mkc

She would be wise to consult her liability insurance company before allowing someone else to use her longarm IF she uses it for business. There's a significant liability exposure if someone were to get injured (run a needle through their finger, trip and fall in her studio, etc.) Kind of like how you aren't allowed into most auto repair shops. Then there's the exposure to someone accidentally causing damage (knocking the LA out of timing) and impacting her business schedule/repair costs.

quiltedsunshine

Our guild just made 205 seat belt pillows for breast cancer patients. Receiving blankets, burp cloths and bibs are fun and easy to make.

GingerK

mkc, very true. I was tremendously lucky to be given lessons from a friend on her machine. She was always in attendance and very attentive. But a few months ago, she let another acquaintance use her machine and there was a problem. The repair was costly to her and she decided that she would not allow others to operate her machine again.

I now own a longarm and honestly feel like a new Momma whenever someone touches her (even when invited to).

Back to the original post, I've also been wondering if the rest of the group help in the costs of finishing a quilt. Do they supply the backing and help pay for the batting?

Stitchnripper

I would suggest "adult clothing protectors" I made a few for my son when he was dying of cancer. I found a pattern on line. There are some good suggestions on a google search

copycat

Our guild makes tiny quilts to be placed with a small animals. We give them to police to have in their cars for children in stressful situations. Also good for Women's Shelter, social workers etc.
The blocks can be orphan blocks or as simple as a square of fabric in a cute print. If you don't want to bind it, just pink the edges.
You attach the quilt to a stuffed animal with ribbon or sew to the animal if you wish.
Easy project, loved by all.

Lena1952

My group provides pillowcases for a local residential foster care program. They house children 11- 17 that are not able to be placed into regular foster homes. I don't have a count for last year but the number of pillowcases is under 100. There may be other organizations that could use cases. Check with a social service office in your area to see what and where the need is. The Quilt as You Go method, as mentioned, would also be doable or simply tie the quilts. I am friends with several Long arm quilters and they would not have the knowledge to teach free motion quilting on a home machine.

LGJARN52

I'll put my two cents in for making Kennel Quilts for your local shelter. Must be made from quilting cotton, with cotton batting (Frankenstein your scraps for these) and cut at 13x20. Finished size would be 12x19 and simply requires some light quilting to hold together. I divide my width into three's and simply sew down where marked. You could do a giant X to hold in place also.

MicheleMN

Also check out www.kennelquilts.com. They post shelters throughout the US that need kennel mats after some type of weather event.

dunster

Another option is to tie the quilts. I know of several guilds that do this on regular sew days.

dunster

I quilt on a longarm, and I would be the very last person you would want teaching a class on quilting on a DSM. It requires a completely different skill set, one that I never mastered.