When you buy a pattern…how much is too much? Would you spend $20?…$50?…$100?
Imagine my surprise when I came across patterns for $138.00!! They called the pattern a ‘pattern set’? At first I thought they meant the pattern and fabric as a kit…but no…it was JUST THE PATTERN!! Are they the Gucci of Patterns? Patterns for the rich? They call them Pattern Sets because there are 5 blocks in the quilt…BUT it is still only ONE quilt!!
Even if I absolutely loved these patterns…(which I do!)… I just couldn’t justify spending that kind of money on one pattern!! I know some pattern designers are out there moaning and groaning right now as they read this…and yes, I know you have worked extremely hard drawing your patterns, writing out the instructions, making up the demo quilts and marketing them…and I am in AWE of you and your talent but at $138.00 a pop I just can’t do it!! For one thing that is WAY too much money and then when you factor in the cost of fabric, batting and backing -you are talking about a HUGE investment in ONE quilt! For a quilter to recoup their $$ and feel like they have got their money out of a pattern they would have to make several quilts…and frankly, I don’t work that way. I make a quilt and then I am off to the next project. So I’m sorry to say I won’t be making any of these ‘pattern sets’…:o(
On a HAPPY note…Thank goodness we have some FANTASTIC designers who realize that they want to supply their patterns to ALL quilters– be they rich or poor…and those in the middle!
I bought this pattern at the last quilt show…It came in BOOK form…by Buggy Barn…for about $20. What a deal!!
It’s 9 pages long and has FULL SIZED pull out appliqué patterns for NINE blocks! Did I ever get my money’s worth!!
Another good deal was Winter Wonderland from Crab-apple Hill…for $25! I got a pattern that is a work of art with FULL SIZED embroidery transfers…
Love this quilt!!
Another deal was the “Over the River and Through the Woods” for only $11.99!! Now that’s a Bargain!…and again with full size embroidery patterns!!
And here’s to all you wonderful designers who keep your incredible patterns under $10!! WE LOVE YOU!!
I could go on and on…about all the wonderful AFFORDABLE PATTERNS out there!! So if you are one of those designers who produces AFFORDABLE gorgeous works of Art..WE THANK YOU and we REALLY DO appreciate everything!! You keep cranking them out and we will keep buying them!!
What about you…how much is TOO much?
Have a wonderful Wednesday and Happy Quilting!~P
You are pretty right! I saw a pattern at the shop Monday that was $45 and I thought that was a little steep for one quilt! I know designers work very hard and the work they do is worth every penny, but for one quilt it can be a lot. Especially when you can get a whole book with lots of patterns for less. Happy Thursday to you tomorrow, I know you already had Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteThere have been 'pattern sets' that I've wanted so badly that I've come very close to paying an outrageous price. I've learned to avoid my impulse because I simply can't afford it.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad that so many designers have figured out that they can make their money with volume sales rather than a handful of patterns and keep their prices low.
Thank you for sharing, P.
Ok I'd like to see this $138 pattern! Oh my. Have they heard about the current economy? I guess not. blessings, marlene
ReplyDeleteI live near a somewhat famous fabric designer. I've been to her quilt shop once and about fell over when I found one rack of patterns...all priced $80 and up. MERCY!! They weren't her patterns--they were another designer--but then most of the patterns were 'pricey'. I am blessed to live near several quilt shops, thankfully, if you catch my drift!!
ReplyDeleteI would never pay that outrageous price for a pattern set. We use it once to make the quilt and then it's useless. I'm happy to support the designers with more reasonable prices.
ReplyDeleteI think designers like that are just greedy. Even though the quilts are stunning nothing is worth that much money, Thank you for bringing it out there
ReplyDeleteI am so with you on this one. For most people quilting is a hobby. We don't make money at it. We just do it because we enjoy it. If we had to pay that much for a pattern, we couldn't afford to do it. For those who do try to make money at quilting, they don't make much, if any extra money. The fabric, batting, patterns are expensive enough as it is. Then with all the hours of work to make just one quilt, no one is getting rich doing this. So, to those pattern designers that ask that much for their patterns, well, all I can say is look at your sales. That should reflect how well the price is received. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteI've paid $50 for a pattern group.. Maggie Walkers Garden Party, because I had to have the roosters.. I use them appliqued, but not quilted at my kitchen window. It took a lot of courage to make that purchase. I'm not much for the over the top prices, I find just what I'm looking for free on line so many times, and then there are the years of quilting magazines that I can always fall back on.. That leaves more $$ left for fabric...;)
ReplyDeleteWell said!! I do agree the designers work very hard to create for us and they aren't doing it for free BUT do you think if they would lower their prices they would sell even more and make the same amount of money?
ReplyDeleteWOW ~ I don't even know if I've ever made a quilt that cost me $138 in just the supplies before! I could never justify spending that on a pattern!
ReplyDeleteI saw one at the store I wanted and it was 11 dollars for one pattern, and you needed three to make the quilt. That I do not get, I can buy a book for less;)
ReplyDeleteAs a pattern maker, I do understand the need to list at a price, that makes it worth making them. But I also believe, sell more for less.
Debbie
OUCH - that is high! I think for that price I would invest in something like EQ and work at learning to design my own.
ReplyDeleteI made a resolution two New Year's ago not to buy any new patterns, as there are so many generous quilters (and fabric companies) posting free ones out there. I have purchased a grand total of one pattern in 2 years (that I have yet to make) and still made 8 quilts - all different and all gorgeous - with free patterns I found online. I am going to try to keep working through the great ones I have downloaded and not gotten to yet before I will be tempted by ones for sale.
ONCE I spent more than I had for a pattern and have been sorry ever since! I haven't even made the quilt yet. That reminds me....I'd better get it out and use it this year! I'm with ritad above where she said years of quilt magazines and freebies on line give me plenty of ideas to keep me busy for years to come.
ReplyDelete$138 is too much. Way too much. But now that I think of it, I bought 25 applique patterns at $4.95 each. I bought them over a period of time and it didn't seem like a huge amount doing that. But that was one big splurge I haven't done since.
ReplyDeletePaulette,
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you. I've been quilting for just a little over 10 years and I remember when I started some of the really "expensive" material was $7.99 a yard and I said I'd NEVER pay that much for fabric. Here we are 10 years later and all really good material is over $10 a yard. I feel like I'm being priced out of quilting. By the time you buy the pattern/material or kit, then batting/backing and pay to have them machine quilted you can easily spend $350-$400 on a queen size quilt or more. It's a good thing I've been hoarding like a squirrel all these years, because I have enough material/kits to last three life times, so guess I really don't have to buy more...it's just so tempting!
Blimey how can they justify that much!! No way could I pay that, so I agree with you lets applaud the designers that keep their prices low, and all the really generous ones who put them out there for free. Linda
ReplyDeleteOh gawsh I TOTALLY hear what you are saying. Some "namebrand" patterns are outrageous!
ReplyDeleteHowever.. if you truly LOVE it..there is no price cap.
i am going to be tottally honest. I have spent $75.00 fro a pattern. it was a primitive gahterings. It was the wool one . I forgot the name but it is beautifully & it has beautiful color copies. Very thick pattern 50 pages or so. It probably is a book.
ReplyDeletekim
Like many other quilters I can't justify spending that much on the pattern for one project.....I'm sure it's beautiful, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it!
ReplyDeleteWas the pattern a BOM at one time? It seems designers charge a lot more for patterns when they are part of a BOM. There is one I would like right now but the pattern set alone (no fabric) is $150 and I just can't justify spending that much on it. Another thing I don't like about some quilt patterns is spending $9 or $10 and finding that it is just individual motifs with directions to arrange as shown. For that price I think the pieces should be full size and arranged on a square of the finished size like the pattern in the Buggy Barn book you showed. I have found used but almost like new BOM patterns on ebay for a reasonable price.
ReplyDeleteI have also spend $30 for a Kim McLean applique pattern and felt it was worth it since her applique patterns are full size drawings of the finished piece. All you need to do is trace them.
Like my dad used to tell me, "Money don't grow on trees"!
ReplyDeleteLOL There is a limit to how much I'll pay for a pattern, or a pattern set.
I agree Paulette, we like to support our industry but yes there is a limit. Imagine the cost of that pattern here in Australia! I could probably travel over and buy it and still get change! (A little dramatic but you get the gist?)
ReplyDeleteA quilt shop owner explained to me one time that if you think about the difference between buying a book and buying a pattern, you would really think twice about the pattern. Sure the book costs more but you usually get 5 - 10 different quilt patterns in one book. If you figure the cost per quilt, the book wins out every time. Magazines are even better. Of course, you would have to make sure you like all the patterns in each one but still . . . . something to think about.
ReplyDeleteSo well said, Paulette. I can not imagine paying that for a pattern. If I did, I would have no money left for fabric, so, why buy the pattern. Lots of beautiful free ones on the internet I would never pay more than 10.00 for a pattern and then I think that is almost to much. I will support the designers that make patterns we all can afford.
ReplyDeletePaula
@Shakerwood I was JUST explaining this this morning. You get a beautiful book for yourself too rather then a paper envelope to stuff away in your drawer!!
ReplyDelete$138 is rather steep for a pattern even if they call it a pattern set. Unless you are getting fabric, binding and precut pieces, this is not very realistic. As you said yourself, we will continue to buy those wonderful patterns of designers who are able to keep their prices under $10. And if you really want to save money, try designing a pattern yourself. I think, as quilters, we all have it in us.
ReplyDeleteokay if it's 138 a set and five block in the set that's $ 27.60 a block. that's just the pattern and I'll bet dollars to doughnuts each one of us have a very similar block already in their library some where. I don't think any pattern is worth that. Especially when there are so many more reasonable designers and their patterns out there.
ReplyDeleteI'll bite. As a designer selling only small quantities and printing my own, it simply COSTS ME more than $10 to print the pattern if there are a couple of large pattern sheets. Perhaps if I were procuding them commercially it would be different.
ReplyDeleteYes there are a lot of great designers out there who are very reasonable! I find that I am looking at more books now than ever just because of more bang for your buck and sometimes there are better instructions with a book!
ReplyDeleteI love beautiful quilts but I have never seen a pattern for $138.00. I'm like you, I'll have to pass.
ReplyDeleteMarge
That is just incredible. I think quilting is already a very expensive hobby (well it is if you're me and always need/want the latest gadget/tools), but I really think that is amazing. I bet they'd sell far more if the price was lower.
ReplyDeleteWow - that's alot of money for a set of patterns - I couldn't justify spending that much. Love the blooms book by the way - might have to investigate that one!
ReplyDeleteI think £10 to £15 is about as much as I would be prepared to pay for a pattern.... £25 to £30 for a book but it would have to be a really good one.
As a 'newbie' I'm extremely grateful for the designers out there who offer free BOM's which gives me a chance to get to know this craft and I would be more likely to buy from those designers in the future.
I know alot of time and effort goes into the designs but I'm sure they would sell lots more if the prices were affordable to us with lesser amounts of pennies in our pockets.
Oh I'm a pattern cheap stake. I love the beach quilt that Ryan Mckenna has out right now - but at around $120 for the quilt I'm thinking I only want one of the blocks at about $12 and even that I think if I have her fabric I can make the block without the pattern... You got some real deals.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame, that price!!!!!
ReplyDelete