Here's the thing.
Most people don't start with "nothing" and decide one day, "I'm going to make a quilt". If someone decides they are going to "quilt", first they have already usually decided they are going to learn to "sew". If they really want to sew and don't have the supplies, they can usually spread the word among their friends, aunts, moms, mom's friends, etc. and "bam", they'd have the basic supplies, assuming they aren't picky.
You all really CAN make nice things from cheap thread, cheap fabric, etc. I've been working at a whole series of quilts made completely from "upcycled" fabrics. You can do it and it cuts those costs down.
With a coupon, the batting from Hobby Lobby would cost about $20, the fabric is "your choice"--from $0 (recycle what you already have) to $300-400. The thread, about $5 from Walmart for a rather large spool of Coats and Clark all cotton(if you must) for about $5, I think it was. I did this last fall, when I was in the states for my daughter's wedding and needed to buy thread. a rotary cutter, etc. in order to finish a quilt.
I've made these quilts from 100% upcycled fabrics. The thread (a couple of dollars for the piecing thread--the quilting thread was a bit more expensive but I don't buy it just for a certain quilt--I have big spools of it) and poly batting (about $5 per quilt) were new, obviously.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]519545[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]519546[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]519547[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]519548[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]519549[/ATTACH]
and I've got a couple of tops that I've made from things purchased (cheaply) from local second-hand shops:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]519550[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]519550[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]519551[/ATTACH]