Wavy borders - need suggestions for long arm quilting
#11
Thank you all for your great advice. I really knew what I had to do, but I do hate giving people bad news so I needed that extra push. I gathered my courage and called her an hour ago. She's already stopped by to pick up the quilt and fix the borders. She seemed, while not happy at the extra work she has to do, grateful that I called rather than returning something she would not be happy with. So, I sent her off with the quilt top and a few tips for fitting borders.
#12
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,715
Credit to you for taking that step .... the true measure of how she received your info will be known when she returns the top to you. Be sure to take some time with her when she comes, to look at it, praise her ... and give any further tips.
Too often, the borders get slapped on and somewhat little-cared-for, seeing it as the end of a project. Instead, we need to re-think it as the frame that makes or breaks the overall look. The final crowning glory being the binding ... or the final blow of ruins.
It just takes a little more work, a little more time, a little more attention.
.......... and is so worthwhile!
Too often, the borders get slapped on and somewhat little-cared-for, seeing it as the end of a project. Instead, we need to re-think it as the frame that makes or breaks the overall look. The final crowning glory being the binding ... or the final blow of ruins.
It just takes a little more work, a little more time, a little more attention.
.......... and is so worthwhile!
#13
I would not fix unless the quilter OKAYS it, and then make sure you charge $10 an hour, including the time it takes to rip, sew and re-press the top!
If she wants you to just do 'the best you can' I would charge extra. It's going to take you additional time to manipulate the fullness.
If you have any, I would add a layer of a fluffier batting just on the borders, and quilt a piano key easing the fullness as you go.
Just located this video. The woman is a genius!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPHsBYa36W0
If she wants you to just do 'the best you can' I would charge extra. It's going to take you additional time to manipulate the fullness.
If you have any, I would add a layer of a fluffier batting just on the borders, and quilt a piano key easing the fullness as you go.
Just located this video. The woman is a genius!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPHsBYa36W0
#17
I am so glad you called her. One of my first quilts had lots of different borders and was simply huge. I took it to my LA so she could just baste all the layers together as I didn't have the room to spread it out. I found out that it also had ruffly borders, but my LA didn't tell me until after she had basted the layers....nor did she bother to tell me what I had done wrong or how to fix them. It wasn't until after I had finished the fmq that I found this board and found the answers I should have been given earlier. The quilt was a gift for my sister and she cherishes it, mistakes and all. Needless to say, I do not go back to that LA.
#19
I agree with suebee - If she chooses to have you do it - make sure that it is an additional fee. I say that because I worked at a quilt store for awhile and the owner did quilting. An older lady brought in a 12 month BOM which she had made larger by adding 6 borders. I got the task of making it flat. Took me a long while to rip out each of the 6 borders, measure and then sew them back on. By the time I reached the outer border, it had to be trimmed 9 inches to fit.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 357
I do not long arm quilt for hire, but my good friend does ,and this is her biggest complaint. She usually just fixes it, but I agree with the advice on the board, call her before you start quilting. I am going to give my friend the same advice the next time she complains about someone not putting on borders to prevent the wave.
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