There are a lot of quilts out there for sale and you should know that not all quilts are created equal. Here are a few tips on what to look for when shopping for a quilt. Quilts are one of those things that you get what you pay for. All of the things I've listed below will affect the cost of the quilt. Not all quilts you buy need to last for a 100 years or needs to be handed down for generations to come. Sometimes you just need a cute gift. What ever your needs are I hope this helps you make an informed decision so you get what you truly want and don't get something you are embarrassed by.
1. The kind of fabric will greatly affect the price of a quilt. Fabric can be bought as cheap as a dollar a yard and made in China all the way to 10.00 to 12.00 a yard of good fabric. Fabric that is cheap will not last AND some of it is full of toxic chemicals. Higher end fabric will be well made and last a lifetime. However middle of the road fabric, well there is some good and some bad, so ask questions before buying.
2. How the quilt is made will affect the cost as well. To make a nice quilt is not just about the cost of the fabric. It is also about the TIME that goes into washing, cut, starched, pressing, piecing, quilting and the binding. So you want to ask yourself:
a) How is the piecing? Is it simple blocks or more detailed cuts? Is it a one piece fabric panel that is really just a print.
b) Does it have things that take more time to do? Applique's (hand and machine sewn), Embroidery designs or embellishing?
c) Is it machine quilted, hand quilted, tied or longarm quilted?
Tied is where they pull thread up through the quilt and tie at the top every so often and is the cheapest option. It doesn't take much time or materials to tie a quilt.
Hand is hand sewn with a needle and thread. This can be very beautiful and take a lot of time but needs to be done by an expert. So be careful and make sure its been done right.
Machine is done with a regular sewing machine and is generally a more simple design then a longarm. Machine quilting should cost more than tied or hand quilting. Unless the hand quilting was done by a pro!
Longarm is a more professional quilting. Very few people and quilt as well on a regular sewing machine but I have seen it done. I prefer the longarm quilting, it is smooth and endless in design possibilities.
3. Binding, Binding, Binding!! The binding is more important than you think. The binding will determine the life of your quilt. The binding takes on more wear than the rest of the quilt. If its not done right you will end up with a beautiful quilt with ragged edges. So its really important and will affect the cost. This binding is a double fold binding, the best binding for quilts.
Double folded binding and machine sewn to the top of the quilt and pressed. Flipped over and hand sewn on the back with perfect mitered corners.
So I hope this helps you find the best quilt for your budget. Here is a link to get back to my Etsy store. https://www.etsy.com/shop/SimplySewing?ref=pr_shop_more
No comments:
Post a Comment