The following appeared in the Ask Laskas column in the October Reader's Digest and is also at the RD website:
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here for your convenience:======================================"Question Destination weddings at resorts are the rage in my group. Flights, hotels and carfare cost beaucoup bucks! A couple ask a lot of their guests to see them exchange their vows. Am I wrong in thinking spending thousands on travel justifies a small gift, if any? -- Tight Budget Dear Tight, If you think enough of the couple to attend their nuptials, then, yes, you need to bring a gift. If getting to the wedding is blowing your budget, make a quilt or frame a special photo. There are lots of ways to say "congratulations!" that don't involve big bucks. If it's really too much for you, don't go." =======================================
There are many rude comments that cross my mind that I'm tempted to tell this hopelessly clueless lady, and I DO intend to respond, after I calm down My question to you is how much does it cost YOU to make a quilt, never mind the HOURS spent, just materials?
Please post your response here too! She may not know what a hornet's nest she's stirred up. "don't involve big bucks" indeed! I guess if we all still cut up our old clothing we might be able to send an economical quilty gift....what a lovely wedding present that would be!!!
eeek I have no idea, but I just bough the fabric for a smallish lapquilt, but only the sashing and borders, the main blocks were done already. Anyhow the fabric for that was about $50... The total bill was $70 but I think I had 2 unrelated $10 items on that bill. And because it was fabric from a class at a lqs, it was all on sale. And still around $50 for just that border and sashing parts.... Not so cheap lol PS I havent bought the batting or the backing yet either Carissa
OK, you asked for it! Full-price imported-from-the-US quilt fabric costs around $25 per meter (39 inches). Not entirely sure what batting runs these days, but the last time I paid attention, a bag of twin size W&N cost about $35 IIRC. The issue doesn't come up often because cotton batting is hard to find. But you are absolutely right, it wouldn't be a cheap gift! Probably cheaper to fly to the wedding. Roberta in D
"Mickie Swall" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:46fbb98e snipped-for-privacy@news.nauticom.net...
I usually estimate a bed sized quilt at about $250- that's LQS quality fabric and all the necessary 'things' that I need to finish it. (Top will need about 12-14 yards at approx. $9 per yd., backing needs about 9 yds. at the same price and then there's batting, thread, needles, rotary blades, Band-Aids, etc.) I always over buy on the fabric so that I will not run out of one or the other. But I think that's a pretty fair estimate. Then there's the hours and hours of shopping, designing and planning, organizing, cutting, sewing, quilting and binding- and then cleaning up the mess after I finish and the postage to ship the quilt to it's new owner. About $500 worth in the labor area for a simple quilt like a log cabin- bare, bare minimum! I don't give quilts except to people I love and that deserve them- as in appreciate and use the quilts.
I made a medium sized wall hanging- all by hand which I paid for dearly with my arthritis- for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. My mother spent almost $10K having her bedroom suite professionally redecorated to go with that little wallhanging!!! Silk comforter and bedskirt and draperies to match the wallhanging, painting, new towels and shower curtain and bath rugs, etc. I was floored to say the least!!! (And that led to new hardwood floors throughout the house, new granite countertops in the kitchen and some new appliances, new window treatments throughout the house, etc. I shudder to think of the final cost of all that.....)
I read that and was a bit astonished. Most ppl have NO IDEA the costs involved before you even start on what your time si worth.
A few years back my Sis asked me to make her a Queen Size quilt. (She sews) She wanted to be able to say "My Sis made this". I can understand that. She said it shouldn't cost much other than time since you do have fabric. She said she'd 'pay for the fabric'. I told her I'd get back to her. That night I figured out how much the fabric would be ($8.00 per yard), batting, and about $250.00 for the Pro Quilter. Next day, I gave her the figures WITHOUT including my time. I couldn't promise her how long it would take because of my hands.
I'm not making her a quilt because she can't afford it right now. Whether or not I make her one because *I* want to is another story.
Yes, she is aware of the 'promised ones' that are NOT made yet.
I knew there was a reason I didn't read that magazine :-)
For a twinish/fullish sized quilt I plan on spending about $200 for fabric, batting and threads.
When people call and ask me about making a quilt for them I send them to a local shops website. This shop will make (or finish) a quilt for you.
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"Listed below are some ranges you should expect to pay if we are making a quilt for you. The price is determined by the amount of time it takes to produce the quilt. The more involved the design the longer it takes. I will endeavor to work with you and give you options for keeping costs down. These prices include fabric, batting and thread.
to 45² X 60² - $500 to $1500 to 70² X 85² - $1,000 to $2,000 to 80² X 95² - $1,500 to $2,500 to 95² X 100 - $2,000 to $3,000 to 100² X 110² - $3,000 to $4,000"
Granted this involves labor as well but you know.....our time is worth something. Even if we want to give it away it does still have value.
So far, I've spent right at $200 for fabric for my DGD's graduation quilt. Haven't bought the batting yet and will pay to have it quilted. So, it's going to cost over $300 by the time it's finished. And, that's not counting anything for my time.
O.K. now that I have cooled down U-hum-m-m-m. Here is what I have invested in a DWR I am making for my niece. Size 96 inches square. I purchased everything for 30 percent off. This price doesn't include labor, just materials.
$334.96 taxes not included. Add 8.75 percent sales tax.
I, too would estimate between $250-$300 per queen sized bed quilt for fabric and the other things it takes. I only make quilts for my children and grandchildren. Since there are 6 children and 2 grandchildren with one more on the way, it does keep me busy enough.
Oh please don't wait to calm down, the sooner she's inundated with irate emails from quilters the better. Her phone number is also listed below. A few hundred "What the hell were you thinking?????" messages jamming her voice mail might also help to get the message across that a quilt and a framed photo are *NOT* in the same "economical" category of time and dollar$.
I also think this woman should be BOMBARDED with emails letting her know what a lame brained, BEEEEEEEEEE-YONNNNNNNND stupid answer she wrote. I found her professional bio....
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....and I'm wondering what qualifies her to write an advise column, it certainly isn't common sense. Don't bother sending your rants to the RD, they all just go into a bin so the droids can pick out the next question for "sage advise". Jeanne Marie Laskas Assistant Professor of English
412-624-6540 snipped-for-privacy@pitt.edu
So, her goal apparently is not necessarily good and well thought out and/or well researched (like the cadre of various professionals in the Rolodex as Ann and Abby had) answers. She's spitting out anything to be published in order to pad her resume in her campaign for full tenure IMO......she's as yet only made it to Assistant Prof. I've always considered the RD to be pretty much schlock, but that's just my VERY personal opinion. A Masters in Fine Arts (literature) does not an advise columnist make.
BTW, I've already sent my scathing email to this idiot AND spewed forth a message (which I thoughtfully wrote out in great detail so I could read it in a rational manner and not miss a single point explaining to her why I thought she was a brain dead idiot) on her voice mail. :0
Val........now I need some chocolate *sigh*
Wondering and pondering the possibilities of Fed Exing one of Mizz Polly's hormonally enraged gators to..........naw, we can't treat a poor gator that way, nevermind.
Val- Thank you for the email address of this foolish woman. I improved on my post and this is the email I sent to her....
My dear, sadly uninformed Jeanne Marie Laskas-
I usually estimate a bed sized quilt at about $250- that's quilt shop quality fabric (not WalMart crap which isn't worth my time and effort) and all the necessary 'things' that I need to finish it. (The quilt top will need about 12-14 yards at approx. $9 per yard, backing needs about 9 yards at the same price and then there's batting, thread, needles, rotary blades, Band-Aids, etc.) I always over buy a bit on the fabric so that I will not run out of one or the other. But I think that's a pretty fair estimate.
Then there's the hours and hours of shopping, designing and planning, organizing, cutting, sewing, quilting and binding- and then cleaning up the mess after I finish, a trip to the post office and the postage to ship the quilt to it's new owner. About $500 worth in the labor area for a simple quilt like a log cabin- bare, bare minimum! I don't give quilts away - except to people I love and that deserve them- as in appreciate and use the quilts.
And I do not make commissioned quilts and I do not sell my quilts- because of people just like YOU who undervalue my creativity and my financial investment in my fabric stash, 500+ spools of specialty threads, extensive collection of quilt-making tools, a library of books and magazines, my sewing machines and the maintenance of the machines, the auxiliary furniture needed to house my machines and my cutting table and ironing station plus the room in my home for all my equipment and supplies. It goes on and on but I estimate I have a total financial investment approaching $25K. And I am a middle class American woman... not some wealthy person. This has been accumulated over many years and it is my treasure..
I made a medium sized wall hanging- all by hand which I paid for dearly with my arthritis- for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. My mother spent almost $10K having her bedroom suite professionally redecorated to go with that little wallhanging!!! Silk comforter and bedskirt and draperies to match the wallhanging, painting, new towels and shower curtain and bath rugs, etc. I was floored to say the least!!! (And that led to new hardwood floors throughout the house, new granite countertops in the kitchen and some new appliances, new window treatments throughout the house, etc. I shudder to think of the final cost of all that.....) My mother knows..... and she appreciates.
You owe us quilters a HUGE apology for minimizing our craft and our artistry by comparing it to a $50 picture in a frame!
Well said, Val!! Bravo!!!! my sentiments exactly! Who is she to patronize the artists and the craft we hold as sacred? Just a Nobody. i cannot believe there are women out there belittling other women's creativity. yeah, i'd send a picture too, in a dollar-store frame.
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