How long does it take to make a quilt?
01-05-2018, 04:56 PM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Southwest Idaho
Posts: 5,999
I've never tracked hours but I'm typically aware of start and end dates...So if you know how many hours you typically spend sewing each day, that may help determine an average per quilt. It would be interesting to figure out tho....
01-05-2018, 05:23 PM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,503
I just made a 62 x 68 quilt that I thought I had to mid January to finish. I found out Christmas day it was needed this weekend. I started on the 26th with washing, ironing, starching, cutting, piecing, (three colors) bandaging my finger, and fixing my machine, quilting it, SITD, and finished hand binding it yesterday. 7 days...took NY eve and day off...about 10 - 12 hours a day. Everything that could go wrong did! I'm pleased with it, but not eager to repeat it. Probably 75 - 80 hours.
01-06-2018, 09:02 AM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 7,312
The only way to truly know is to log your time. I had to start doing that for longarming because I was grossly under-estimating how long it took me. So I simply put a blank piece of paper on my bulletin board. As soon as I walk in the room I write the date and the time. As soon as I stop I write the time. Now it is habit and it takes less than a second to do it (I make sure to keep a pencil or pen right there as well). You could time yourself for one block start to finish. Even if you chain-stitch several blocks at a time, by clocking how long it takes to make one from the moment you make your first cut until you take your last seam. Then multiply that by how many blocks are in the quilt. But then you have to log your time for assembling the quilt, quilting it and binding it. Everyone works at different speeds so the only way you will get a fair estimate of your time is to take the additional few seconds at the start and end of every sewing session by writing down the start time and finish time. Try keeping a small notebook right next to your sewing machine.
You will be surprised at how quickly it becomes habit and that it only takes a second to jot it down. I suspect you will be very surprised to see how much time it really does take. Also, if you are a prewasher, don't forget the time and effort to prewash and prep your fabric.
You will be surprised at how quickly it becomes habit and that it only takes a second to jot it down. I suspect you will be very surprised to see how much time it really does take. Also, if you are a prewasher, don't forget the time and effort to prewash and prep your fabric.
01-06-2018, 10:06 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: South Texas
Posts: 584
I do most of my piecing by hand, whenever I can find the time, so it takes me waaay longer to make a quilt, than if I used my sewing machine. In general, it takes me 2-3 months to put it together. That is only the piecing. I did not include any amount of time cutting, washing, pressing, or getting it quilted.
01-06-2018, 11:09 AM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Vancouver Island, Beautiful BC
Posts: 2,090
It took me 16 hours to piece a Lone Star quilt that is 50 inches square. It was a class and we did not use strip piecing.
Now if I did strip piecing and was not learning as I went I could make the top faster.
Shopping for fabric (stash and new) was about another hour. Fabric prep another hour (washing, ironing, starching).
I will add a couple more borders to make it larger, which with machine set up etc, will take at least an hour.
Quilting, I need to buy the backing, will take at least 5 hours. A couple hours for binding.
Fabric purchase and prep 2 hours
Cutting and piecing 16 hours
Borders to make quilt larger 1 hour
Quilting and binding 7 hours.
Total for a lap sized quilt 26 hours.
With strip piecing now that I am more experienced with the pattern, I could probably shave off 8 hours, but the Y seams are tricky and need extra attention.
Now if I did strip piecing and was not learning as I went I could make the top faster.
Shopping for fabric (stash and new) was about another hour. Fabric prep another hour (washing, ironing, starching).
I will add a couple more borders to make it larger, which with machine set up etc, will take at least an hour.
Quilting, I need to buy the backing, will take at least 5 hours. A couple hours for binding.
Fabric purchase and prep 2 hours
Cutting and piecing 16 hours
Borders to make quilt larger 1 hour
Quilting and binding 7 hours.
Total for a lap sized quilt 26 hours.
With strip piecing now that I am more experienced with the pattern, I could probably shave off 8 hours, but the Y seams are tricky and need extra attention.
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