How Much Should I Charge To Make A Tshirt Quilt? Best 173 Answer

For a puzzle style quilt, it’s complicated. In part, the number of t-shirts depends on the size and number of graphics on your t-shirt. And what quilt size you want.

Traditional style t-shirt quilt with or without sash: Take the number of blocks the quilt is wide and multiply by the number of blocks the quilt is long. A quilt that is 4 blocks wide and 5 blocks long will require 20 blocks. You could use 10 shirts if there is a graphic on each side.

How many shirts you need for a quilt depends on the type of quilt you made. Below is how to find out “how many” for a number of different t-shirt quilt styles.

Click on the quilt style below that you would like to read about. Click here to learn more about different types of t-shirt quilts.

The t-shirt quilt in too cool style or puzzle style

Traditional style t-shirt quilts

Traditional style with sash t-shirt quilt

The t-shirt quilt in too cool style or puzzle style

This style of quilting consists of many different sizes and shapes of t-shirt blocks that are puzzled together. Each graphic on your shirt will be cut with a block equal to the graphic size. The result is t-shirt quilting with no blocks cut off or blocks that have too much room around the graphic.

The difficulty with this type of t-shirt quilt is that you can’t know exactly how big your quilt will be until all of your shirts are cut.

Why can’t you know exactly how many t-shirts I need to make a t-shirt quilt of a certain size?

Because not all t-shirts are the same! T-shirts come in different sizes and a different number of designs. Some t-shirts have huge designs on the front and back of the shirt, while others only have a small chest logo.

A t-shirt with large designs on the front and back can have over 800 square inches of graphics to work with. In contrast, a t-shirt with just a small logo on the front only has 16 square inches to work with. If one t-shirt can hold 800 square inches of graphics and another only 16 square inches, and you say you have 5 t-shirts, you might have enough to make either a large lap-size blanket or a potholder!

When we’re done cutting a group of t-shirts, we might have 10 to 120 blocks to work with. And a grouping of blocks can have 5 to 25 different shapes and sizes of blocks. Every quilt we make is different from every other quilt.

Ever since I started making t-shirt quilts in 1992, every quilt I’ve made has had a different layout. Each layout is specific to a group of shirts. So if you tell us you have 20 t-shirts and want to know how big a quilt it will make, I can’t tell you.

guidelines

We have some guidelines that can give you a starting place. If you look at the estimated number of t-shirts in the table here, you need to consider your t-shirts.

Don’t count the front and back of your t-shirts, look at them as a whole. Do you mainly have t-shirts with large designs on the front and back? Then you need fewer T-shirts. But if you mostly have single sided t-shirts with only chest logos, then you need more.

How it works

We usually take the number of t-shirts you sent and cut them. Then we determine what quilt size these t-shirts could make. We will email you and tell you the measurements of the quilt these t-shirts can make. At this point you can accept the measurements of the quilt or add or remove t-shirts to make the quilt the size you want. We will work with you to get your quilt to an acceptable size using the blocks you want.

Note: We can make your quilt in any size your t-shirts will allow. You may have a quilt that falls between standard sizes. For example between a twin and a full size. Regardless of the size of your quilt, the size is divisible by four.

Back to top↑

Find out more about how to make a quilt out of your t-shirts. Consider downloading our t-shirt quilt buying guide.

It will help you know what you want your quilt to look like and what to look for in a quilt maker.

Traditional style t-shirt quilts

A traditional style t-shirt quilt is made with one block size. It is arranged in rows and columns.

This is the easiest quilt style to figure out how many tees you need. You only need one piece of information: what block size is used. Quilters typically use 12- to 16-inch square blocks. A graphic is placed on each block. A t-shirt with front and back can make 2 blocks.

To determine the size of the quilt, you first need to figure out how wide you want your quilt to be. For example, if you are using a 12″ block, your quilt can be any width that is divisible by 12. So you can use 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96 or 108 inches wide.

Next, decide how long you want your quilt to be. Again in this example you can use 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108 or 120 inches long.

If you want your quilt to be 60 inches wide x 84 inches long, divide the width and length by 12. 60/12 = 5. 84/12 = 7. This means your quilt will be 5 blocks wide by 7 blocks long.

To find the number of blocks you need, multiply 5 x 7 = 35 blocks.

If you have fewer than 35 blocks, you will either have to make up more blocks or place an empty block in the quilt.

If you have more than 35 blocks, you’ll need to move up to the next quilt size – say 72 x 84 – and then bring up 42 blocks (6 x 7). Or you can choose to remove any t-shirt blocks that don’t fit.

Back to top↑

Traditional style with sash t-shirt quilt

A traditional style sash t-shirt quilt is just like the traditional style but has a sash between the rows and columns.

This means that you need to add the width of the sash between the blocks to the size of your quilt. You also need to know if there are sashes around the outside of the quilt, and if so, will it be the same size as the sashes between the blocks or wider.

For a quilt made up of 4 – 12 inch blocks with 2 inch sash between the blocks and 4 inch sash around the outside you need to solve the following math problem…

4 + 12 + 2 + 12 + 2 + 12 + 2 + 12 + 4 = 62 inches wide. You would do the same for the length of your quilt.

A t-shirt quilt with a sash requires fewer t-shirts than a traditional t-shirt quilt without a sash. That’s good if you don’t have a lot of t-shirts!

Pros and cons of traditional t-shirt quilts.

The advantage is that you know exactly how many shirts your quilt will need.

The downside is that all designs on your t-shirts are treated the same. For example, if you have a design that is 20″ x 16″ and it is cut using a 14″ block, part of the design will be cut off. If you have a design that is 4″ x 4″, that design will too cut with a 14 inch block and there is too much margin left around the design.

Before deciding on a traditional style t-shirt quilt, you should first consider your t-shirt pile along with the block size a quilter is using. Measure your graphics to see what might be clipped. You’ve decided if you can live with blocks being cut off. If you cannot do this, you must choose a puzzle-style quilt.

Back to top↑

To learn more about how to get your t-shirts made into a t-shirt quilt, download our free t-shirt quilt buying guide.

It’s a great place to learn about the different styles and quality of t-shirt quilts.

Back to: Plan your t-shirt quilt

After investing hours making a quilt, you want to see a financial return. Pricing a handmade quilt doesn’t have to be a mystery: run the numbers, look at the time and materials you put into the work, and determine what it takes to turn a profit.

The quilt pricing formula

The pricing of a quilt is like any other company. You want to recoup your expenses and make a profit. The quilt must generate enough revenue to cover both. According to Daydreams of Quilt, the general formula for selling a handmade product is:

(shipping cost + time) x 2 = wholesale x 2 = retail

Your material costs should include all materials, including:

fabric for top

fabric for the base

fabric to tie

Hit

thread

sample

What is often overlooked is the cost of the equipment. Your sewing machine, rotary cutter, pins, cutting board, scissors, etc. are all accessories. They’re start-up costs that eat up profits initially and need to be replaced across multiple projects. If you need to buy something special for a project, this must be taken into account.

Hand quilting vs. long arm quilting

You’ve assembled your quilt, but will you be hand quilting too? There is a difference. If you plan to hand quilt, you need to determine how much your time is worth. This is in addition to the time you’ve already spent putting it together.

Many quilters send their quilts to a long sleeve quilting service. These services are usually charged per square inch.

Woodside Quilting explains that quilting costs can range from 2 to 5 cents per square inch. The range of these prices is based on the complexity of the quilt. This adds to the overall price of the quilt.

Run the numbers and set your prize

What does it all mean? Let’s put numbers into the quilt pricing formula, let’s say you assemble and quilt it yourself to calculate a 72″ x 72″ quilt.

Material cost = $135

Time at $15 per hour x 15 hours = $225

Now we will include these numbers in the formula.

($135 + $225) x 2 = wholesale ($720) x 2 = retail ($1,440)

Using the formula, you can see exactly what you need to calculate in order to not only recoup your expenses, but also make a profit.

What if you can stitch but can’t quilt? That will increase the cost. For a 72″ x 72″ quilt, it will cost you at least $103 to have it stitched by a service (at 2 cents per square inch). And if it’s a complicated quilt, it might cost more. That brings your cost of supplies and labor to at least $463.

As noted in Daydreams of Quilt, you may not always be able to follow the quilt pricing formula when the cost becomes too high for the market. Some crafters can only sell their wares for the cost of supplies plus a markup for their time.

Will the market bear your price?

You have evaluated your quilt, now you want to sell it. Sewing is Cool states that a queen-size quilt starts at around $350 and can go as high as $1,500. A baby blanket costs between $150 and $400. There’s a lot of competition.

Visit online marketplaces and see what your competitors’ prices are like. You may find that you are right in line and competitive. If not, reconsider your pricing. Set a deadline for a sale. If your quilt doesn’t sell by that date, consider lowering your price.

Quilts are expensive because of the labor required to make them. Quilts require pieces of fabric to be evenly cut and sewn together to create the basic shape of a quilt. Then this piece needs to be sewn together with batting, backing and binding to create a finished blanket. Some quilts even have topstitching that gives the quilt a sewn design. Add the cost of materials and the time it takes to market and sell this quilt, and you have to charge a higher price to cover all the costs and make a profit.

Quilters often have expensive sewing machines that allow them to add a variety of embroidery designs to quilts. These machines can cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars. This total cost is not factored into the price of a quilt, but must be paid off through the sale of quilts, so a portion of the sewing machine cost is factored into the price of each quilt.

If you compare all the steps required to make a quilt with, say, a plain comforter, you can see how much faster it is to sew a comforter and why it costs less. For a duvet, two large pieces of fabric need to be sewn together on 4 edges, with batting between them. A similar amount of fabric can be used, so this cost is about the same, but it takes far fewer hours to sew a bedspread.

>> Sell quilts successfully: 6 steps

EARN MONEY QUILTING

If you are a seamstress selling quilts, you need to charge a high enough price to ensure you get back the money you spend on your business for every hour you put into your business (hours x hourly wage). and make profit.

Here’s a QUILTING PRICE FORMULA to follow to ensure you’re covering your costs and getting the best… WITHOUT over-selling your quilts.

People who quilt for a hobby may not care about being paid (or receiving a decent wage) for all their hours. But if you’re trying to build a business so you don’t have to work for someone else, you need to pay yourself at least minimum wage, preferably more.

It also takes many more hours when making quilts for sale than when making quilts for friends and family who have requested one.

If you make quilts before you have buyers for them, you have to spend several hours doing this:

Photograph quilts professionally

List them online (on Etsy or your website)

Packing and shipping of the quilts

Etc.

A lot of time and money goes into running a quilt shop, aside from the quilt materials and the time it takes to sew a quilt.

A company must not only get back the money spent, but also make a profit.

QUILTS COST MORE IF SOLD THROUGH A STORE

If you are planning to sell your quilts through a retail store your prices must be even higher as the stores expect to buy your quilt at a discount so they can sell it to their customers at a higher price than they would at bought you. This will ensure they make money when they sell your quilt.

If you sell a quilt to a store for $500 and the store should sell it to their customers for $500, the store is not making any money.

So if you sell a quilt for $500, a retail store expects to be able to buy that quilt from you for $250 (wholesale price). If they then put the quilt back up to retail price ($500), they get paid back the $250 they spent and earn $250 to cover the cost of their business (e.g. profit.

So the wholesale price of your quilts must ensure you get back the money you spent to make that quilt and bring you a profit.

In this example, if $500 covers your expenses and hourly wage and gives you a profit, you want $500 to be your wholesale price. Since most retailers expect wholesale prices to be 50% below retail, you would need to mark this quilt at $1000 to get your retail price.

Retail price is what customers pay and wholesale price is what retailers pay.

I would not suggest selling your quilts wholesale through stores as labor intensive products are generally not appropriate. And that’s okay. If you can find outlets online (e.g. Etsy or your own website) or in person (e.g. craft fairs) to sell your quilts, you don’t need to wholesale.

In this article, I explain more about wholesale quilt prices and how to mark up your quilts instead.

HOW TO CUT YOUR COSTS

If you sell handmade quilts and find that your prices are too high (consumers are unwilling to pay them), you can lower your prices by lowering your costs.

Only you know how you spend your time and money on your business, so you need to take a closer look at those hours and spend and see where you can save.

Calculating the return on investment (ROI) for each expense can help you figure out what’s worth investing your time and money in, and what’s not.

For example, let’s say I spend extra money to buy high-quality organic cotton wool. This hitting increases my costs and thus my prices. But if the premium organic batting doesn’t help me make sales, I’m not getting a return on my investment. I would consider using a plain batting that I can buy in bulk at wholesale prices.

For simplicity, think of the return on investment as follows:

Does spending money on something directly lead to sales?

For example, do I make money by listing quilts on Etsy by spending money? Do I get sales from Etsy? If all of my sales are from craft fair sales, Etsy is not bringing me any returns and I would consider not putting any more money into it.

This also applies to your time. You would simply look at the hours you spend on a specific task in a week or month and how many sales were a direct result of those hours.

For example, if I spend an hour every day posting on Facebook and I want to get paid $20/hour, that’s $140 in salary I’m spending on Facebook. If nobody has interacted with my posts and no sales have resulted from my work on Facebook, then I’m not getting a return on my investment. I wouldn’t invest any more time in Facebook.

Of course, there are some tasks that won’t give you an immediate return on investment, but have the potential to do so. Watch these tasks closely to see if they help you move in the right direction.

For example, if I just started my Facebook page and spend 7 hours on it every week, I probably won’t see much engagement for the first few months. I would make sure I see some growth after a month or two or I won’t be paid back the $560 a month in wages.

Look at each task you’re spending time and/or money on and see if it directly helps you make sales. If it doesn’t, consider reducing it or eliminating it altogether to save on costs.

Lots of small cost savings can help you bring your prices down significantly.

Here are a few more ideas on how to cut costs in your quilting business:

FEWER PIECES

Of course, the more small pieces you use to create your quilts, the longer it will take to cut and sew those pieces together.

Instead of using lots of small squares, create larger sections of fabric that has more pattern or texture to add interest this way.

You can even build a quilting business based on your ability to mix and match patterns to create beautiful combinations. You could just use a patterned fabric for one side (and a large piece of fabric), a different patterned fabric for the back, and then a different pattern or color for the binding. Simply adding quilting can add the element of quilting instead of sewing hundreds of pieces together.

You could even focus on lightweight quilts so you can skip the batting, saving you on material and installation costs.

BUILD BIG (& BUY BIG)

Rather than each quilt being unique, create a design and sell that design over and over again. Not only does this technique allow you to buy your material in bulk and save money, but it also helps you speed up production.

If you want to sell unique pieces based on customer requests, charge more for these custom pieces as they will definitely cost you more to produce.

BLOCK TASKS

Creating a quilt from start to finish takes a lot longer than doing each step in bulk.

For example, I can cut pieces for 10-20 quilts at a time, then pin together pieces for each quilt in a different step, then sew all pieces for each quilt together in a different step, etc.

Instead of switching between stations, tools, and different concentration and skill levels, you stick with one station, one tool, and one skill (e.g. cutting) for an entire work day. This accelerates your production, which lowers your costs.

KNOW YOUR TARGET MARKET

You can’t try to sell your handmade quilts to the consumer who wants to go to Walmart and buy a $100 quilt; they are not your customers.

Knowing who you’re targeting doesn’t necessarily help you drive down your costs (although it can if you know exactly where to find them, how to market to them, and how to make that sale, since speed in these areas will drive your costs lowers to make a sale).

If you know your target market, you can calculate what your quilts are worth.

Imagine trying to sell a luxury car to someone who can’t afford it and just wants a vehicle to get them from A to B. In order to actually sell him that luxury car, you have to lower your price to match their budget, and then you’re not making any money.

But if you’re making luxury cars and you’re targeting consumers who care about those high-end details and are less concerned with price, then you’ve got the product right for the consumer.

This is what you need to do when it comes to your quilts.

Find a target market who is willing and able to spend money on a handmade quilt, find out what matters most to them when it comes to a quilt, and create quilts for them. Then customize the quilt to the consumer.

Check out HOW TO FIND A CLIENT GOLDMINE to help you choose the right target market for your business.

I hope this article helped explain why quilts cost so much 🙂

This article will help you properly evaluate your quilts.

You might also be interested in:

Like this? Click or tap to share

One reason we all love wearing t-shirts is because they’re made from such a soft, stretchy knit fabric. However, in the manufacture of T-shirt quilts, their stretchability is a problem. The same sag that makes t-shirts so comfortable also makes them warp and wobble if you sew them without prep. As a lazy quilter, I’ve actually tried this, and the end result isn’t pretty.

Because of this, you need to stabilize your shirts before using them in a quilt or other sewing project. You do this by applying a fusible backing to the t-shirt fabric. The backing helps the shirt hold its shape as you cut and sew. The softer and more worn a t-shirt is, the more it needs to be stabilized before attempting to sew with it.

Steps in t-shirt quilting

There are four steps to making a t-shirt quilt:

decision on a design. Get the shirts ready for quilting. Sew the quilt together. Quilting and finishing the finished quilt top.

This post covers step 2 how to prepare the shirts for t-shirt quilting.

supply list

You will need the following:

Lightweight iron-on fleece such as Pellon 911FF Featherweight or Therm-o-Web Heat’n Bond. Both woven and non-woven interlinings work well.

Interface update from reader Sandy Shula: “From personal experience I like to use Pellon P44F on colored shirts and 911 FF on very thin polyester or white shirts. I found the SF101 added too much weight on larger quilts and after washing it bubbled on me. This also saves interface costs as there can be a lot of waste depending on the size of your shirt blocks.”

Interface update from reader Sandy Shula: “From personal experience I like to use Pellon P44F on colored shirts and 911 FF on very thin polyester or white shirts. I found the SF101 added too much weight on larger quilts and after washing it bubbled on me. This also saves interface costs, since depending on the size of your block of shirts, a lot of waste can be generated.” A moistenable ironing cloth for pressing the iron-on film onto the T-shirts.

rotary cutter

Iron

ironing board or ironing surface

Step-by-step guide to stabilization

Using a rotary cutter, cut the t-shirt along the shoulder seams, just below the neckband and above the hem on both sides. Try to leave plenty of room around the image for clearance and seam allowances. If you plan on cutting a lot of t-shirts into the same shape, you might want to create a cardboard template of the size and shape you want. This speeds up the cutting. Cut a square of fleece slightly smaller than the t-shirt you cut. I cut my fleece a bit smaller instead of exactly the size of the t-shirt so I don’t accidentally melt glue onto my iron when I press them together. Place the image portion of the t-shirt right side down on your ironing surface. Place the stabilizer square with the sticky side (rougher side) of the interlining against the back of the t-shirt image. Update from reader Marilyn, who has made many t-shirt quilts and taught t-shirt quilting: “The super lightweight batting is great as it doesn’t add bulk but stretches a bit in one direction. T-shirts are stretchable in one direction. To lock the stretch and make the t-shirt stable like any other quilting fabric, you need to rotate the interlining stretch in the opposite direction (90 degrees) to the t-shirt stretch.”

Cover the whole thing with a damp press cloth to avoid melting the ink or gummed parts of the t-shirt image. In the photo below, I just dampened a piece of cotton wool that I had laying around. I also used a store-bought silicone press cloth and part of a t-shirt as press cloths. Read the pad manufacturer’s instructions to ensure you have the correct temperature and steam settings before placing the hot iron on the pad. Because once you do that, you are committed! Press the interface onto the t-shirt. Apply firm pressure and hold the iron steady on each spot for 10-15 seconds to ensure the interlining and t-shirt are thoroughly fused together. Overlap the print areas to make sure you cover all parts of the image. This is what the stabilized T-shirt looks like with the insert welded on the back. The t-shirt will now hold its shape as you sew, cut and topstitch it.

What if I need a larger t-shirt range?

The image on some t-shirts is very close to the neck tape. Sometimes that doesn’t leave you enough room to make a quilt block as big as you want it to be. If this happens to you, consider cutting the fabric from the bottom of the t-shirt, stabilizing it as shown above, and sewing the extra fabric to the area where you’re short. Sew the pieces right sides together using a 1/4″ topstitch.

You can add additional fabric to the top of the image area, to the sides or all around. When the quilt is done, no one will notice!

There are a number of things you need to know about backing materials used for a t-shirt quilt. We have divided this article into four sections. Below you can jump to any section. Or you can read from top to bottom.

Materials used to make the back of a t-shirt quilt

Quilters call the fabric that is on the back of a quilt “backing.” Some quilters consider the back of a quilt to be just as important as the front, while other quilters only care about the front. This difference is manifested in the choice of material chosen for the back of a quilt.

What substrates are available for T-shirt quilting machine manufacturers?

As with anything, everyone has a different opinion on what fabric would work best on a quilt. During my 45+ years of making quilts I have used most of the fabrics listed below. Each substance has its positive and negative properties.

100% cotton

This is my favorite choice of fabric because it wears well and is easy to work with. That’s what we use here at Too Cool T-Shirt Quilts.

But beware; All 100% cotton fabrics are not created equal. I had a fabric company send me samples of other 100% cotton fabrics that were cheaper than the Robert Kaufman fabrics we use.

Just for fun, I used my husband’s digital calipers to compare the thickness of each fabric. I was surprised! The Kaufman fabric was more than twice the thickness of the cheaper fabric I was comparing it to. There’s a difference!

50% Polyester/50% Cotton

50/50 fabric is made to retain some of the feel of cotton but contains enough polyester to keep the fabric from wrinkling. Wrinkling is simply not a problem with a quilted quilt. The disadvantage of this fabric is that it pills. Pilling is the small balls of fibers that clump together on the surface of a fabric.

100% polyester

This substance is generally very inexpensive. And it will look and feel cheap. Again, this substance will pill. Avoid this substance. It won’t make your quilt great, just cheap.

flannel

Flannel, like any other fabric, comes in many qualities. When you choose flannel, you are buying the highest quality on the market. The appeal of flannel is that it’s soft. To make flannel, the fabric is brushed to break free surface fibers. It leaves a layer of soft fluff. But if you think about it, brushing the surface only wears down the fabric. I avoid flannel at all costs because using it properly requires extra steps to keep it from fraying. Most quilters do not take these extra steps or are unaware of them.

Minky fabric

Minky is a very soft and cozy fabric. You may have seen it with raised dots, but we’re using regular minky to give the quilting the full effect. Michelle, at our Austin, Tx location, is the only Too Cool quilter with Minky experience. Minky doesn’t show the quilting as much as a cotton fabric. Rather, you see an embossed look where the stitching is rather than a specific line.

Available in a variety of colors, Minky creates a ‘softer’ quilt and holds up great overtime. Minky is a premium fabric and would include an additional charge based on the size of the quilt; It’s harder and messier to work with than cotton.

Contact Michelle for more information. [email protected]

When you’re ready to order, click here for Michelle’s order form.

polar fleece

Polar fleece is made from 100% polyester. It’s soft. Depending on the quality of the fleece, it can be worn well. Most fleeces pill after several washes. Some t-shirt quilt manufacturers love fleece because they don’t use batting or have to quilt the quilt. That makes it a blanket and not a quilt! Fleece is not the right fabric for us because we make quilts, which involves cotton balls and quilting.

Bedsheet

I cringe when I see a bed sheet used as the back of a quilt, especially if it’s a printed sheet. Basically, a leaf always looks like a leaf. It’s not the right choice for a quality blanket.

fabric is expensive

T-shirt quilting companies that only make a few quilts a year — fewer than 30 to 40 — are unlikely to wholesale their fabrics. This means that they buy their fabrics at retail prices and therefore have to pay a lot for quality material. So if they don’t charge a lot for their quilts, they usually make up for it by buying the cheapest material they can.

When interviewing your quilter, ask if they use quality materials. Remember that there are cheap and expensive 100% cotton fabrics. Don’t assume they’re using the good stuff! Here at Too Cool T-Shirt Quilts we use Robert Kaufman Kona Solids 100% cotton material. This is good stuff.

Where can I find a selection of background colors?

One of the questions we get asked the most is, “Where on the website is the color choice for the backing?”

We do not have a list of color choices on the website. We have chosen not to publish the colors we use on the website as there is no accounting of colors from computer to computer. Until we photograph each color, move the photo from our camera to our computer, and then you see it on your computer, the color will be different than it actually is! Here are three photos of a quilt back. What is the true color we used? Yes, kind of blue!

We want you to have options when choosing your background color. We would like you to tell us the color you want. We have over 250 colors to choose from. If you tell us the color you want or send us a sample, we should be able to find the color you want.

Typical colors

There are a few colors that are recognizable by name alone. Like Navy, Black, Charcoal, Royal Purple and Forest Green. For such colors just tell us the name. We then find that color in your quilt and match it to our base fabric.

Enigmatic Colors – Submit a sample

More information may be required for most other colors. Just telling us “blue” is not enough for us to choose the background color. What shade or type of blue? And if you just say “red”, we ask you which shade of red? Tomato, rich red, cardinal red, purple? And how about teal? You ask 20 people to show you teal, they show you 20 different colors! We need more information. We need you to give us a color sample.

What can be used as a physical sample?

A piece of fabric from one of your t-shirts

A colored pencil or marker scrawled on white paper

color chip

A piece of cloth

A piece of wallpaper

A photograph or color swatch from a magazine with the specific color circled

A colored piece of paper

What can be used as a descriptive pattern?

A descriptive sample is something you can tell or describe to us that we have cultural experience to know what color you are requesting. Some examples:

Coca-Cola can red

Sky blue

Grass Green

butter yellow

Carolina Blue

Digital Swatch Links

You can email us a link of the color you want to use. For example, if you would like us to use Michigan State University green, you can send us a link to the official color page on the MSU website.

We can then follow the link and match our fabric to the color on the computer. This won’t be perfect as my monitor may not recognize the color perfectly, but it gives us a good starting point.

Too Cool T-Shirt Quilts offers over 250 backing color options – all you have to do is specify which color you would like. Don’t worry about sending us weird patterns – we love weird ones!

We have a physical color chart from the manufacturer of our fabric – Robert Kaufman. We pull out this chart to match your sample with the colors we can buy. Most of the time we get very close. If we cannot match your pattern, we will let you know!

T-shirt quilting – pattern or solid?

When should you use a solid color backing on a t-shirt quilt versus when should you choose a print? It usually depends on how a quilt is quilted and the quality of the quilting. A printed backing camouflages and hides the quilting, while a rigid material shows it off.

When to use a printed substrate

Choose a printed backing when hand-tying or machine-stitching a t-shirt quilt. These methods leave only a small 1/4 inch stitch or less on the back of the quilt at a time. The entire back of the quilt is speckled with these small stitches. These stitches are lost in the design of a substrate.

Another occasion to choose a printed substrate is when the quilting is very simple or irregular. This can happen when the quilt is quilted with a home sewing machine. Quilting a large quilt with a home sewing machine is very difficult. Stitches vary in length and sharp turns and other uneven stitch patterns may occur. A printed carrier material conceals the quilting nicely.

What if a t-shirt quilt is long sleeve quilted on a quilting machine? In this case, only choose a printed substrate if the quilting is to be done in a repeating pattern. A repeating pattern is when a motif is repeated over and over throughout the quilt. Many t-shirt quilt companies choose to use a repeating pattern on their t-shirt quilts because it’s quick and easy. A printed backing material in this case would hide the drab stitching and give you something more interesting to look at.

When to use a solid color substrate

Choose a solid backing for the backing of your quilt if you want to show off the quilting. To make the seam stand out even more, use a contrasting thread color.

Here at Too Cool T-Shirt Quilts we only use solid color backing because we make amazing quilts on our t-shirt quilts. An accomplished artist quilts each of our quilts. We think it is important that each block of a t-shirt quilt is quilted with its own unique design. Each block on a t-shirt quilt tells a unique part of the story, giving it its own quilted design.

The design quilted into the quilt from the front can be seen on the back of the quilt. As a result of our quilting style, the backs of our t-shirt quilts are almost as fun as the front of the quilt.

We also spend time tracing different designs on the front of the quilt as they will show up on the back of the quilt.

How do we know that printed underlay hides the quilting?

We know that printed backs hide the seams on the back because we’ve long-sleeved quilts for other people who chose a printed fabric. From experience, our quilters know their work doesn’t show up, so they simplify their quilt designs and don’t spend extra time tracing anything. You just can’t see it

If you have asked to use your own printed fabric on a t-shirt quilt we will make for you, however we will do our best to dissuade you from using it as an essential part of your t-shirt quilt T-shirt quilting – that’s exquisite quilting.

T-shirt quilt backing Q&A

Q: Can I choose the color of the backing material?

A: Yes. We have over 300 colors available. Below is a “pano” photo of our fabric room.

Q: Where are the color options on your site?

A: We don’t have samples on the website because the color may not read directly from computer to computer. You can either tell us the color you want or send us a sample of the color you want.

Q: What kind of sample can I send?

A: A pattern can be anything from a sliver of paint to a piece of material. Below is a list of some options:

A piece of fabric from one of your t-shirts

A piece of fabric from one of your t-shirts. Scribbled with a colored crayon or felt-tip pen on white paper

color chip

A piece of cloth

A piece of wallpaper

A photograph or color swatch from a magazine with the specific color circled

A colored piece of paper

Q: What kind of material is the back?

A: We use Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Solids. They are 100% cotton of a very high quality.

Q: Can I choose between a print and a solid material?

A: No, we only use solid materials as you cannot see the stitching on a printed material. And being able to see the stitching is an important part of a Too Cool T-Shirt quilt.

Q: If I provide it, can I use flannel fabric on the back of my quilt?

A: Yes, if you must. But flannel doesn’t wear well over the long term, so we’ll try to talk you out of it.

Q: If I provide it, can I use fleece or minky fabric on the back of my quilt?

A: Yes. Our Austin, Texas location is set up to use Too Cool T-Shirt Quilts Fleece and Minky. But you might not see as much quilting because of the loft of these materials.

Q: Will the backing material bleed?

A: We hope not! We wash the backing material before use to ensure the color is fixed. If the carrier is bleeding for some reason, here is the solution.

Conclusion

The material that goes on the back of a t-shirt quilt is important. It’s important to have the right kind of fabric. Depending on the quilting, it is important to choose a plain or printed fabric. But most of all, it is important to have a color that goes with your t-shirts and that you love.

I hope this information helps you plan your t-shirt quilt. We’re here to answer any other questions you might have. Email us at [email protected]

1. There is only one style of t-shirt quilts. 2. A quilt and a blanket are the same thing. 3. T-shirt quilts are easy to make. 4. Only cotton t-shirts may be used. 5. A thicker batting means a warmer quilt. 6. It’s okay to cut off a logo on a t-shirt. 7. Black is the best color for the backing of a quilt. 8. Sashes must be used to make a real t-shirt quilt. 9. Fleece needs to be ironed onto the back of the t-shirts. 10. Anyone can make a t-shirt quilt.

There are many misconceptions about t-shirt quilts – from their appearance to how they are made. Below is a look at the top 10 misconceptions. We will break them down for you and debunk them one by one. Where available, we’ve also included links to more information about each misunderstanding.

By understanding these t-shirt quilting facts, you will be better able to find a quilt maker to make your quilt.

10 Common Misconceptions About T-Shirt Quilts

1. There is only one style of t-shirt quilts.

NOT CORRECT! There are many different styles of t-shirt quilts: puzzle style, stained glass style, traditional style, traditional sash style, crazy quilt style and more.

More than anything else, the quilt style you choose affects how your quilt looks and feels. For this reason, it is important that you know which quilt style you like best.

Before choosing a quilt maker, first decide what type of t-shirt quilt you want and what type will work best for your t-shirts.

Read more about the different types of t-shirt quilts here.

2. A quilt and a blanket are the same thing.

Don’t believe it! Although they are both used to keep you warm, a quilt and blanket are very different! A quilt consists of three layers held together by quilting. A blanket has two layers that are not held together by anything. Here’s an article that dives deep into the differences between a blanket and a quilt.

There is a difference in the complexity of a quilt versus a blanket. This greatly affects the cost of a quilt. Read more about what goes into the price of a t-shirt quilt here.

If you are looking for t-shirt quilt makers, be sure to ask if they make quilts or blankets. And beware; Some people who make blankets think they make quilts!

First ask, “Do you make quilts or blankets?”

If they answer that they make quilts, ask, “What kind of cotton do you use?” If they say they don’t use cotton, then they make blankets. By the way, we think the correct answer should be 80% cotton/20% polyester needle punched or 100% cotton batting.

When they give you the batting type, ask, “What kind of quilting do you do?” This will give you more information on what to expect from a quilt from this manufacturer. We think the right answer should be long sleeve quilting. You can read more about quilt styles here.

3. T-shirt quilts are easy to make.

This is a very common mistake people make. “Oh, they don’t look that hard to make. I have a sewing machine and scissors. What could go wrong?” Oh boy! We’ve heard this so many times and seen the results of that thinking! Don’t believe Pinterest!

Once a week we finish a quilt someone started. It will end up costing you more to have a quilt maker complete what you thought would be easy.

If you’re considering making your own t-shirt quilt, take this quiz to see if you have the equipment and skills to attempt your own quilt.

4. Only cotton t-shirts may be used.

Not correct! Don’t just limit yourself to t-shirts. We use many other types of clothing and fabric items such as sweatshirts, tank tops, technical fabrics, jeans, regular clothing and many more. If it can be washed in a washing machine, we can probably use it.

Read more about what can be used in a t-shirt quilt here.

5. A thicker batting means a warmer quilt.

Don’t buy this! The blow of the cotton does not match its warmth.

The best types of batting are 80% cotton/20% polyester needled or 100% cotton. Both of these types of batting are thin and the perfect weight to keep you warm. Traditional quilt makers prefer to use this batting in their heirloom quilts.

Some quilt makers looking to make a living making t-shirt quilts choose the cheapest batting option available. This is often a high-loft polyester wadding. They might tell you it will keep you warm.

But they won’t tell you there are better options. And that these options will be warmer.

Why? Because the best padding costs more! Quilt makers who charge a super cheap price for their quilts make up for the low price by using inferior materials. They hope their customers don’t have any information contradicting their “warm” claim.

Read more about hitting here.

6. It’s okay to cut off a logo on a t-shirt.

Nooooo! Why would cropping a logo ever be okay? Your t-shirts are your memories. When you look at them, you don’t want parts of them to be missing. Unless you specifically request it, it is NEVER okay to crop a logo.

Why would a quilt maker crop a logo? This is what happens when you go for a traditional style quilt with a block size. Any logo larger than this block will be truncated. Any logo much smaller than this block size will be left with too much margin around the design. Read more here.

The photo here shows how graphics on a Project Repat t-shirt blanket were cropped. That is not right! There are ways to create a t-shirt quilt without cropping an image. For us this is not acceptable.

Download our t-shirt quilt buying guide to learn more about how to get a quilt made from your t-shirts.

7. Black is the best color for the backing of a quilt.

What?? Why should black be the best choice for the back of a t-shirt quilt? We like to use bright colors that tie in with the colors of the t-shirts on the front of the quilt.

Here at Too Cool T-Shirt Quilts we think you should choose from a variety of background colors. We have over 300 colors to choose from. We’re here to help you choose the best color for your ceiling. It could be black or it could be light blue!

These are t-shirt quilts! They should be funny, cheerful and, if necessary, colourful.

8. Sashes must be used to make a real t-shirt quilt.

No not true!

The sash is a strip of fabric sewn between the blocks, usually dividing the blocks into rows and columns. This is how t-shirt quilts were originally made in the 1980s. Read more about the history of making t-shirt quilts here.

Today, quilt makers have a number of different styles of t-shirt quilts they can make, and most come without a sash. Read more about static/traditional style quilts here.

You have to decide whether you want to tie your quilt or not. Look for a quilt maker that makes the style of t-shirt quilt you want.

9. Fleece needs to be ironed onto the back of the t-shirts.

NO, no, it does not have to be used! The use of batting is one of the main controversies in the world of t-shirt quilting.

Quilt makers initially supported T-shirts with iron-on backs. It made them stiff and non-stretchable. This allowed quilter makers to sew t-shirt material to cotton sash strips. Initially, it was the only way how to make t-shirt quilts. Read more about the history of t-shirt quilting here.

In the early 1990’s I began making quilts without sashes or interfacing. I just didn’t know the rules.

All these years later, I’m still being asked if this really works. Many quilters will tell anyone who will listen that you can’t make T-shirt quilts without interfacing and that the Too Cool style doesn’t work. I’m so tired of this.

Generally, if a quilt maker needs to stiffen t-shirts with back irons, I would suggest finding another quilt maker or expecting a stiff quilt.

Ironing a batting onto a t-shirt is not required to make a great t-shirt quilt. Read more about interfaces here.

10. Anyone can make a t-shirt quilt.

Maybe. With the right tools and enough practice, most, but not all, people can learn to make a t-shirt quilt. But without the right tools, instruction and experience – don’t hold your breath!

No matter what you see on Pinterest or Etsy, making t-shirt quilts is neither easy nor quick. There are no shortcuts or quick ways to make a great t-shirt quilt. Do your research to find an experienced t-shirt quilt maker. Here is a list of interview questions to ask potential quilt makers.

Conclusion

How many of these misconceptions about t-shirt quilts have you believed? We hope this article helped unmask them for you! With this information, you should be able to find a quilt maker to make your quilt. We would be happy to make your quilt for you. Here’s how.

To learn more about making a quilt from your t-shirts, visit our Learning Center.

It links to hundreds of articles about t-shirt quilts.

If you want to know something, you’ve come to the right place!

Back to general information about t-shirt quilts

Creating t-shirt quilts really depends on the size of the quilt and the intricacy of the design. The larger the quilt, the more materials (t-shirts, underlay, etc.) are required and it also takes longer to design, shape and assemble the quilt.

Choosing Shirts – Shirts should be clean and in good condition. Avoid stained shirts or t-shirts that have become too thin from wear or washing. Fusible Pad – Each shirt must be backed with a non-woven, fusible pad to keep it from stretching. Purchase enough fusible interlinings to make a 17 inch square for each shirt. Choose a lightweight, good quality insole. The fusible liner does not need to be woven and glued on one side only with a decorative grid between each t-shirt block. Plan for 2″ sash strips (1 1/2″ when finished) between the blocks, 2 1/2″ strips (2″ when finished) for the edging, and additional fabric for the edges. Calculate the amount you need and be sure to plan ahead wash after use – you want to be sure the color doesn’t run and the fabric doesn’t shrink after the quilt is finished shirt from the back. Make sure the shirt is smooth, iron if necessary. Pinning – Cut the interlining into 17″ squares – one for each shirt. Do not dismember the interfaces, they will show through. Position the compound resin side down on the wrong side of the t-shirt and try to center the design as much as possible. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for fusing on the back of each t-shirt. Beware of wrinkles – once they’ve cooled, they won’t come out! Cutting the Squares – Square each merged shirt to 15 inches. Be sure to center the design and lettering – measure twice – cut once! Cut with scissors or rotary cutter. Arrange – lay out squares on the floor and arrange , busy/not so busy. Make sure the blocks can be read from the desired direction. Completing the quilt – add sashes – sash stripes are the horizontal and vertical stripes between the blocks. The horizontal stripes should be 15″ long x 2″ wide. Cut enough sash strips to attach to all shirts except the bottom row. Then sew horizontal strips to the bottom of each block, except for the blocks in the bottom row. Sew the blocks together to form columns.

After all the blocks are sewn into columns, make long 2 inch sash strips slightly longer than the length of each column. Sew the 2-inch sash strips to the inside edge of the finished columns, one strip to each column (do not sew sash strips to the outside edges of the columns), and sew the columns together. Push toward sash.

Cut 2 1/2 inch wide border strips and add as desired. If you need to do a final iron, make sure you place a cloth over the shirts – they can smear if the iron is placed directly on them.

Finish – Layer backing batting and quilt. Staple or safety pin together. If you have some machine quilting experience, you can quilt your quilt or tie it together to hold the layers together. Bind your quilt, making sure to add a label.

12 shirts make a throw size quilt, approximately 48″ x 64″ – 3 across x 4 down.

20 shirts make a double size quilt, approximately 64″ x 82″ – 4 across x 5 down

30 shirts make a full size quilt, approximately 82″ x 96″ – 5 across x 6 down.

36 shirts make a queen size quilt, approximately 96″ x 96″ – 6 across x 6 down.

42 shirts make a king size quilt, approximately 110″ x 96″ – 7 across x 6 down.

If you’ve thought about trying your hand at quilt making before heading to your local fabric store, source your quilt fabric from shirts at a thrift store or even from your own closet. Thanks to those whose favorite pastime in quarantine was cleaning, thrift stores are now crowded and clothing racks are teeming with shirts of every color and pattern. You can even use a loved one’s shirts to honor their memory. No matter what shirts you choose, this is a great way to learn to quilt while also being frugal. Win-win situation in our book.

No . New styles of t-shirt quilts and advances in sewing machine technology have made the use of batting or iron-on backing obsolete and unnecessary.

Question: What is the best interlining for a t-shirt quilt?

Answer: No interfaces!

In 1992 I made my first t-shirt quilt. Back then, the internet wasn’t what it is today. I couldn’t google “how to make a t-shirt quilt.” As a result, I just made it up as I went along.

There were many “rules” I didn’t know when it came to making t-shirt quilts. Such as:

Iron-on fleece should be ironed onto each t-shirt before it is cut to its final size.

All blocks must be the same size.

The blocks should be arranged in rows and columns.

These rows and columns must be separated by cotton sash.

I broke all the rules!

When I looked at the t-shirts for my first quilt, I saw that the graphics were different sizes. For me, this meant cutting blocks of different sizes. And with blocks of different sizes, my layout wouldn’t be in rows and columns.

Before I cut any of the t-shirts, I first cut out some small pieces of t-shirt fabric to experiment sewing them together. I simply sewed the t-shirt to the t-shirts. I had no problems at all!

Little did I know at the time that I had missed the most important step in the process: the back of the temple. The industry standard has been to iron an iron-on backing or interlining onto the back of the t-shirt.

What is Pad and Underwire?

Backing is a material used on the back of a fabric to make it stiffer. The connection stiffens or adds volume to materials. It can prevent knit fabrics from stretching out of shape.

Interlinings are also known as iron-on interlinings because many types of interlinings can be ironed directly onto the fabric. This type of pad has one side coated with a heat-activatable adhesive. When ironed onto another piece of fabric, the bond fuses the two fabrics together.

There are many different types of interfaces. Some are very heavy and will stiffen the fabric dramatically. Others are lighter and more flexible and don’t add as much stiffness to the fabric. Even the lightest interfacing will stiffen the fabric they’re ironed onto – that’s their purpose.

If you are planning to make your own t-shirt quilt, be sure to check out our book, videos and tools to help you do it. You can make a Too Cool™ style t-shirt quilt without having to reverse engineer our method.

Because I guarantee you will miss some important steps.

Why were t-shirt quilts originally made with batting?

This has to do with the timing of early T-shirt quilting. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, as a society, we began to purchase excessive numbers of t-shirts. T-shirt and screen printing prices fell while the number of events giving out t-shirts increased. T-shirts just became what you should wear. We only wore blue jeans and t-shirts.

During the same period, quilt making experienced a revival. When artisans first began making quilts, many began with a project called the sampler quilt. As the name suggests, quilters would make pattern blocks from many different quilt block patterns. These pattern blocks were then assembled into a quilt in rows and columns separated by sashes.

Sharpening is the material used to separate the rows and columns. Sashes can be very narrow – say just an inch wide, or very wide – say three or four inches wide. On some quilts, traditional quilts, the sash could be as complicated as the blocks.

When a quilter was given a stack of t-shirts to make a quilt, this sampler method of making a quilt was primarily on their minds. So quilters cut the T-shirts and made the quilt using the sampler method.

Thus, the convergence of quilt making and t-shirts gave rise to traditional-style t-shirt quilts. A traditional-style t-shirt quilt features uniform size blocks lined up in rows and columns, separated by sashes.

***Note – Too Cool T-Shirt Quilts does not make traditional style t-shirt quilts like the ones you see here.***

There was a problem

Early on, quilters encountered a problem—they were unable to easily sew t-shirt material to the traditional cotton quilting fabric they used for the sash. When they tried to sew a stretchy piece of t-shirt material onto non-stretch cotton, the t-shirt material stretched during the sewing process and became longer than the cotton.

The sewing machine technology and experience in dealing with T-shirt material at that time was simply not there.

The photos here show a piece of cotton (teal) ready to be sewn onto a purple piece of t-shirt material.

In the second photo, the left side shows what happens without skill and the right sewing machine. The purple t-shirt material is stretched longer than the teal sash which does not stretch.

The stripe on the right is sewn by an experienced quilt maker using the correct sewing machine. This shows that stretchable T-shirt fabric can be sewn with non-stretchable cotton without any problems.

The original solution

The solution was to use iron-on pads to stiffen the t-shirt material and prevent it from stretching out of shape. It worked and it became the solution used by quilters and an industry standard. Except I didn’t get that memo!

A new solution

I didn’t use the iron-on transfer because I just didn’t know. And I’m thankful every day

Therefore. If I could just google “how to make a t-shirt quilt” I would have made this first t-shirt quilt like everyone else has done.

This new solution was simple: just don’t use interfaces.

This solution worked because I had devised a new method to make a t-shirt quilt that didn’t use a cotton sash. And without a cotton sash, I just sewed t-shirt fabric to t-shirt fabric.

Another solution – The evolution of the sewing machine

Sewing machine technology has advanced tremendously in the last 30 to 40 years. Yes, you can sew well with a 50-year-old sewing machine. But these machines were designed for traditional fabrics—cotton, wool, and denim. They were not designed to sew two different types of fabric together.

But a modern sewing machine it is. With computer technology and double walking feet, a new sewing machine can easily sew cotton and T-shirt material together. We do this all the time when we make quilts with borders. You just have to know how to do it.

And if you want to know how to do it, you need to practice a lot and figure it out. Or you can find the instructions in my How to Make a Too Cool T-Shirt Quilt book.

Why would a t-shirt quilt maker still want or need to use interfacing?

The advent of better sewing machines, expertise in sewing t-shirt material, and new types of t-shirt quilts have eliminated the need for interfacing. So why would a t-shirt quilt maker still use it?

Old sewing machine

If a quilt maker uses an old sewing machine, that machine may not be able to sew t-shirt and cotton materials together.

If a quilt maker uses an old sewing machine, that machine may not be able to sew t-shirt and cotton materials together. inexperience

experience is important. There are tricks and methods for sewing cotton onto t-shirt material. But you just have to practice.

experience is important. There are tricks and methods for sewing cotton onto t-shirt material. But you just have to practice. habit

Not all quilt makers, myself included, are old. But the older you are, the more ingrained your habits become. The ease of doing something you know is a lot easier than learning something new.

Not all quilt makers, myself included, are old. But the older you are, the more ingrained your habits become. The ease of doing something you know is a lot easier than learning something new. lack of knowledge

Quilt makers who are not keeping up with the current technology and method may not know how to make a t-shirt quilt any other way.

Quilt makers who are not keeping up with the current technology and method may not know how to make a t-shirt quilt any other way. Unwillingness to try a new method

Even after all these years of making non-iron t-shirt quilts, I still get asked how non-iron can be done. Perhaps you have asked yourself this question. My answer is: “Have you tried it yet?”

Why doesn’t a t-shirt quilt need an insert?

New sewing machine technology has made it possible to easily stitch t-shirt material to non-t-shirt material. Even if a quilter makes traditional-style t-shirt quilts, they don’t need to use interfacing.

Modern styles of t-shirt quilts have also eliminated the need to add non-t-shirt materials to a quilt. T-shirt quilts can be made entirely from t-shirt material. Sewing two pieces of t-shirt fabric together is very easy.

Why should you avoid using batting in your quilt?

The interlining makes your quilt stiffer and not as soft as one without an interlining.

A quilter using interfaces is not up to date with the latest technology, methods, or is stuck with an old solution.

Interfacing increases the cost of your quilt.

You won’t get the best quilt.

It just isn’t needed.

Conclusion

There is no need to use non-woven or iron-on non-woven when making t-shirt quilt. This is because sewing machine technology and modern t-shirt quilt designs have transformed the way t-shirt quilts are made.

If you are a quilt maker, consider whether you know your skills, your equipment, and your quilting style. Read more about it here.

If you want to have a quilt made from your t-shirts, find a quilt maker that doesn’t use interfacing. Read more about finding a quilt maker here.

To learn more about getting your t-shirts quilted, download our free T-Shirt Quilt Buyer’s Guide.

It’s a great place to learn about the different styles and quality of t-shirt quilts.

This is a stained glass style t-shirt quilt. Learn more about this style here.

Back to: Make your own t-shirt quilt

The time it takes to make a quilt will depend on the size of your quilt and your method of assembling the quilt. A baby-size (40″ x 45″) quilt with a simple design that is assembled and quilted by machine can take as little as 6 hours. A king-size (108″ x 110″) quilt with an intricate pattern that was assembled and quilted by hand could take several years to complete.

Greenhouse Quilt Pattern by Elizabeth Hartman using the Folktale line of fabrics from Lella Boutique

When we think about how long it takes to make a quilt, we must first define what it means to make a quilt.

If you sew the quilt top together and send it to a long arm quilter to be quilted, the time you invest in making your quilt could be much less than one person planning to assemble the quilt and do the quilting yourself. For that reason, I’m going to break down the estimated timeframes for each step of the quilt making process.

Using these estimates, you can calculate how long your project will take depending on the methods and steps you plan to take yourself.

Click here if you want to jump straight to the total time it takes to make a quilt!

How long does it take to assemble a quilt top?

Assembling a quilt top consists of two steps: cutting and assembling.

You can purchase pre-cut quilt kits or use pre-cut quilt fabrics like charm packs to reduce the time it takes to cut your fabric, or eliminate this step entirely.

How long it takes to sew a quilt top depends heavily on the pattern. For example, a simple patchwork pattern made from 5 inch squares is much quicker to put together than a double Irish chain quilt pattern. Both patterns use small squares of fabric, but one is much more intricate than the other.

In general, the smaller your fabric cuts are, the longer it will take to put them together. One method to speed up the piecing process is called chain piecing. Here you guide each assembly step simultaneously through your machine. You can think of it like an assembly line for your quilt. Once a step is complete, move on to the next step for all of your quilt blocks.

I polled my Instagram followers to see how long it takes them to make a quilt top. When asked about the shortest time it took them to make a baby quilt top, the majority replied that it took them between 3 and 5 hours. This time span sounds right if you’re planning a quilt top with large panels and few seams.

The shortest time it took the majority of my followers to complete a large (60″ x 70″) throw quilt was 10 hours. That agrees with my experience too!

A basic baby-size (40″ x 45″) quilted top takes anywhere from 3 to 9 hours to make. A simple large throw-size (60″ x 70″) quilt top takes between 10-20 hours to make.

If you are a beginner quilt, it may take you 2 or 3 times longer to make the same quilt top than an experienced quilter. At the end of this post, I’ll show you how to estimate exactly how long it will take YOU to make a quilt top.

How long does it take to assemble a quilt backing?

A quilt base can be as simple or as complicated as you like. If you’re using a wide 108″ fabric for your underlay, this step won’t take long at all. All you have to do is trim your back to the right size.

If you’re using regular width quilted cotton, you may need to sew and iron a seam or two, but it’s still pretty quick.

Some people prefer to have more complicated quilting. Karen Brown of Just Get It Done Quilts made a video about her afterquilting process. If you choose to “post quilt,” your backing could last longer than your quilt top! Check out Karen’s afterquilt video below:

Making a seamless pad takes about 10 to 15 minutes for a baby size blanket (40″ x 45″) and 15 to 20 minutes for a large throw blanket (60″ x 70″).

Sewing a basic quilt together with one or two seams takes about 15 minutes for a baby-size quilt (40″ x 45″) and 30 to 45 minutes for a large throw quilt (60″ x 70″).

How long does it take to tack a quilt?

Basting a quilt is typically one of the fastest steps in the entire quilt making process. How long it takes you to baste your quilt depends on your basting method. I’m going to talk about two methods today: needle stitching and spray stitching.

How long does it take to tack a quilt?

Of course, the larger the quilt, the longer the basting will take. Pin stapling is more time-consuming than other stapling methods, but it’s a favorite because it’s inexpensive and easy to perform.

Pin basting consists of pinning the quilt top, batting, and backing together every 3 to 5 inches. Having a large area of ​​floor to lay out your quilt will speed up this process.

It takes about 15-30 minutes to pin-tack a baby-size quilt (40″ x 45″) and 45-60 minutes to pin-tack a large quilt (60″ x 70″).

How long does it take to spray a quilt?

If you want to reduce the time it takes to make your quilt, spray stitching is the way to go. The speed and ease are the main features of this method.

One downside is that you’re using a spray can and the spray can get airborne and onto your floor if you’re not careful. A well-ventilated area is a must for this method of stapling.

It takes about 10-20 minutes to spray a baby size quilt (40″ x 45″) and 25-35 minutes to spray a large quilt (60″ x 70″).

How long does it take to quilt a quilt on a home sewing machine?

Quilting a quilt is one of the most time consuming steps in creating a quilt.

If you want to skip this step entirely, you can send your quilt to a long arm quilter. Long sleeve quilters generally charge a price per square inch of fabric. The larger your quilt, the higher the cost of quilting.

Some quilters send their quilts to a long sleeve because they enjoy the previous steps more than the quilting. Some quilters prefer to quilt their own quilts on their home sewing machines. It’s all a personal choice and there is no wrong way to make a quilt!

The size of your quilt and the type of quilting you plan to do will greatly affect how long it takes to quilt your quilt. A more complicated design, or a design that requires you to change your thread color, will take much longer than a simpler quilt design.

One of the fastest quilt designs is wavy lines. This design is easy to make because you don’t have to worry about your lines being perfectly straight, and you don’t have to start and stop your quilting often. The farther apart the lines are, the faster you’ll finish quilting.

A continuous design with wavy lines can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours for a baby sized blanket (40″ x 45″) and 3 to 6 hours for a throw sized blanket (60″ x 70″).

HELPFUL TIP: When deciding how far apart your stitching lines should be, refer to your batting as a guide. Batting always lists a recommended distance between quilting so you can be sure your design will work well with your batting.

Another quick quilt design is crosshatch. This continuous design looks like an angled grid on your quilt. The farther apart the lines intersect, the faster the quilting will be complete.

A cross hatch design can take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours for a baby sized quilt (40″ x 45″) and 6 to 8 hours for a throw sized quilt (60″ x 70″).

If you want to check out some fun quilt designs you can make with your home sewing machine, I highly recommend getting the WALK and WALK 2.0 books. These books have tons of fun designs that will help you improve your machine quilting skills.

How long does it take to tie a quilt?

The final step in completing a quilt is binding. There are two methods of binding a quilt: machine binding and hand binding. If your goal is punctuality, machine binding is the way to go. However, if you want a seamless and clean look, hand binding might be for you.

How long does it take to machine bind a quilt?

Binding takes some time, but is much faster with the sewing machine. With these numbers, I factor in the time it will take to square your quilt, make the binding, and attach the binding.

Machine binding a baby blanket (40″ x 45″) takes between 1 and 3 hours. Machine binding a large throw quilt (60″ x 70″) takes about 3-5 hours.

How long does it take to hand bind a quilt?

The time it takes to hand tie is very subjective as each individual person sews by hand at their own pace.

Hand binding isn’t the quickest way to complete a quilt, but it’s a favorite among quilters!

Many quilters find they enjoy the added “handmade” touch, and hand sewing can be very therapeutic. It’s a great way to stay productive while watching your favorite TV show or listening to an audio book.

You can expect hand-tying a quilt to take around 4-6 hours for a baby quilt (40″ x 45″) and 6-9 hours for a large throw (60″ x 70″).

How long does it take to make a quilt?

If we put all these pieces together, we can estimate how long it will take to make a quilt. Below is a handy chart showing how long it will take to make a basic baby size quilt and a basic large throw size quilt. The columns show the shortest estimated time to the longest estimated time.

Fast Average Slow Baby Blanket (40″ x 45″) 7 hours 14 hours 22 hours Throw Blanket (60″ x 70″) 17 hours 28 hours 38 hours

Keep in mind that these are estimates and the actual time it takes you to make a quilt may vary. With all the different methods that exist to make a quilt, it’s almost impossible to accurately measure the average time it takes to make a quilt.

If you want to get a more specific measure for yourself that takes into account your personal quilting speed, check out the next section below!

How to estimate how long it will take to make a quilt top

If you want a more accurate measure of how long it takes you to make a quilt top, you can do a quick calculation to estimate the time it will take.

Grab some leftover fabric and take your time cutting and assembling a block of your quilt. This process works well for patterns with repeating blocks.

After you’ve determined your time frame for a quilt block, you can multiply that by the number of quilt blocks in your pattern to get a rough estimate of how long it will take to assemble your quilt top.

Of course, if you use time-saving measures like cutting multiple layers of fabric at once and chain piecing, you can significantly reduce your estimated time.

To get an even more accurate number, you can line up a series of blocks. Multiply this number by the number of rows in your quilt and you will have a pretty good estimate of how long your quilt top will take after your pieces are cut.

I like to use this method to get a rough measurement that will help me understand exactly how big the effort will be for my upcoming project. Also, creating a test block before diving into your pattern is a great way to get familiar with the pattern!

HELPFUL TIP: Use your leftover fabric for test blocks. Test pads are a great way to use up any outdated or “ugly” fabric you’ve been holding on to. The best part is that a test block doesn’t have to look pretty – function trumps beauty!

Now that we know how long it can take to make a quilt I would like to know – how long does it take YOU to make a quilt? Do you track the time you put into your projects?

xo, Hailey

Other Posts You May Like:

How many 5 inch squares do I need to make a quilt?

The hassle free guide to machine washing your quilt

How to square a quilted top

Can you make a quilt without batting?

If you love sewing baby clothes for all your kids, grandkids and friends, or design all the costumes for the local musical every summer, maybe it’s time to think about making money from your hobby! Sewing requires specialized skills, whether you want to sew something as simple as a beginner’s pillowcase or as complicated as a thousand-dollar wedding dress. If you have this skill, all you have to do is learn how to sew for money!

You can earn money by sewing a wide variety of fabric items, from headscarves to stuffed animals to custom-made clothing. Your skill level and personal taste will help determine what type of sewing project you choose to make and sell. You will also need business skills like marketing and pricing to profit from sewing.

In this article, you will discover fifteen different ways you can make money sewing at home. You will also get some ideas on how to start a sewing business. Finally, here are some tips on pricing sewing projects.

Can I make money sewing at home?

You can make money sewing at home depending on your skill level, the materials you can afford, and the time you can devote to the endeavor. All you have to do is take a quick look on Etsy to see the demand for hand-sewn items, from clothing to home decor to toys!

It’s okay to get excited if sitting and sewing for a few hours a day seems like the perfect job for you. Before you get too carried away, though, take a moment for some practical considerations.

First, assess your abilities realistically. If you’re a genius with an embroidery machine but struggle with tailoring, you probably want to sell a product that focuses on embroidered designs.

What if you are a beginner? While you want to sell professional looking products in order to build a reputation, that doesn’t mean you have to give up if you don’t master every possible sewing skill. Just make sure you’re selling products that match your skill level so you don’t overwhelm yourself.

Second, make a list of all the sewing tools you already own and figure out what you would need to make the products you want to sell.

Do you need a serger? An embroidery machine? Or just needle and thread?

Finally, be honest with yourself about how much time you can devote to your business. No matter how much you love to sew, you also have other commitments in your life!

How to make money sewing: 15 realistic ideas

There are thousands of different sewing projects to choose from when you start your home sewing business. The world is your oyster when it comes to choosing a project and selling it! However, you may find it more helpful to focus on just a few possibilities at the beginning.

Take a look at these realistic options to get started.

1 pockets

You only need basic sewing skills to make a professional looking, useful bag! Many bags require only a few straight seams and some finished edges. Most types of bags don’t take very long to sew, so save time by trying this easy project too.

Think of all the types of bags you use every day, like zip-up makeup bags, reusable snack bags or packed lunches, and handy tote bags that replace plastic bags! With such a wide variety of types to choose from, you might want to get into the sewing business by starting your own line of hand-sewn bags.

With the trend of eliminating plastic grocery bags and protecting the environment, you may find a strong market for cloth bags and market tote bags. If you fancy something quirky, you can make these bags out of cute fabrics printed with food or farm motifs, or even applique some carrots, onions and tomatoes onto the bag!

2 cuteness of the kitchen

Who doesn’t love home furnishings to match a unique kitchen style? You could sew themed pot holders, tea towels, tea cosies, or even kitchen curtains! Buyers who want something that exemplifies their own personal style are paying a premium for a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted piece of cute kitchen.

Everyone needs potholders. Of course, you could get your oven mitts at Walmart for three bucks, but if you love your cooking, spend a little more to buy a special, handcrafted set of oven mitts to match the color of your kitchen walls!

Honestly, you could apply this idea to any area of ​​home decor. For example, you could easily start a series of themed throw pillows.

If you’re an experienced sewer, a project like this probably only takes about half an hour. But don’t panic if you’re a newbie! A project like sewing a pot holder only requires basic skills, so this type of project might be a perfect place to start.

3 personalized gifts

Offering custom made items with personalized details for each buyer will set you apart from mainstream retail products. You could sell baby clothes embroidered with the little one’s name or make quilts based on the customer’s childhood memories. Personalizing a handmade item can be as simple or fancy as you like!

The wedding industry is another big market in this space. You could sell t-shirts embroidered with the names of the bride and groom or tote bags labeled with each bridesmaid’s initials.

Of course, you would need to establish a communication channel with customers to ensure you are providing the exact personalization they want.

You would also need to consider how much money you are willing to spend to start this business. If you already have an embroidery machine, this line of business could be perfect for you! If you don’t already own this expensive piece of equipment, you might want to look into another sewing project.

4 doll clothes and stuffed animals

Sewing doll clothes requires some advanced skill and you may find it difficult to work in miniature. However, dolls come in standard sizes, so you can be sure that you will always sew things of the same shape and size. Real people come in many different sizes, so sewing for dolls is easier in that regard!

American Girl has made 18 inch dolls super popular, and you can find a market for everything from historical prairie dresses for dolls to modern sweaters, headbands and t-shirts! This style of sewing is so popular that you can find thousands of free patterns online to get you started.

If dolls aren’t your thing, you might find sewing stuffed animals fun. Sewing in 3D might make you feel like your brain is going to be turned upside down, but if you’re the kind of seamstress who enjoys the challenge, give it a try!

Imagine the market for handmade, personalized stuffed animals. Grandparents love this!

As you may have noticed, this sewing project requires more complex sewing skills. For example, it takes patience and skill to sew a 2 inch sleeve into a dress. However, doll clothes use simpler measurements and far fewer materials than human clothes!

5 dog clothes

Yes, you could sew and sell handmade dog clothes! Many people love their pets like their own children and treat them accordingly. Why not capitalize on this market and offer an adorable pet jacket to keep that special furry friend nice and warm?

You could focus on cozy winter coats for dogs. Or you could branch out and make cloaks with superhero capes attached. Of course you can also add some personal touches if you want to go all out!

Again, this type of project doesn’t require a lot of fabric and materials. Once you get used to sewing designs that fit four legs instead of two, you’ll find these projects pretty easy!

6 baby clothes

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the idea of ​​sewing adult size clothes, sewing baby clothes may offer the ideal alternative. Welcoming a new baby into a family is a time of joy and giving of many gifts. Many new parents want baby outfits for photos, for baptism and every holiday!

If you have the skills to cut out, sew and maybe personalize baby clothes, you will find a strong market for handmade baby clothes. You might even want to focus on a niche market like hand-embroidered christening gowns.

While staying with the broader category of all baby clothes, think outside the box when choosing themes and colors. You don’t want to try to sell something a parent can buy at Target. Instead, create a unique, colorful, adorable outfit that no parent or grandparent could resist!

You need to make sure you only use safe, hypoallergenic materials for such delicate garments. Also, your handmade baby clothes need to have nice, strong stitching and be able to withstand multiple washes, as babies tend to get dirty quickly!

7 quilts

Quilting requires special skills and tools, but if quilting is your passion, you can sell these works of art for big bucks! Seriously, hand-sewn quilts typically sell for well over a thousand dollars.

Many quilt artists understandably refer to their work as textile art! Handmade quilts have a long history of craftsmanship and deep meaning.

But if you’ve ever completed a quilting project, you know that it takes many hours to make even a small quilt. You should consider how much time and effort you can put into your sewing business before you start selling quilts.

In general, quilting also requires a number of specialty tools, from cutting mats and rotary cutters to fancy quilting machines that cost several thousand dollars. Even if you hand sew your quilts with a needle and thread, you’ll likely need a quilt frame to hold your work while you sew it.

8 Custom Clothing

The simple fact is that everyone needs clothes and in today’s world what you wear often reflects your personality and position in life. Wearing a perfectly fitting suit could get you the job you want, so some clients pay for custom clothing!

Sewing clothes is a challenging business, but if you find yourself sewing clothes for you and your family on a regular basis, you might feel ready to market your skills! You could easily go in one of two directions with your line of handmade clothing.

First, you could sell clothes based on typical retail sizes like small, medium, and large. You should think about finding a type of clothing that suits your mood. For example, you could sell fluffy poodle skirts to the “rockabilly” crowd, or specialize in floral sundresses. If you are a real pro, you can design and sell intricate garments such as unique wedding dresses.

Second, you could sell bespoke clothing made to a customer’s individual measurements. This second option requires a lot of advanced skills, like the ability to design your own patterns based on a series of measurements. However, if you have a background and experience in fashion design, you can charge a lot of money for bespoke clothing.

Tailored jackets, tailored shift dresses, or tailored clothing for people with unique body types all have strong markets.

You need to consider material costs when sewing and selling larger items like clothing. Also, be realistic about your skills: Can you design and sew a fitted suit jacket that won’t fall apart when the customer first takes it to the dry cleaner? If you answered yes to this question, you are one of the select few to sew at home and you should be looking into the need for made to measure clothing!

9 changes

If you enjoy perfecting a mistake rather than creating something from scratch, consider starting an alterations business rather than sewing products to sell. They can hem pants, incorporate waist ties, or even make a wedding dress look perfect for a bride’s special day!

Here’s the thing though: like sewing clothes, tailoring requires mastering some complex skills. And while your bread and butter might be hemming pants, you’ll also likely work with expensive garments like wedding dresses and prom dresses. You can’t afford to make mistakes!

On the plus side, the rigorous requirements of this profession mean you will always find a market for your skills. If you’re looking for a part-time job, you might find a job at a local tailor shop. If you want to work from home, you can start your own little alteration business!

However, remember that if you plan to change their clothes, you need a safe way to meet customers in person. This type of shop works very differently than a home sewing shop where you can package your product and ship it to a customer far away!

10 lingerie

Etsy shows that people pay a premium for customized lingerie made from luxurious materials! These clothes practically cost an arm and a leg, even if you buy them in a department store. So imagine how much you can charge for unique, luxurious lingerie.

If you love silk, lace, and satin, you’ll love this tricky sewing technique. As with “regular” clothing, when you sew and sell lingerie you want to narrow down a target customer. For example, would you like to sew lace-up corsets or airy, old-fashioned petticoats?

A smaller, more intimate item requires more advanced skills and sewing skills than something like a skirt or pants. The downside to this endeavor is that you need a lot of sewing knowledge to make lingerie.

If you want to capture a specialized market, you can sell lingerie based on a customer’s measurements. You’ve probably experienced the struggle of finding intimate items that fit your body type, so imagine how badly you would want some lingerie made to measure!

11 costumes

At first glance, costume sewing seems to be more of a niche market than mainstream clothing, but think of all the occasions that call for costumes, from Halloween to themed parties to Renaissance fairs! Also, a quick look through Etsy or Amazon will show you that there is also a growing market for period clothing and costumes as recreating eras like the Roaring 20s or the 1950s becomes more popular.

Of course, you don’t have to commit yourself to sewing hoop skirts. You could sew children’s costumes based on the most popular Disney film every year for Halloween.

Remember, quality shows in this market. Think of the shelves of flimsy disposable superhero and princess costumes you see at Walmart every October. Making your princess dresses out of real satin or velvet really makes your product stand out from the crowd!

12 design patterns

If you’d rather work on a computer than sew on a sewing machine, you might want to consider selling digital sewing patterns. Digital downloads have quite a growing market today because they cost so much less than paper samples.

You need graphic design skills and special software to create high-quality digital patterns. Buying the computer tools for this job might set you back a bit, but you might also consider using a blog or YouTube channel to promote your patterns. Providing a free “how-to” guide to creating the pattern will inspire customers to try your design!

If you know a lot about pattern designing, there is also a niche market for customizing patterns to a client’s body type. This allows the average home sewer to cut and sew a garment that is specifically tailored to their body!

13 Give a sewing class

You love to sew, and you may have enjoyed teaching your kids or friends to sew, too! Why not spread the joy of sewing by teaching a sewing class to paying students? Sewing is becoming a lost art and people of all ages and walks of life want to learn it.

Plus, technology today gives you so many easy ways to offer online courses! You can teach via Zoom, Youtube or Skype. You could start a sewing club on a subscription basis or teach a quilting circle once a week via Zoom.

Of course you need to know your stuff before you can teach it. They must also enjoy seeing themselves on screen and/or enjoy interacting with people!

Besides the fun of teaching, another advantage of this type of sewing business is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to buy materials. Teaching classes could work well for a flexible schedule too!

14 sewing machine repair

This one may seem far off, but if you’re good with your hands, you should consider becoming a certified sewing machine repair technician. Even the best sewing machines break down from time to time, and repairing these machines requires special skills and knowledge. This guarantees you a job market!

In addition, manufacturers recommend that you regularly take your sewing machine to a professional cleaning. You can make a lot of business just cleaning machines!

Once you train yourself in basic repairs, you may even consider focusing on vintage machines or restoring antique machines!

15 trending needs

If you like flexibility, keep an eye on trending needs in the sewing world and hop on the bandwagon in time to make money by selling what everyone wants.

For example, the need for face masks has skyrocketed due to recent events, and many home sewers have responded to this need by designing and selling comfortable, safe masks.

Of course, that last category is a bit ambiguous, but the essence of a good business is your ability to give customers what they want!

How do I start my own sewing business?

There are many different ways you can start a home sewing business, but each method requires a marketing plan and a way to get your product to your customers. Before you open an Etsy shop, rent a booth at a farmers market, or start your blog, take some time to create a sewing business plan. This gives you clear goals and realistic expectations.

Creating a business plan might sound like something that requires a special degree, but all you have to do is write down the answers to a few key questions.

What are your goals? Do you want to earn enough money to go on a cruise once a year, or do you want to support your family with your profits? Also, set goals for how many sales you want to make in your first year.

What is your target market? For example, do you want to sell summer dresses to teenagers or dog clothes to animal lovers? Know your market to know what they want!

How will you market your product to this customer base? Are you planning to market on social media or simply post an ad on Craigslist? Think about where your customers are most likely to see your marketing.

Is there a lot of competition for this target market? If so, how will your product stand out from the crowd?

What start-up costs will I incur? For most sewing projects you will need at least a basic sewing machine. You may also need fabric and various terms. You might also want to start a website that comes with a price tag or an Etsy shop that also has some fees associated with it.

How much do you charge for your products? We’ll look at this in detail in the next section, but start thinking about how much money you want to make!

What product will you sell? Ok, that sounds silly, but write it down! Explain what is special about your particular hand-sewn item.

Once you have a plan, understand your customers and set goals, there are still many details to figure out, such as: B. how you want to get your products into the hands of your customers. Will you sell online and ship your product? Or would you rather set up a table at the local farmer’s market once a month?

After thinking through all the logistics, your sewing business will turn from a dream into an achievable goal one day!

But what about starting a home sewing business if you don’t have the money and can’t afford the start-up costs? Well, you could start selling products made with supplies you already have on hand. Sometimes grandmas, aunts, or friends have a stash of unwanted stuff that you could beg, borrow, or steal!

In general, however, the old adage of pumping the pump before you get clear water applies to businesses. Even with a small business, you have to reckon with some start-up costs.

How much should I charge for sewing projects?

When pricing your sewing projects, you should consider competitive pricing as well as the cost of your time and materials. Deciding how much to charge for your sewing projects is a challenge for many home sewers. This is mainly because prices change based on what customers are willing to pay for a particular item at any given time.

First, find a good way to track your competition’s prices. Etsy provides some great tools for this, although even Googling your product will provide a snapshot of the current market. If you charge a lot more than someone else selling the same thing, you won’t get too many sales!

On the other hand, you need to make a profit.

Remember the basic equation that your time plus your materials equals the capital you put into the article. You must earn more than this cost to even make a profit!

You can check your receipts to find out how much the materials cost, but what about your time? How much is that worth?

Well, if you look at a typical hourly wage for a seamstress, you’re probably around $15 an hour. Of course, fashion designers and experienced tailors can make a lot more, so honestly evaluate your skills when deciding to do this.

Here’s the rub: Suppose it takes you three hours to sew a skirt. They spent ten dollars buying the materials and are paying themselves fifteen dollars an hour for the labor. Her skirt now costs at least fifty-five dollars!

Will your customers pay more than $55 for this type of product?

The final challenge is to ensure that your final cost falls below the market value of the product. This way you can sell your product for more than you paid to make it and make a nice profit doing what you love!

Conclusion

Starting a home sewing business gives you a flexible and secure way to make a profit doing what you love. You can sew and sell just about anything, but a few handy ideas for beginners include selling handmade tote bags or home accessories like throw pillows and oven mitts.

If you have sewing and design skills, you may consider selling custom clothing or starting an alteration business.

What is your favorite thing to sew? Have you considered selling it to capitalize on your passion? Leave a comment below to let us know!

Give a gift that will last a lifetime with the help of a professional quilter. Skilled in the art of sewing, quilters focus on making quilts, which are front-and-back bedspreads filled with batting. Typically, the top of the quilt is made up of several scraps of fabric sewn together in traditional patterns. Just as popular as traditional styles are modern designs, memory quilts, photo quilts, and garment (or t-shirt) quilts.

The complexity of the quilt and pattern, the quilt size, the skill of the quilter, and the materials used all affect the cost of a new quilt. Quilts are often given as gifts on important occasions such as the birth of a child, a wedding, a milestone wedding anniversary or graduation – and then passed on by the family. If you own a quilt or want to give it as a gift, here are the cost factors involved in making a quilt.

Many quilters charge per square inch of the finished quilt. Cost includes factors such as the fabric used, the skill required, the time required for the technique, the materials required, the quality of the batting, and more. Many traditional quilters charge between 3 cents and 15 cents per square inch, says Katherine Bennett of Kat’s Out o’the Bag in Wilmington, North Carolina, with the price range reflecting the factors that go into the quilt.

The larger the quilt and the more intricate the pattern, the higher the overall cost. Below are some examples of how size and design impact costs. Size is the key differentiator in the cost of two quilted edge quilts designed by Sue Simon of Sam ‘n’ Baby Studio in Garland, Texas, while the quatrefoil quilt – although only a twin – costs more due to the added complexity.

T-shirt quilts

T-shirt quilts are trending as a thoughtful gift or keepsake for a loved one. T-shirts are sewn into the pattern of the quilt, turning special clothing into a quilt. The quilter preps the shirts of your choice with a lightweight, fusible interlining to prevent stretching and provide stability, explains Jill Humphreys of Sew What in Fort Worth, Texas.

A variable t-shirt quilt is made by varying the size of the t-shirt square, Sew What’s Humphreys explains, with sashes between the blocks. The blocks are typically the same width but different lengths. Variable t-shirt patterns may cost more due to the extra work involved. Here are examples of Humphreys of Sew What costs:

Start a long sleeve quilting business by following these 10 steps:

Plan your long sleeve quilt business. Make your long sleeve quilt business a legal entity. Register your long sleeve quilting business for taxes. Open a business. bank account and credit card. Set Up Accounting For Your Longarm Quilting Business Quilting Business Insurance Define the Brand of Your Longarm Quilting Business. Build Your Longarm Quilting Business Website. Set up your business phone system

There is more to starting a business than just registering with the state. We’ve put together this easy guide to starting your long sleeve quilting business. These steps will ensure your new business is well planned, properly registered and legally compliant.

Are you exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential to success as an entrepreneur. It will help you grasp the ins and outs of your business and uncover some unknowns. Some important issues to consider are:

Luckily, we’ve done a lot of that research for you.

What are the costs associated with opening a long sleeve quilting business?

Most long sleeve quilt business owners manage everything from their home office/studio. Before you begin, coordinate with your insurance professional to determine any additional insurance needs that may arise from this business venture. An uninsured claim could shut your business down forever. In addition to these requirements, it is important that you invest some of your budget in marketing your business.

Many entrepreneurs who enter this industry already own a frame and machine that they are comfortable with. If you’re due for a new one, these setups range from $1,500 to over $7,000. Used options are available; Just make sure you’re buying from a reputable retailer and have tested the gear before buying. Your new machine plus needles, thread, pantograph and the other items needed to properly incorporate a business in the US will set you back up to $15,000.

What is the running cost of a long sleeve quilting business?

The running costs for a long arm quilting machine are quite low. In addition to the usual administrative fees associated with running a business, business owners are encouraged to attend conventions annually. This is a great opportunity to keep up to date with new trends and to network within the community. You should also ensure that your equipment is regularly maintained, which will help reduce lost revenue due to equipment failure. You need to reinvest some of your earnings to buy materials for upcoming projects. This money will be refunded once you charge for this project.

Who is the target market?

This industry caters to a very niche market. The vast majority of your customers will be quilters who lack the necessary skills and/or equipment to complete their own creations.

How does a long sleeve quilting business make money?

Every customer has their own individual needs. Fees are charged based on the services required and are set based on the hours invested and materials required. The fee structure is similar for custom and original pieces sold by Longarm Quilter.

How much can you charge customers?

Each quilt is priced based on the services required, the techniques used, the price of materials and the time taken to create it. Experienced quilters recommend setting a base hourly rate in advance. This simplifies the quotation process. If you are approached with more complicated jobs, you can then work out the average time that would be required, including the additional time spent on more in-depth techniques, and multiply that by your hourly rate. Long arm quilters unsure how long a particular technique would take are urged to add an additional percentage to the total price – 25% to 75% is standard depending on the complexity and size of the work. Some long sleeve quilting service providers charge a flat fee per square inch.

How Much Profit Can a Long Sleeve Quilting Business Make?

Total annual profit depends on your fee structure and the number of orders you complete. If you calculate per square inch, a simple long sleeve service for a queen size quilt will set you back just under $100, while a king size quilt will set you back $125. To increase profits, many business owners offer a variety of additional services, including creating custom quilts for interested customers.

How can you make your business more profitable?

To maximize profitability, you should accept as many custom orders as possible. You can charge a higher price for these pieces, potentially doubling your income and requiring lower production numbers. Many quilting professionals also have success teaching quilting classes and selling their own patterns.

What will you name your company?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to name a business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our long sleeve quilt business name generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you may wish to operate under a company name other than your own. Visit our DBA Guide to learn more.

When registering a company name, we recommend researching your company name by checking the following:

Your state’s business records

Federal and state trademark records

social media platforms

Availability of web domains.

It is very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Find a domain Powered by GoDaddy.com now

STEP 2: Establish a legal entity

The most common forms of business are sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLC) and corporations.

Forming a legal business entity such as a limited liability company or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your long sleeve quilting business is sued.

Form your LLC

Read our guide to forming your own LLC. Select your state Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

ZenBusiness LegalZoom ($79 + government fees)

You can form an LLC yourself and only pay the minimal state LLC fees, or hire one of the best LLC services for a small additional fee.

Recommended: You must choose a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages typically include a free year of registered agent services. You can choose to engage a registered agent or act as your own.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You must register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open your business.

To register for taxes, you must apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can purchase your EIN for free through the IRS website, by fax, or by mail. If you want to learn more about EINs and their benefits for your LLC, read our article What is an EIN?.

Learn how to get an EIN with our What is an EIN guide, or find your existing EIN using our EIN locator guide.

Small Business Taxes

Depending on the company structure you choose, you may have different choices about how your company is taxed. For example, some LLCs could benefit from being taxed as an S corporation (S-Corp).

You can learn more about small business taxes in these guides:

There are certain state taxes that may apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account and credit card

Using dedicated commercial bank and credit accounts is essential to protecting personal wealth.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk if your business is sued. In commercial law, this is referred to as penetrating the corporate veil.

Additionally, by learning how to build business credit, you can get credit cards and other financing on your company’s behalf (instead of your own), better interest rates, higher lines of credit, and more.

Open a commercial bank account

In addition to the prerequisite for applying for business loans, opening a business bank account is:

Separates your personal wealth from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal wealth protection.

Facilitates bookkeeping and tax returns.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Businesses report to find the best national bank or credit union.

Open 30 net accounts

Net 30 accounts are used to establish and build business credit and increase business cash flow. With a Net 30 account, companies buy goods and pay back the entire balance within 30 days.

NetMany Net 30 credit providers report to the major credit bureaus (Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business and Equifax Business Credit). This is how companies build business credit so they can qualify for credit cards and other lines of credit.

Recommended: Read our top 30 best net providers, do them and start building business credit.

Get a business credit card

Purchasing a business credit card will help you:

Separate personal and business expenses by consolidating all of your company’s expenses in one place.

Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful later to raise funds.

Recommended: Apply for an easy-to-approve business credit card from Divvy and quickly build your business credit.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Keeping track of your various expenses and revenue streams is critical to understanding your organization’s financial performance. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax return.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC expense cheat sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain the required permits and licenses

Failure to obtain the required permits and licenses can result in hefty fines or even the closure of your business.

State and local business license requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be required to operate a long sleeve quilting business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting the SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax affects your business, read our small business sales tax article.

Information on local licenses and permits:

Check with the regulatory office in your town, city or district

Get support from one of the local associations listed in the US Small Business Association’s Directory of Local Business Resources.

occupancy certificate

A long arm quilting operation is typically run from a workshop. Businesses operating from a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO certifies that all building codes, zoning laws, and government regulations have been met.

If you want to rent a location:

The landlord is generally responsible for obtaining a CO.

Before leasing, confirm that your lessor has or can obtain a valid CO applicable to a long sleeve quilting business.

After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business is being renovated prior to opening, it is recommended that you include a note on your lease agreement that rent payments will not begin until a valid CO is issued.

If you are planning to buy or build a site:

You are responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government agency.

Check all building codes and zoning codes for your business location to ensure your long sleeve quilting business is compliant and able to receive a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just like with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance to operate safely and lawfully. Business liability insurance protects the financial well-being of your company in the event of damage.

There are different types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks your business might face, start with general liability insurance. This is the most common coverage small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start your business.

Find out more about general liability insurance.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses require is workers’ compensation insurance. If your company will have employees, there’s a good chance your state will require you to have workers’ compensation insurance.

Recommended: Find out how much business insurance will cost for your longarm quilting business. Business insurance for

Long sleeve quilt shop

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for and how your company is perceived by the public. A strong brand helps your company stand out from the competition.

If you’re not feeling confident designing your small business logo, check out our beginner’s design guides. We will give you helpful tips and advice on how to create the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended: Get a logo with Truic’s free logo maker, no email or signup required, or use a premium logo maker.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our free QR code generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications or to raise awareness for your new website.

How to Promote and Market a Long Sleeve Quilt Business

The most important component of your marketing strategy is a portfolio of your work. This shows potential customers your experience and skills. Once you’ve done that, share printed material in your area and target shop owners, local guilds, patchwork teachers, upholstery and drapery shops, and interior designers. If your goal is to expand your reach beyond the local market, a website or Etsy account, along with a strong social media presence, should be an integral part of your marketing strategy.

How to get customers to come back

Customer retention is largely based on the level of customer service you provide. With every order, make sure you stay within the agreed budget and that the quilt is delivered on time. Of course things come up that are out of our control. In this case, communicate with the customer throughout the process. When you partner with local businesses, the image you convey and the service you provide will have a lasting impact. Strong customer service ensures positive word of mouth, while a negative review can cause you to lose that customer and anyone else they decide to share their story with. This includes how you choose to deal with that “bad customer” who is clearly wrong but unwilling to take responsibility for wrongdoing.

Still not sure what kind of business you want to start? Check out the latest small business trends for inspiration.

STEP 9: Build your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo, the next step is to create a website for your business.

While building a website is an essential step, some may fear that it is out of their reach due to their lack of website building experience. While this may have been a valid fear in 2015, web technology has made tremendous strides in recent years that are making life for small business owners a lot easier.

Here are the top reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

All reputable companies have websites – period. The size or industry of your business doesn’t matter when it comes to getting your business online.

– Point. The size or industry of your business doesn’t matter when it comes to getting your business online. Social media accounts like Facebook Pages or LinkedIn company profiles are not a substitute for your own company website.

that you own. Website builder tools like GoDaddy’s website builder have made creating a simple website extremely easy. You don’t have to hire a web developer or designer to create a website you can be proud of.

With our website building guides, the process is easy and painless and shouldn’t take more than 2-3 hours.

Recommended: Get started with our recommended website builder today, or check out our top website builder rating.

Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Setting up a phone for your business is one of the best ways to keep your personal and business lives separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; It also helps you automate your business more, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We reviewed the top companies and ranked them on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the best business phone systems of 2022 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and its fair prices.

Start a long sleeve quilt business in your state