Surely I'm not the only one??
 

Oh my, I have shocked myself.... I have a quilt to make for a baby that is on the way. I was unsure on the quilt top so I bought some coordinating fabric. I now have 2 quilt tops together. I have to decide on a border, binding and backing for 2 quilts now instead of just one. I THINK I just purchased all that I need to finished these 2 quilts up.. so I totaled what I spent on fabric holy cow! $ 188.12 for 2 quilts! Thank goodness I have left over batting and won't have to purchase that too! Now I will have some fabric left (not enough to make a 3rd quilt I don't think) and I did make some mistakes that cost me some fabric, but wow! I am glad I am already divorced or this quilting would probably be the end of my marriage :)

What was the total amount of fabric that you purchased? $188.12 seems really high for 2 baby quilts.

That seems awfully high to me. Even at $12 Per yard (and I rarely, if ever, shell out that much per yard) that is over 15 yards of fabric. If I include backing fabric I can make a queen size quilt with 15 yards and still have loads left over. How big are your baby quilts?

You may be surprised with what you have actually put into the quilts. How big are these quilts? Did you buy yardage or charm packs or jelly rolls. That would all add up. Surely you have fabric left over. What you have leftover or in your stash maybe you can make into strip or large quilt blocks for the backing.

ha ha ha .. I was just shocked on how quickly this added up. I sure must love this little great-nephew of mine (and he isn’t even born yet)
In that total is 4 spools of the King Tut thread. I love that thread. I won't use all 4 spools on these 2 quilts, but I will use it up in time. It looks like I purchased 14 yards of fabric in 4 different purchases + 2 yards of Wonder Under... lordy lordy.

I did have a plan drawn up and bought 6.5 yards of fabric for that plan. When I got the fabric I changed my plan.. I got the 2 quilt tops out of that fabric (each 33" x 44") and some left that can be used as a border for one of the quilts (plus I messed up some of that I am sure I have 1 yard scrap - maybe I can use it in a scrappy quilt.)

There are 2 yards of fabric that once I got it in my hands I am not sure if that print will go with the others.. even though they are all from the same collection. Those will have to be used on another project.

I did purchase 2 yards special to try my first real applique. I figure I am going to mess up so I wanted plenty of extra.

Wow! Momma’s going to have to cut back on this fabric shopping :)

It does add up - - -

Especially if one takes into consideration the stuff that is already "on hand"" --

When figuring out the cost of an item, I use two sets of values --

1) Replacement cost of the materials used - considerably more than the cost several years ago!
2) What I actually paid for the materials used - most of the materials I have were purchased several years ago - even using those values, it can be quite an eye-opener!

Yes, it does add up. If I want to buy batiks, I would pay $20/meter regular price. My flyer this month has batiks on sale...also landscape fabrics.....40% off.....sale price is $12/meter. That's still expensive. Cheaper online but online delivery to Canada drives up fabric price.
I had a pattern come from Fat Quarter shop...pattern was $6.50, shipping was over $7, so pattern cost me $14.
Won't be buying much online.
Even if I order from Canadian stores online, it's hefty.
I have only once bought batiks and that was for an extra-special project that didn't use much fabric.

I have been using my stash this year but always seem to need to buy some extra fabric.
Still, making do has its surprises...you sometimes have to get creative and the end result adds a bit of extra gratification and pride.

YES, we all can agree that it does add up QUICKLY!!

It's amazing how fast it adds up. It sounds like you made some wonderful quilts for two lucky babies. I have to check myself several times before I make one to give away. I think scrappies are fine but when they are cooridating fabrics especially baby fabrics that are only for babies, the patterns get very simple.

Yes, I've done that. Don't feel bad.

now if we can just get the recipients to fully appreciate it.
made my son an asian quilt for his 25th birthday. sent it
out to get special quilting. that adds up too.

It's so hard when shopping for a much anticipated and loved little one! I've had the same problem shopping for grandkids. I couldn't even make all of the quilts for them that I purchased fabric for, it would have been way too much! I try to never total up my costs like you did, you're a brave woman:) I'm going to start making donation quilts with the baby fabric. The youngest is now almost three and is into trucks and Spiderman and oh yes, I have found really cute Spidey and construction fabric. Here we go again!

I can't even begin to tell you how many fun fabrics I've bought with a baby in mind that hasn't even been thought of yet!

Any quilt that cost me under $200 for supplies to make it is a bargain.

One way I save money is buying from thrift shops. I don't always do that , but you'd be surprised what people donate!!

Good quality thread such as King Tut does add to the cost of making a quilt, but like you said, you can use them for other quilts. One way to look at it...grocery shopping is same especially if you don't use a list or stick to it :D .

And I thought 84.17 was bad for two baby quilts. Not counting the fabric, thread and batting I already had. I did a simple warm wishes type. The both turned out great but had not planned on spending that much. On the plus side (at least I think it is a plus) there was only a few small scraps left. They will be used on other projects that are ongoing. Please post pictures if you can. I have not learned to do that yet. (I'm bad)

We've all done that, at least I have. Still married after 50 years, lots of raised eyebrows and eye rolling.

Its good to know I'm not the only one! I am a little concerned, a new quilt shop opened up near my house so I may have to really practice self control :)

Yes, I've done that. This has become a very expensive hobby.

I think people are surprised at exactly how much making a quilt would cost. I have never sat down and figured it out, but over the years, even buying fabric at great sale prices, it amounts to a lot. I'm especially weak when it come to fabric sales, etc., etc.; especially when shopping with my best friend who is an enabler. However, at the time I was working full time and quilting is far, far cheaper than therapy. That said, now that my DH and I are on Social Security, our resources are limited, but I have a good stash (which DH isn't happy about), but I've been making quilts, wall hangings, table runners, placemats, etc., etc. from that stash and only shopping for fabric when I need a certain color or I've run out of batting. I have been able to recoup a lot of the money spent on fabric by attending craft fairs, and, knock on wood, so far I've been fairly successful in making enough "mad money" so what I spend is all mine, which is a great feeling, especially on our limited budget. I'm addicted to fabric and quilting, so I doubt I'll ever stop.

It does add up,I just finished a quilt that's about 66 x 70 and just the backing was$27

Oh Donna, I love this one! LOL

I like to shop online at thousand of bolts. The prices are about half off. $3.95-$10.00.

I am trying to pin on the invoice onto the fabric that I purchased so that I can keep track of how much it cost me to make a certain quilt just to put it into my quilting diary, which helps me realize just how much each quilt I make cost. I am really surprised at how much they each have cost, not that I have made very many since I'm still just beginning but boy howdy to the costs add up. But it is a labor of love put into each one & someday many years from now I can tell someone about how much it will cost them for me to make...if I ever get to that point! Thanks again QB for all your advice & help.
Jeri

Maybe it's time to be introduced to Bonnie Hunter. Scrap Quilter. She's got 2 pages on Facebook.

I do not want to know what I spend on my fabrics. Entirely too much information. I want to enjoy, not feel guilty. I am also retiring in Dec so my fabric buys will slow down.

There are ways to keep costs down in quilting - you can shop only clearance tables, yard sales, thrift shops for your fabrics; you can salvage old clothes, etc. Batting can be another old blanket or quilt, like our foremothers did. A lady in my quilt guild buys inexpensive blankets at Costco that serve as both batting and backing for her quilts - they turn out really nice and cozy and it's cheaper than buying batting and backing. Maybe not technically a quilt since only 2 layers, but they're well-made and warm and the charities love them. (And happily, nobody in the guild goes all "quilt police" on her about it.)

I track and budget my hobby spending but it's one figure that covers everything - thread, rulers, fabric, machines, sewing room furniture & decor...all of it is one lump sum that is in my budget. I have a very strict budget for every dollar I earn...it's not particularly limiting but I stick to it like it's a law. As long as I stay within my budget I can buy whatever I want! If I want something big or want to go on a spending spree I just have to save up for it. Of course, that's barring unexpected expenses like the nearly thousand dollar dental bill I just got from replacing a bad crown - ouch! (literally!) I'll be on a fabric diet for a little while until I catch my savings account back up, LOL.

I signed up for a class recently at the LQS. Class was $25, fabric was $48, book was $25. So the bill was $98 before taxes and that does not include batting or backing. They wanted me to buy a $19 ruler but I said no. I had a coupon for Joann's and bought it for $7. This is for a lap quilt. Quilting is not cheap especially when the fabric is now $11-12 a yard. Not sure how many classes I will take in the future if I have to do it this way.

You are correct on the LQS cost - I would love to take a few classes at mine, but every time I check them out, the costs for the class plus the materials required make it unacceptable for my budget. I have found that YOUTUBE and these boards are my best teachers. I don't mind the costs of the materials if I can catch the sales. But with almost everything instruction-wise on YOUTUBE and the Internet, that is my goto!

Yep, been there done that! Sometimes we just go ahead and get what we need without thinking about the cost. If I've been away from the LQS for a few months it seems like sticker shock sets in rather quickly. I am fortunate enough to have a rather large stash and seldom have to buy everything. That really helps on the total cost of making a project. I've always bought a little extra for just in case and have been happy to either use it or add it to my stash. This hobby of ours is what it is, it can be highly costly or it can be rather frugal. We usually have a choice.

My Great Auntie, who is a MEGA SERIOUS QUILTER, loves Bonnie Hunter. She mentioned her to me just this week as someone I should check out.

I love Bonnie Hunter. Her quilts are scrappy and intensive. She is not for the timid quilter but certainly is easy to learn from. She has a mystery quilt each year and gives step by step instructions that are wonderfully easy to follow. Check out her website Quiltville and see if it's something you'd like to do. It's really fun!

I have not seen much fabric suitable for quilts on the many garage sales I've been to over the past two or three years.

Or that much wonderful at the thrift shops, either.

Maybe you-all have better pickings where you live.

Yes it all adds up, but when you are trying to put together a quilt which 'says' what you want it to say, perhaps you needed to worth through the fabric choices and find what worked for you.
I have done the same thing, and that is pretty much the extent of my 'stash' so I don't feel bad about it. You shouldn't either. You want the quilt to leave your hands being something you are happy with, not something you settled for, right? It took what it ook to get there, so stop feeling guilty and enjoy how beautiful it is! :) :) :)

Wow! Doesn't sound bad to me. I spend lots on fabric and other stuff that I just can't live without. :D I have a terrible habit of buying online since I don't have a LQS close. It seems like I have a package every other day. :eek:

Craftsy will be great for you. You have the great quilter instructors that give you a class just like you were at a live workshop. The classes cost less then a new quilt book.

Bonnie Hunter has many different sites.
Her website is:http://quiltville.com/
Her Blog is: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/
Her Facebook Open Studio is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/291023511046957/
Her Quiltville Friends page is :https://www.facebook.com/QuiltvilleFriends

I'm taking a Hunter's Star block quilt from a LQS and the cost of the class was $25. For just a lap quilt, the blue solid fabric was $5 yard and I have yards and yards of white, so I only need 2 7/8 yard of each color so it all just cost me right now $40. I'm not including the white since I already have it. BUT I have to drive 2 1/2 hours to the class and I get 14 MPG, so that's where my money goes. I really wanted to take this class and am willing to drive and pay for it. I really have to drive 1 1/2 to 3 hours to get to a good quilt shop. The one 1/2 hour away has a poor selection of fabric. I think she is going out of business. Nothing matches. Just leftover fabrics from fabric lines. So I have to do the driving or buy online, which I do, but I prefer to see the fabric in person. Makes a big difference!!!