Really!? $50

Several years ago my DIL asked if I would make her a double wedding ring quilt.  Being a very busy machine quilter back then I couldn’t find the time to piece a very difficult quilt such as one with lots of curves.  I stayed with quick simple designs I knew would be quick to make.   Now that I’m semi-retired I decided I really want to try more difficult designs.  Curves are difficult and will take a great deal of patience  to finish.  I think curve piecing is just right for me being that I really enjoy a challenge.

So a few days ago I went internet searching for a wedding ring quilt design that I thought my DIL would enjoy getting.  I happened upon a super nice design called “Bali Wedding Star” by Judy Niemeyer.    Hey, I remember seeing that design when it was new.  I remember how very much I wanted to make one but also knew I couldn’t work it into my schedule.  I really thought I had bought the book or pattern or something back then. (1996 or 1997)  Nope, can’t find it in my stuff anywhere.  Maybe I stuck it someplace and just can’t remember where.  (one more reason to clear out the STUFF)

Anyway, I decided to look at buying the pattern so I could start a couple of these for Christmas gifts.  I went to Judy’s site to purchase a copy of the pattern.  That’s when I got a really big sticker  shock.  It sells for $50!  For one pattern?  Ok, it does have the foundation papers to go with it to make an 80 by 80 size quilt.  It costs extra for more foundation papers to make a larger size.  But gee whiz, $50?  All I want are the instructions and one copy of the foundation.  My goodness, that was a really big sticker shock!  I don’t blame Judy for earning money from her design.  She obviously does sell lots of her stuff because she has stores in three countries. If people are willing to pay that much then why shouldn’t she earn it?  It’s just that, for me, that kind of price is simply NOT in my budget.  Too rich for my income.  Sigh.

I do have a set of the templates for cutting the pieces of a double wedding ring quilt. I can use these to make a quilt but it’s not like I had wanted to make.  I really can’t remember exactly where I got these?  New or used?  I haven’t a clue because I’ve had them for a very long time.

I have other curve piecing type template sets I bought years ago and never used.  At the time I thought I wanted to make the designs but then never found the time for doing anything other than look at these wistfully and tell myself  “someday” and stash the packet away.  Here is a set for making drunkard’s path designs.  It still has the price tag on it.  $45 for a whole set in different sizes.  What was I thinking?  I haven’t a clue.

Hmm, I also bought the curve master foot that goes on my sewing machine because it was mentioned in the instructions.  It’s a special foot which supposedly helps make very accurate curve seams.  It too is still in the box and never used.  Did I plan on making lots of drunkard’s path quilts in different sizes?  I don’t know what I was thinking back then.

I have these sets too.  Both involve curve piecing.

As you can see I’ve had an obsession with curves in quilts.  I just never went anywhere with it.  I really do want to make the Bali Wedding Star quilt but not if I have to pay fifty dollars for the pattern.  I’m going to check the library.  Maybe they have a copy I can look at.  Or maybe I can look at some pictures and figure it out for myself.  Now that I’m semi-retired I think I’ll take another look at some of these templates in my stash.  I think some quilts with curves are in my future.

Advertisement