apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Goodwill plus laundromat plus sewing machine. There, I just saved you $330 and the pain of being stupid.

I actually think $330 is pretty good. I mean, if I made one, would I sell it for $330? No.

Great minds think alike, mmadden! Plus, felting is fun. I used to do it a lot when washing the family's laundry. . . .

Haha... ' the pain of being stupid'! mmadden, you are totally correct... I am currently felting thrifted cashmere sweaters and making a pair of baby quilts for my soon-to-be niece/nephew twins. I think I spent all of 15 bucks ($50 if you include templates, rotary cutter and mat). Totally easy, and inexpensive to boot.

You know, I think it's a little much to call people stupid for purchasing something like this. Not everyone knows how to felt a sweater or how to sew a blanket like this. No, not even if it's really very easy. I wouldn't have the patience to do it. This woman clearly does, and she has a very good eye for choosing colors and patterns that will play nicely together to boot. That's what you'd be paying her for, is her time and her eye for these things. I'm not saying whether $300 is rational or not, I'm just saying let's take a moment before we throw the word stupid around and think about how potentially rude that sounds.

Out of my price range, but looks comfy.

She needs to bring it inside before it rains, though. I know she's trying to evoke home and fall and earthiness, but it just makes me imagine how nasty it would be if it fell in a puddle. More cuddle shots, less childhood leaf-raking memories.

bluestar,
yes, you're quite right. I admit I get exceptionally peeved when people profiteer from simple concepts involving readily available materials. However, the creator had a wonderful idea, and she's essentially selling this idea for its coolness factor. Good for her. (Will I buy into it? Nah.)

Perhaps I'm biased because I come from a very hands-on, crafty family. I think this would be a wonderful project for a mother and her little ones.

mmadden, I don't necessarily disagree with you. My mother-in-law does quilts. I've seen this woman's work before and have thought about asking my MIL to show me how to put something like this together, but I just don't have the time.

I know she's selling an idea and that anyone in theory could try their own hand at this for a lot less money, but the same could be said of many things and most people just don't have the time (or hey, the desire) to devote to this type of thing. This woman apparently devotes all of her time to doing it, so that others don't have to.

I say if you know how, have the time, and want to do it then that's fantastic and I'm a little jealous, but I don't think it makes someone stupid for spending their money on something they'd not have otherwise.

I don't think mmadden meant to insult with her stupidity remark--I think she was enthused about the ease of DIY here. Nonetheless, your point is well taken, bluestar.

(Plus I think I just overdid it mouthing offin the Old Turned New slink comments. . . .)

mmmadden, etal--

I guess your time is not worth anything. Mine is.

Aulaire--
In my house growing up, calling someone "stupid" was as bad as any four-letter word, and I still subscribe to the practice of keeping it that way.

So time spent making something is not worth anything? It's worthless to scavenge materials, eye them, touch them, and craft them into something new? It's worthless to make something with a friend or parent or sibling and then joke about how many hours you spent trying to get a seam straight?

Geez, I may just abandon DIY altogether...

I think it's great that this lady can make a living off something that some of us enjoy doing ourselves. I love working with recycled sweaters! And I don't think the prices are too high, if I made something like this I'd sell it for a similar price.

Or you could go into business doing what you love and have people bitch about how they could have made the same thing for less.

bluestar hit the nail on the head suggesting that many people could probably make this, but might not *want* to. I could do this blanket, if I worked at it. I could probably also bake my own bread and churn my own butter if I put my mind to it, but we ALL pay for things that make our lives easier and/or more enjoyable. I would (and have) paid upwards of $300 for a good quality, aesthetically pleasing blanket. Hmm, I have never made one, though.

I think its great that someone is making money doing something they love doing , good on them

We also do things like buying beer at a bar at substantial markup over grocery store prices, and nobody bemoans that price-versus-cost quotient too much!

"Aulaire--
In my house growing up, calling someone "stupid" was as bad as any four-letter word, and I still subscribe to the practice of keeping it that way."

Jeez, Patrick the Other One, I didn't advocate calling anyone stupid! You don't ever do that in my house, either. I only meant to note why I thought mmadden might have said what she did--that she might have felt too enthused about what she was saying to choose words more carefully.

Yipes