I think this is what we have all been trying to say. Thank you for saying it so succinctly.

I think these estimates are pretty close to what I have into each quilt. I certainly am always looking for sale fabrics and use my JoAnn coupons as well. I usually pick up the smaller pieces at the LQS and purchase the backing fabric with a coupon.

well even if using stash,which I do, I still had to buy it at one time. So It is not free if from your stash.

Lol, I don't know if this is sad or not but most of my stash was given to me when my Grandmother and another friend quit sewing so I can use that excuse. But, it does take away from building your own stash. And it certainly takes up room that could be used for more fabrics of my own choosing.

What kind of material does one buy to spend $300 or more on a quilt? Everything I buy is on sale at JoAnn especially the batting. Ladies-if you have a Tuesday Morning store,check it out. My daughter and I found 12 pack fat quarters for $7.00-even Batik. Keep on checking.
Anyway, baby quilts costs me around $25-$30 total and a lap quilt $45-50. I use mostly stash fabric that was purchased on sale. Only buy on SALE and build up a stash.

I spend and average $200 to $300.I buy my fabric at LQS because of all the work I want good fabric. Smaller quilts cost less. I am doing the Tribute to Civil War Quilt which is a BOM and it will be well over $400 with batting and backing. I'm going to quilt it myself as I can't afford to send it out.

I buy on sale and take from my stash when making a quilt. But found out that a 45 x 60 quilt takes about 6 yards and a queen takes about 4 times that amount of yardage. Something with big blocks take less and the smaller pieced quilt takes more, personally I like the smaller pieces.

But I have been making quilt as you go patterns. So much easier quilting a small piece than trying to quilt my Queens on my sewing machine.

I have never really toted it up. But in going over my most recent quilt which I finished just yesterday (completely,) I would have to say a low ball estimate would be about $300.00 to $350.00. It is all batik and queen size. I collected the fabrics over a couple of years, waiting until I could get sales on-line. I had to be very particular about the colors, that's why it took me so long. I am not counting thread, it's hard to estimate. I would guess about two spools for piecing alone. I use Guttermann's. The fabric is all quilt shop quality. I had a guild friend quilt it, she only charged $100.00. I believe I managed very well to keep the cost down that low. But where can you get a hand made, batik, queen size quilt for that price? 8-)

Actually, I forgot to add the cost of batting, but I always get them at Joann's with a coupon. They have good quality batts.
My backs are always made of leftover scraps from the quilt itself. I piece them and they look pretty good. It takes longer, but the saving in fabric$ makes it worth it. 8-)

I spend over $100.00 on each quilt. Some of the larger ones double that. But it is still cheap therapy. :lol: