The simple answer is they take a significant amount of time to make and the materials are expensive! I’m trying to do this so it’s affordable for you and still fruitful for me. 

Example of a 55 x 70 Inch Throw

Materials 

• Fabric For The Top - $64
• Pattern - $10
• Batting - $21
• Backing Fabric - $56
• Binding Fabric - $14
• Thread $10

MATERIALS TOTAL: $175

Construction 

• Preparing The Fabric - 1/2 hour
• Cutting The Pieces - 3 hours
• Sewing The Blocks - 5 hours
• Trimming & Ironing - 1 hour 
• Setting The Rows - 3 hours
• Adding Borders - 2 hours

CONSTRUCTION TOTAL: 14+ Hours @ $10/hour = $140

Finishing

• Machine Quilting - $68
• Making The Binding - $10
• Sewing The Binding On The Top - $10
• Hand Sewing The Binding In The Back - $30

FINISHING TOTAL: $118

GRAND TOTAL FOR QUILT: $433

Larger quilts take more time and more materials. More complicated patterns take more time. 

Additional Supplies Used

• Cutting Mat 
• Rotary Cutter
• Rulers Of All Shapes And Sizes
• Seam Ripper
• Iron
• Sewing Machine
• Needles
• Pins
• Bobbins