Does Your Long Armer Keep Your Extra Backing Material? Not sure if this is normal??
12-01-2012, 12:31 PM
#61
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Littlefield, TX, USA
Posts: 1,077
I first ask if they want the quilt trimmed...and if so, they get all the extra fabric back (If they provide the batting, they get the excess back if they want it...I sure don't, lol). If the customer has me bind the quilt...they still get whatever fabric is left. If they say keep it...I do, but usually in my crazy quilt tote...where I put fabrics to draw from when working on a crazy quilt.
The fabric should be returned in any case. Maybe in her sadness, she just forgot to include it...I did that once...and put it in with the next quilt I did for the person.
The fabric should be returned in any case. Maybe in her sadness, she just forgot to include it...I did that once...and put it in with the next quilt I did for the person.
Originally Posted by AngelinaMaria
I've only used 2 LA's so far and just got a quilt back from one of these and she delivered the quilt with the extra backing already trimmed down to about 1 to 2 inches from the quilt top. I made this backing really big so I know there would have been at least 5 to 6 inches extra around most sides. I was given one strip of the backing material but not the other 3 sides?? I had planned on using this extra material for the binding and now I won't be able to.
I wasn't home when the quilt was delivered so I couldn't ask directly about this and she had a death in the family this week so I hate to ask at this time. I know I should just send an email asking about it, but I am worried she either threw it out or kept it and I just don't want to make her feel worse than she does right now. The quilting did turn out lovely so I am happy about that.
I wasn't home when the quilt was delivered so I couldn't ask directly about this and she had a death in the family this week so I hate to ask at this time. I know I should just send an email asking about it, but I am worried she either threw it out or kept it and I just don't want to make her feel worse than she does right now. The quilting did turn out lovely so I am happy about that.
12-01-2012, 03:55 PM
#62
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: The California Hills
Posts: 626
So, long-armers that mention that they trim or will trim if asked, are you trimming flush with the quilt top or 1.5 to 2 inches away from the quilt top like mine was? I will still have to trim my quilt on all 4 sides and the left over will not really be usable.
12-01-2012, 06:57 PM
#64
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: No. Calif
Posts: 527
Originally Posted by BellaBoo
I would call her and say very sweetly When will be a good time for me to stop by and get the backing pieces you trimmed off my quilt? I need it to make my binding. What she says would determine if I ever used her again.
I use three different long armers and none of the trim w/o asking first and all return the scraps. Backing scraps can be used for scrappy quilts &/or binding and batting scraps can be joined and used in wall hangings, tablerunners, coasters &/or place mats, etc.
12-02-2012, 05:16 AM
#65
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Maryville, TN
Posts: 2,008
My LAQ always asks if I want her to trim the backing. If I say yes, then she asks if I want the excess fabric. That answer is sometimes yes and sometimes no, depending on if I plan to use it for something. I can't imagine not being given the choice when I'm providing the fabric. If I elect to have her provide the backing fabric (which is an option with my LAQ) well, then it's her excess, not mine.
12-02-2012, 06:27 PM
#66
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 911
I would never trim the quilt after I have finished it unless I have a request from the customer. Sometimes I have had to trim the back before placing it on the roller as the customer had absolutely too much material, but in either case, the customer gets all the trimmings back, in addition to any large pieces of batting.
12-02-2012, 06:32 PM
#67
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 2,384
Talk to your longarmer when dropping off. I tell my customers that the extra fabric on the sides is where I test my tension and run the machine after oiling. I may use alot or almost none at all. I always give back the extra on the bottom. Most times I don't trim at all, but you may see the mess on the sides.
01-26-2013, 09:09 PM
#68
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SW Minnesota
Posts: 1,590
I had a couple of quilts done by a long-armer, ansd she very neatly trimmed the quilt and returned the excess fabric when I picked the quilts up. This I used for binding the quilts, and what I didn't use went into my scrap bag.
01-27-2013, 03:16 AM
#69
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 2,499
Originally Posted by needlefruit
Have to jump in here---as most of you know, a backing needs to be at least 6" longer and 6" wider than the top for longarm mounting. When the backing is so big that there are more than about 4" on either side (extra at the top & bottom doesn't matter), I trim off the excess BEFORE mounting the quilt. It is extra work for your longarmer when the backing is way oversize, and some longarmers charge for trimming; the whole problem can be solved by sending the correct size backing with the top! BTW, when I do have to trim backing, the long narrow strip ALWAYS goes home with the completed top.
01-27-2013, 05:55 AM
#70
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: altus oklahoma
Posts: 339
my longarmer doesnt keep anything she even gives me the excess batting back i use the scraps of fabric in other quilts and the batting for table runners purses place mats or whatever. of course i have tons of scrap batting saved up its beginning to get out of hand. but everytime i use a fabric scrap i fondly remember where the rest of it wound up.
carla m
carla m
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10-21-2012 06:26 AM
