Yes I saw that post, but she bought a ton of fabric- it was piled high on the table, not for just one quilt! You are right though, to each his own.

I have a problem with handing over a high sign up fee. The cost of the fabric and pattern has a profit for the shop so the sign up fee is what? pay the shop for the privilege to buy the BOM? If there is a high sign up fee I just buy the pattern and do one block a month on my own.

I noticed the quilt I wanted to make was 240 dollars as a block of the month thru online shops. It was 199 for the kit thru Hancocks of Paducah. So it seems to cost quite a bit more as a block of the month.

The first bom I did was $20.00 to join and $5.00 a month for the fabric and block, you had to cut your own fabric from the piece they gave you. I thought it was an ok price untill I was told the price of the finishing kit was $225.00. I never bought the kit, and just finished it on my own for a lot less.

I agree.

I agree that BOM quilts solve the problem of choosing the best fabrics for the project and maybe approaching a quilt one block at a time keeps one on track for completing a quilt. A couple of you said you enjoyed the friendships and assistance that came from enrolling in a BOM project and I can see the real benefit of these things. My LQS's don't have get togethers for these programs.

I guess my real gripe is that one pays a pretty high premium for these "kits". I always buy premium LQS fabric for my projects so I am not averse to spending money on fabric.

I was just looking through a past Keepsake Quilting catalog (Summer Update 2009 page 42) and they were featuring McKenna Ryan "Out and About" kits. There are 9 different pattern/kits. Each measures 12" x 12" and they cost between $44.99 and $59.99 each. I just cannot see how anyone could justify upwards to $59.99 for a 12" x 12" finished square.

Okay, I'll climb down from my soapbox now.

Check out the wool block of the month club in the latest Keepsake catalog - $69.99 per month for first 12 months, 149.99 for the 13th month and 3.99 shipping per month. I was talking to my DH about it yesterday but he couldn't get past the lingo and didn't really know what I was talking about. lol

Each to his/her own, certainly but I do wonder how many people will buy that one.

Yes it is expensive. I won't make a BOM for that reason. I can usually make two or more quilt tops for the same price as one BOM.

yes, and you get to pick what fabric you want.

I have done several BOMs w/Fatquartershop.com. The average membersip fee is $9 and then about $25 a month including shipping for a total of about $310. and that has always included the pattern and the finishing kit. In addition, you receive about 25% more fabric than the pattern recommends due to the monthly mailing of quilt parts (I assume that factors into the increased cost). So, it is more expensive (but not as expensive as what your LQS is charging) than just purchasing the fabric and pattern, but the service with this company is amazing. They are so helpful, if you get stuck on something, they have already assembled the quilt there in the shop (verifying the instructions are in fact complete and correct) and can walk you through any problems. Also they have a box of scraps and if you make a mistake they will send you out the replacement fabric.