Bluebellgray - quote for made to measure curtains - practically fainted

[Poochypaws]

Okay so I love Bluebellgray. Have 3 pairs of their curtains already and several cushions. Looking for new bedroom curtains and loved one of their fabrics 'summer'. They seem to be doing less and less ready made curtains which is a shame because although they are not cheap at around £220 for the full length and full width ones (227 x 227cm) they are affordable for alot of people.

So anyway I asked for a quote to get a pair of curtains made in the summer fabric which was actually one of their cheaper fabrics (around £56 per metre compared to some that are £98 were metre). I asked for them in their standard size of 227 x 227 with normal linings and normal pencil pleat. So nothing out of the ordinary - just like the ready made ones but in this fabric which they don't have ready made curtains in.

Okay so my AIBU is going to be - AIBU to be shocked at this price?

Before we decide this lets have some guesses as to the quote.

So the curtains I already have which are same size, in equally nice fabric but ready made not made to measure cost me around £220 per pair. JL currently have them in sale for slightly less.

So now that we know the ready made ones are around £220 per pair for the 227x227 size what do we think having the same size of curtains made is another fabric would cost?

Anyone like to guess?

Just tell us.

Around 400

Well at £56 per metre you've got over 4 square meters per curtain so that's £224, x2 is £448. Then you've got the linings, the headings plus the cost of making them.

I reckon about £800.

I’d think £800-900 for make up costs and fabric by the metre

About £950

£1k

A thousand pounds

750

750

£5639.85 +VAT

Based on the fabric price per meter, plus cost to make... £700?

Jeez so I am clearly clueless when it comes to made to measure curtains. The price was £879.61

Fabric is expensive and if it's highly patterned there'll be a good bit of wastage so I'd say at least 1k

You've had a good few guesses now so care to enlighten us?

Great guesses by many of you who were surprisingly accurate. My next question then is how are the ready made ones so cheap in comparison? I mean the fabric alone would cost more than the curtains............

Are the M2M ones also made in Pakistan or the UK? If the latter understandable, if not that's taking the piss.

Better to buy the fabric and get a local seamstress to knock them up for you.

Economies of scale

Don't you think that people who make curtains deserve a reasonable wage? Because the fabric side was easily calculated.

Curtains are a faff to make and take a lot of fabric, lining and so on.

Because they are exploiting someone in Pakistan/Bangladesh etc.

ah so maybe the wastage is what causes it to be so expensive. Whereas on the ready made ones they don't have this nearly as much as they are presumably making hundreds of pairs. Have to go and ponder this.
£900 for the curtains I really want and love v £185 for ready made ones in JL in the sale but I don't like the pattern as much.
Think I'm gonna have to get the cheaper ones......

I absolutely do think that the people making the curtains deserve a decent wage and in fact that part of the quote I have no issue with. I guess I just did not understand the amount of fabric that it took to make a set up full size curtains. I love Bluebellgray especially as they are a local company to me (Scotland). I was quite prepared to pay around £400 for them but I am clearly away with the fairies when it comes to curtain making

My mum paid more than this 20 years ago. Honestly, I'm always shocked at how much they cost!

for those who are interested the quote was
fabric at £56 per metre 11.5 metres £644
£15 for delivery
£220.61 for everything else (linings, tab at top and presumaby the person making them which seems very reasonable).

Presumably then if I had picked the even more expensive fabric it would have cost about £1400 for them.

Oh well that's something new I have learned today. Made to measure curtains cost alot of money!!!! I'm gutted. Was really looking forward to getting them.
Oh well I'm on the JL website now convincing myself I love the pallete material ones. I already have 2 pairs of the tetbury ones and although I love them I can't bring myself to order another pair. First world problems I know!

I paid £1375 for two pairs m2m handmade curtains for our living room 10 yrs ago

they still look as good as new and I love them . Long term it might be worth getting exactly what you want

I'm glad someone else guessed about £400. Don't feel quite so clueless now!