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March 3, 2010

How Long? How Much?

As I sit and stitch through the night at my FIL's bedside I've been thinking about a question my BIL asked clear back in 1972 when I had my first finished top on the frame. He wanted to know how long it takes to make a quilt and how much one cost, was it comparable to buying a blanket? With batting, backing, Merribee printed top, and the embroidery floss this quilt topped out at about $60.00 and it probably took about two months to quilt. It actually took three years to finish because I wasn't happy with the way the back looked and put it aside for a couple of years.

I believe this is quite common with quilters, strolling between projects. I wish I had the admirable tenacity to stick with one thing start to finish, but that isn't very exciting. Sometimes I'm in the mood for lots of machine work, and others, like now, I can't get enough of hand appliqué. As to cost today...some patterns alone are $60-80.00 if the quilter likes Block Of The Month programs. And I've done a couple of self designed whole cloth quilts that have more than 600 hours of quilting each.

In the night I've been quilting on the Raggedy Hearts quilt, another 30's self designed quilt based on the Bull's Eye technique. This quilt dates back to 2005. It took about a month to machine piece and appliqué and each year I think this is the February it will take pride of place on the bed...as long as my hand holds out 2011 might be the hallelujah February. Note that my corner stars are also raggedy, too cute.

As to how long? My stock answer for the last quarter century has been "If I were in a hurry, I'd buy a blanket".

Wednesday Thankies
Needles and thread
Ready to use batting
Wonderland of fabric...all out of reach to me, I've been on the fabric wagon since 2001

3 comments:

Renée's Country Crafts LLC said...

What great timing for your topic. My 17 year old daughter asked for a comforter for her day bed.. Walmart.. yes we all know what is going to happen. In the mean time I am trying to finish the horse quilt that she asked me to make her a year ago. I had a horrible time getting the backing fabric pinned without tucks, and pleats.. I just left them. I usually have help when I have to do a large quilt. This time I was on my own. I know I am not going to like the end result, but for her it is fine. I am waiting to see which one needs repair sooner, and which one she is going to take with her to show off. I will be embarrassed if she takes mine. I believe a hand made quilt.. if done right, laugh.. will outlast a store bought one any day. It might be more time consuming, therefore more expensive for the purchaser, but it will last a life time.. at least it will if I don't make it, laugh. I give bed quilters so much credit.
Consumers don't understand the time, and quality that goes into making a quilt, so they would rather buy disposables.. just my opinion.
Thank you for sharing. Hand quilting.. I really admire hand quilters.
Renee

Renée's Country Crafts LLC said...

What great timing for your topic. My 17 year old daughter asked for a comforter for her day bed.. Walmart.. yes we all know what is going to happen. In the mean time I am trying to finish the horse quilt that she asked me to make her a year ago. I had a horrible time getting the backing fabric pinned without tucks, and pleats.. I just left them. I usually have help when I have to do a large quilt. This time I was on my own. I know I am not going to like the end result, but for her it is fine. I am waiting to see which one needs repair sooner, and which one she is going to take with her to show off. I will be embarrassed if she takes mine. I believe a hand made quilt.. if done right, laugh.. will outlast a store bought one any day. It might be more time consuming, therefore more expensive for the purchaser, but it will last a life time.. at least it will if I don't make it, laugh. I give bed quilters so much credit.
Consumers don't understand the time, and quality that goes into making a quilt, so they would rather buy disposables.. just my opinion.
Thank you for sharing. Hand quilting.. I really admire hand quilters.
Renee

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Love that quilt. Sometimes hand quilting entices me and sometime not. Now is a not time - but you never know. I agree, if we were in a hurry we'd just go to the store.