I am learning so much from reading so many various posts on this board! Since I am new to all this, I am wondering the aprox. cost of having a quilt top LA quilted. What is the most and least you have paid and aprox. how long of a wait should be anticipated? I work full time and go to school so I know if I hand quilted something I would never probably get it done on a large scale project.

do a search. the subject has been discussed thoroughly in the past with good information

I pay 15.00 a yard!! I am a lucky woman, this is cheap

Holice is right - there have been a lot of discussions about this in the past. There are a lot of factors to be considered: the size of the quilt, the expertise of the quilter, the type of design you want (an overall meander would be less expensive than custom quilting), the area of the country in which you live, etc. Most quilters charge based on the size of the quilt, and charges can range from $.01 per square inch to $.07 or $.08 per square inch (or maybe even more!). The turnaround time also can vary, depending on the quilter. It could range from days or weeks to months (maybe even a year or more).

Sorry we can't be more specific, but there are just too many factors that enter into the answer!

The price depends. The area of the country also plays a factor.

Thank-you for the specific info! At least now I know what to ask about in the different variables etc. Very helpful response:)

Gal I've been using is a guild member and she has charged me $60 for a twin size quilted in a meander pattern. Quilt is nice and flat when she's done. May in Jersey

I am a longarm quilter and live in an area with quite a few longarmers. I would like to give you some advice about longarm quilters.

Be aware of cheap quilters. Before you beat me up here let me explain. A quilter in this area will quilt any size quilt for $35 and they furnish the batting. This quilter only does pantograph quilting. Only 1 design on all quilts. The batting is a very low quality poly batt. It has very thin and thick spots giving the quilt a very lumpy look and feel. Also, the quilt is not straight.

When hiring a quilter ASK QUESTIONS! Most quilters do not mind answering questions. We know you put a lot of blood, sweat, tears and MONEY into this top, we want you to feel confident you have left your treasure in good hands.

Because of insurance liability and my personal privacy, I do not meet customers in my home. I meet them at a LQS. Do not be alarmed if your quilter does the same.

Pricing is going to vary from quilter to quilter. You have to look at the quilter's reputation and what is included with the price. It all boils down too, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

Please don't think "Well, they are working at home..." Yes, most of us are in our own home. But WE ARE WORKING! No, we don't have set hours we work. But, because of deadlines, many of us may be quilting at 10, 11, or later into the night.

Some people think "Well, they have lower "overhead" I don't know about others but I sure don't. My business is in my home. I have to carry a "rider" on my policy to cover my equipment and supplies as well as my customer's quilt tops. The expense of set and maintenance on the dedicated space for my business. So, there are LOTS of hidden costs.

Okay, off my soap box now.

Soapbox....LOL> It's OK.

I also have to say I have to carry a state business license, and a county one. Insurance on equipment and studio.
I have heard other long arm quilters say they have less/more over head than I do?? And I wonder how that is? Wouldn't we all have the same overhead? Thread, batting, insurance, and all the same business stuff? We all have to buy our equipment?

Sorry to the original poster..we are getting off track.

So in answer to your question...it depends on location of long arm quilting. What the going rates are ect.
What kind of LAq are you wanting/recieving?
E2E
Computerized
Custom?
How heavy do you want the quilting?
What types of threads? Metallic, Variegated.....
It's all a matter of what you are looking for.

I know that is general...but I also feel like it's one of those personal things. Like choosing a hair dresser. I love my hair dresser..I love the way she colors and styles my hair...I will stay with her ..no matter how much she charges because I feel she compliments me well...I could go down the street to a 10$ hair cut...if I want... but I am happy where i am at and I know what I am going to get. If it is something I am not truly invested in like say my toenails ..I will go down the street and pay 15$ for a pedicure.

That's my own personal take on it.


:thumbup:

Our LQS charges $10 set up fee and a penny a sq inch!
It is a Tin Lizzie and YOU get to do the long arm quilting! With her supervision and help!
You pick the pattern or you can freehand it!
Then you can say YOU did it.!

A couple of other factors: Are there additional charges for thread or thread changes? Does the LQ quilter provide the batting, or do you? And if you do, please make sure it's something the quilter can work with - not all battings play nicely with longarms!

I had never used a LA until this spring. I had spent a year making a double wedding ring quilt for my daughters wedding. I took another quilter (and she is a perfectionist) and we went around asking different quilt shops for references.
Note: just because the LA owns or runs a quilt shop doesn't mean they are the best!!
Anyway - we spent a few days going around and asking questions. I decided upon the one who listened to me, made suggestions, spent time understanding what I wanted and didn't want. I looked at her work. I got over the sticker price and decided that this was an heriloom and I wanted the best.
Again - you pay for what you get. I got the best person for my needs and wants.

That was an interesting set of posts. I had NO idea LAQ had to have all of the insurance etc. I've never sent a quilt out to be LAQ'd before but BOY does the pricing make sense.

Thank you all for sharing your opinions and ideas and soapboxes... :)

I agree a lot of great info from you LArmers!! Thank-you SO much!

I help out at a friends LA shop, some people dont realize it takes hours and hours to do just one quilt, I did a queen not too long ago and because of the choosen pattern it took me 9 hours....this gal thought you just loaded it and the computer took over and then you just take off the finished quilt and that was it. She stopped in while I was doing it and was surprised at how much there was to getting one done.