The Cost of Patterns

I wasn't going to write a blog post tonight because I've had a headache all day and thought I'd try to get to bed early, but then I got sidetracked and now I have quilt patterns on my mind--which is much better than a headache, I can tell you that!

Anyway, a few days ago, a quilter wrote to me to ask about a quilt I'd shown on my blog that I had seen at a quilt show--

She also posted the photo to the Quilting Board to see if anyone there recognized the pattern.  That started a bit of a discussion.  You can read it HERE.

I did a little checking and found the pattern was a BOM pattern called Classic Santas by Quakertown Quilts.  It's actually sold in different parts too--the applique blocks, the large pieced blocks, and the small pieced blocks.

I found a kit on Etsy and emailed the link to the woman who emailed me, and I believe she ended up purchasing it--it's a beautiful quilt.  Anyway, in the meantime, some of the quilters on the Quilting Board found the patterns from different sources and started discussing the cost, which could range anywhere from around $50 for just the applique blocks to over $100 for all the patterns.  A couple quilters defended the cost, pointing out that each applique block generates as much pattern writing as a single quilt pattern.  They went on to say that if they really liked a pattern, they'd be willing to pay the higher cost and consider the quilt an heirloom.  On the other hand, some quilters said the cost was still too much and/or that pattern was more involved than what they cared to make anyway.

My feelings are a little in between.  Someone said they look for free BOMs and like them just as well, but I know from a designer standpoint, most of the free BOMs are fairly simple patterns, and they will generate a ton of quilts that all look pretty much the same.  Still, I tend to shy away from paying more than $40 for a pattern, even if I love it.  And yes, even knowing what I know about designing patterns.

One of my favorite BOM-type quilts is this one by Country Faces called Christmas Sampler:

I haven't made it yet, but it's in my pattern "stash."  I DID use the Santa block to make a small wallhanging using wool.  But that's beside the point; what I wanted to mention is that this pattern costs under $10, I believe.  So there ARE quilt patterns out there that designers don't price out of reach even if they've put a lot of time into designing the quilt and writing the patterns; we just need to look for them.

I also have heard of some quilters who pool their money to buy the more expensive patterns and then work on them as a group project or pass them on when they finish their own quilt.  And some quilters will invest in a pattern and then resell it when she/he is done with it, thus recouping some of the money they laid out in the beginning.  I'm pretty sure that's not what the designers hope will happen when they put a high price on a pattern, but I think it's understandable.

Before I say goodnight, I wanted to show you one more Christmas pattern that I think is reasonably priced considering all the work put into designing it.  It's called Santa Pause . . .

and it's designed by Mountain Valley Stitches, the same designer who designed the Hey Ghoul Friend quilt I made several years ago (and have hanging for Halloween)--

No doubt you can see the similarities, right?  Each of the patterns is under $20.  I'd love to make Santa Pause this year to hang for Christmas, but I don't know where I'd find the time.  Still, that's never stopped me before, right?  We'll see.  But what do you think about the cost of patterns?  What are you willing to spend?  (I'll even take the word verification off for a couple days to make it easier for you to comment.)