I wondered when reading that cotton will be raised 80% because of the market high demand for soy beans to feed the cattle to produce beef products which will raise grocery prices and will take the $$$ out of our pocket, how that will impact quilters.
As one example: Take the price of a yard of fabric @ current price of $4.00 per yard X .80% will mean a raise of $1.60 per yard = to $5.60 a yard. Oh, thats not too bad, is it?
But just imagine: 1 yard of fabric will make (4) 12 inch blocks. That means 1 block would cost $1.80 plus thread and labor.
Again imagine: Make a 72 inch X 84 inch quilt (42 blocks) @ $1.80 per block. The fabric alone would cost $75.60 for top alone + 5 yards for backing at approximate $5.00 per yard + thread and labor hours.
These numbers add up to: $75.60 + $25.00 = $100.60 for backing. + batting (cost unknown), + labor cost.
To sell the quilt and make a profit, it should be priced at $250.00 at least. That is just doubling the cost. I've been told many sellers triple the price of material and labor.
What do you think? One commentator remarked that the old sewing machine should come out of storage. In my opinion, that is a mighty lame excuse for raising prices, especially for quilters.
How much dust is on your old sewing machine?