First visit, clarification request

[snowplow3840]

That's a great site Teri, thanks for the link.

Those Amy Hunter quilts are something else! I'm sure the rest are stunning too.

I've only had the briefest of look around but have picked up on how to stop my leaders slipping!! :lol: :lol:

[snowplow3840]

<snip>
I don't know how others feel, but getting something longarm quilted is expensive (though worth every penny, in my opinion). If I have a large bedquilt that I want to get finished, so an overall quilting pattern would be just fine, I may go to a longarm quilter who has a large range of pantogram patterns, and a computerized machine, so that the pattern I choose can be adjusted in size to be just right for my quilt.

If, on the other hand, I have a wallhanging, and I'm looking for quilting that's complex and artistic, but don't feel my own skills with a little old domestic machine are adequate, I would go to a longarm quilter who has a proven track record in producing some individual and visually stunning quilting.

It's probably very important to agree on all sorts of details about the quilting, write it all down, and have the customer sign it.

I hope that one of these days I'll produce a quilt top that'll be worth it to bring to you, Fer.

Lorchen

Wow what a lot of points in one post. Yes the exchange of ideas in the UK is tricky, but there seems to be a very different out look here too.

I would say 80% of what I do is all over patterns on bed quilts. They are done freehand and adjusted to fit the quilt in question. I do get a few wallhangings, but only a very few.

I try to put everything down in writing, but there are always things you don't think of. I now tell my customers (and write it on the form) that when I baste a quilt on the longarm I will be sewing, which means I will be putting needle holes in the quilt. I thought that was obvious until I had the first complaint.

However hard you try there will be something you've forgotten or not thought was important. Like having a disclaimer that I am a human not a computer and my stitch length may vary, for example.

Ferret

[eileenkny]

First, a big thank you to Ann. I wish all my customers were like you. It was a privilege to do your quilts, I'm so happy you feel that I didn't betray your trust in me.

I have quilted for others for 9 years now. I started off without a computer or a stitch regulator. Many times people looked at the quilts I did and asked me if my machine was regulated. No, I just practiced A LOT........ After 4 years, I added the stitch regulator to take some of the pressure off and a couple of months ago, I went computerized.
I still look at every quilt to decide what would be best for it. Sometimes the piecer has ideas that won't work and I suggest what I think will work. We come to a mutual understanding and proceed from there.

Ferret, we look at the quilts very differently than most people. When the quilt is on the frame, we are so close we can see the weave of the fabric. Nobody other than a judge comes that close. We can't obsess over every stitch; it would make us crazy.

eileenkny 8)

[Lorchen]

Fer says: "I now tell my customers (and write it on the form) that when I baste a quilt on the longarm I will be sewing, which means I will be putting needle holes in the quilt. I thought that was obvious until I had the first complaint."

Reminds me of a lady who asked a longarmer to do an overall pattern on a quilt for a grandchild. The longarmer pointed out that some of the quilt lines may go through some animal faces, however much she'd try to avoid it. Customer told her to go ahead, and the longarmer forgot to put her concern in writing. The customer complained bitterly when she picked up the quilt because a quilting line was going through a lion's mane, a monkey's body, and a giraffe's neck. As far as I know the longarmer was never paid. She now takes a deposit when accepting a quilt, and puts much more details in writing.

Lorchen