ghostrider

When I first started using long arm quilters, I had a list of questions I asked in addition to making sure I saw samples of their work. You may be able to use some of those questions, too, so here's my list:

How long have you been longarming? On the machine you use now?
Is your machine hand guided or computer guided?
Have you quilted for competition?
Are you a member of any guilds or machine quilter’s organizations?
If I select a quilting pattern that you don’t think will look very good when complete, will you explain why and make other suggestions?
Are there brands of batting that you prefer to work with?
Will I receive an estimate?
Do you require a deposit?
If extra work is required, do you call in advance of doing that work?
Do you baste all the edges?
Do you trim the backing and the batting?
Do you also make quilts?
Do you have any problem with cats? (some here will not take customers with cats because of allergies)
What type of thread do you use? Do you supply it?
Do you have a rush service?
Are there any size limitations, large or small?
Do you require backstitched seams on the edges or is perimeter stitching okay instead?


ETA: Mine requires that the top, batting, and backing are marked with safety pins to indicate the top edge. It keeps layers from being loaded incorrectly and takes the determination of 'which way is up' out of her hands...which she likes.
<O

duckydo

good information from ghostrider. I am a long armer and it also nice if the tops are pressed and long threads trimmed. Nothing more frustratineg than to have stray threads quilted in a light piece of fabric. But do ask questions of your longarmer, it helps for you complete satisfaction.

meyert

ghostrider - thanks for your input! that list of questions is good to have

celwood

You do not have to layer it, they do it. Each long arm quilter has different requirements as to how they want the top and backing done so make sure that you talk to them first. As to the batting, check with the quilter as to what batting they use. I usually do not supply the batting if the batting that the LAQ uses is acceptable. The cheapest services are for edge to edge quilting. If you require custom quilting the price is usually higher. In regards to the binding, I supply the binding and ask that they sew it on to the front of the quilt because I like to hand sew the binding to the back. If I mail my top and backing I always put them in a plastic bag just in case the box gets wet.

Mariah

My long-armer doesn't want anything but the 3 pieces. She also wants to have you pick out the pattern of quilting you want done on it. She answers any questions, gives suggestions if you want it, and is worth every cent I pay her. It is a relief to have her!
She will offer to bind it, or leave it for me to do. I let her do it!!
Good luck!
Mariah

Jakers1

For several years I have given my quilts to one person to quilt. She is great, but since she and her husband have a farm and she works, she is not that quick. She is, however, very good and will provide batting if you wish, whatever kind you want, and charges for it. A friend recommended another person, and I gave her 2 quilts. I had to provide the batting. She was very quick, I got 2 quilts back in 3 weeks. Here is the difference. The first quilter did not trim the edges so I could trim it myself before adding the binding to the width I wanted. The second one trimmed the edges right up to the border - it was not easy putting on the binding because there was no batting to fill the binding, so I had to make the seam allowance bigger when adding the binding. SO - that is a question I would ask as well - or tell them NOT to trim the edges (my first quilter positions it so any excess backing fabric is whole and can be used in another quilt). Costs are about the same for both, about 2 cents per square inch. (Another good question).

Roberta

When I sent my quilt to Happy Quilters in KS, I just sent the top, they put the batting, backing and binding on and I was very pleased and it was very reasonable.

madamekelly

I will say this about sending a quilt out to be quilted. Make sure you have everything in writing, price, time, what is supplied, etc. also, when I sent my first quilt out to be quilted, I had a really hard time making sure my back was wide enough for my 112" x112" inch quilt. By my measurements, I needed to add 8" so I divided that in half, add four inches to each side, and added a strip down each side. When she loaded it, it was too wide, so she called to ask how to adjust it. I told her to take all of the extra off one side, since the side pieces were different fabric. That was my idea because it gave it an accent strip down one side. When I got it back, it was perfect. I am telling you all this so you know that even a well prepared quilt may have issues, so make sure and tell your quilter that if any problems arise to please call you to work it out. Also, ask to see some of their work and get references. I hope you are thrilled with the job. Post pictures.

(FYI- I put the labels on before they are quilted, so they are quilted in, makes them harder to steal.)

Misty's Mom

Madam Kelly, how do you know where to put your labels on the back before they are LA'd? I'm still learning about my LA and would rather put my label on first like you.

quiltingshorttimer

I just did this for a customer--I loaded it so the embroidered label was at the top, left hand corner of the backing--luckily she was careful and gave me plenty of extra space on both corner edges around the label to use for pinning to leaders so there was no worry about it being cut-off.

One thing I would add to what others have said is as a long armer, I appreciate customers that will discuss what is wanted desired on the quilt. When I am told "I trust you to choose" I cringe! So I'll start asking lots of questions--how dense of quilting, how much do you want to spend (and show examples of quilted out samples for different density and price range), do you want me to provide bat and discuss what kind, how will the quilt be used (hang on wall or repeated washings), what type of thread and color/contrast, and since I routinely leave the extra edges on for the customer, ask if they don't wish that done. It's important to be sure to discuss price--most long armers charge different rates for different types of quilting--pantos & edge2edge tend to be less costly, then border2border with the borders done differently than the center, or customer quilting or heirloom quilting. Most will also charge extra for attaching the binding by machine or finishing binding by hand.

But for your quilter will love you & your quilts if you bring them pressed top & backing with threads clipped and the back squared well.