FAQ's re quilting---What are some you hear and your replies?
 

I keep having people ask me how much fabric they need to make a quilt. I tell them it all depends on the size of the quilt and the pattern they choose to use to make it. There is no set amount of fabric needed to make a quilt......is there? Even when you know if you are making a queen size or a twin size. What do you tell folks that ask you?

Also what are some of the other FAQ you hear from people?

Phyllis
QuiltingGrannie

One of the great questions is: How long does it take you to make a quilt? Then, I respond well it depends on the size, finding the right fabric, is it hand quilted by me, long armed quilted, or in the ditch on my wonderful 301's or the featherweight. Then, it depends on the pattern and how complicated it is. So my usual answer is somewhere between 3 months to 2 years (again taking all of the above information into consideration.)

I too get asked "how long does it take you to make a quilt". The other one that stumps me is the question "do you really enjoy it?" ....DUH... would I spent this much time , money etc.. if I did not.

My FAQ is " Why make a quilt, when you can buy one at Walmart" If someone is so stupid to ask this question, then I'm wasting my breath trying to explain. Only WE know that, they have not only missed the boat,but they've missed the cruise ship!!!!

I hear that too. One of my co-workers asked how much a quilt was that I was attaching the binding to for someone. I told her what it may cost and she asked "why? You can get it for $10.00 at WM! Another co-worker/quilter chimed in and explained that it would not be hand made....etc. Then the person said,"Oh." Hesitated, and then asked if she could just touch it. LOL I thought about charging her for touching it. LOL

The most FAQ I get is how much would it cost to make a quilt for my bed? I reply to them, "For my bed, nothing, for yours, if you have to ask.....".
The general population don't understand anything about quiltmaking.

These same people wouldn't hesitate over the price of a handmade piece of furniture or painting.....weird!
peace

My nightmare FAQ is when I give a person a second quilt (after giving them a quilt 15 years ago) and them saying 'I already have a quilt you made me. I don't need another quilt. What would I do with this quilt? Take it back.' I learned the hard way that many people only can handle one quilt in their lives. Other people want as many as you will give them. You have to figure out which people only want one by asking them if they'd like a second quilt. I've learned the hard way. I even had a cousin tell me she made a quilt years ago without any lessons so she doesn't need a quilt from me and I saw her 'quilt' and it's definitely not a quilt. I had a beautiful quilt to give her, but oh well, to each their own. Would I say 'no thank you' to someone who asked me if I wanted a second painting they painted? Of course not.

LOL Working in a quilt shop I get "how much fabric will I need to make a quilt?" a lot.

I explain about it depending on size, pattern, etc., then there is a pause. Then "It'll have some triangles/diamonds/rectangles/etc in it about yay big (gesturing with hands) but I'm not sure what else. So... how much will I need?"...

Also for *every* quilt I make - or even talk about making - (and I am not particularly prolific - I tend to handsew/quilt so it takes a long time) my M-I-L demands to know who I'm making it for. Because I must give all of them away. Sorry but I am allowed to keep some quilts for myself. Or all if I choose (tho I don't). And for those thinking that she is hinting she wants one - trust me, she isn't. She is a "but I don't need one of those and if I did want one I would get it from Walmart" type. I've experienced this with other things. Not that we have Walmart, but you get the idea!!

Some people have no clue :p

I hear often "Why do you buy fabric, cut it up and then sew it back together?"

i also get some of the (common) questions- how much fabric does it take-my response...somewhere between 5 & 11 yards- for the top, 3-9 yards for the back & remember you need a batt too....then i'm asked how long does it take to make a quilt- i generally say---somewhere between a weekend & 10 years :)
i also often hear...
"wow- how do you do that?- it must take alot of patience- i don't have the patience to do that"
to which i usually respond...quilters are pretty (impatient people) we want instant satisfaction and are always looking for an easier/faster way to do everything we do- patience has nothing to do with it & If you are truely interested & wanted to...you could easily do this too!
:thumbup:
oh & to the .... how much would it cost to have a queen sized quilt made? my basic answer is---a queen quilt starts at $350 and goes up from there- what did you have in mind? the person either 'chokes' & drops it---or starts talking about what they had in mind.

My FAQ. Is
Would you make me a quilt?
My answer is
You buy the fabric. And I will make the quilt top, then you can get it quilted.
Isn't it funny I never hear from that person again,
People seem to think that we make our quilts for very little cost.

FAQ: Can you make me one?
A: No, you can't afford me.

I never sell my work, but I do quite often give it away.

The question I get asked often is am I in business to make quilts or do quilting for others? My anwer is no because it takes the fun away. I have made a few exceptions, and they are very rare. If I was younger, it might be different.

People ask me "Was it hard?". Yes and no. Some parts may have been hard, some parts may have been easy. And "hard" is relative to the person's skill set. So far every quilt I've made has had a new skill set for me. Once learned, it's no longer difficult.

I also get asked "Oh!! Will you make me one?!?!". The short answer is NO. I make quilts because I enjoy the process and part of the process is choosing everything about the quilt. I will cease to enjoy a process if someone asks for something that is not already in my bucket list (either pattern or color). There is one exception ... I've told my husband's 3 children that each of them will get two quilts from me ... a quilt for their house and a quilt for their baby. I will let them give me general idea's of what they want ... but not specific patterns or fabrics. Although Hannah's house quilt we saw hanging in a quilt shop and I fell in love with it and pointed it out to her and she agreed - it was what she was looking for, but I was already there ahead of her :)

I always get people I know asking me to do special quilts for them. Usually t-shirt quilts and stuff that requires alot of work. I tell them an estimated price and they don't ask again. ;) I have three t-shirt quilts to make for my own kids. I have one of them started and that's as far as I got...lol. I don't want to do more right now.
Most people gawk when I give them a price because they can go to walmart and get a comforter for under $40. It doesn't hurt my feelings one bit for them to just go buy it there.

I had a former classmate ask me to make her one after I first started quilting. Spent HOURS designing it to her specs, found the fabric she wanted used in part of it, researched the cost of having it longarmed (this was before I had my own) and quoted her ---- $950.00! For the work, details and size that was what it was going to cost her for me to do it. I've not heard from her since. I think she is still choking on the quote. But that is o.k. It was going to be a LOT of work!

This one from actual quilters: "How much fabric will I need if I enlarge the pattern or add more blocks to it so it fits my bed?"

I tell them make friends before they need them and make sure one of them had EQ and would be willing to help them out with that.

Or, failing that, get out the trusty pencil, ruler, colored pencils/crayons, and graph paper. Then work it out themselves.

My SIL's BIL's father asked this question then said i was nuts