On the Internet, you can find memory quilts ranging in price from $200 to well over $2,000. Why such an extreme price range? There are many factors that influence the cost of making a memory quilt. Below are the top three factors that influence the pricing of a memorial quilt. We will also look at how these effect your quilt.
There are 3 major materials that go into all quilts. The quality of each type of material can range from cheap low quality, to expensive. Higher quality materials will cost more. This cost will be reflected in the price of your quilt. If a quilt is very inexpensive, the materials used to make that quilt will also be inexpensive.
Although memorial quilts are made in
Think about fabric quality like you think about the quality of bed sheets. The lower the thread count, the cheaper the sheets. This same principle applies to quilting fabrics. You want fabric with a high thread count.
Fabrics can be made from 100% polyester, 100% cotton and any combination of the two. 100% polyester fabric with a low thread count is inexpensive, whereas, 100% cotton with a high thread count is much more expensive.
The fabric a quilter uses in your quilt will effect the longevity and feel of your quilt.
Cheap fabric does not wear as well as a high quality fabric. This means that the life span of the quilt will be shorter if a low quality fabric has been used.
Cheap fabric also has a different feel than a high quality fabric. It might make your quilt feel more scratchy. It might also pill very quickly. This is a texture that will make the quilt feel less quality.
Read more about fabrics used in quilts here.
Batting comes in a variety of quality levels – from thin 100% polyester, to high quality needle punched cotton batting.
Polyester batting is the worst. It tears easily, bunches up and will poke out the back of the quilt. The thicker the polyester batting, the more difficult it will be to fold your quilt. Thick batting will also effect how the quilting looks on your quilt.
Needle punched cotton batting is the best choice. It is stable. This type of batting is difficult to tear. This is the best type of batting to show off the quilting done on a quilt.
Cotton batting will cost two to three times more than polyester batting. This cost will be reflected in price of your quilt.
The batting used in a quilt will effect how the quilt feels, looks and folds. The photo here show how different batting will effect the folding of a quilt. Both quilts in the photo are the same size. Each was folded in 16th's. The differences? The quilt on the left has cotton batting and the quilt on the right has high loft (thick) 100% polyester batting.
The funny thing? The quilt on the left is warmer than the quilt on the right.
You might not be able to see the batting in a quilt. But it's important. This is something that you will want to ask your quilt maker about. Here's a list of questions you might want to ask your quilt maker.
There are cheap threads that won’t withstand time and use. There are quality threads that will. The less expensive a quilt, the more likely it will have been made with cheap thread.
Thread is an easy place for a quilt maker to cut corners. Assume that the less expensive a quilt is, the lower quality thread that will be used.
Planning a T-shirt quilt?
Here are step-by-step directions for ordering your Too Cool T-shirt quilt.
It takes skill to make a memorial quilt. If it didn’t take any skill or experience, you would make it yourself.
Highly skilled and talented quilters make the nicest memorial quilts. 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 to make your quilt. If you value the clothing and memories you are putting into your memorial quilt, an inexpensive quilt should scare you!
When you compare the prices of memorial quilts, keep in mind that you are paying someone for their expertise and experience. The less a quilt cost, the lower your expectations should be.
If you are planning a memorial quilt, you only will get one chance to have it made right! Saving a few dollars is not in your best interest.
There are many styles of
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. This means that a traditional style quilt will be the less expensive option.
But it also means that you will have an uninteresting quilts. Rows and columns are just not that exciting. Read about traditional style quilts here.
A memorial 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 takes 10 times or longer than a traditional quilt. But it will be an interesting quilt! Read more about puzzle style quilts here.
Memorial quilts made with other styles too. The more complex the style, the more it will cost. When you are looking for a quilt maker to make a unique style of quilt, expect to pay a lot!
How much does a Memorial quilt made by Too Cool T-shirt Quilts cost?
For example, someone with great skill and artistry using cheap material might make a good looking quilt, but that quilt still has been made with cheap material, it 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. Read more about finding a quilt maker here.
Look carefully at the cost of memorial quilts. Be sure to know what you are paying for. A quilt that costs only $200 is probably going to be a disappointment.
Below are some examples of memorial quilts. Each a little different. Read more about what you can use in a memorial quilt here.