By: Andrea Funk on July 9th, 2015
How Much Does it Cost to Have a Memory Quilt Made? What is the cost of a Memory Quilt?
MEMORIAL QUILTS | HOW MUCH DO T-SHIRT QUILTS COST
First of all,I found this article to be interesting. I am in the process of completing four Memorial Quilts for a client and her children using their beloved father’s clothing.Ann
First,on the Internet memory quilts range in price from $100 to over $1,000. Why such a large price range? However,there are a number of factors that go into the cost of making a quilt. Here are a number of cost factors that go into the pricing of a memory quilt.
Materials
There are 3 basic materials that go into all quilts. There is a quality range for each type of material. The price of your quilt will relate to the quality of materials used. The higher the quality the higher the cost. In other words,inexpensive materials create an inexpensive quilt.
Fabric
To help think about fabric, compare it to the thread count of bed sheets. For example,the lower the thread count, the cheaper the fabric. Polyester fabric with a low thread count is inexpensive. 100% cotton with a high thread count is much more expensive. For a high quality fabric for durability of wear and use, cotton should be used. Similarly,the backing and binding of the quilts will need extra fabric.
Batting
Secondly,batting is used in the middle of a quilt. It comes in a variety of quality levels from thin 100% polyester to high quality cotton batting. Polyester batting tears easily, it bunches up and will poke out the back of the quilt. However,cotton battings are the best choice. Yet,they will cost two to three times more than polyester batting.
Thread
Moreover,all quilts use thread for sewing the blocks together and quilting. On the other hand,there are cheap threads that won’t withstand time and use.Quality threads are truly worth the cost. So,a less expensive quilt is made with a lower quality thread.
Look here for more information on memory quilts.
http://Memorial Quilt Buyers Guide
Labor
In addition, another cost that is calculated into the price of a quilt is labor. Minimum wage is about $8 an hour. Typically, minimum wage is reserved for entry level and unskilled workers. However,an accomplished quilt makers are not unskilled. Above all they usually, they should have over five years or more of quilt making experience .
Skill
Similarly, it takes skill to make a memory quilt. If it didn’t take any skill or experience, you would make it yourself. Highly skilled and talented quilters make the nicest memory quilts. Furthermore,this means that their hourly rate will be much higher than minimum wage. If you want to only pay minimum wage to a quilter, expect an entry-level unskilled quilter to attempt making your quilt. If you value your clothing and memories you are putting into your memory quilt, an inexpensive quilt should scare you!
Time
How long does it take to make a memory quilt? In short,this depends on a number of factors including quilt style, complexity and craftsmanship. A low-cost quilt will take less time than a more expensive quilt. However,this means that the low-cost quilt will have a simple design without any complexities. The workmanship may be questionable.
The Worth a Quilter Places on His or Her Work.
If a quilter underprices their work, they are telling you up front that they do not think that their time and skills are good enough to charge more. Think about what this tells you. If someone does not find value in his or her work, will you?
Style
In short,there are two basic styles of quilts – those that are made in columns and rows and those that are designed by an artist.Our Too Cool puzzle style is a creative work. The number of steps and the amount of time it takes to make each style is vastly different.
Traditional
A traditional style memorial quilt is made from blocks in columns and or rows and the blocks are all one size. This makes the project very easy and involves very little planning and time to layout.
The Too Cool Style
A memory quilt made with many different sizes and shaped blocks involve a lot of consideration, planning, math and other time consuming steps. This style of quilt will take 10 times or longer than a traditional quilt.
To summarize,these and other considerations are indicators of the quality of a quilt. They also greatly influence the price of the quilt. For example, someone with great skill and artistry using cheap material might make a good looking quilt. But the quilt still has been made with cheap material that will look cheap and not wear well. Conversely, a quilt made with high quality materials that is poorly made is still a poorly made quilt. You want a quilt that is made from high quality materials by a skilled and artistic quilter. This quilt will be a family heirloom worthy of the cost.
Look carefully at the cost of memory quilts. Be sure to know what you are paying for. A quilt that costs only $100 is probably going to be a disappointment.
To learn more about having a memory quilt made, please feel free to download our Memorial Quilt Guide. It has information that will help you through the process of having a memorial quilt made.
https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2021/10/something-about-memory-quilts/
https://annbaldwinmayartquilts.com/2020/11/memory-quilts-i-have-made/
