I picked up a quilt from the longarmer yesterday. I paid her what she asked, but when I got home I wondered if it is customary to tip the quilter. I'm new at this and so I don't know the answer. What do you do?

I can't imagine why you would. No one tips me when they pay for my dressmaking services. ;)

No I don't believe you do, the charge should include everything.

Usually, no.

Here's the 'but...'

When I was using a LAer (before I became one myself), I felt she charged way, way, way too little. These machines are expensive, you don't just get one and be good without lots of practice, expenses, thread, etc. I usually added more because she did much more than a basic quilting for a basic quilting price. She also quilted my donation quilts as a co-donor for local raffles. Now that I've been doing this for a while, I can tell you that she was still seriously underpaid, even when I added extra.

I can tell you from other boards that the tips are celebrated because they are few and far between. I, for one, am thrilled when people grab a bunch of my cards because they want to tell their friends. Referrals are GOLD!! Tears and hugs also make my day. If you enter the quilt in a show, make sure to give her credit for the quilting, and if two ribbons aren't awarded (some shows give one for the piecer and one for the quilter), a picture of you with the quilt and ribbon for her wall is great, too.

Thanks. Good advice.

I would....think of it as a treat! They'll do a even better job for you next time. Heck, I even tip the kids at the fast food joints....they NEVER get tips! Oh, and I've tipped gas station attendants, too. One time, during a cold snap, I picked up apple-cider donuts on my way to work...they were still warm. I gave one to each of the attendants at a gas station...from that point on, I got my windshields washed!!! :mrgreen:

I like that. Good advice.

I figure if I tip my waitress 20% for something that lasts a few hours, why wouldn't I tip my longarmer for something that could last 100 years. Gomeyer

Because she owns the business and charges for her services according to her own policy. If she works for someone else, I would tip her.

Great question!! Thanks for the advice everyone.

Here we tip everyone - or just about - I go to my garage - no matter what I have done with the car - I tip the mechanics, I tip the gas attendant, hairdressers, waiters, any service people.....sometimes I think we tip too much here but it has become so much a custom...........I havent used a LAQ yet....but looking for one....

My longarmer is so cheap that I always buy her a gift for each quilt she does for me.
She charges 45 dollars no matter what size and she binds it too.
Of course she is so busy it takes 3 month to get your quilt back. Worth the wait.

I agree. My hair stylist works for herself and the only time I tip is when I get my highlights.

I agree with Cathe's logic and would not normally tip my quilter or LA'r, but Shelley, you said it all!! I think giving credit is very important.

HOLY COW! :shock: I can't believe she binds them too for that price, I can see doing a panto for any size for that price but it would NEVER include the binding! You better hang on to her.

From what I've read here, it seems tipping is a personal choice rather than customary. From now on, maybe I'll just round up when I write my check and call it good. Thanks for the answers.

True, but the long arm quilter can set her prices and a waitress cannot. Except for California and New Mexico, waiters and waitresses only make $2-$4 an hour. They don't make minimum wage and count on tips to survive. (Can you tell I'm a waitress? Lol.) That said, I know those who do long arm work are not normally paid what their time and work is worth. I find that unless I'm going through a quilt shop, I normally tip. I'm also great at spreading around a referral!! It not only helps out the gal who is doing the quilting but it also can help move your quilt up from the back of the line. :wink:

Hi I am very new to all of this where in Phoenix is the quilt shop you have your quilting done? I will be headed there from TX shortly. Thanks

Can't believe the price you can or would get your quilting done for.... if you have a queen size quilt with a panto here.....you would pay approx. $275 CDN (at the moment almost par) ......
So far.... I am still able to quilt by hand....

I wouldn't.
If she did a really good job buy her a plant or some chocolates and drop them off next time your passing with a little thank you note. But then again we don't tip here except occasionally at a restaurant.
It is really expensive here to get stuff quilted.

I agree with Sewaholic. We are not into tipping here. It can cost $A200 to have a quilt done. I have only had one quilt done by a long arm quilter, I have done the rest myself.

I do think acknowledgement should be made on the label saying who quilted it.

I am very lucky to have my longarmer. She does good work very cheap and knows it but keeps it that way. She says that most of the work is loading the quilt on the machine so she charges the same price no matter what size. To top it off she hand sews the binding on the back.
She is not with a shop she has hers set up at home.

Thanks to all of you for your replies. I have to say I wish that all tipping were abolished and that we simply paid people well for their hard work. If that were the case, my question would be irrelevant. I have hired a quilter three times, and each time she charged in the $150-$185 range for a bed-sized quilt and for machine sewing the binding. (I do the handwork on the binding.) I really don't know how much time it takes, but I do know the process and how expensive the machines are. The prices I've been charged seem like a bargain to me.

When I learned to piece last summer, I was disappointed to learn that I would be hard pressed to machine quilt it on my sewing machine (bed-sized, that is). It took me a long time to decide what to do with that first completed quilt top. I worried that if I hired someone to do it, I wouldn't feel the satisfaction of having completed it myself. Hand quilting is really out for me because I have arthritis in my hands (and everywhere else for that matter). When I decided to hire a long arm quilter, it really set me free to love quilting, and I've been very prolific. I've completed nine quilts in the past 15 months. I've been bitten badly by the bug.

I have the utmost appreciation for the work these women have done for me, and I credit them on my quilt labels and in my quilt journal. As for tipping, I think I'll put the matter to bed now (no pun intended), and just get on with loving what I'm doing. Thanks again.

jkrzemi, PM me and I will give you her number.