Renting a long-arm questions
05-26-2012, 04:52 AM
#31
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: PA
Posts: 2,879
Originally Posted by susie-susie-susie
I guess I'm missing something. Why would you want to quilt something twice? I rent time on a Gammill at a LQS. It usually takes about 4 hours and I was required to take a class. I also had to buy zippers to load the quilt. They cut the loading time considerably. $8.00 an hour sounds very reasonable, by the way.
Sue
Sue
05-26-2012, 06:25 AM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Clinton, IA
Posts: 422
My LQS has a long arm to rent and she does require a class to learn it first for around $40 and she supplied all the materials. She also said that if you weren't comfortable with using your own quilts after the class, you could practice on some Linus quilts (charity quilts) free of charge. This LQS is 25-30 miles away and I do plan on taking her class this summer. I think it would be a great idea to learn it to baste your quilt on the LA for hand quilting - I hate to baste/pin my quilt. I have a hard time basting/pin large quilts because I can't get down on the floor.
05-26-2012, 07:17 AM
#35
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Littlefield, TX, USA
Posts: 1,077
First...I've been longarm quilting over 7 years...I can do a queen size quilt in one day...no way will you do one in 3 hours. It takes 30 minutes or more to load the quilt...pinning it on the leaders takes time.
I think if you want to learn to use a longarm...see if that shop has classes...that's the best option.
Marge
I think if you want to learn to use a longarm...see if that shop has classes...that's the best option.
Marge
Originally Posted by AshleyR
I found out my fabric shop rents a LA for only $8/hour. Any time I have a crazy idea, I try to talk it through with my husband, but he couldn't wrap his head around this one.... So, what do you think?
I have to drive an hour to get there, so I want to make sure it's worth my while!
I love to FMQ on my own sewing machine, but I'd be happy to skip the basting
I usually just buy quilt tops, instead of making them
I haven't used a machine-quilting frame. I tried at home, but couldn't get it on there right, and I had no help with how to do simple things, like change the bobbin. Using the one at the shop sounds like a great way to learn without a heavy investment.
I know it could take years to get good on it, so here's my crazy idea....
What if I used my good backing and batting and top instead of sheets or muslin fabric? However, instead of "real" thread, I just use water-soluble thread? If I quilt it on the LA there with w.s. thread, then bring it home and quilt it for real on my own machine?
The advantages I see to this: I can buy backing and batting there (I do anyway) and I get help loading it on the frame and I don't have to store it at my house until I'm ready to baste. I can quilt it good/bad/ugly and it won't matter, because it will just wash out. I get to learn how to use the expensive LA and decide if I like it or not. I get my quilt "basted" really well so when I start quilting it for real, it shouldn't pucker. I have the perfect quilt to experiment on: it's gigantic and I have almost no money invested in it (top was free and backing was only $1/yard) and the thought of basting it keeps it on the bottom of the pile.
Disadvantages: I believe $8/hour is a very good rate, but it can add up. My plan is ultimately to be able to do several quilts in a morning/afternoon but I know at first I'll be lucky to get one done. So adding $24 to an already expensive quilt seems like a luxury. Especially considering that it won't "finish" it, and I can achieve the same results with a $5 pack of safety pins. I want to count the trip as a disadvantage, but in reality, I go there anyway, I just need to make sure I can reserve the LA when I'm there. If I buy wide backing on the same trip, I won't be able to wash it, and sometimes, that stuff causes my arms to break out. But since it's just on the backing, I should be ok. I'd just have to hope that shrinking ends up ok.
I don't plan on doing it every week, or even every month. Would I even really be able to pick up the skill of LA'ing if I only do it for 4 hours every 2-3 months? I've never used dissolving thread, is it difficult to use? And does it really last until you wash it out (or spill tea on it haha)? Would I be able to press the quilt (no steam, of course) with it?
And last question: Is this even a good idea? It's very early in the morning, so I'm sure there are things I should already know that I'm not thinking of, and things that I don't already know that I need to.
I have to drive an hour to get there, so I want to make sure it's worth my while!
I love to FMQ on my own sewing machine, but I'd be happy to skip the basting
I usually just buy quilt tops, instead of making them
I haven't used a machine-quilting frame. I tried at home, but couldn't get it on there right, and I had no help with how to do simple things, like change the bobbin. Using the one at the shop sounds like a great way to learn without a heavy investment.
I know it could take years to get good on it, so here's my crazy idea....
What if I used my good backing and batting and top instead of sheets or muslin fabric? However, instead of "real" thread, I just use water-soluble thread? If I quilt it on the LA there with w.s. thread, then bring it home and quilt it for real on my own machine?
The advantages I see to this: I can buy backing and batting there (I do anyway) and I get help loading it on the frame and I don't have to store it at my house until I'm ready to baste. I can quilt it good/bad/ugly and it won't matter, because it will just wash out. I get to learn how to use the expensive LA and decide if I like it or not. I get my quilt "basted" really well so when I start quilting it for real, it shouldn't pucker. I have the perfect quilt to experiment on: it's gigantic and I have almost no money invested in it (top was free and backing was only $1/yard) and the thought of basting it keeps it on the bottom of the pile.
Disadvantages: I believe $8/hour is a very good rate, but it can add up. My plan is ultimately to be able to do several quilts in a morning/afternoon but I know at first I'll be lucky to get one done. So adding $24 to an already expensive quilt seems like a luxury. Especially considering that it won't "finish" it, and I can achieve the same results with a $5 pack of safety pins. I want to count the trip as a disadvantage, but in reality, I go there anyway, I just need to make sure I can reserve the LA when I'm there. If I buy wide backing on the same trip, I won't be able to wash it, and sometimes, that stuff causes my arms to break out. But since it's just on the backing, I should be ok. I'd just have to hope that shrinking ends up ok.
I don't plan on doing it every week, or even every month. Would I even really be able to pick up the skill of LA'ing if I only do it for 4 hours every 2-3 months? I've never used dissolving thread, is it difficult to use? And does it really last until you wash it out (or spill tea on it haha)? Would I be able to press the quilt (no steam, of course) with it?
And last question: Is this even a good idea? It's very early in the morning, so I'm sure there are things I should already know that I'm not thinking of, and things that I don't already know that I need to.
05-26-2012, 08:34 AM
#37
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 195
I read all the above and wondered why no one mentioned that you no longer need to thread baste a quilt. You can spray baste it. If you quilt it yourself you can do it in sections and be fine. Also, if you plan ahead, you can buy your backing for the next quilt and take it home and wash it before you have to use it.
Quilting is an expensive hobby. But it is an hobby and you spend as little or as much as you'd like.
To excel in any craft, you must spend time and money. Using the very best tools for your craft makes a huge difference. So does the time you spend on it. Decide up front wether you want to quilt as a utility hobby or as a craft.
Quilting is an expensive hobby. But it is an hobby and you spend as little or as much as you'd like.
To excel in any craft, you must spend time and money. Using the very best tools for your craft makes a huge difference. So does the time you spend on it. Decide up front wether you want to quilt as a utility hobby or as a craft.
05-26-2012, 08:40 AM
#38
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Bacliff, TX on Galveston Bay
Posts: 1,174
I wish I could rent a LA machine where I live. I have experience with LA, so I wouldn't have to have a class. I like the way you pin the top, batting and lining in so there are no puckers on it. I think $8/hr. is a great rate. If you get fast at it, you could quilt a queen size quilt in 3-4 hours, which is a lot less than paying to have one quilted!!
05-26-2012, 09:25 AM
#39
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MN / GA
Posts: 1,435
I wanted to try out a LA, so I did just what y'all have talked about: I went for a lesson, took a small lap-size top that I had; and after the lesson, I meander quilted that top. I had a fun day, the instructor was very good, and I was pleased with the quilt. I really don't have the room for a LA at my house, and I'm not interested in making that investment because I wouldn't want to quilt for others, so this method is perfect for me. I don't do the quilting on my regular machine, so I was paying for the quilting. It's cheaper to rent time on the machine at the LQS, and I get to see all those friendly folks and the beautiful fabric.
05-26-2012, 10:51 AM
#40
Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 56
Here in Huntsville, we have to use the thread, both bobbin and upper thread, that the shop has found works best - and the type of batting, also - for so many people to rent the machine. The class for us was $100 and the rental is $15/hour, so $8/hour is great! Once we're certified on the machine, which I think would be necessary just to know how to make the machine work, we can then go to any future classes free and pick up some more tricks to use when we long-arm quilt. What I did after I was certified was bring in my quilt tops, batting and backing, and let the current class use it as their "practice" quilt, and I got "free" quilting for the duration of the class, the quilt had many different stitching patterns (which was fine with me) and by the end of the class, I had a quilt ready to bind and give away. I guess if you're going to be picky about what goes into your quilt top, you wouldn't want to do this, but I was happy with all four quilts that I've used, so far, and it's more interesting for those learning to see a "real" quilt top, not just a piece of material with batting and backing that gets tossed out when they're done.
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