What's it worth ? The journey of building a quilt ...

Making quilts for family and friends has been a journey of time, patience and love. Then someone asked, will you make me a quilt? What will it cost ?  Well, there's the supplies, of fabric, thread, batting, and then, there's the time to do it.

Time ?  What do you do with that time ? First, a decision must be made as to pattern, choice of colors, and once a quilter's mind gets churning on a 'new' project, the ideas just bounce off the sewing room walls! Quilt designs have been around for centuries, so many to choose from. And of course, a quilter will consider the taste of the person to receive the quilt, their age, is it for a specific life event? There is fabric to buy, wash, press .. and cut !

After choosing what pattern to make, a quilter makes the 'shopping trip' for the fabrics and supplies. After the fabrics are purchased, they are washed, ironed, and then by following the cutting instructions for the quilt pattern, the time it takes to cut the fabric. If it is a fairly simple pattern, it still will take 'time'. Once the pieces are all cut, then it's time to assemble the blocks. Blocks can be assembled individually, or in a fashion that all of them are completed at once. After all the blocks are completed, then the blocks are sewn into rows. How many blocks are being made? What size will the quilt be: baby, crib, toddler throw, twin, queen, or king ?  What kind of borders will it have, will it have drape at the top, bottom and sides ?  So many questions !

  What is this time really worth? And after the top is completed, it now has to be quilted. Will I do it by hand or on my home sewing machine?  Or will it be quilted by someone with a long arm quilting machine ? Batting and backing of the quilt need to be purchased before quilting can be done.  Or, the backing of the quilt can be assembled from scraps from the fabrics used to make the front. This can make the quilt reversible, and the quilting pattern can enhance the quilt. And after the quilting is finished, then it is bound with binding to match the fabrics of the quilt .. it certainly isn't something that can be thrown together for a quick turnaround by any means. Depending on the choice of pattern and/or size, 3-6 weeks can be a minimum!

 

 

A quilt for a life event, be it for family or friends, is a labor of love, with a lot of patience thrown in. A quilter is someone whose love of this craft has turned into a passion. To charge a price for the value of this labor of love is not only just the cost of supplies, but the hours lovingly put into the making of this memory for the purchaser.

I offer the following discussions from Hunter's Design Studio as food for thought, and whole-heartedly agree with trying to explain what I charge for my work, I am worth it. My skill I have acquired over the years of sewing and quilting will give you a work of art to be used and loved for many years to come.

What is it worth ?

What is it worth - Part 2

So go ahead, ask .. a well-made quilt will last a lifetime, not just a few washings to be replaced with another from another country where they are turned out in a sweat shop. I am proud to be a quilter.

My next project will be a graduation quilt for my nephew -- it's been on the back burner for the last 4 years, but he now graduates next month .. the quilt has been in the back of my mind, it is now drawn and the fabrics chosen. Woo hoo -- a new project !

I promise to keep you posted on the progress !

Stitch on ~~

 

Dee

Cookies, fudge, Christmas surprises ...

For the past several years I have been the Christmas box sender -- full of cookies, regional cool foods or sauces found in my travels to my sisters, their kids, and now their children. I would put on a long list of Christmas music, sing along and bake til I dropped. Last year, I decided it was time to end it. I sent my recipes and their favorites to all the families so that this year they could make the cookies in their own kitchens. This year, I feel like I should be doing it, but I'm just limiting the amount of cooking to our own children. I've also drastically contained the amount of cookies to a favorite sugar cookie, without frosting, and fudge. Two favorites easy to make up and send out.

My daughter's birthday is Friday, December 14th -- I have always tried to make sure her birthday and Christmas were always separate. After Thanksgiving, we would start to make cookies, and December 1st, we'd start to decorate the house. Candles in the windows, garlands on the fireplaces and stairs, but we would never put the tree until after her birthday dinner.

And for this year, her birthday present is Christmas supplies. Something she asked for, and a few things she didn't. I hope that this year she can still be surprised and be filled with wonder with both the gifts she receives and the ones she has to give.

My son is stationed in Japan this year -- far away from family, friends and his much loved fiance. Technology keeps us close by using Skype so I can both see him and hear his voice. And of course, Facebook messages and posts.

I receive hundreds of status updates, shares and videos. This morning I received a really neat video from a mall in someplace USA where a crowd in the food court turned into a group in joyous song -- a wonderful rendition of prayer in song to remind us what this season is about.

May your season be filled with wonder, joy and love, to be shared with family, friends and all you meet.

Merry Christmas ~~~

Dee