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40 | LIFE IN SOLERA | AUGUST 2024 | QUILTERS Making a quilt is a very rewarding experience. But as a hobby, it's not the cheapest! Everything is more expensive these days, and quilting is no exception. Many of us love to make quilts as gifts to others; our family, our friends and donations to worthy organizations. But the cost of these gifts and the time it takes to make one is often underestimated. If you were to go to a website like Etsy and search for a handmade quilt (not those manufactured ones from overseas), you would be looking at between $350 and $1,500, depending on size , quality, and details. Does that shock you? It breaks down sort of like this: To make a queen sized quilt, you could need: About 15 yards of fabric at $12.95 a yard .........................$194.25 8.5 yards of backing fabric ................................................ $97.10 2.75 yards of batting .......................................................... $35.61 Pattern ............................................................................... $10.00 $359.65 w/o labor Sending a quilt top out to be quilted by a professional can add even more, depending on details. A small throw quilt will cost around $100 to make. Fabric per yard runs from $5 for lesser quality to $15 for quality fabric. Thread is about $8 a spool. Batting around $9 a yard. Sewing machines are anywhere from $150 for a very basic one to over $20,000 for a combination sewing/embroidery model. Long arm machines which are up to 12 feet long for professional quilting, can go for up to $30,000! It's true that fabric can be found for $5 to 10 a yard, and we quilters certainly take advantage of any sales we find. We like to buy as much as we can afford to keep on hand. We call it our "stash." You never know when you'll need to whip up a little baby quilt, or a comforting gift for someone who needs comforting. But it's a labor of love, and we dearly enjoy making someone's day a little brighter. So next time you are the lucky recipient of a handmade treasure, be sure to appreciate the love in every stitch! KNIT & CROCHET CLUB Summer upon us and our knit and crocheters are still at it. Our weekly meetings are a nice respite from the hot weather and visiting with friends always enjoyable. Rafea is modeling her recently completed knit project. We have new and experienced knitters and crocheters. Drop in and sit and visit with us if you are interested in learning more about this hobby. Thursdays at the Clubhouse from 10 am to 12.