New experience
 

Do you require a written receipt and a description of what you and your longarmmer has agreed she/he will quilt on your quilt ? And do you have a list of items you provide to her/him such as batting?

I think it depends on the situation. A written receipt would be a good idea. It varies on the situation. I had one longarm quilter who required anything or nothing. Others require you furnish all supplies. I may be wrong, it has been years since I used a longarmer. Just ask, they will tell you.

i haven't yet contracted with a professional quilter.
after all i've read here over the years, when i finally do i will definitely insist that everything be in writing before i hand over my top.

i think that protects both parties.

I provide the batting. And I provide the backing. My long armer does not stock every batting on the market. she makes a special trip to JoAnns . just easier to provide her with what I want.

With my long armer...I don't care what she does "pattern" wise. She knows that I don't want "custom" and that I don't want the thread color to be the focal point. She is very inexpensive so I give her my permission to get it done as she sees fit.

IF I had a specific quilt that I wanted "custom" with very specific do & don't s and wants..heck yea...PUT IT IN WRITING. I would not expect her to remember our verbal conversation five minutes after I left. I know that I would not remember.

Sandy

I've only had one small quilt finished by a professional longarmer. They were great to work with but $$ so it may be the last time. :D She spent at least 45 min measuring my quilt, asking questions, making notes, etc. She made note of the quilting design I requested and we picked out variegated thread. I signed the notes and we both kept a copy. They had a backlog of 8 - 10 weeks before they could get to my quilt, so the notes were essential. I picked batting and backing fabric there, but they are ok with me bringing my own supplies. My LA does not have a large selection of batting either.
I would definitely get everything in writing, but especially if it is your first time working with someone. Its better to have no surprises at the end!

There's a great book by Linda Taylor "Ultimate Guide to Longarm Machine Quilting"
http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Guide...chine+quilting

It's geared toward long arm quilters and has several examples of agreements.

If you are dropping a top off at a long arm quilter and she doesn't have a formal contract, I would still insist on something in writing, stating the size of the top, color thread, type of batting (and who provided it), type of quilting requested and/or name of panto, price and a target completion date. Just write this all down on a sheet of paper and both of you sign and date it. If she doesn't have a copy machine, write it up twice so you both have a copy. Also, don't just drop the quilt off and run. Plan on spending a bit of time with the long armer to look at your top, especially if you are a new customer. Ask to see samples of her work. As far as providing the batting, I would contact the quilter. Often they buy in bulk and can offer a price that is competitive to what you would pay.
Most established quilters have a brochure or prep sheet telling you how to prepare your top & backing.
If the quilter doesn't want to provide something in writing (formal or not) and/or doesn't want to take the time with you up front to look at and discuss your top, I would look for a different quilter.

If had had something I wanted done to my specifications then I would put it in writing. I don't care usually so she does what she wants. I think different people do different as far as supplies. I provide the backing, she provides the batt and thread unless I want something special for batt, then I supply it. I hate to quilt so I feel I am getting a good deal. she charges me .005 per square inch. She even trims for me. What a gal!

I don't LA, but I do sell quilts built to customer specs. I do have a pre-printed work sheet that I use to get answers to every question I will need to build the quilt. I leave nothing to chance....that way there are no surprises for the customer or me. It just helps everyone involved. I have taken quilts to be long arm quilted and we went through the same process. I got a copy and she kept one pinned to the top. She was a very busy lady and it was to ensure that she didn't forget any necessary details.

I can't imagine doing business without a written estimate and description of what will be done, unless perhaps you have been doing business with that longarmer for a very long time and you have developed complete confidence in each other. The written information protects both parties.

My LA is very professional, and writes up everything I have requested, and includes everything I have agreed to, including thread, quilting pattern, and batting etc. She also adds the price we have agreed to and approx. time the quilting will be completed. She has always had my quilt completed on time. It has been quite a while since I have taken her a quilt to be quilted, but I assume she still operates as professionally as usual.

I think it would be a very good idea, Protects both the quilter and client!

I had only contracted a LA once in my life, and for that project I had a "project ticket" that she wrote that had just the basics on it ... the size of my quilt, the fact that I had supplied the batting, the estimated price, and the expected date of return. While I was there she deposited my top, backing, batting into a pillow case - folded over the top and pinned her copy of the ticket to secure it.

It did not mention the quilting design or the thread choice because I left both ENTIRELY in her hands after discussing several ideas.

If we had discussed specifics about the quilting/thread ... she probably would have included that on the ticket as well.

generally- yes. I have a form that is filled out when a customer brings in a quilt to be quilted- description & size of the quilt- type/size of backing- if it came in with batting or if I am providing it- what kind of batting & size. the agreed upon quilting design, thread choice, time frame agreed on and price of the 'job' -- along with quilt owners name, address & phone number and date it comes in...when you have everything in writing it protects you the customer and the quilter- I do not think surprises are acceptable. if something happens that I will not be able to get the quilt done by the 'promised date' I call as soon as I know this and talk to the customer about it- everybody happy means repeat business & referrals.

My longarmer, who is also now a good friend, operates as ckcowl does....very professionally. She has built her business up to full-time and now has a client list of 250 happy customers. She rocks! :)

I found a LAQ here on this forum. I am not picky. I email what I want and she emails back the cost. Done and happy.

A pro will require an estimate of the work and description of what is being done. They will examine the quilt and take notes on any problems like open seams or puckering, quilt out of square and stuff like that. They will ask what you want to do to fix and repair.

This is for her protection and yours just in case there is mis- communication.

Then there are those that are as easy as you want them to be and will do anything you want and work with what you have.

You really have to search to find the right connections that work for you.
peace
peace

I am very lucky to have " Bob the Quilter". When I take a quilt in we discuss design and thread. Everything is written on a card and pinned to the quilt. I take my batting because I have a bolt. I just took 6 quilts to him and had them back in 3 weeks. Love the work he does and his prices are reasonable.

I think it depends on how long you have had a relationship with your quilter. When I first started using professionals, they all had a form , and listed all the variables and the agreed quilting styles, thread etc. This also included and estimate of all the costs for the specific quilt. It also had a completion date that was agreed to by both .

I provide the top and the backing. I get the batting from the LAQ. I only take things larger than 40 x 40 to the LAG. I have a box full of table runner and and small wall quilts or table toppers which I will get around to quilting someday.

I found a longarmer through a friend. She did my first quilt, which was all straight lines, with butterflies and flowers, to offset the lines. We did not discuss how to do it. She has done two other quilts for me and we have discussed generally what is to be done, but I have not been unhappy with her choices of patterns, they all fit the quilt. I provide the batting and backing. The funny part is that I drop off the quilt in a parking lot, giving it to her husband, and he delivers it to the parking lot when it is done and collects the check. She lives quite a ways away from me and he works between his home and mine, so it works. (Wonder if the authorities want to know what we are up to, with a bag and a check going back and forth!) She does provide a receipt and charges what other long armers do. She also has fit in a quilt for me when I needed it done in a hurry for my daughter's wedding gift. The long armer was going on vacation and got it done before she left, giving me time to bind it. I could not ask for better service and quality quilting.

My long arm quilter has a program that prints out what the charges are - the size of my quilt; whether she or I provide the batting; the design; thread(if she provides it- sometimes I do); and the exact cost of what it will be. She has the info on her computer and prints out a copy for me, which she gives me again, marked PAID when she's done and I've paid. I think it keeps everything clear on what we both understand.

My LAQ has Hobbs 80/20 or provide your own, she provides the thread, and we decide the design, then she writes me a receipt with all details. No misunderstandings, no problem remembering, (my issue, not hers...) and I have never had a complaint with her work. My last quilt she did was 112x110 and cost me $185.50 for thread, batting, and quilting. Worth every penny. She also does mail service.

I would definitely want something in writing.

It would depend on your longarmer. The longarmer I was using we never put it in writing. She bought batting by the bolt wholesale so I always just used hers. It was about the same as a good sale at JoAnns. SHe usually had several different choices of batting. So may designs to choose from it was almost overwhelming.
The longarmer I use now I supply the batting and backing. SHe has basic colors of thread, if you want something fancy in a thread you bring your own. She has done 2 quilts for me so far and has done an excellent job and her prices are good. No contracts. She is a member of my guild. One quilt I just told her to do whatever she thought looked good. The second quilt I just picked up today. I told her I wanted something like interlocking squares or geometric. She must have read my mind because she did exactly what was in my vision of what it needed.
You have to know them. Otherwise I would want a contract.

The above comment is not correct. You may ask her for a different batting, backing. Apologies.

I'm just starting a LA business and have taken several courses from different LA teachers--all encourage a written ticket so there are no miscommunications, especically since successful LA (I'm not there yet!) may have a backlog of quilts and details can get forgotten. They also discourage the customer from bringing thread because everyone's machine has it's favorite thread! And customer thread can get old if bought by the large cones--which can also cause tension problems. prices will vary depend on your local's typical price, but also the type of quilting--edge2edge or border2border(either as a panto or free motion) is typically cheaper, custom quilting will be more expensive. And of course dense custom quilting will be the most expensive. Brand/type of thread reuqested can cause a difference in price--for example, varigated thread costs more than a plain, poly. ditto with bat--wool or bamboo is more expensive to buy. also, a busy quilter asked to do a rush job may need to "jump" a quilt ahead in the line, work really long/late hours, etc. In a nutshell--there are so many variables that determine price and the type of job done, that a written document makes sure that nothing gets forgotten. I feel like there is so much for me to learn!

I have been doing long arm quilting for people for 8 years. In that time I have had one customer say it was not what she wanted. I agreed to pull the quilting out of her quilt and give her money back to her. She did not want the money back, but for me to quilt another quilt for her. I did write everything down that she wanted for her quilting, and I thought we agreed to the list. Well, she went out of town and when she returned, and I returned her quilt, she did not like it. Lesson learned, Next time, when I write down what the customer wants, I will have them sign that they agree to the list. I know, I would pull the quilting out again, after all the Customer is right.

I never get any paper work from my quilter...She has always charged me as she quoted me. She is great...

It's a good idea. Have a wonderful customer...her 2nd quilt she asked for a thicker batting. We discussed the thicker plus a layer of the regular batting....when a price was given, she opted for one layer of the thicker batting. Yesterday she again asked for the thicker batting, said I didn't include the 2nd layer on the last quilt....and I was busy, so offered a discount on the batting for this quilt (my cost)...she said, "No, I'll pay for the batting & I don't need the 2nd layer." I wrote that down, in front of her... then she said to use the design I used before... I wrote it down. It is hard to recall what is discussed sometimes. Oh, and then she proceeded to pick out a different design, LOL. Yep, wrote it down.
You want to write down the size of the quilt top & all that you discuss...not word for word...but the important things like thread color, batting type, design, etc. I even jot down "no choice" if they tell me to choose.

I don't charge a lot for quilting...but I do charge for batting & backing if I have to provide it.
Hubby now hands me an order blank when he is there and a customer comes in. I also do embroidery...so some days it can get very challenging to recall what each person wants.