You don't have to be less vocal in your opinions - they are your opinions. Everyone should realize there are some unscrupulous people in the world, but there are a lot more who aren't. I work in product testing/evaluation and have been to many factories and cooperatives around the world that don't treat their employees badly, don't hire child labor, and produce great products we all want to purchase.

well, that was all quite interesting. thank you for your input. i was basically asking about mass-produced quilts. if i saw a hand-made quilt that i fell in love with and that i could afford, i would for sure buy it.

i totally get what you are saying. there are many products i will not purchased because of the story i have read or seen. if we actually knew of ALL the crap that goes on out there, we wouldn't want to buy or use anything, right? we have to pick and choose our causes otherwise it will be too overwhelming. there are stores and products out there that i refuse to purchase because of this fact. that is my choice, and yes, it does make me cringe inside when people talk about shopping there. however . . . i don't get into it, i just say i don't shop there. do not be silent about your opinions. you were only stating how YOU feel, and were not pushing it on others.

I bought a brown whole cloth quilt from Bed Bath & Beyond because I love quilted whole cloth quilts. I'm thinking about buying another one. Because I am a hand quilter with not that much free time, my quilts tend to be twin size or a little bigger--depends on the pattern. I have finished two quilts that don't fit my queen size bed and so I have them under the bedspread for warmth. I don't have any qualms about buying quilts--I don't like that they're made in China, but it's all I can afford.

I have one that I picked up at a yard sale. It's starting to fall apart, but, still good when watching tv, things like that. On my bed is a king size quilt that I made.

I bought one about 10 years for an antique glider on my front porchin the sun and rain!!!! I wash it every winter before storing it and it seems to be wearing better than my hand made ones. Plus, it hasnt hardly faded. I paid $18.95 for it-- couldn't buy the fabrics for that amount.
Good luck ladies, Kutnso

I use mostly Chinese made quilts for my bed because I have animals and grandchildren who are pretty rough on quilts. I have several. Since I do all my quilting by hand I know how much effort and time it takes to make on, don't want them ruined.....

I was just thinking, "Why not? I make some of my clothes, but I still buy off the rack, too." and I read your answer.

Thanks, Ghostrider, for the smile.

I have purchased (bed) quilts from a quilt store for the guest rooms in my home, for $50 or less when on super-discount or as part of a special purpose. Here's why:

- My several K and pre-K grandkids visit and jump on the beds (qults on), they build forts, spill things, leave them on the floor, and just plain act like kids. Kids forget in moments of enthusiasm and creativity. They can't conceive of the work that goes into making a quilt at that age, let alone how crushed we feel when a lovingly made quilt or craft is damaged or ruined in one of "those moments." They'll pick that up as they edge closer to primary school age.
- I use them for small picnics for a home-y feel to the event, so I won't be worrying too much about stains.
- I use these in the bedrooms of guests whose upbringing I had no say in (despite being family) and who don't treat things with as much respect or care as I would like.

So, when the grandkids or guests are gone, the "good quilts" go back on the bed and the doors to the rooms left open for me to enjoy the way they look, rotate them, change for the holidays and love them.

My DH and I have similar conversations often. I'm not a collector, I don't keep the nice stuff for special occasions - if I like it I use it - the wear that comes with use may diminish the value to others, but it's not theirs is it?

I bought one years ago at Fred's dollar store to cut up and make a coat, have I done it yet, no. But one day.

I wouldn't buy one, all I've seen is junk. I don't wash any bed item every 3-4 days. I have never spend thousands of dollars making any quilt.

[quote=fabric_fancy]all our bedding comes from the store.

a king size quilt costs thousands between materials and time - far too much to use for sleeping and washing every 3-4 days.


Do you honestly think anyone believes this????

I've purchased several quilts from stores, each for $50 or less, for use in guest bedrooms and for private picnics.
- When my husband and I go out for our personal picnics, I want a very home-y feel to our event. With the store-bought quilt, I don't have to think much about stains or other damage. When one of my guilds needs a quilt for a backdrop for an outdoors display, these picnic quilts are the ones I offer to the purpose.
- My several infant, pre-K and K grandchildren jump on the beds, use what occurs to them to use to build forts, throw off the covers during the night onto the floor, and generally act like young kids. They forget basic instructions and house rules in passionate moments of enthusiasm and creativity. Kids and stains and rips and tears happen. This will be outgrown as they move into primary grades on a full-time, full day basis, and as their own sensitivities and cause-and-effect processing develops further.
- We have houseguests who I had no hand or say in raising, and who are not as respectful or mindful as they could be with things, but since they are family, they still deserve softer touches, such as quilts, but their room is decorated with commercially made quilts during their stay.

When these houseguests and the grandkids go home, out comes the "good stuff" to reappoint these rooms, and the doors remain open so I can look at "my" quilts, love them ,enjoy them, and change them according to the season, holiday or whim.

One time at an NQA booth selling quilt hanging system, woman was trying to purchase one and had to call Target to see what the size of the quilt someone was going to purchase was so they could get the right size holder.
I was stunned, you are at NQA so you obviously have an interest in quilting, and then you are trying to buy this really lovely hand made wooden holder and you are going to hang a quilt from Target. I can understand buying a quilt to use for the baby, but using it as a wallhanging?

[quote=Jingle]Well, I wouldn't buy my fabric where she does, that's for sure. However, I do understand what she's saying about the cost of the time it takes to make one. I couldn't charge someone the hourly rate I make at work to make a quilt. And it may cost several hundred dollars for a longarmer to quilt a king. I paid over $100 just for a twin.

But washing a quilt every 3-4 days? Not in this lifetime!

Good grief! I have never washed a quilt every 3 or 4 days! I don't wash my quilts but once a year, and then not if they haven't been used much. Even a well-constructed quilt would not last long under those conditions. Perhaps a woven coverlet would hold up better. Better luck next time.

When Montgomery Wards went out of business they had any size quilt for $20. I bought several..I used them to cut up for Christmas stockings, tree skirts, my sister made teddy bears out of some of them and some I still have..I keep one the back of my couch where the cat likes to lay and look out the window. They were cheap but have held up pretty well..I won't buy one for a gift...

i have to admit i have quilt collecting problem, so in addition to making them i have also purchased quite a few.

I'm sure some do purchase quilts from a store, but frankly, I don't see much fun in that. I'd rather make my own.

I have bought a few off here but they was just the tops.

My king size bed has a solid color thin quilt purchased on it and I made the coordinating bed runner out of yo-yo's.

Becareful that it is not made in China.

Ah yes, and so do the LQS, our local Fabric stores, internet fabric stores, the beggar down the road, etc.

Your first priority should be to your own family and your own budget. The others need to do the same...

The idea that "they depend on us" can be too much to bear. I can't stand the idea that the "world" is depending on my dollars. I need them to pay my own bills--taking care of my teeth, my doctor bills, educating my children. I really am not ready to take on the burden of the world. :)

That said, I don't really like buying the made in china quilts with 1/8" seam allowances. The ones I bought fell apart after the third washing and there was nothing to repair them with, so they got demoted to the pets for when our dogs have puppies, etc.

[quote=Jingle]Actually I don't know anyone who washes their quilts every 3-4 days. Sheets maybe, if you are somewhat compulsive, but the top? Hmm. Each to his own. Some people wash their towels daily as well.

But then, I did read on one forum of one woman whose whole family cleaned their house for 2-3 hours a day (all the kids included). They thoroughly scrubbed their bathrooms/kitchen....daily. I didn't see how they even had time to mess them up since they did schoolwork the rest of the time. :)

Each to his/her own.

I use store-bought quilts and comforters on the bed because that way I don't have to worry about the cats sleeping on them. Around here quilts have to get washed rather frequently because of shedding and sometimes hair balls - yuk! I don't currently have any bed quilts I've made. Gave the few to my kids. For me it's more about the doing than about the finished product, and lately I've made mostly wall quilts, doll quilts, lap quilts and baby quilts, and just little things for practicing FMQ.

When the flood of cheap import quilts started more than 20 years it may have served to increase my interest in quilting as a hobby. I brought one home and thought after studying it a bit that I could do that, and maybe a little better. Also, having it around reminded me of watching my grandmother quilt, and made me nostalgic for quilting as a craft I wanted to carry forward. I wonder if others reacted that way.

I have a quilt I bought on my bed. We have cats that have a tendency to 'catch' their claws in the bedding, so I have it over the one I made, for protection. If they mess up the one I bought, I don't care. They keep us warm, and I don't have to get tense when mishaps occur.

I usually only make king and queen quilts and change them often. I rather save my money for fabric than buy a quilt at the store.

There are NO store bought quilts in my house, I've made all of the quilts we use. The only store bought blanket is the one we use to cover up the couch.
DH's cousin bought a quilt at Wal-mart and it started falling apart after the 1st wash.

With all due respect, not all ready made quilts are "WalMart quality", whatever that means to anyone, and dare I say, probably not even all the quilts sold at WalMart. Like anything else you buy, quality varies a lot and you have to pay attention.

As for imported...Martha Stewart quilts are made in China, Denyse Schmidt quilts are made in India, Pottery Barn's Gee's Bend and Sunburst quilts are imported (though PB refuses to say from where)...you get the idea. Imported does not mean lack of quality by any stretch of the imagination.

Clearly a great many of us have purchased quilts for one reason or another, or for no reason except that we simply liked what we saw, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that at all. :D

I'd love to see a photo of it.

I could see it if you wanted one for rugged use and didn't want to worry about it getting ruined, sometimes store bought ones are pretty as well. I have one my aunt bought me with hearts i still use from a store, It is falling apart, had it since high school, but I still love it, hand pieced and quilted, someone still put a lot of work into it even if it was from a store

I made a 102" x 102" quilt to use as a throw when watching tv. The first time the dog slobbered on it, it went onto my bed and I went to Big Lots and got a cheep one I wouldn't worry about.

I purchased 5 quilts when we were living in Japan and visiting Korea. My children needed quilts for their beds because the winter was very cold. That was over 20 years ago, and I still use those quilts. It was definitely a good buy.

I have a handmade silk one from Thailand, made by a cooperative of women who have a history of sex work (prostitution). It is on my friends bed, as she is very ill, and finds comfort in it. It was not really my colours, and she loves it.
I bought it at a quilt show.
Cheers

I bought 2 quilts from Cracker Barrel and then are still good. One is wholecloth (queen size), and I have washed it 15 times. Still looks great. The other is a King Size I bought for my DIL. They use it in the winter, (which here in Fl is about 4 wks)

I'm way behind on all messages on the board. Been out of it for a while, but I wanted to put my two cents worth in here anyhow. I have a king sized bedspread on our bed, and a full size one on my guest room bed. Both purchased. The reason? I'm always so busy making quilts for everyone else in my family that I never get a chance to make any but small ones for my own home. But this year I've promised myself that I WILL do that. Let's see how far I get with it. So far no progress has been made. 8-)

I bought one from the National Wildlife gift catalog, one year after the holidays, when they had them on sale for $20.00. I just wanted a spare for my son's bed. I was worried that the colors would run terribly, or it would fall apart, but it has held up fine. Well worth the $20.00. It's no work of art, but my DS has no complaints!