Gee, I have a expensive hobby it seems!
 

Just bought the backing and thread for the quilt I am working on now. Gee, even on sale it cost me a small fortune! I think I need to rethink my quilting hobbie or slow way down. Just wondering if others feel the same way.

The fabric gets more expensive and the quality goes down...

I have started doing almost all my fabric shopping online. You can get some good deals. There have been alot of people that find fabric and stuff at rummage sales and thrift shops.

This is my only hobby, I have met so many amazing people since moving to our small town this past summer as well as on QB. I really don't put a price on something that has brought me so much joy. With that said yes it is expensive, make sure to get things while they are on sale.

quilting makes me happy. It is nearly the only money I spend on myself. I'm good with it.

I have been working on reducing my stash and scrap pile(s).... I have made 7 scrap quilts .. all bed size. and there is still more to work through...
There have been some outstanding sales on line in the last few weeks as the newer lines are being released...
I made a recent trip for business had me right in the path of Keepsake quilting... needless to say .. it was an amazing shop but batiks were over $12.40 per yard.... My enthusiam was met with the reality of my wallet.
I find not only the quilt making challeging but now the new twist is finding fabric prices that make it possible.

I know how you feel. I realized today that I need some more fabric to finish my quilt and I haven't even thought about what I'm going to put on the back, but I'm not ready to give up this hobby. I figure if I smoked, I would spend that much on cigarettes. Quilting keeps me sane, but I do wish sanity was a little less expensive.

THis is my main hobby now, but your right it is expensive sometimes. I do a lot of online shopping when places have sales and shop online clearance.

Guess I have been finishing quilts fairly fast lately and it is adding up. Plus, everything is going way up, I noticed how much thread and material has gone up. I guess a $50 isn't what it used to be!

LOL yeah a cheap sheet and serger thread would've been cheaper. :)

Just went to buy batting and had sticker shock. $39 for a queen size and no one sees the batting! I could buy cheaper blankets to use for the batting than Warm and Natural. Do I really need 100% cotton? Synthetic blankets are less expensive.

Expensive YES!! I just try to get a much as I can on sale!!!

I use the cheaper Blankets and they work just fine for me.

My next quilt is going to be cordouroy from mens shirts purchased at the thrift store! Otherwise, I scrounge fat quarters here and there and make everything scrappy! Batting and backing isn't so bad with 40% coupons from joanns. It's when I get the itch for those designer fabrics that I get in real trouble!

Yes, this is expensive! I've just gotten back into it and honestly and seriously thinking about it. I have kits that I've purchased and will complete those.

Due to not quilting in years I don't have much of a stash. Once I finish the kits, I'll decide what to do from there.

Patterns......now, I've accumulated enough of those. I don't need anymore.
Tools........I think I have all that I need.

Mine is a "wait and see" and then I'll decide. I have two tops/backs completed and am working on another that I won't quilt now. That is probably what I'll do with the kits. I'll complete them, but not have them sent to be quilted unless I need a gift.

I've had 4 quilted and dropped a 5th off today to get quilted (it's a gift) since the middle of October. I enjoy it and love looking at what everyone has done. I just don't know that this can be a long term hobby for me.

I'm glad I stocked up on lots of sales over the year of quilt shop quality when I though $8 was a lot for a yard!

Well, I don't drink or smoke. I can't bowl or play golf. I'd love to go back to the long desert walking I used to do, but as my world sorta shrinks ... well, quilting enlarges it... and ... it cheaper than psychotherapy.

I have met so many wonderful quilters and had such fun. Yes, I am slow ... but it is my time. If I'm not up to quilting I can always come to the QB.

I am also lucky that the two groups give us the materials to make the charity quilts. So when my resources are low I can still quilt.

ali

Yes I agree, it is expensive. I try to keep it down and only buy what I need on sale and using my stash. I have a lot invested. This is in my sewing and Jewelry making beads, tools, and findings.

What everyone has said - buy onsale - sew with what I have. Let family know my best gift is a certificate from my LQS. I buy fabric wherever they sell it so ... not all quilt shop fabrics. I buy bundles - Fabric Cafe has many - that come out to less than $8/yd - sometimes MUCH less. I use those as stash - not always keeping them together as a bundle. My LQS has a sale shelf for $3.99/yd and another for $5.99. I shop those shelves first. Batting - always half price - Joann's puts it on sale too often to pay more. Won't buy it otherwise. I've used Walmart sheets for backing. I simply love this too much to give it up! I only have special gifts quilted - that translates to 4 of the 50 I've made in the last two years. Just can't afford that!

I agree - as a new quilter - I find it particularly so, as I have no stash and until recently had very few tools. (When I started in Nov I already had a rotary cutter and matt - so I thought "I'm set". LOL.).

Due to the cost of the fabric (~£10/meter here!) I am surprised I see so many magazine articles about "Fast" and "Quick" and do-it-in-a-weekend projects. Geesh at these prices I want this project to laaaaaast a while so I can maximize my cost:enjoyment ratio!

So much of your expense depends on how much you have. If you really have nothing and yet want to quilt, just pretend you don't have any fabric stores around. Get creative. Cut up clothes, cut up sheets, curtains, etc. Spread the word at the thrift stores that you will take stained and unsaleable cottons that they get in so that you can salvage the usable material.

However, if your standards are such that you NEED new everything and MUST HAVE cotton batting at high prices, and you MUST send your quilt out to be long arm quilted each time, after buying real quilt backing fabric at a LQS or on line, then it will be very expensive.

Most can actually do it for a bit less, however, if you lower your standards a bit. If you can't do that, then maybe quilting isn't the hobby for you unless you do "have money" or can barter with people for what you need.

OTOH, when we visit the states, while at the same time people are complaining about the crisis, restaurants like Outback continue to be crowded (where 2-$25 gift certificates was about right for my DH and I), and very often "poor" Americans are VERY overweight (in Poland, here, the truly poor are THIN--they walk around hungry--not eating even enough of the 'cheap carbs' you can buy in every country).

So, my advice to people who want to quilt, but don't have the money--reexamine your budget and see if you can cut out other things like expensive foods or going out to eat once in a while. You might actually "find" money in the budget.

Try it and compare the difference and see if you are satisfied.

You can spend a lot, or you can spend a little. It's up to you. Quilts have been made from scraps since quilts started being made. Return to that and it really doesn't cost a lot. You gather from family and friends, thrift stores, yard sales, etc. It's great fun to see how creative you can get with these things. If you can/want to spend a little more, get yardage from Walmart, JoAnn, etc, when things are on sale and/or you have coupons. If you want excellent quality/LQS, new line, all coordinating, etc., fabric, and all the "best" of everything else, yes, it's expensive. Really, it's all up to the individual.

Quilting is expensive but it is my only hobby/pasttime. I find that I am finishing up a lot of ufo's rather then start new projects I see in mags. or at quilt store. I use to want to make it all but now I am very selective. I have an Amish community about 50 miles from home. It is worth the trip to go and stock up on batting and backing for my quilts. Today I a going to Joanns sale. We just have to be creative and selective in our purchases.

My DH has a Harley and a Corvette. Crazy expensive, so I have a little leeway with my quilting hobby! Even so, I try to buy everything on sale, and complete projects in my queue before buying more fabric.

I to have been using alot of scraps up and trying to at least reduce what I have and only buy if needed. I do buy alot from sales and I have bought alot from craigslist so I can justifiy my hobby. But it can be expensive....but so is everything else.

Last summer I just mentioned to a couple of ladies that I was learning how to quilt and that I did not mind having "leftover" cotton fabrics that they will not use, instead of them throwing it away.. I could make tote bag, shoe bags, lap quilt or include it in larger quilted items. I was amazed to see how many pieces of fabric I got from what they were ready to throw away.... That made me thinking of how quilts used to be made from, years ago and that's what I intend to do... of course I will buy new fabric to "complete" but I want to create with the little I have before I think of buying more.... we'll see

I agree with it being a costly hobby, but I am haing fun.. I can afford fabric, but I find I'm enjoying recycling, and the hunt for quality scraps.. I've haunted thrift stores for shirts, and fabric. I've gone to estate sales, and I keep my eyes open..... I lucked out, and found very nice quality flannel at a thrift store.. I use it for backing..

Barri

I'm glad I built up quite a stash and invested in the quilting frame while I was still working :) I had bought a roll of batting years ago and it is lasting a lot longer than I imagined. I rue the day when the batting runs out. I've gotten so many great ideas for substitute batting on here. So I'll save the good batting for the good quilts and get creative for utility or charity quilts :)

Your observation on cost is accurate. Yard sales, estate sales, tag sales are a great place to consider. If you live "in the city" somewhere consider putting an add in the throw away paper about wanting cottons, etc. Never know who has a "stash" and thinks it's just some ol' fabric that' sitting around. Check Craig's list in your area, too.

I find that what I like about quilting is designing a quilt, picking out the color scheme, selecting the fabrics, piecing the top. I don't like any of the rest of it. I don't like using any ready made patterns and I hate the quilting. I hate making a pattern to go with fabric that I have been given. So, for me a quilt is very expensive. Fortunately, I takes me FOREVER to get a top finished.

Keep your eyes open for sales. I have found some very nice backing fabric in the "back room" sale room at the LQS. I am always looking for garage sales, but around here there aren't many with fabric. I always ask for gift cards for gift giving times. All that helps keep the expense down. My stash is quite large, and I have enough on hand to make 2 quilts that I have planned for the near future. Use your coupons at JoAnn's for backing. I'm feeling the pain for those who live in Europe and Canada. The prices are out of this world there. This hobby is too important to me to just give it up!!
Sue

Quilting is expensive, but its the only hobby ( if you want to call it that) that I have. I am a senior citizen and I live alone. Quilting is what keeps me going. It keeps my brain and my fingers active. I don't know what I would do if I did'nt make quilts. Instead of sitting in front of the TV or a computer all day, Im in my sewing room, creating something beautiful usually for someone else. I have had to cut back on what I purchase since retiring, but some things you just can't put a dollar sign on.

Crafttown fabrics always has clearance fabric for $4.oo a yard and precuts are always 20% off. This is FYI only I am not affiliated with them. Just want to share good news.

I love quilting, but I too find it really expensive. I feel guilty about buying all this fabric, batting backing etc., but I tell myself it is my "pay" for all that I do around the house (cleaning, cooking, food shopping, etc.) I am not working, so I think I buy more because I have the time, and I spend a lot of time sewing! What can I say except it habit forming!

I only buy from the discontinued area of LQS. The new lines are beautiful, but only twice have they managed to get my money..... I have been very lucky lately and have picked up a lot of fabric at garage/estate sales. I spent several hours ironing my new 'stash' yesterday..... I just need to get use to making scrap type quilts....

I have had to slow down my projects and make things from scraps or stash (a very small stash) I buy only what I need to work with. I have 3 tops now that need to be sandwiched but do not have the batting to do it and it will not get done in the next few months. Just play with what you can do with what you have and things will look up.

I have kept track of my fabric costs for awhile (which is why I don't bother to sell quilts). I've been keeping track of every cent I spent since Jan. 1. I need to scale WAY back. Notions can cost a fortune and when you combine it all, it can be pretty expensive.

BTW, for backings, I have nearly always just selected something I like out of the clearance bin at the LQS.

I concur with the others. I used to "cheap out" and am weaning myself from that. I hand-quilted so a quilt that has $70 worth of materials in it lasted months. Now that I'm machine-quilting, I have stopped using the cheapest materials I can find and am finding that I'm spending about $100/quilt. I do use cheap thread (the polyester regular sewing kind that my local drug store sells for $.30/spool) and cotton everything else. I buy my tops online for $50 or less. I have found a few that I had to have that cost $70. So that's my biggest expense but I can't imagine I could make one any cheaper than that. I used to buy batting at Joanns or Hobby Lobby, but have been getting them at the same time I buy my backing (one big piece) at the fabric discount store. Last time, they cut me exactly how much I needed for the top I brought in. It's queen sized and I spent $60 on the white cotton Warm and Natural batting and backing. I probably could have gotten it cheaper if I'd used my Hobby Lobby coupon, but it's 3 counties west! I have been using spray basting ($6-ish) and I pressed the basted sandwich and it smooshed the batting down good and made it so much easier to quilt on my domestic machine!! I will use up the rest of the poly batting and the acrylic blankets I have for my hand quilting but will splurge on the cotton batting for the machine.

The eye opener for me was when someone gave me some older quilts. I don't know how old they are, but they are applique and the fabric is falling apart. Not the seams or the (hand) quilting, but the fabric itself. Then I looked at the quilt that I'm working on that is made of poly blend sheets and wonder just how long it will last and it makes me sad to think that she will either have to put it up or wait for that "one last time" that she pulls it out of the dryer and finds that first hole....

That having been said, I'm making my 10-year old neice a quilt from a sheet set!