Come Stitch With Me

I know…just what you want to hear. 😦

Gas prices in my area are about 40 cents per gallon higher than they were the last time I filled up. Sheesh. Diesel averages $6.39 per gallon. Since trucks haul many of the things we buy, you know the cost going to get passed along to the end consumer (aka you and me). Unfortunately, I think quilters are going to see it two ways almost immediately: (1) higher shipping charges or increased minimums to get free shipping and (2) longer lead times as loads/packages are consolidated to make the best use of over-the-road trucks and local delivery vehicles. Eventually, I think higher fuel costs will be reflected in the prices of goods we buy across the board.

The American economy is resilient, but how much more will the average person be able to absorb before crying uncle since wages and income haven’t kept up with inflation and tariffs? I’m retired, but I don’t sit at home. I’m a therapy dog volunteer and very active with charity projects and community outreach with my quilt guild. My husband volunteers with Team Rubicon, frequently moving equipment between different facilities and making arrangements to have vehicles/equipment repaired. The Sadie Shuttle currently helps facilitate movement of equipment to and from the repair shop (meaning we drop/pick up hubby from the repair shop or drive him from the repair facility back to the warehouse/staging area to get his personal truck). We don’t expect reimbursement for any of this because we do this as part of our desire to give back. However, given the current gas prices, I’ve set some parameters:

1. Current standing therapy dog visits will continue, but any new ones must be within a 15 mile radius.
2. Charity quilt project supplies and kit drop-offs will now be coordinated with guild meeting dates.
3. The Sadie Shuttle will cease operations once the existing warehouse (about 20 minutes away) is relocated to a new facility in late October (on the completely opposite side of ATL).

Just so you know, tariffs and inflation have also put the squeeze on therapy dog stuff. Prices for our custom embroidered polo shirts, Sadie’s trading cards and trinkets for the READ prize box have risen by at least a third. I actually need to replace one of my polo shirts and will keep an eye out for the next sale. The READ prize box is stocked with practical items (but still cute for kids) from Dollar Tree and Hobby Lobby. Most of the books used in the weekly READ program are now borrowed from the library or picked-up at the thrift store. The self-wash bath price at our local dog wash is now $20 – up from $15. Sadie’s spa days with the professional groomer have also gone up by 15%. The star of the show has to look good on our visits!

Tariffs alone raised the price of sewing machines by 30% or more. Fabric, batting and supplies used to make quilts have followed suit due to tariffs and inflation. Yes, you can sew from your stash, but you’ll eventually need more fabric, needles, and rotary cutter blades as quilting requires consumable supplies. Joann was a blessing to folks making projects for charity because it provided the supplies we need at reasonable prices. Michael’s and Hobby Lobby no longer have to discount as much to be competitive. Making quilts to give away at quilt shop fabric prices isn’t sustainable for me. Occasionally, the guild is able to supply batting and backing fabric – but not right now. My bee group makes a collaborative quilt (60″x80″) every other month to donate to the guild’s community service. It’s usually a scrappy version of a free quilt pattern someone found online. Everyone contributes fabric scraps, completed blocks, batting, backing and/or quilting services. All those very different scraps just magically seem to work together in the finished quilt.

My friend showed off a quilt she’d made using two jelly rolls “procured” from the guild free table. Really cute! The pattern is Jelly Roll Sizzle from Fat Quarter Shop. I found two jelly rolls in my stash that blended well enough together and I’m now working on my own version of Jelly Roll Sizzle. The price stickers tell me the jelly rolls came from Tuesday Morning. I paid about $40 for both of them. Today, a single jelly roll from Fat Quarter Shop retails for just under $50. And the currently requested quilt size is 60″x80″ – which needs two jelly rolls. That’s $100 + background fabric just for the quilt top. Add in a twin size batting ($25 on sale) and 5 yards of backing fabric ($45 on sale). Then machine quilting and binding. It adds up. Our community service partner requested 400+ quilts for 2026.