hiring a long arm quilter do the quilting, costs in excess of $250. Quilting is a very expensive hobby, not only because of the cost of materials, but also because of the wear and tear on machinery.

If I were to include the economic impact of opportunity cost because of the hours spent quilting, the value of each quilt would sky rocket. At $7.25 an hour and an average of 40 hour per quilt, the labor is $290.

However, quilting is one of only a few hobbies that produces something tangible without harming another living being and provides an opportunity for community service. It also provides quilters an opportunity to build a social network involving people who have similar interests.

And, like bingo, it keeps grandma off the street. froggyintexas

margecam52

Hard to figure really accurately.

As someone else said, it depends on wether you are doing for a customer or yourself.

For a customer who has a certain type of fabric in mind, here is a guesstimate of the actual cost, minus labor.

Queen size
pattern: Eye of the Storm (Quilt Almanac 2009, by the editors of Quilt magazine, page67).

24 fat quarters (6yards of fabric)
1-5/8 yards of print 1
3/4 yard print 2
that comes to 7-1/8 yards for the top.

Backing 8-1/2 yards
15-5/8 yards of fabric at, let's say $10.00 a yard = $156.25
Batting (80/20 cotton/poly) Queen size $27.00 retail
Thread 18.00 (C&Clark for assembly, King Tut for quilting).

That comes to $201.00 not counting needles, wear and tear on machines, labor.

When I did upholstery, we charged 15.00 per yard labor (in 1978-82)...we rounded to nearest full yard...so 16 yards labor x 15.00 is 240.00, just for the assembly of the quilt top.

Another 122.00 for simple meander quilting, double that for semi-custom.

Grandma Jane

The stash I have is fabric that I have seen at quilt shows or quilt shops that I just have to have for that future project. Doesn't necessarily mean that it was purchased on sale. For most of my projects, I buy the fabric I need for the project. The quilt I am currently working on is for my son - the fabric alone cost $200. Then I will have batting and long arm quilting - so this will easily cost $350 when I am all done. But, because of my work scheduled, it takes me about 6 months to do a quilt like this, so I am spending about $100/month and as someone else said, I could have a lot more expensive hobbies. I am not a clothes shopper - only go when I really need something. I am not a "things" shopper or a shopper at all, unless of course, I am drivng by a fabric store. So this is where my money goes. Like others on this forum, no one could afford to commission me to make a quilt because of the hours I put into it - would be way too expensive.

grammysharon

Me too! I really don't want to know! :-)

margecam52

To add photos to a quilt, here is what it would cost per 8x10 photo page:
fabric sheet- 3.50 (based on 3 sheets for 11.00, plus tax)

printer ink - 2.50 cents per page (based on 54.00 for both black and color cartridge for HP printer).

So, $6.00 per picture page.

Actually, for me, I make my own sheets...they cost me about 40 cents each, making them with BubbleJetSet2000 & the BJSet rinse.

So, about $3.00 per page (labor is more, which is why I charge $12.00 per page...I can spend 4-5 hours fixing a photo for use on a quilt).

Marge

bakermom

I'm like you Weezie. I might buy fabric for one quilt then get several more out of the scraps. I keep combining till i get down to tiny scraps(1 1/2") then i pass those on to a friend that will use them.

It's not always that people don't understand what goes into a quilt, They just can't justify the expense. Personally , i wouldn't pay hundreds or thousands for a quilt. Not because i don't think they are worth it-I've seen many that are- I simply don't have the funds for that type of purchase. That transfers over to other items i buy also. i can't justify spending $$$$ on a stove, for example, when i know one for $$ will do what i need.

If I spent what others here say they do, i could not afford this hobby or anything else for that matter. some here must have very deep pockets.

tulip43

I spend around $300.-$400 for fabric on a Queen size The batting and batting are extra also the quilting unless I do myself. That is Hand quilting. Machine Quilting a queen would be about $200-$300 extra. Expensive here in Canada

weazy

It seems that I have never made a quilt that I didn't have to go find another piece of fabric to complete the job. As far as labor, I figure if I were getting paid, on a good day, about a nickel an hour. But if actual cost were an issue, I'd better shut the sewing room door and call the salvage company. I quilt because it gives me peace, excitement, and joy in "paying it forward". I have spent way too much on sewing equipment, gadgets, fabrics, "stuff" that I may need someday and for that I feel sorry for my children when I am gone. I have entertained the idea of getting out of this hobby and making me a nice new bedroom, but when the notion passes, I am always happy to amble back in there and fiddle around some more. Better this than sitting holding my hands.............

TootieAnn

I'm afraid to admit how much I spend on fabric. I really don't know how much I spend on any one particular quilt because I rarely buy the fabric for a whole project at one time. I pull from my stash, use things left over from other projects and add what I need from the LQS. I do have a good time though!