About Pricing
The main cost of a Burial Blanket is labor: preparing the hundreds of lengths of thread that will be held in tension on the loom, winding and threading these individually onto the loom, and then weaving the cloth one line of thread at a time. The thinner the threads the finer the cloth, and the more time it takes to weave. Thicker cloth will have the weight and warmth of a summer blanket, finer cloth will feel more like a flannel sheet. Both will have a lovely drape that holds warmth, keeps its folds nicely, and smooths over the contours of the body or container.
I offer a sliding scale of $40 - $120 / hour (plus materials) and I encourage you to pay what you can, knowing that after taxes and small business expenses $40/hour pays me a basic living wage in Chicago. After we finish the consultation, I will send you an estimate of the total labor and materials based on your design, with suggestions and options for different budgets. I ask for a materials deposit to begin the work and I happily accept payments in installments. There is no initial charge for a design consultation.
Each Burial Blanket is unique and designed in collaboration with the artist. There are two sizes to choose from, mostly depending on how you want to use the cloth during life since both can be used for different forms of burial.
A model shrouded in a Full Size Burial Blanket, made of cotton and linen in cream, white, and silver.
Full Size Burial Blanket
These are about the dimensions of a queen size coverlet (130” x 80”) or a large tapestry. They are big enough to fully wrap the body for burial and no other container is needed.
Prices start at around $2000
Timeline for production is 6-12 weeks
A model covered in a single Pall Blanket made of cotton and bamboo in purple, blue, and turquoise.
Single Pall Blanket
These are the size of a very large shawl (~118” x 40” depending on height). They are meant to cover the body with a single layer of decorative cloth, and can also be used to cover a casket or other container.
Prices start at around $1500
Timeline for production is 4-8 weeks
Additional Mementos
We can also create small extra pieces of the cloth to give away to loved ones, frame and hang on the wall, finish into a baby blanket, or other ideas you have.
Design Options:
Colors, Fibers & Patterns
Designs range from a pure white shroud of plain, crisp linen to an iridescent rainbow of dazzling geometric designs in the softest cotton. Thread can be shiny or matte, textured or smooth, and packed as tightly as a tea towel or left lacey and open.
Different patterns and colors can be combined within the cloth to create stripes, blocks, and borders, and many cloths have beautifully contrasting front and back sides. The natural fibers you can chose from are cotton, linen, bamboo, and wool.
During our consultation, I will help you understand how each choice will effect the final look, feel, and use of the cloth. I am happy to make suggestions based on a few elements that are important to you, or follow your specific and detailed vision.