How long does it take you to quilt a quilt?
#11
i have been quilting for over 40 years. i handquilt using a Q-Snap frame. I have done a queen size Trip Around the World quilt in two weeks by quilting diagonal lines through the blocks. Mot of my quilts take anywhere from a month to 4 months depending on size, amount of quilting to be done, and what is happening in my life at the time. I try to determine roughly how long it takes me to quilt one block and estimate a time frame for finishing the quilting. I can only work a few hours at a time before the arthritis kicks in --usually a three hour period--so base my estimate in how many blocks i can do in that time.
#13
FMQ on my 6600 is my only option (if I am doing it) and for one that size it could be done in a couple hours if only doing stippling or STID. Anything more complicated will add to the time. My biggest time consumer is planning what to quilt. I have been known to look through pattern books for hours trying to find the "perfect quilting pattern". But once I am ready to quilt, it's off to the races coz I just hate to stop til I am done.
#14
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 10,590
There are no stock answers for your questions. Waaaaay to many variables.
Most of my hand quilted queen size quilts take me a couple of years to do and that is working on it fairly steadily. I only have a lap hoop.
On my DSM I did a 60 x 60 in about 3 weeks working on it pretty much only weekends so I guess that would be 5 or 6 days of meander FMQ and echo quilting. I also did one the same size with a simple cross hatch in about the same amount of time.
On the LA that is where I have the biggest variable. If it was a panto, I could finish it up in a couple of hours. Same if it was a simple all over meander. But if there was SID ruler work, custom quilting of different designs in different areas it would take me a lot longer. I only get to really quilt on weekends. Very rarely do I have time to do it on weeknights so the quilt stays on the rack for anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks.
Most of my hand quilted queen size quilts take me a couple of years to do and that is working on it fairly steadily. I only have a lap hoop.
On my DSM I did a 60 x 60 in about 3 weeks working on it pretty much only weekends so I guess that would be 5 or 6 days of meander FMQ and echo quilting. I also did one the same size with a simple cross hatch in about the same amount of time.
On the LA that is where I have the biggest variable. If it was a panto, I could finish it up in a couple of hours. Same if it was a simple all over meander. But if there was SID ruler work, custom quilting of different designs in different areas it would take me a lot longer. I only get to really quilt on weekends. Very rarely do I have time to do it on weeknights so the quilt stays on the rack for anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks.
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 1,751
I have been quilting for over50 years and when I have a quilt to do I basically quilt about 6 to 7 hours a day and it takes me about two weeks depending on the size. Baby quilts take me about 8 hours.
#16
You are probably asking to plan a project yourself. However, I always find it amusing when a nonquilter sees something I've done and the first they ask is "How long did it take you?" I always want to say "Why do you want to know that?" But of course, one is polite and gives some guess. They could build in a timer on machines, including LAs, so when a project is done, you would have the cumulative amount of time you put in at actual sewing. But as many have said, the time planning, preparing, and living life in between sewing sessions all adds up. Now and then I try to remember how much actual time something takes me, but if I don't write it down, I immediately forget. It's easy to figure if I spend an entire evening, from after dinner, maybe 6:30 or 7, until bedtime, maybe 10 or 11. Same if I spend from lunch to dinner, with time out for a quick tea at about 3. (Do you think food is a factor in my life?LOL) Anyway, I'm interested in all the answers to this thread, so will have to check back later to learn more.
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