What is a semi-custom quilt?
I have two kinds of listings at La Bizarra (well, three kinds, if you count quilt patterns, but that’s not catchy), two kinds: custom quilts and ready-to-ship quilts. The ready to ship quilts are quilts that I make at my leisure, with fabrics that I choose, quilting them the way I desire, making them the size that I want to make them, sometimes according to a pattern that I’m testing for another pattern designer. Because I get to make all the creative choices, I price these quilts one way, and then price the custom quilts a different way.
Custom quilts often require fabrics that I don’t already have in my collection, fabrics that I have to source or have custom-printed (cha-ching), sometimes a quilt pattern or quilt stitching design will be requested that I have to purchase. Or I have to send the quilt out to be quilted by a long-arm quilter. Or a size will be requested that makes the process more difficult, a technical skill will be required, a specialty tool. Deciding between the infinite custom options available to us can take a lot of time, as well. All of those things are factored in to the pricing of custom quilts.
But often I’ll get a request for a quilt that is pretty similar to a quilt that I’ve already made for someone or that is available in my Handmade Shop. A customer will come along who is not too picky they would just like a certain quilt I’ve made but can it be in blue instead of pink, please? And when those requests come from already-existing customers, who already enjoy my quilts, well I’m motivated to fulfill that request and make it even easier for them to be essentially La Bizarra Quilts collectors. Please fill your house with La Bizarra Quilts! Nothing makes me happier.
So I came up with the semi-custom option. This is a listing for my most commonly requested and most commonly purchased size, which is sort of a small twin quilt. Fits on a twin bed, especially a bunk bed, which requires less quilt draping over the sides, and also works as a large throw quilt, if you’re more inclined to cuddle a quilt on the couch than sleep with it on your bed. Maybe it’s the fact that you can do both that makes this quilt size so popular. It’s a day-to-night quilt!
There are some differences that help me price this semi-custom option a bit more affordably than a fully custom quilt of the same size.
Semi Custom Quilts
Fabric choices
With a custom quilt, the entire universe of fabrics is available. I have factored into my pricing that you may want a print that doesn’t even exist yet, and we might have to get it custom printed. With semi-custom, I propose fabric options to you, based on your request. These are fabrics that are readily available to me and within my usual tastes and style. Don’t misunderstand, there are still SO MANY OPTIONS. But they’re somewhat more limited with a semi-custom quilt.
Pattern options
Same as above, with a custom quilt, the entire universe of quilt patterns and styles is available. The quilt world is your oyster. With semi-custom quilts, I make three or four mock-ups in the patterns that have been most popular for my shop, and you get to choose your own adventure from those.
Quilting Design
Some people actually prefer having fewer options for quilting design. Unless you are very familiar with quilts and quilting, you might have no idea that there even ARE different quilting designs. The thread color and stitching that holds the quilt together are often unsung heroes that are often intentionally made to blend right in on a quilt, so of course it’s easy to overlook them.
I can often accommodate specific thread color and quilting design requests, even with a semi-custom order, but just as with the items above, your options are just a little more limited than with a fully custom order. And if, like many, you honestly have no preference for the quilting design of your quilt, I am always happy to make those decisions for you.
And the moment you’ve all surely been waiting for with bated breath: the inaugural semi-custom, choose your own quilt adventure!
This quilt was ordered to be given as a gift to the customer’s sister. She was looking for beachy and serene, with just the barest hint of quirky and cute. Mostly blues with just a hint of sunny yellow.
The original mock-up, alongside the final product. The teals and turquoises of the mock-up were eventually vetoed in favor of bluer blues, more ocean and sky.
This particular quilt, being the first of its semi-custom kind, was a grand experiment. The process was so great (for both of us, I hope). I definitely think the experiment was successful.