This woman needs to do some research before she prints something as clueless as her reply. Cost? It depends, of course, on the size of the quilt. Still, with decent fabric going for $10 (roughly, if we're lucky) per yard, batting, thread, wear and tear on the sewing machine (assuming we're not doing this by hand), the cost should be anywhere from $50 for a very small quilt on up into the hundreds -- *just* for the materials.
OTOH, I once made a "quiltlet" for a niece and her new DH (I also sent another gift); said quiltlet had their wedding photo printed on fabric on it and was framed with fabrics in their wedding colors. That didn't cost too much -- but they didn't appreciate it.
Ironically I too had just read this article yesterday and had the same response that Mickie did...how dare she?? Even a small baby size quilt is easily $50. I suppose if someone wanted to make a small wallhanging with scraps, they could get by for less. I was going to send her an email as well!!
Although you are upset, the truth is that quilting doesn't have to be terribly expensive if you can't afford it to be. Sure there are lovely expensive fabrics, battings, and threads to be bought, but they are not necessary to make a lovely quilt. Thousands of quilters have made beautiful quilts from humble beginnings because they had no money for expensive materials, and some of those quilts are now owned by and displayed in museums.
DH's king size Space quilt materials cost around $300. I also have a full size Bow Tie quilt that will have cost around $80 in materials when it is finished. I like them both equally. But I also know I can make a lovely quilt with even less money. Assuming a full size bed, and the least expense possible, I can make a quilt for under $30.00 that I would be proud to say I made.
Here is how I would do it, although I can't claim to have invented this cost cutting method myself:
Pattern--free from library book or online at a free download site--------$0 Fabric for the top--Thrift store and Goodwill as yardage and/or gently used clothing bought on "bag sale" day where you put whatever you can into a bag for $5, or left over garment sewing scraps, or inherited craft stash fabric (I actually have fabric from all three sources in my quilting stash.).----$0-$5 Batting and backing--cheap no name brand blanket and pretty top sheet from somewhere like Max-Way, Family Dollar, or Dollar General. Blanket----$7.50 Top Sheet only-----$5-$10 Thread--spool of plain sewing thread---$3.50
If this has upset you, I am sorry, but poor people have been making beautiful things with very little money for ages. To ignore that it can be done is to ignore their great creativity and inventiveness. Debra in VA See my quilts at
I just finished a twin sized quilt as a gift. The fabrics were not my taste so were all purchased new. Well, not exactly new, they were not current, so were on sale. - I paid "only" $7 yd. The quilt took 8 yards, the backing another $5, so that's $91. Then there was the batting, again on sale, another $10. Plus, thread and time. Now, to make is a useable bedquilt for a couple, double that.
To equate this with framing a photo is insulting.
L>The following appeared in the Ask Laskas column in the
I think it was more the seeing it as equal to framing a photo - you can do a quilt cheaply if you choose to, but it is harder work and the hours would really add up, certainly incomparable to framing a photo and not really in line with being frustrated at the cost of attending.
If someone gave me a beautiful quilt I wouldn't ask where the fabric came from or what brand the batting was. I would see a beautiful quilt that took time and effort to make, and love it.
I think you slight your own creativity if you believe you can't make a lovely quilt top from re-purposed fabrics. Debra in VA See my quilts at
Oh yes, Debra, I understand this point of view perfectly, but the question was dealing with "Destination Weddings" people who no doubt spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on their weddings. How do you think they would respond to a hand-made quilt from recycled materials? Another point is the quantity of time spent - either processing the recycled clothes or shopping for new fabrics and materials, cutting and sewing the quilt, even if entirely by machine. And let's see, the last time I got something professionally framed, maybe 15 years ago? it cost $249.00 for 2 mats and a pretty wood frame for a 12" x 10" cross stitch. Cheap? Framing is not cheap either! . Not really upset, just amazed how most people do not realize or appreciate the time and expense that go into crafting that they haven't tried themselves. Mickie
It is all fine and well to make a statement like this to a covey of quilters, *we* understand what the finished product involved and the point you are trying to make. If somebody gave me a quilt, or I am sure any of the wonderful people of RCTQ; a quilt that was lovingly crafted from the rag bag, re-purposed or whatever euphemism you want to use for old fabric, rags, etc, an old blanket for the batting and a poly blend sheet for the backing. We would ohhhh and ahhhhhh and graciously accept a gift we truly understood the time and work that must have gone into such a precious gift.........
HOWEVER, the other side of the coin is a very special wedding quilt made for a DS and his Lady Love's wedding that had been hand pieced, hand quilted, hand embroidered, every *&!#* point and seam painstakingly matched and the back hand embroidered with their names, birth dates and the date of their marriage. The couple very proudly brought it to the wedding and displayed it in a very visible and honored place on the guest book table. I hear a guest, obviously of the same School of Appreciation for Hand Crafts as Ms. Laskas made the remark......"Oh look, I saw those same blanket things for sale on QVC!" Our very wise Miss Polly gave me the very good advise early in the planning stages of this wedding. "Mother of the groom just smiles and keeps her mouth shut." I did......then rolled on over to the champagne fountain.....again......knowing Miss Polly would be SO proud of me ;)
Ergo: Not all people will ever appreciate all "blanket things" or that gifts of quilts are more than just thread and fabric but also made of heart, soul and love......these will be all the people who get picture frames. Val
How are you making your backing? I figure 5 yards, folded in half selvage to selvage and seamed makes a backing that is about 80-84 inches wide by 90 inches long. Maybe 6 yards for a king/queen to allow for some shrinkage.
at
I've had people ask to pay me for some of my hand work, sweaters more often than quilts. I tell them that I don't sell my work - I only give it awy to people I am very close to. If I had to charge even minimum wage for my labor they wouldn't pay the price. As a comparison a homespun hand knit sweater probably takes me about 100 hours from raw wool to finished sweater. Lets see, at $7.15/hour......:-)
I use three 3 yard lengths for backings for my bed size quilts which are
120X120 or slightly less. 6 yards for a king/queen would only be 80 inches wide or a little more. Queen beds are 60 in. wide- that's only a 10 inch drop on each side and that would shrink with the quilting. Kings are either
72 or 78, I think, depending on whether it's a CA king or standard king. I don't see how that would work with only 5 or 6 yards? Are we talking 40-44 in. wide fabric or the extra wide fabrics that are from 90 to 108 wide? I was estimating using the 40-44 width fabric.
I have watched this thread from time to time all day and have enjoyed every word of it. To be perfectly fair . . . well, it's the Libra in me, can't help it . . . it is entirely possible to go to some junky place and buy a quilt for $ 19.95. It will stink to High Heaven and fall apart at the first washing, if it lasts that long, but it can be done. Perhaps that is what the RD authority had in mind. Polly
I don't think she was referring to a pro framed print Mickie. Like the quilt I think she was looking at REALLY cheap. She is just ignorant. What a shame she has a job that she seems so ill equipped to do. She isn't the only one. Lots of folks don't value craftsmanship in any form. Cheap imports of every variety just perpetuate that attitude. It seems that people would rather have more cheap junk than a few quality possessions around them. Cheap means disposable so in the long run not so cheap for the pocketbook and the environment. That doesn't even address the attitude that a good quilt would probably outlast a lot of marriages these days. A lot of effort might go into the party part of the marriage but little into the work of a lasting relationship. The other thing is lots of young folks just want money and no gifts anyway. That is pretty sad in itself. Taria
If I were in a position to invite people to a destination wedding (not having either a special man or woman in my life nor the money to run such an event, it's irrelevant), I would certainly make it clear in the invitation that their presence would be sufficient gift. I know that Miss Manners says that it's tacky to spell out "no gifts, please" but I would do that anyway.
I had the same thought! My father became a professional-quality picture framer after he retired - cutting mats and glass, staining the wood for the frames, sending his photos back to the developer again because the colours weren't quite right, doing all of it acid-free and sealed to last a long time ... and only really special people got a small framed photo as a wedding present.
Because of watching him and listening to him talk about what was important to him, I am now kind of a picture-framing snob and can't bear to put photos or diplomas in $10 non-sealed mounts. But since he's no longer alive ;-) I mostly just leave the photos on my computer and don't frame them at all. My wall space is starting to get filled up with quilts, now, anyway.
She had picked a one way pattern that had a one way large print that had to match. It was not an easy quilt to do, made even harder that it did not like it to begin with, but it was for my niece whom I love dearly. I also made matching pillow cases and shams with the extra. I would not do something like this for someone who was not close.
If I put the time and effort into something, I want it to be for someone who will appreciate it.
Probably not. She specifically said "make a quilt".
I don't give quilts unless I am pretty sure the recipients will appreciate them. Recently I did give a quilted throw to a couple that we know only casually. The fabric was all in my stash, so there was no immediate out-of-pocket expense, but it was still all something I had purchased at one time, so you can't say it was an inexpensive gift. If I had purchased a gift, I would not have spent as much as the value of the quilt, but I had a lot of fun doing it. I do know the couple appreciated it; the bride told me that it was the first quilt she had never had a quilt before.
Back in the Covered Wagon Days women made quilts for warmth, and necessity. And because they are part of history, are now in private collections or museums. this is 2007...we are artists as well as quilters. Some may not be Monet's, but i'm sure we all invest more time and money than any other hobby, and credit should be given where due. i , for one, give away more quilts than i probably should, but only to family. anyone else pays for it. amy
I've just started (this afternoon) a Warm Wishes lap quilt for a lady in her late 70s I know through various organisations I'm connected with, who has just broken her hip.
She is cat mad and I have some cat fabric DSisIL bought me that I wondered when I would use. It just shouted 'I want to be a quilt for Sheila' so a small lap quilt (she is a small lady) it is becoming.Sheila is the sort of person who will definitely appreciate it's being made especially for her - you can tell, can't you.
The other fabric has come from my stash - some of it left over from other projects, so I am not buying anything especially for it. Batting
- I have just enough left from the Baby and Raffle quilt.
I knew this quilt's reputation for growing quickly - it is a reputation deserved and with my tendancy to have too much on the go at once, necessary!
I got an "out of office" response on the email I sent directly to Jeanne Marie Laskas, but the editors at Readers Digest responded with the comments that JML admits she is not a quilter [who knew?] and was only suggesting that a gift could me made instead of purchased [and who's studio is up for raiding since we obviously cannot purchase materiala???] LOL Mickie
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