What a great gift idea!

I bet the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “Quilting Bee” is a room full of middle aged or older women seated around the outside of a quilting frame. All the furniture in the 1930’s parlour or farmhouse living area has been pushed into the corners, and each woman is bent over her area of the quilt, needle in hand busily quilting 8 stitches to the inch.

But we are in another century - almost 100 years later. Quilting, except for guild meetings, has become quite a solitary thing so when I say quilting B’s - I am talking about Batting, Backing and Binding.  

For a seasoned quilter the three B's are quite often things we briefly think of in the overall design of the quilt - and them put off until later. Think of backing? Really?  I haven't even stated piecing yet!

It already costs a fortune in time, gas and fabric just to make the quilt top - so it’s too soon (or too painful) to think about backing. Instead, let's wait several weeks or at least until the top is finished and we have paid the visa bill. Yes, quilting fabric has become very expensive - and don't even get me started on layer cakes or jelly rolls. (Did you know they work out to over $26 a meter?)

Once the quilt top is finished it may take several trips to find just the right backing - unless we decide to use some of the same fabric on the back - if there is any left at the quilt store. Most of us cringe at that thought because after spending a couple of hundred dollars on the top - it’s hard to fathom putting out another $150 or more on the back.

Then of course we need the batting. That’s easy! We can head to the basement or storage cupboard where we have stashed several bags of batting we found on sale at the local craft store. “I got it ½ price” we think as we look at the bright orange tag on the outside of the bag. What we forget is that we got it ½ price because we paid the yearly store membership of $50 so we could benefit from the special member sales. (Maybe it’s not quite as inexpensive as we thought.) And .... news flash... at half price it is still over priced.

Read more here and learn how you can save over $40 on your next queen sized quilt without even breaking a sweat!


Chapter 7 in my book Measuring Success addresses precut fabrics. Here are several excepts: (not the whole chapter)

I had heard of stashing fabric ( like I do with a little chocolate here and there!) but when I first heard someone mention a jelly roll of fabric I was perplexed. I was used to buying fabric by the meter. But then again - my first quilt squares that I cut when I was 18 years old were cut with scissors - not a rotary cutter - so I am always open to something new!

How much fabric do you really get? And is it good value for the dollar?

I have put together a chart to help you see the cut sizes and numbers of pieces that you get along with a total in meterage.  I think you may be surprised at the price you pay for such a lovely looking, curated and neatly packaged pile of fabric! But oh, it does look pretty

The average price of a layer cake is between $70 - $85. If you do the calculations, this means that the price per meter of the fabric is between $28 - $34 a meter. When the same line of fabric costs $22 a meter - that’s a hefty price to pay for someone to cut your fabric for you!

The average regular price of a jelly roll is between $70 - $85. Using the formula $70 / 2.62 m = $26.72 a meter at the low end. If you paid $85 for the jelly roll the cost per meter would be $32.44

Should you buy Pre-cuts? If you fall for a jelly roll, charm pack or layer cake it’s all over for you! So go ahead - look at it for months until you find just the right pattern - and go for it!

OR..... pick a line of fabric that you love and ask for .25 meters of up to 10 fabrics. Each cut gets you 4 - 10 inch pieces. In the end you would likely pay $55 for the layer cake you curated yourself! You are now $15 - $30 ahead of the game. (now you can buy more fabric or maybe my book?) LOL

If you would like a copy of my book - you can purchase it here

Remember the Meilleurs Amis in French General Joie de Vivre?

These kits sold out in less than a week. Many of you asked for the same pattern in blues - and so here it is!

I have a limited number of the same quilt in "Three Sister's Breathtaking Blues"

The kit comes in Queen or King size and is precut! It includes binding.

Order the Queen Kit here: $245.00

Order the KIng Kit here: $270.00

Thanks for reading to the end.... please excuse any typos as I am a quilter - not a professional editor!

Please do let me know if a link does not work - or you need any other information by simply replying to this email!

SHORT ON FUNDS?

Occasionally life gets in the way of our hobbies, addictions and compulsions! If quilting is your therapy and life has gotten in the way of your ability to pay immediately - please let me know!

Please do not let a temporary 'shortage of funds' delay you from getting your quilt longarmed! Contact me - and we can work out a payment plan. (yes - we can!) And I can also offer Visa and Mastercard options. Contact me here to learn more.