Looking for a Long-Armer
 

Hello Everyone!

A friend of mine has recently inherited a hand-pieced double wedding ring quilt top from a deceased relative. She cherishes it a lot, and asked me if I would quilt it (it's bed-sized). Now, I wouldn't take a stab at machine quilting it because I don't have a lot of experience, but I could hand-quilt it - that would just take a very long time. My friend is reluctant to let anyone else touch it, but I just don't feel like I could do this beautiful quilt justice, even renting time on a long arm. I'd like to try to convince her to send it to a professional, but I don't know who to start with.

Do you all have any suggestions for a long-armer? Anyone you've tried in the past and loved the results? Anyone you always use with great success? I'd really appreciate some referrals.

Thanks very much :)

I see some beautiful work on the board here. Charismah and Harriet come to mind, and I know there are other great ones I just can't think of this early.

I agree these two longarm profesionals have lots of experience, talent, and artistic skill. I have used both with outstanding results.

I've used two different long arm quilters here in North Carolina. Both were good but the second one (the one I use now) is awesome... way beyond good. PM me if your friend decides she is comfortable shipping it. I know my quilter has folks from Virginia that ship quilts to her to be quilted.

Before you send it to anyone, have you assessed the top? DWR's are difficult quilts to put together, and many DWR tops have never been quilted because they aren't square and won't lay flat. If your friend's quilt has these problems then it may still be quilt-able, but you will need to find someone who knows how to handle this situation, and the price would probably go up because of the extra time involved. Also, since the top is older and hand pieced, are the stitches secure? Are the seams wide enough that they are not pulling loose? I agree with the others that there are some excellent longarmers on this board, including Charismah and Harriet, but be sure that whoever takes it on is made aware that this is a cherished vintage top, and discuss any problems that it may have (hopefully none).

I would start at your local shop or guild and try to find someone to HAND quilt it instead of trying to talk her into something she doesn't want done.

If it's hand pieced, I would want it hand quilted...Have you thought about looking for someone who hand quilts? Sometimes groups of ladies meet and hand quilt together, which makes it go a lot faster. We have a group here that meets and hand quilts, and the money they make goes to charities that they choose. A friend of mine sometimes quilts with them.

I haven't seen the quilt in person yet, but I'll be sure to inspect it thoroughly. Thanks for the advice!

It's not that she wants it hand quilted, it's just that *I* would feel more comfortable hand quilting it if she insisted that I do it. Only because I don't have a lot of experience with long-arm, and hand quilting is must easier (for me) to get right.

This is a good idea. I'm not part of any guild, but I know of a few in the area. I'll look into that, thanks :)