If you are in the UK and are looking for a longarm quilter: Dianne Watson in Scotland is superb!

Lorchen

Nan, I agree with you on hoping the piecers will let us LAs know what they like and dislike. It's almost painful to me when a client says "oh, just do whatever you like." While I'm flattered that they trust my judgment, I MUCH prefer they give me some ideas of what would make them happy. My order form now has some checkboxes for options so I at least get some basic input with each quilt. At the very very least, tell your quilter:
1. What you plan to do with the quilt (from a utility quilt for a kid to an heirloom treasure). It's important to know whether you want the quilt to wear well despite looks or look good despite cost.
2. Whether you want it to be a traditional thin quilt or a puffy comforter-style.
3. Whether you want cool, warm, bright, or neutral thread (or go right ahead and specify color or variegated.)
4. If you insist on 100% cotton thread.
5. About what you are willing to pay.
6. If you hate anything in particular (...like that hummingbird thing in a previous message.)
If you don't help your quilter know what to do with your quilt, you have no room to complain about results (other than quality, which should be there at all times.)

I love being a longarm quilter, love my clients, and love their quilts. This is the most fun I've had in years, but communication is part of the package. Collaborating on artistic results is fun, the carrot on a stick that keeps me sewing for other people.

eileenkny wrote:

Gran, you should get your friend to join TQS herself, she can list professional long-arm quilter on her profile and who knows, get some business that way.

I too agree with all of you longarm buddies, homework is essential to everyone being happy. ASK, ASK, ASK!!! I love talking about quilting. Questions are essential, not only for the person having their quilt tops done but also for the quilter who requested to do the quilting. Prep work is essential. The owner of the quilt top also has to know what is expected of them. Is their top square, free of threads, or if their borders lie flat. Every one has to do their homework, to have the finished quilt be perfect!!

I just have to plug my long arm quilter. She is Diane Jordan, here in Vicksburg, MS. She has been quilting for the LQS and on her own for a while, but is now going out completely on her own. She asked me today if I would spread the word. She plans to have a web site in the near future. She does beautiful work and I'm sure would be glad to furnish pictures or her work as well as references. I'll be glad to furnish her phone number if anyone is interested.

I'm not plugging myself, honestly. But I do agree-you should be able to see samples of the longarmers work. That's why I invested in a website with a gallery. People who don't know me can just click on the page and there's lots of pictures of quilts I've done.
eileenkny

I feel that I must give a plug for my favorite long arm quilter. She is Tara Thom, the Town and Country Quilter, in Albion, NY. I recently got back a quilt from her that I finished for my elderly client who died (see my "story") and I teared up seeing how beautifully she had quilted it. Her quilting will ensure that this quilt is a true testiment to this woman's legacy. Tara is not that expensive, about $160 for this king-sized quilt. She did a lovely all-over wavey, swirly meander and it was perfect with to tucks or anything. It also only took about a month.

I once paid ALOT more for another long-arm quilter and was so disappointed with tucks and tons of threads everywhere.

I think you need to see examples of the quilter's work and I see Tara's all the time at our guild. She is well recommended. A good Long Arm quilter is a true ARTIST and Tara is an Artist. She's also businesslike and has a contract with all the specifics like thread color, quilting motif, etc.

I know that Judy and I are not the only LAers out there. Come on people,
join in!!!
If this is going to be a completely interactive site, we all have to pitch in.

My goodness! I had no idea my name had been mentioned here. I just joined last week and haven't gotten through all the forums.

Thanks for the compliments!

I'm good but there are lots and lots of good longarmers out there. I've been longarming for almost 10 years now and through the years, I've heard a few complaints and I think about 99% of the problems could have been avoided had communication been clear and concise.

No matter who you're going to hire to quilt your tops, be sure you know what they're going to do and they know what you think they're going to do.

Examples:

Stitch in the Ditch - I'm big on stitching in the ditch around at least the major shapes/pieces. Not all longarmers do this so be sure if you're expecting it, the longarmer knows this.

Thread - Ask what kind of thread the longarmer uses. There are all types and I'm not saying some are better than others but if you're a cotton purist, be sure they aren't using a poly thread on your quilt. Many longarmers will use a cotton or cotton/poly on top and then use something like Bottom Line in the bobbin. It's much easier to get the correct tension, especially when using one color on top and one color in the bobbin, if you use something like Bottom Line in the bobbin. Again, I'm not saying there's anything wrong or right about this combo, just saying that you, as the quiltmaker, need to know ahead of time what's being used in your quilt.

Batting - If the longarmer is providing the batting, be sure you know what type of batting you're getting.

Quilting Designs - To avoid surprises/problems, the longarmer should put in writing what he/she plans to do on every part of your quilt. Most of my clients will tell me to do whatever I think works best but I always want them to know ahead of time. A quilt may scream to me to put feathers in every open space (that is what most quilts tell me!) but you may dislike feathers terribly and I will not know that unless we discuss it ahead of time.

Timeline - There should be a definite date as to when the quilt will be completed and returned to you. I've seen people who were thrilled with the quilting but were so frustrated by the amount of time it took them to get their quilt back, that they would never use the longarmer again. That's not good for anyone! We sometimes get booked out far in advance. There's no reason for your quilt to sit at my house for 5 months until I'm ready to work on on so I ask that everyone send their quilt to me just a couple of weeks before it is scheduled to be quilted and then I try to get it right back as soon as possible.

Price - The cost of quilting, any add ons such as thread charges, batting, fees for squaring the quilt, etc., should all be known by all parties in advance of any work being done.

If everything is agreed upon ahead of time and put into writing for reference by both the longarmers and piecer, there should be no problems. Don't be afraid to ask for references and for pictures of previous work. Most of us have tons of pictures we're more than willing to share.

Good luck finding the longarmer who will be the perfect match for you and your quilting style.

Judy Laquidara
blog: http://judylaquidara.blogspot.com

KalyndaQuilts wrote:
Amen to that,
I also long arm quilt, I live in a town that is more or less a dying town filled with a whole mess of senior citizens living off their low pension/ SS checks. When I did my research before I got into the business, I had realized then, I would never be able to charge a price that someone in, major cities, or high cost of living area's could charge.

So, in saying this, Kalynda is right, do your research locally, call your local quilters guild, ask them questions, most will tell you who their favorite quilter is and why. Not all long arm quilters have websites on line, I'm one of them, my business is spread by word of mouth, if they love what you do, they do tell others along with their bragging rights.

Phyllis

I think how much you want to pay also depends on how many quilts you make. I have a couple of ladies who, if they had to pay for custom for every quilt, wouldn't make as many tops as they do. So, even though I may do an edge to edge pattern, I do my best to fit it to the theme of the top and many of the patterns on my site look like custom work when they're on the quilt.

Eileen Keane, mailto:mpkemk@frontiernet.net
http://www.designingquilts.com
Gammill Classic w/IS Turbo(cl)
Maybrook, NY

Another post from someone who longarms for a living!

Most everything has been covered quite well here but I will also throw in this.

Your cost of quilting will also depend on the part of the country that you live in so try to research on stuff thats in your area an not just on the internet! I can tell you there is a large difference where I live now from where I used to be!

Sorry theres no One Size Fits All kinda answer on this one. All I can say is do your homework and find someone who is a good fit for you! Dont be afraid to ask them tons of questions - they should be happy to answer you!

Good Luck

Kalynda

Some people are on a budget so pricing is a concern. But don't sell yourself short. NO ONE should go for a "one price fits all" type of pricing.
Ususally those ladies have a 1+ year wait, and will quilt anything for $50, hope you like white thread and you have no choice of batting or quilting pattern. They do allovers (the one that is easiest for them).

Did you know that it costs a longarm quilter about $15k to get a machine? Did you know that they take classes, teach classes, basically invest in their skill set so that you have a beautiful quilt returned to you?

This is a business for them, and they/we love our work. Some are volume businesses and some of us aren't. I persoanlly do not rush through a quilt just because there are 50 more behind it.

Several magazines have had articles on what to expect from a longarm quilter...do your homework, checkout their websites, webshots, references, etc. Certainly this is easier to do if they are local to you. So check your quiltshops and your sewing centers, as they may be able to refer you to someone in particular. Quilt shops often have "arrangements" with one particular quilter that they refer their business to, so that they get free quilting for the shop. While the quilter may do beautiful work, you may have to wait a long time to get your quilt back or you may be paying a premium $ for quilting.

99% of the quilters out there are honest, trustworthy quilt lovers. Be sure to ask them about smoking, pets, etc. Be sure to tell THEM about smoking, pets, etc. Ask me why I know this!!

Good luck, I hope your find someone wonderful to work with, so that you can continue making quilts for years to come!

Cynthia
The Quilting Diva