I have a number of Bee blocks for Bee Europa on my urgent list for 2012, as I'm ashamed to say I got a bit left behind last year. Johanna asked for trees, so I made her a forest with a meadow in the middle.
and Ulrike asked for a non-wonky star, so I made her this 16.5" sun. This is based on an Eastern star pattern block I found in one of my books, but I switched some of the HSTs (half square triangles) for squares and twisted some around to give the loop in the centre.
And then I decided my next project was going to be a quilt to sell...don't ask me why, this is not on my Winter stitching list, I just felt the urge to make some thing BIG! Having decided this, I've also realised it's got to be a pretty straightforward pattern (because I can't afford for it to take me 6 months, there's Sarah's quiltalong in Feb I'm also going to be doing!) and not using my most favourite fabrics, (since I want to make a small profit and I can't bear to see my favourite fabrics leave me!)
A bit of umming and ahhing later, and I've decided on a ginormous Disappearing-9-patch design, starting with 10" squares which will be sewn together/chopped up/re-sewn to make 28.5" megablocks! For the fabric I'm using some single squares of my precious fabrics in zingy colours, mixed with some solids and less favourite fabrics, including the black, white and lime green swirl at the bottom of the picture. This was a king size duvet cover I found in a charity shop, but it's HOBBS, and lovely quality,so if it works I may well use it for the back too.
So, the question I would really like some opinions on is...how BIG? If you were going to spend a reasonable sum of money on a quilt, and it was going to be in these fabrics would 60" x 60" suffice? (the original plan, for a throw/lap quilt) or would you disregard it as too small for a double bed? does it need to be more like 70" x 80"? or would you only look at a huge king-size quilt?
I know it depends on what the quilt is intended for, but any thoughts or experience on what sells well is most welcome!
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As a person who avoids big quilts I am the last person to give advise! Love that sun block. It is just stunning!
ReplyDeleteCan you not look on Etsy and see what is selling? I only say this because I have a few selling friends and out of all the stuff they make the quilts seem to stick on their etsy pages while other stuff gets snapped up. Maybe that's just Etsy and there must be a market for ready made quilts. Given how labour intensive it is to make a quilt and costly in materials it would be a shame to make something to sell and find you just can't charge what it's worth and sell it?
ReplyDeleteI would say not too big, but maybe not square either. I'm only speaking from personal taste, but I find square quilts really annoying. so maybe 60x80? Kind of middling....
ReplyDeleteLove your fabulous sun! I've no idea what sells etc. If I were buying for a lap quilt 60 x 60 would be fine, but if I was looking for a bed quilt it'd have to be big. Like whopper big. Like 90 x 108... But that said, I've no idea how to quilt something bigger than 60 x 60!! Love your selection though, its gonna look lush. (and well done mixing in the less liked!!)
ReplyDeleteIf I were looking to buy, I'd probably like the thought of a smaller (than double/kingsize)rectanglular quilt I could use to snuggle under for watching tv. I think that's probably a more modern way of using a quilt than as a beadspread.
ReplyDeleteThat star is amazing by the way!
ReplyDeleteYour bee blocks are gorgeous! The yellow & grey star is v.striking. I would stay smaller with the quilt - more chance of selling it as the price will be more affordable for folks. The bigger you go, the more you have to charge! Jxo
ReplyDeleteLove the star block!! Not sure about the size of the quilt - Judith makes a very good point but I like to make quilts that are 60/70" x 80" as they make a great lap quilt and also look good across the bed (and are a lot easier to put on the bed than a giant one!). Sorry, I don't that's any help at all!
ReplyDeleteLove your blocks - I have never bought a quilt and I think hubby would now shoot me if I did!
ReplyDeleteA double duvet is 78" square so I suppose it need to be similar, but I would probably be driven by cost/love and worry about how to use it after!!