If a LAer finds a 'problem' with something you've sent to him/her - - -
08-04-2012, 08:56 PM
#31
Power Poster
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,406
Originally Posted by margecam52
I get mail in quilts a lot. I'm a bit of a crazy LA quilter...I like working on those "not so perfect" quilts. I think it helps me learn to work through issues like D cups and too friendly borders. I also accept sheets as backings....yep, I'm a glutten for punishment. I have gotten some fairly sad quilts in the mail...I either call or email the customer, tell her what I've found (send pics if email) and what I can do to fix them. If it's not real wonky, I don't charge extra...if it's really bad..I offer suggestions on how to do it correctly next time...and tell the customer I can fix for a certain fee, or mail it to her to be fixed...they usually let me fix them...the postage back and forth is usually more than my fee.
Once I have the quilt fixed and quilted...I dig through my old magazines, or go online to find a lesson that teaches how to avoid that issue in the future...that goes into the return box with the finished quilt.
Once I have the quilt fixed and quilted...I dig through my old magazines, or go online to find a lesson that teaches how to avoid that issue in the future...that goes into the return box with the finished quilt.
08-04-2012, 11:51 PM
#34
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Mechanicsville, IA
Posts: 1,497
Great ideas everyone. As a LA quilter I have a take in sheet. It lists clients contact info, a space for any noticed issues with top as we look over it, space for their personal likes and dislikes in quilting (hates florals, likes geometric ), thread options, design options, batting selection, (have Quilters Dream on rolls), and at the end is place for client to sign and date. Even a quick run through of the take-in sheet can resolve issues that might come up. I enjoy working with clients on design ideas, asking a lot of questions gives me an idea of their likes and dislikes. If another idea pops up as I am working on the quilt I often will attempt to give a quick call to "run it past them". As nearly everyone has said communication is the key. I note any changes made in original plans on take in sheet and date. Having that signature makes it a commitment on both sides. You can see the take in sheet on our website.
08-05-2012, 07:53 AM
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: El Lago Tx Originally from Upstate NY
Posts: 654
I am a long arm quilter. Some of my customers do expect me to piece their backs together, and iron their quilt tops, piece seams that are not a quarter inch, also take stright pins out of their seams. I will do these things for them, but I do charge them $15 an hour to do it. I think that is only fair. I have a pamplet with information on how to prepare a quilt. If they do not do it, then I will tell them at the time they give me the top, or call them when I find they did not turn in a top or back ready for quilting. If they do not want to pay the charge for my time, I offer to get the quilting pieces back to them for fixing. I think that is just fair. I am not redoing their work. I am just adding the machine quilitng to their work.
08-05-2012, 08:07 AM
#36
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: North Central Ohio
Posts: 194
My friend is a longarmer and I often help her with some the quilts she recieves. We have a mutual friend who is very prolific, but wasn't awfully picky about quality. Many, if not most of her quilts had wavy borders that were viturally impossible to lay flat. Even though we knew that she didn't really care if they were flat, it was still very frustrating and time consuming to quilt these. We tried explaining how to add borders to reduce the bulk, but it just didn't sink in. As a matter of fact, she said "Well they always look great when they come back from you, so they can't be that bad. Finally we came up with an idea to help with the problem. We asked her if she wanted to watch one of her quilts being quilted and when she said yes, we asked her to help load the quilt. That was all it took for her to realize what we were talking about. She asked us to show her how to apply borders and quite honestly it is now a pleasure to quilt her quilts! Everyone is happy and the quilts look great.
08-05-2012, 11:32 AM
#37
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,713
Just like ... a picture is worth a 1000 words ........... sometimes being part of the process is a far better teacher than bieng "told"!!!
Good for you and your LAQfriend, for finding a solution ... and helping this other person to become a better quilter!
Good for you and your LAQfriend, for finding a solution ... and helping this other person to become a better quilter!
08-05-2012, 06:06 PM
#38
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 284
The price would go through the roof if we are certified.And who is going to set the standards?It just takes time to build a clientel.Customers you gel with.I was a hairdresser for a long time.I didn't keep everybody.I kept the customers I could work with.Sometimes I needed to clean house[so to speak].The same thing with long arming.You will not suite everyone.No matter what your skills are.Just roll with it until you build up.But it still needs to be said," We can't make silk purses out of sows ears."We can't fix everything.
08-05-2012, 06:17 PM
#39
Super Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: La Pine Oregon, USA
Posts: 5,907
I agree Sherryl --- Instead of certifying longarmers, pick out your longarmer by going to the shows/fairs and look at the quilts. If you like the quilting, and the longarmer isn't listed (horrors), then get the name of the owner and see if you can find out who did the longarming. Word of mouth or SEEING what they do is a lot better than a certification.
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