Some ???s for professional quilters
11-14-2011, 07:37 AM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Thornton CO (Denver)
Posts: 744
Originally Posted by slmeyer
I am a longarm quilter and I have never turned away a quilt. Although most quilts I've seen are very good, some are perfect, there are those that are nightmares to quilt. When I see one that I know will be a problem I gently explain up front to the customer what problems I might encounter in quilting their quilt such as areas that won't lie flat. I tell then that if they don't lie flat and even when ironing, they will likely not lie flat and even once on the quilting machine. Many times I can quilt some of the problems out, but I can't guarantee. If they made it and are receptive to suggestions I can give then tips to help prevent this next time.The most common problem I see is wavy borders.
I have never seen a nightmare from someone that has pieced the quilt that was brought to me. I have seen several horrible ones from relatives that are not quilters. Example--"Aunt Mary died and I found this in the attic. Can you quilt it for me?"It's unbelievable what you can find in those attics. Aunt Mary left it in the attic for a reason--it was a nightmare! Take it to your longarm quilter and ask if there is anything you could improve on your next quilt. We are always own own worst critics. I'll just bet your quilt is gorgeous.
I have never seen a nightmare from someone that has pieced the quilt that was brought to me. I have seen several horrible ones from relatives that are not quilters. Example--"Aunt Mary died and I found this in the attic. Can you quilt it for me?"It's unbelievable what you can find in those attics. Aunt Mary left it in the attic for a reason--it was a nightmare! Take it to your longarm quilter and ask if there is anything you could improve on your next quilt. We are always own own worst critics. I'll just bet your quilt is gorgeous.
11-14-2011, 08:32 AM
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Northern Wisconsin
Posts: 7,991
I would talk to the longarmer you will be chosing. Each person that quilts has thier own opinion on what they will and will not do. I have done quilts that are not perfect and they turn out just fine. If the boarders are wavy....if it's not to much, quilting will just take it right out and it will all blend in just fine. I just redid an old quilt that we had here from YEARS ago. It has fans all over it. Because of how the fabric stretched, I couldn't get the fans completely flat, but I quilted inside the fans and got them to look good. I had no problem experimenting on my own quilt...lol. So you should defiantly talk to your longarmer to see what he/she says.
11-14-2011, 09:15 AM
#24
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: St. Augustine, Fl and Nashville, Ga.
Posts: 267
I'm a professional longarm quilter but that does not mean I'm perfect. I look at mistakes as a learning process. Many of the quilts I receive are from new quilters and I have seen some things but most of the little things quilt out or there are ajustments I can do to help. The main thing for me that is a problem is when seams come unstitched. These are usually found after I have the quilt on the frame - these are hard to fix and some times impossible. I do make gentle suggestions to the quilter or it I see a problem. (Like seams are different widths - some 1/4" some 1/2" and when they use fabric that cause a problem (mixing upholestry fabric with nice quilting fabric - may not wash so well) Also, I try to tell them quilting is a work of art not a work of perfection.
11-14-2011, 02:21 PM
#26
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Oregon
Posts: 204
Just my thoughts. Find a LAQ that you are comfortable with and can talk to. Ask her (or him) what they need, and tell them what your concerns are. Better yet, set up an appointment and take your quilt so you both can talk about it.
My sister is a professional LAQ and the only quilt she has ever refused came from a quilter that is known to be a "problem" person. This complainer often demands a discount from the quilter because the work isn't up to standards. Yup, the LAQ know each other and talk together.
My sister is a professional LAQ and the only quilt she has ever refused came from a quilter that is known to be a "problem" person. This complainer often demands a discount from the quilter because the work isn't up to standards. Yup, the LAQ know each other and talk together.
11-14-2011, 03:49 PM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: El Paso Texas
Posts: 987
I am a professional longarm quilter and I have had some baaaaaaaad quilts...but I never turn anyone away and if I have a real problem, (like I had to put tucks or something) I explain it to the piecer and I also show them how to avoid this in the future. The WORST thing for a longarm quilter to get is wavy, wonky borders. When you load the quilt, if the borders are stretched or not put on properly, it is a true nightmare. ALWAYS measure through the middle of your top, vertical first, use that exact meaurement to cut your borders, find center of border and center or top, pin, and ease into place. Afterwards, do the same thing with the horizontal...you will never have a wavy border. I am amazed at how many of my clients took a beginning quilting class and this was never even mentioned. If you cut a long strip, sew it on, it will stretch and mess up the entire quilt. I had one sweet lady, it was her first quilt, and I could see right away it was out of square. I removed her borders and fixed them. I had 3 INCHES on every strip extra when I did it the way I described above.
We all began at the beginning, and I do my very best to turn a client's quilt top into a treasure, and just remember, there IS NO PERFECT QUILT. I have yet to piece a quilt top that did not have some little flaw, pucker, block turned wrong, SOMETHING....so relax, enjoy the process and be proud of your creation.
Michelle
We all began at the beginning, and I do my very best to turn a client's quilt top into a treasure, and just remember, there IS NO PERFECT QUILT. I have yet to piece a quilt top that did not have some little flaw, pucker, block turned wrong, SOMETHING....so relax, enjoy the process and be proud of your creation.
Michelle
11-14-2011, 03:58 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Duck Lake SK Canada
Posts: 537
I think most professional long armers do not judge the quilt-however, if the borders are "wavy", there are open seams, or the infamous "volcano" centre is present, it is very difficult to quilt so everything lays flat and square. Whether points meet etc. is totally irrelevant, and most pros will not judge this-after all-it's not a quilt show!
11-14-2011, 04:35 PM
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 1,131
Unless you are taking it to the quilt police to be quilted, why should you fret about your work?? Most of us put lots of love into our projects. Hold your head of high and be proud of your work. Believe me, I have lots of flaws in my work, but it is what it is: a work sewn with love.
11-14-2011, 04:37 PM
#30
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
as long as your quilt top is well constructed- fairly square (even) and the threads are not a mess on the back - most of us will quilt it-
i've quilted many that had kind of wavy borders- lots of errors/flaws---no one is perfect- i've done a few that other quilters refused to do---and did pretty good with them. it really depends on the quilter- take yours to the quilter you want to use- and show it- i bet it's not anywhere near as bad as you think- quilting can actually fix some areas that are (not so great)
if the outside edges are stretchy- run a stay stitch (just a straight stitch) about 1/4" around the whole outside of the quilt- that will help it not stretch out of shape when loaded for the long-arm- and just check to make sure your seams are all intact---when loaded on the frame there is *pulling/stretching* when rolled up...the seams need to be secure- which the stay stitching also helps with.
i've quilted many that had kind of wavy borders- lots of errors/flaws---no one is perfect- i've done a few that other quilters refused to do---and did pretty good with them. it really depends on the quilter- take yours to the quilter you want to use- and show it- i bet it's not anywhere near as bad as you think- quilting can actually fix some areas that are (not so great)
if the outside edges are stretchy- run a stay stitch (just a straight stitch) about 1/4" around the whole outside of the quilt- that will help it not stretch out of shape when loaded for the long-arm- and just check to make sure your seams are all intact---when loaded on the frame there is *pulling/stretching* when rolled up...the seams need to be secure- which the stay stitching also helps with.
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