What I learned by keeping a diary making my last quilt
#1
What I learned by keeping a diary making my last quilt
I learned that I spent 32 hours and 2 minutes making the quilt between March 31 and April 22. This total includes the time I took to wind bobbins, clean machines, wash, iron and cut fabric. It took me 19 hours to just make the top. The quilting only took 4.5 hours because I only cross-hatch quilted it with a walking foot. I used two different machines, one for piecing and one for quilting and binding so I used 5 bobbins for piecing and binding and 3 bobbins for quilting. The quilt turned out to be 60" x 70" and that's about as big as I can make on my DSMs. I saved my diary for future reference. I'll never again wonder how long it will take me to make a quilt.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bushkill, Pa
Posts: 534
Thank you for doing that. Now I won't feel let down when I don't live up to the "Simple quilt. You can make this in an afternoon" exaggerations I hear all the time from not only quilt pattern makers, but video instructions on You Tube.
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 3,111
Thanks for the information.... I am working on a project now and I am tracking $$ and cuts.. you have inspired me to track the hours as well. I have missed some, but I can "guesstimate" the interfacing and cutting times. It will be interesting to see. (The $$ really add up and scare me sometimes)
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,095
And that's why we can't make money selling the quilts we make. If you were willing to work for $10 per hour, that would be $320 for labor alone. Now add fabric, batting and thread and no way we can compete with "bed in a Bag" from the local home fashion stores. About once a year I make a quilt on commission and that's only for someone who knows up front what it will cost and is willing to pay knowing the quality of work/art they will get in return.
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Jacksonville NC
Posts: 6,510
Wow! I would be afraid to know exactly how much time I waste each day Of course my 5 cats and beagle do not consider hours of walking, petting and brushing wasted and I agree with them But the time I sit in quiet meditation watching flowers, tree and grass grow......
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: England Alton Towers
Posts: 6,673
My friend tracked her costs for an heirloom and was amazed at how it was building up. Hundreds of £. She never had a final amount because she started part wAy through. Just buying beads,lace, thread etc. .
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
You can see from this one example how too often we undervalue our work!
Jan in VA
#10
Well I have done a cost and time tracking on a few of mine and I don't think I'll do that again it was scary.
I rarely do commission quilts for this reason. People don't want to pay the price. I have so many I want to make and give away, I really don't even want to do commission quilts. It's a waste of time even going over it with someone, Because they never will understand the quilting process. I wonder if a true time video would have them understanding it.
I rarely do commission quilts for this reason. People don't want to pay the price. I have so many I want to make and give away, I really don't even want to do commission quilts. It's a waste of time even going over it with someone, Because they never will understand the quilting process. I wonder if a true time video would have them understanding it.
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10-20-2012 07:12 PM