Blog

Is Quilting An Expensive Hobby?


Yes, quilting can be expensive. Mainly because the materials are expensive. Good cotton materials will cost $6.00 to $11.00 per yard and Batik and Grunge material will cost up to $13.00 per yard. A quilt 76″ X 86″ will require approximately 5 yards of fabric for the top and 5 yards of fabric for the backing. But that’s not all, Batting and thread is needed. Good Batting can cost up to $21.00 per yard. High quality thread is approximately $9.00 per spool. I recommend using high quality thread. Quilts are meant to be pass down through the generations. Good Quality materials are necessary for heirloom quilts.

You can spend up to $160 just in materials and this does not include the cost of labor and the cost of a Longarm Quilter. If you want more information on Longarm Quilting click on the link below.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Want to Learn How To Quilt?

Want to learn how to quilt? There are a couple great ways to learn how. Visit your local craft store, if they don’t have classes, they can probably point you in the right direction. Another great way to learn to quilt is to Youtube, ‘Beginning Quilting’. In the current state of Covid-19, this is a great way to get started on your new craft. There are several step by step instructions on how to piece together a quilt top.

Once you have your quilt top pieced together, you will need ‘Batting’ and ‘Backing’ materials to finish it off your project. I recommend using a Longarm quilter to quilt it all together. Lady VanWinkle’s has what you’re looking for.

Want high quality stitches? Contact Lady VanWinkle’s.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Who Are The Quilters?

They are women dedicated to the craft of quilting. The average age of the quilters is 63 years old. These are educated women and typically have an annual household income of approximately $95,000. These women have been quilting for approximately 18 years and spend on average $4,000. per year on materials and supplies.

Many of these quilters prefer quilting the traditional style quilt; However, the modern style quilt is gaining popularity as a new generation of quilters become interested. The new generation quilter spends approximately 8-10 hours a week quilting.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

What Is The Largest Quilt Made In The US?

The largest quilt made is the United States is the ‘AIDS Memorial Quilt’. Conceived in 1985 at a candlelight march by Cleve Jones, an LGBT activist in memory of Harvey Milk and George Moscone. Cleve Jones, was an LGBT activist and he created the first panel in June 1987.

The Quilt was displayed at the National Mall in Washington, DC on October 11, 1987. This gigantic quilt included 1,920 panels and was the size of a football field. There were 48,000 panels when complete. Each panel represented the death of a loved one that died from the AIDS virus.

Is There a National Quilt Day?

Yes, there is a National Quilting Day! It’s the third Saturday in March. In Calendar 2021 National Quilting Day will land on March 20th. So mark your calendar!

In June, 1991 the NQA, National Quilt Association, designated the third Saturday of March the ‘National Quilting Day’ and many quilters consider this day a Holiday. We can always use another Holliday right!

Over time ‘National Quilting Day’ has unofficially expanded to the whole month of March. National Quilting Day/Month of is now recognized world wide as a time to celebrate the history of quilting.

During the month of March quilters will be sharing the rich history of quilting. The oldest quilt still around to day is ‘The Sicilian Tristian Quilt’ said to have been made around 1360-1400.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Why Lady VanWinkle’s Longarm Services?

Are you looking for a Longarm Quilter? Lady Van Winkle’s is the place to go. See her Services & Pricing page for details.

Why go to Lady VanWinkle’s…Because you get one on one consultation on your project. You get to see your pattern choices laid out on the computer before you pick the perfect pattern for your project.

Lady VanWinkle uses the Bernina Q24 with the Q-Matic computer program. This system produces beautiful high quality stitches that add value to your project. Quilting is her passion and she is ready to work with you.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Where Do I Go To Learn How To Quilt?

It used to be common that quilting was passed down from one generation to the next and basic sewing was taught in the public schools as early as junior high. Sewing and cooking were both considered electives. That’s not the case today. It’s unfortunate these electives were cut out of the public schools.

Today it seems the only schools teaching sewing are the Universities. You can get a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design but it will cost you anywhere from $10,000 on up depending on the state you live in.

I recommend reaching out to one of the fabric shops in your area. Many fabric shops have monthly quilt groups that show and talk about their project. It’s a great place to ask around about quilt classes and quilt clubs. Quilters love to share information and are very helpful. Another great place to get information is the dealer’s shops that sell sewing machines. These shops usually provide basic sewing classes to get to know your machine but, some also provide a quilting class to learn the basics of quilting. Lastly, there are many, ‘How to Quilt’ videos on YouTube. Some of these online classes also sell the kit with all the materials to make the same quilt that they will be demonstrating in the video.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Some Fun Facts About Quilting

The history of quilts began long before European settlers arrived in the New World. People in nearly every part of the world had used padded fabrics for clothing and bedding. Quilted materials were also used under armor for extra padding. With the arrival of the English and Dutch settlers in North America, quilting took on a new life and flourished.

The term ‘Quilt’ comes from the Latin culcita, meaning a stuffed sack. When we are talking about ‘Quilting’ we are referring to the process of making of a blanket by stitching three layers of materials together: quilt top, batting and backing material. The end product is called a quilt.

Quilt making was common in the late 17th century and early years of the 18th century. Colonial quilts were decorative items that displayed the fine stitch/needle work. During this time there were few quilts as only the wealthy had time to quilt.

Whole cloth quilts and medallion quilts were the styles of quilts made during the early 19th century.

Quilting Hub.com says in the America the quilting industry about a 3.7 billion dollar industry. There are approximately 7 to 10 million quilter in the United States.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Can You Quilt With Minky Material Using A Longarm Machine?

Yes. Minky is a great fabric to use for the backing on quilts. I have a Bernina Q-24 Longarm machine with Q-Matic Art & Stitch. I just finished a Minky quilt for a customer and it is gorgeous. I used the panto_Swirl pattern. It’s a good pattern to use with Minky fabric.

Minky is an ultra soft fabric that is also very warm but light weight. Minky is produced from 100% polyester fiber or microfiber. This fabric comes in pastel colors as well as brilliant, bold colors. Minky is a perfect choice to use on a baby’s blanket. This fabric has become popular to use for quilt backing. There is nothing like being wrapped in a Minky backed quilt.

NOTE- If you’re thinking about using Minky fabric on your project, just know while Minky is a pricier fabric the bolted of fabric is approximately 58″ wide. It is definitely worth the extra cost. Best time to buy is during the fabric sales.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Longarm Services & Pricing

Edge to Edge/Pantograph

  • Minimum $60. for quilts
  • Low Density Pattern – $0.020 per square inch
    • Basic, Larger Patterns, more than 1 inch space between patterns
  • Medium Density Pattern – $0.025 per square inch
    • Patterns, on average 1 inch space between patterns
  • Heavy Density Pattern – $0.028 per square inch
    • Patterns that are less than or equal to one inch on average

Thread/ Bobbins

  • Thread is included in the pricing

Loading Fee

  • Baby Quilt – No loading fee
  • Lap & Twin – $10.00
  • Full size – $13.00
  • Queen size – $15.00

Batting

Ask about Batting availability at time of purchase – Currently we have:

  • 100% cotton (Nature’s Touch; Warm & Plush)
  • 80/20 Blend (Warm & Natural)
  • 100% Wool (Hobbs Tuscany)
  • 50%/50% cotton+wool (Pellon)

Block & Trim Quilt

  • Baby Quilt – $6.00
  • Lap & Twin – $8.00
  • Full Size – $12.00
  • Queen Size – $16.00

Binding

  • Cost to prepare binding is included in price below: Cut, sew, iron|Customer provides material.
  • Sew binding one side $0.15 per linear inch
  • Sew binding both sides using Heirloom stitch $0.30

Basting for Hand Quilter

  • Machine basted 1” stitch every 5 to 6 inches to prepare for hand quilting – $0.1 per square inch, minimum $25

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.