quilt kits
11-19-2011, 07:51 AM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Western Nevada
Posts: 2,520
Back on the topic of quilt kits - here's a bit of insight from one who makes and sells them...
When we price a kit, we use regular pricing for the amounts we use, i.e. full retail with no discounts. Many, if not most kits have a lot of different fabrics in them, so making a kit requires a large investment in coordinating fabrics that aren't used extensively in the kit. As a buyer of the kit you are getting easy access to small amounts of many different fabrics that may be very difficult to find in one place, if bought separately. You are also only paying for the amounts used in the project, rather than having to buy larger amounts.
Kits can be a good way to buy projects, if purchased with your eyes wide open. So...
Advice when buying kits:
1. Buy from reputable dealers who do the kits all in high-quality fabrics and don't do a lot of substitutions. It isn't uncommon for some stores to use one or two of the name fabrics in their kits, but fill with cheaper non-line fabrics that don't coordinate perfectly. Stay away from those.
2. Buy from dealers who provide generous cuts in their kits. We've noted that a lot of kits, especially manufacturers pre-packaged kits, are cut to the bare minimum amounts needed. If you make a mistake you want a little "wiggle room."
3. Buy from dealers who price their kits fairly. A lot of stores will charge a lot more than normal retail for the fabrics contained in the kit, because there is a lot of labor involved in making the kits, as well as a lot of investment in the myriad of fabrics contained in many kits.
4. Pay close attention, when buying a kit, to what's included in the kit, especially when comparing the same kit across multiple stores. One may look a lot cheaper, but may not, for instance include binding fabric.
5. If you're buying a kit that contains a published pattern or book, is there an option to delete the pattern or book and save the cost of that? This could come in handy if you're making multiple copies of the kit, or already have the book or pattern.
6. Does the store offer extras, like free pre-cut binding strips, additional matching fabric in case you want to expand the quilt, etc?
7. Check to make sure you're not paying for fluff, like fancy packaging that you're just going to throw away. Do you really need for that kit to come in a fancy basket, or a tin container? You are, after all, paying for that container.
8. Check to see if matching backing fabrics are available. Advice is to get these right away if possible, because they may not be available when you finish the top.
When we price a kit, we use regular pricing for the amounts we use, i.e. full retail with no discounts. Many, if not most kits have a lot of different fabrics in them, so making a kit requires a large investment in coordinating fabrics that aren't used extensively in the kit. As a buyer of the kit you are getting easy access to small amounts of many different fabrics that may be very difficult to find in one place, if bought separately. You are also only paying for the amounts used in the project, rather than having to buy larger amounts.
Kits can be a good way to buy projects, if purchased with your eyes wide open. So...
Advice when buying kits:
1. Buy from reputable dealers who do the kits all in high-quality fabrics and don't do a lot of substitutions. It isn't uncommon for some stores to use one or two of the name fabrics in their kits, but fill with cheaper non-line fabrics that don't coordinate perfectly. Stay away from those.
2. Buy from dealers who provide generous cuts in their kits. We've noted that a lot of kits, especially manufacturers pre-packaged kits, are cut to the bare minimum amounts needed. If you make a mistake you want a little "wiggle room."
3. Buy from dealers who price their kits fairly. A lot of stores will charge a lot more than normal retail for the fabrics contained in the kit, because there is a lot of labor involved in making the kits, as well as a lot of investment in the myriad of fabrics contained in many kits.
4. Pay close attention, when buying a kit, to what's included in the kit, especially when comparing the same kit across multiple stores. One may look a lot cheaper, but may not, for instance include binding fabric.
5. If you're buying a kit that contains a published pattern or book, is there an option to delete the pattern or book and save the cost of that? This could come in handy if you're making multiple copies of the kit, or already have the book or pattern.
6. Does the store offer extras, like free pre-cut binding strips, additional matching fabric in case you want to expand the quilt, etc?
7. Check to make sure you're not paying for fluff, like fancy packaging that you're just going to throw away. Do you really need for that kit to come in a fancy basket, or a tin container? You are, after all, paying for that container.
8. Check to see if matching backing fabrics are available. Advice is to get these right away if possible, because they may not be available when you finish the top.
11-19-2011, 07:52 AM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 1,537
I only buy quilts when they are on sale. I deduct 9.00 from price of kit...usually the price of a pattern...and do the math to see how much the fab is per yard to see price per yard. No not a math junkie but this way I KNOW if I'm getting a bargain. Usually order kits from Keepsake or Coltilde.
11-19-2011, 08:08 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Central NY
Posts: 627
I occasionally buy kits, especially table runners from my lqs mainly because they are at a low price point. I then use the pattern to make my own kits. Sometimes, I just am feeling blah and the tablerunner kits are less than $20, so I get my retail therapy through them. Also, check the clearance section of the online stores as they usually will have good deals.
11-19-2011, 08:17 AM
#14
Power Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 25,970
Originally Posted by aneternalpoet
I never have the money to even buy the fabric, with or without kits, but probably will recieve some for holidays, so wanted to see what others thought. I dont have any stash of any kind, so its always exciting for me if I do get a yard of something.. thanks..
11-19-2011, 08:47 AM
#16
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Marquez, Texas
Posts: 203
I have ordered a couple of quilt kits, mainly McKenna Ryan BOM because I really like the fabric. I like the idea of not having to search everywhere for the fabric. To me it just depends on what project you want to do, it may be just as easy to pick your own fabric if you have a pattern.
11-19-2011, 09:05 AM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Heart of Dixie, Sweet Home Alabama
Posts: 1,011
I have never purchased a kit, so can't give much help there, but I have ordered from Keepsake Quilting before and found them to be very good. The fabrics were all exactly as ordered, good quality, and nicely packaged. I would order from them again in a heartbeat!
Hugs from Alabama!
Hugs from Alabama!
Last edited by patricej; 11-22-2011 at 04:51 PM.
11-19-2011, 09:42 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Manchester, NH
Posts: 701
I bought a kit from a place in Vermont. I'm sorry I can't remember the name. However, I thought the fabric was very cheap and didn't feel like quality fabric. It was supposed to be cut by laser, yet I thought some pieces were not correct. The fabric ravelled something terrible. Also, when you get a kit where the pieces are already cut, you can't wash the fabric until the quilt if finished. I like the IDEA of the kit with the pieces already cut, cuz I have problems cutting fabric, but I don't think I will ever buy a kit like that again. I know nothing about the quilts you get where you just get the fabric in whole pieces and you have to cut them yourself. I would hope they would be very liberal with the fabric, cuz we all make mistakes in cutting!
11-20-2011, 05:53 AM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Richmond, NH
Posts: 1,092
When the fabrics are just what I want, yes the deal is sweet. But finding fabric on sale and buying the pattern will always be cheaper. I go both ways, mostly finding fabric on sale and creating my own color combos.
11-20-2011, 05:54 AM
#20
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 113
I am just now putting together a Christmas wallhanging I bought at the Expo this fall. What a disappointment. The pieces that were supposed to be 5/8 of a yard were 1/2; the 1/3 yard pieces were cut 1/4 yard and two pieces of fabric were missing. Yesterday I scouted 5 local quilt stores looking for fabric to match--to no avail. I will never buy a kit at a quilt show without thoroughly checking the contents.
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