Hi TonieLoree: I totally agree. I had a neighbour whose husband had very short arms. She found out that I made all of my children's clothes and asked me to shorten the arms of all his shirts for him (for free!) as the seamstress was charging her (gasp!!) $11.00. I told her she was getting a bargain and explained what you have to do to shorten sleeves. Having worked in alterations, you know how much work that is! I would much rather make a jacket from scratch than replace the zipper!

A dust ruffle will only work if the quilt already covers the mattress, which may not be the case. I would go over the other options with the client, pricing them to cover my time and materials. It might turn out that the client decides to keep that quilt for another bed (or to give as a gift) and asks you to make another quilt for her bed. In that case, be sure she provides good measurements, realizing that the quilt will shrink a bit when quilted.

I put a larger border on one of my finished quilts. Removed the binding and just added the border with of course the batting and backing and yes it would need to have some quilting.

Try using the Cotton Theory method of joining extra pieces to the edge of the quilt. Most quilt as you go projects use similar methods. You can see videos of the Cotton Theory quilting on Sewing with Nancy.

Once again, it is the "clueless syndrome".

I just made a pinwheel quilt for my daughter's MIL (also my good friend). She saw the quilt top and said how big it looked, that she didn't want it down to the floor. Later she told me the bed was a full size. So I took a row off the side and shortened it. Added borders, quilted it, took it to her, laid it on the bed and it is too narrow. Barely hangs over the edge. She said maybe I could add on to it. I told her, "Live with it. It ain't getting enlarged". Turned out the bed IS queen size. Oh well, live and learn. I told her to put it under her other blanket.

I refuse to make quilts too big to launder. And sweetly explain this concept to folks who don't know the difference between a quilt and a bedspread. The biggest I will make is 100 inches square.

Sometimes we do not get good information from the people we work for. Knowing the measurements of the bed would be helpful...as well as how much "drop" there needs be to be make the finished product pleasing to the eye.

I make quilts for charities, so I do not make them to fit certain bed sizes. They are often made from donated fabric/scraps so they become whatever size they are purely because I run out of blocks. I do add borders to enlarge them to make something more than a lap quilt or wall hanging size, which I think would be useless to someone wanting to keep warm.

Joyce has years of experience doing hand quilting, but also will stitch for her customers. Hand quilting is "premier" for a quilt to be kept in the family and passed down to future generations.

Mine are quilts for comfort...and there is a world of difference as those of you who quilt for charity will readily agree.

Thanks for your helpful answers. Keep your ideas coming.

June / for Joyce in Missouri

lol This is what I would do too. Then make a bigger one.

She could buy a nice solid color, lightweight bedspread and lay the quilt on top of the bedspread. Would be a nice back drop for your finished, repeat, finished work of art.