Not being able to afford quilting
 

I was just wondering if there is anyone else who likes to make quilts, but can't afford to have them quilted. It's so frustrating that I have all these pretty quilts waiting to be quilted and they just continue to sit. I know people will say to just machine quilt it, but I don't have that talent. And having a longarmer quilting it makes it so beautiful. It completes the hard work you did. Does anyone know a longarmer that would accept payments. That way I could get my quilts done. Thanks for any help.

I would think a business person would take your quilt top and allow you to make payments, then work it into their schedule when you are close to finished paying for their services. When you make your last payment you pick up the quilt. It’s actually a pretty good deal for a longarmer because they could quilt it whenever they wanted to, making the scheduling more flexible.

Having said that, I’m not a longarmer, so I don’t really know about their business model.

I quilt my own quilts. First few looked pretty rough but practice makes it look pretty good.

Why not pay yourself in payments until you get enough to pay the LA in full?

The quilting down is the thorn in my projects. I really like the designing and piecing phase, not so much the quilting. I had access to a friend's long arm for several years and now that I'm spoiled, I no longer have access. I find that I am much happier moving the head/myself on a long arm than I am moving the quilt around with a tabletop machine. I do have a machine with a lovely big throat (sadly it has to go the shop) and although it could, I don't want to do anything larger than a twin on it and most of my unfinished projects now are queen sized. For years I did simple grids and curves on queen sized projects with fancier stuff in the borders using my old vintage machine but I honestly just don't want to wrestle with fabric any more. Without a long arm, I just can't really get what I want out of my quilting with my skill set and my equipment.

Last year I ran an ad on Craig's List, chatted with a couple of people but it didn't work out. Was going to try again when all this Covid stuff hit and I don't see it happening in the Seattle area this year, but I am looking to rent time on a home long arm set up on a regular basis. I'm willing to pay, but I can't really afford shop rates -- I'm looking at 2 days per month at $100, and of course I provide all the necessary thread, needles, batting, etc. and no training by the owner, and they can supervise me if they wish/until we are comfortable. Ideally it would be a win/win situation, like someone who travels regularly and would like a pet sitter, I can do both at the same time. Or just someone who isn't using their machine as much as they thought/could use a few bucks they aren't getting by quilting for other people.

We are going to buy a freezer with our stimulus check and fill it full of meat and vegies. We're not sure if I will get one or not, we do file taxes jointly and I report a small amount of interest income but I haven't worked in a few years. If we get anything for me too, I think I'm going to pay to get a quilt or two done -- the question is, which one(s)? Wouldn't be more than 2. Ones that I want to give or ones that I want to keep...

Other than that, I keep trying to win the lottery so I can buy the house across the street and turn this entire 1200 sf house into sewing studio. Ahh... lottery dreams...

I'm doing the same. They don't look as perfect as they would if a longarmer did them, but they are all mine and I"m slowly getting better.

If you really don't have the cash now, but could make payments, why not just put the money that you would use in a jar each week and then when you have enough take the top to the longarmer and have her quilt it. It would save her having to store your quilt top until you pay her enough for her to go ahead and quilt it.

Do you have a longarmer that you could make a trade with? I quilted a couple of quilts for a guild member and she did all of my Christmas baking including Christmas cake. We were both very happy and thought we got a great deal.

Or you could hand quilt them, like people have done for a long time! Even do big stitch quilting, it's a lot faster. Or tie them. Then at least you would get to use them instead of just looking at them.

My suggestion would be to sell your unfinished tops on Etsy, keeping your favorite ones aside, and use the proceeds to have them quilted.

I think the idea of making payments to yourself until you have saved enough to pay for having someone quilt for you is not a bad idea. As a longarm owner, I would be very hesitant to rent out my machine to a stranger. Kind of like letting a stranger drive your car (it nearly cost as much as my car). Shops that rent out their machines have to have extra insurance in case anything happens to the machine or the user because accidents do happen even to experienced quilters. That would be another reason someone would be hesitant to want to do this. Perhaps you can find someone who is new to longarming and would take your quilts to help them build up confidence. I did that when I was starting out.
Maybe you aren't really looking for solutions, just want to vent your frustration at not being able to afford to send out your quilts. We all sympathize. Quilting really is an expensive hobby.
Tall Chick's idea is a good one, too.

Yes, this small company takes payments! https://www.suesquiltingcompany.com/e2e-info I have not used her services myself yet, but if I ever need to I will. Her cost is very reasonable I think.

Oh I understand very well, Pam that I'm looking for someone to let me into their personal space and play with an expensive item and that there are always liability concerns. I didn't think it would be easy to find but I know quite a number of people who have bought machines that didn't end up using them nearly as much as they thought... and all I need to find is the right fit for me.

Had hoped to meet people/do some networking, get business cards etc. from quilters this year. Unfortunately, Seattle as we know got hit hard first and fast with the Covid stuff. Our big show for our area for the year was cancelled, the Ricky Tims thing was cancelled. Pretty much everything has been cancelled...

And I can't afford the entirely reasonable costs it would take for someone better than me to put together my tops. Wish I could, but no, typically I can't afford the going rate for a semi-custom job in the Seattle area even once a year. Most everything I use is stash, I buy what fabric I buy at thrift stores for about a dollar a yard and have been doing that for years now. Most everything at this point is no cost to me but labor and I'm willing to do the labor to get what i want.

So for this year I'm simply going to ignore the stack of unquilted tops unless they fall on me. Which is a very real possibility...

I quilt most of mine myself. Mainly straight line and SID. I am not good at FMQ. Occasionally I do some simple meandering. They are not as pretty as they would be with a LAs talent. But, I cannot afford that. I could practice FMQ on my home machine but the fun for me is in the piecing

I was going to suggest 2 things that may have already been mentioned:
Learn to quilt them yourself by machine.
Hand quilt them.

I was a hand quilter for many years but am finding machine quilting a good way to get them done faster. However, my skills aren't great. You have to keep at it and then it gets better and better.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

some long armers will simply baste the quilt together for you which generally doesn't cost to much.... when I did not have my long arm....basting the quilt sandwich together was really the hardest part....when I quilted...I usually just did straight line across the quilt....not fancy...sometimes I used a combo of straight line quilting and tying....and some of that was with a simple bar tack or a decorative stitch.....I don't know if you typically make quilts with a lot of plain fabrics so you can show off quilting....I do not...because even though I have a long arm....I don't really enjoy fancy custom work...generally just do meander plus...which means meandering but throwing in some other motives like leaves or hearts or bubbles or loops...or something like that...and I purposely make them different sizes and shapes so I don't have to worry about being precise....and I use finer thread like superior's so Fine with colors that blend into my fabric...so the quilt ends up being quilted...but the piecing is the star of the quilt , not the quilting...

I really like tallchick's idea, I never would have thought of that. [img]images/smilies/thumbup.png[/img] Another idea, is finding a longarm quilter that is just starting a business, their rates are generally less expensive, or contact a local guild, maybe you could barter with a member, you provide a service, yardwork, housekeeping, dog walking ect. and you get a flimsy quilted.

I quilted my own for many years on my domestic machine, stitch in the ditch, quilt as you go, fancy stitches mixed it, and a few small FMQ projects mixed in. I did buy a midarm quilting machine off Craigslist about a year ago, and it by far, is my preferred way to finish the quilts I make. I only do edge to edge meandering, and I am happy with that, they are not made or intended to be national quilt show judged quilts, which I absolutely admire when I am at a larger or even a local state show. It takes an expert quilter to turn a flimsy into a masterpiece, and that cost a lot of money if you don't quilt it yourself.

Have you got things sitting around your house that you could sell ? I’ve sold many things on Craig’s List. Garden items, end tables, headboards, bed frame, vintage items, bedspread, downspouts, lawn mower, table & chairs. Recently I sold an old screwdriver with advertising on it for $15. I meet buyers at a grocery store then when we are done, I go in the store. That way they don’t follow me home & know where I live. Of course big things need to be picked up at my house but my husband is visible or do like my friend who has a neighbor man come over when buyers arrive. Or find a 2nd hand dealer who buys & resells.

I was thinking the same thing.

You might try Happy Crafters, in Osawatomie KS. Carol will do edge2edge designs fairly inexpensively. I don't think she does any custom work.

The long arm ladies do beautiful work, dont they? But I'm teaching myself the quilting part because I'm going to go broke paying them. So I'm trying to do most things myself and just send out the large ones (queens).

Start small and you will be amazed at what you accomplish. Start with a walking foot, not in the ditch but just up and down, back and forth. Whenever I want something that I can't afford yet, rather than getting myself into debt, I set money aside until I have enough. Longarmers can really make a simple quilt spectacular. But, not every quilt needs to be spectacular

I'd go through the stack of tops and divide them by a) absolutely needs to be long armed, b) nice to long arm, c) I could quilt in a pinch. Then I'd save up for the long arming and tackle the ones I could do in a pinch. I'd use my walking foot and either do a grid or stitch in the ditch. As I got better, I might find I could maneuver my machine a little easier and get a little fancier. But I allow my quilts to NOT be perfect. At least they are finished, and I can give them away, sleep under them, or even use them as tablecloths or picnic blankets.

I have found that free motion quilting is too stressful for me. I worry about it constantly so I have stopped doing it. I do quilt bigger quilts in sections and sometimes I do some free motion in those. But mostly, I just use my walking foot, and I'm getting better at it all the time. I recommend Leah Day's book on walking foot quilting. It really helped build my confidence.

Many years ago I clamped and pushed a quilt through my machine and at first the were a bit rough. After that on larger quilts I started hand quilting them. I have never long armed a quilt but sure would love to and am thinking about it. Even my avatar is hand quilted. I was unable to get the majority of the quilt under the machine so that took care of that . For years I used my grace frame and my Brothers 1500se. Right now it is not working either. Seems the frame is out of wack right now. Recently I have been doing QAYG projects that allow me to quilt on my smaller machines with little to no stress on my arms. My home quilting is always evolving for this I am grateful. I have no clue where the future goes. You might want to try a number of different techniques. Don't give up!

I do too. My first quilt was only stitch in the ditch. Practice makes you better especially FMQ. Even after all these years that I have been quilting ,mine are no where near what a professional can do,but I still feel proud of them and it gives me a sense of accomplishment.

Is there a real demand for just tops?

I had never thought of that, thanks for the suggestion. I think I am going to try that. Thanks again,

I, too, enjoy the creativity of the patchwork much more than the quilting. I have a basic longarm that I bought to quilt my own. I do not quilt for the public. I made a deal with one of my friends -- she could use my machine to quilt hers if she would also quilt mine, one for one. Unfortunately, she passed away before she ever got started. But, it was a good idea. Maybe this idea would work for someone else. Yes, that was a simplified explanation. There was a lot of discussion with training, thread, supplies, etc. There is also an element of trust. She was a dear friend. I don't think I would do it with a stranger. But, a sister quilter isn't a stranger for long.

Yes, I find that having quilts done by professionals is expensive. I'm not saying it's not worth it, I'm just saying I can't afford to have all of my quilts quilted professionally. I decided that when a quilt I was not too enamored with was finished and ready to go to the quilter. It was a bed size quilt and would cost about $160.00. Once I calculated everything, I decided then that I didn't like that quilt that much, so it's still in the closet.
Since then, I mostly make throw or lap size quilts that I can do on my own machine. If it's special, I'll still use the long armer, but mostly, I just use my walking foot.
bkay

The only quilts I send out are King because I just can't wrestle with one that big and our bed is that size.
I know a woman who does a King for around 120. That's a good price. She does a wonderful job.
Right now I'm almost finished with one to send her. She also provides the batting in that price but I want
to use wool this time so I will send it along and she will deduct the price of the batting she uses. She's done
2 quilts for me and I've been very pleased. She said with the quarantine she's backed up 3 weeks which to me
doesn't sound bad at all.
PM me if you want her info.

I like toverly's advise also. Save up till you have the money to have it quilted. Good idea.

I sent you a PM

Pick up all the info you can on QAYG (quilt as you go), especially here on the tutorial forum. There are many, many clever quilters out there and most of them share on a regular basis. Also, don't overlook the scads of information and samples on Pinterest and You Tube.

That way you get it done yourself and no extra cost and have a nice, nice quilt that can be used.

Have you tried "Quilt as You Go"?

Dreaming! Just a quick note! Remember that after you wash and dry the quilt (whether for yourself or for gifting), the FMQ looks amazing. Any bumps in your FMQing never, never show! The puckering of the fabric hides everything. I suggest that you pick one of your smaller tops, sandwich it with adhesive (I use Sullivan's). Find a larger FMQ pattern (I make mine larger by increasing the size of the print on my printer) and go for it! Wash and dry your quilt and you will be amazed at how little the quilting really shows. Quilting has a job! It is to help hold all those seams together for a long time! Good luck!

Honestly, start small and work your way up. When I first started my quilts were quilted together and they looked awful LOL My cats and dogs had tons of "beds" and I passed on others to my friends. I started with 36x36 - it's workable and they are fast and easy. Once you get the hang of it, then you can start going bigger and bigger.

I've been quilting for over 15 years, and while I have made some fabulous big quilts, my preference is still something around 48x48 inches.

I have had two quilts done by a long-arm quilter, and both times it was really a letdown. Yes, the quilting was beautiful, but I didn’t feel it was “my quilt” any more. The suggestion about washing the quilt afterward is right on the mark—the wrinkling covers a multitude of “issues.” I practiced FMQ on placemats and potholders, and have progressed to recently finishing a queen size quilt completely done on my domestic machine. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. But it’s mine.

Well said! I've thought the same thing. It's hard to say that "I made this" when in actuality all you made was the quilt top.

Jim

Dreaming, When I purchased my longarm I had a stack of UFO's that I thought would take me forever to quilt all of them. In less than two months I was out of UFOs and still wanted more practice. Thankfully, I have several friends who are also quilters, don't own a longarm, and they were willing to trust me with their lovely projects to quilt to continue my learning experience.

If you don't know a beginner longarm quilter, you might check with a local Guild or your local quilt shop, or local machine dealer, to see if they know of someone new to long arming and willing to do it for free just for the opportunity to practice.

Keep in mind, being new means the work may be a little less than perfect or simpler designs (but in my case was still better than if I did it on my domestic machine). Also for me, practice doesn't mean I'm still learning, it just means I can't create a top fast enough to be able to use my longarm every month, and I want to be able to "use" the skills I've learned frequently so that they become second nature.

If you were closer, I'd offer to take on a few for you, but experience has taught me that shipping can be pricey.

hray! I'm very impressed that you FMQed a queen-size quilt! Good job! I have had many of my quilts quilted by a "longarmer". I have not felt that it took anything away from my quilt being mine! I'm 82 and I am just not strong enough to FMQ large quilts anymore. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do and make the next quilt. Just my 2-cents worth!

I don’t think I’ll do another queen size, at least not soon...though I picked up the idea of using wool batting at a class I went to and it’s great. It’s more flexible, and much lighter weight, and surprisingly doesn’t cost much more than cotton or blends
—only $4 more for a twin size batting!

Leah Day has talked about this problem. People don’t start learning how to FMQ until a long time after they start piecing. This leads to a disconnect when you start. Your intermediate level piecing projects are getting beginner quilting.

I think if you want to continue quilting economically you should bite the bullet and either do a lot of practicing of walking foot or FMQ or pick your least favorite top and practice your quilting on that. soon, with practice, your Quilting will move to the same level as your piecing. If you quilt in colors that match the quilt the quilting won’t show up as much. Your problem will be solved long term with this solution.

I had the opposite problem. My FMQ was much better than my piecing. I solved this by doing whole cloth quilts. Eventually I spent the time and learned how to piece too. While my FMQ is still better the piecing is coming up to par.

you also have the added bonus that learning a new skill is good for the brain!

good luck

i