​On October 11, 2022, Guild Member Stephanie Baker shared with us some great information about how a longarming business works, how pricing is determined, and tips for keeping your longarmer happy.  Here is the third and final installment of what we learned during Stephanie’s presentation.

Part III: Computer-Guided vs Operator-Guided Quilting

Computer-Guided Quilting-  The operator uses a machine that is programmed with a digital quilting design.  These designs are more likely to be consistent. These designs can be also be altered to fit in the spaces necessary and can be very time consuming on the custom quilts. 

Operator-Guided Quilting- The operator guided quilting machines are completely hand-guided and can be faster since there isn’t a need to program each space individually.  There is also less consistency with the design elements execution.  This is completely dependent on the quilters fluidity when quilting.

Edge-2-Edge- An E2E design has one element repeated throughout the body of the quilt.  It can also be called an all-over design or a pantograph.  Pricing is dependent on your quilter as the quilting can be sparse or dense.  This is another area that needs to be addressed with your quilter, as it can reflect in the pricing.

Semi-Custom-  This refers to a combination of E2E and Custom.  This could mean having a border treatment that differs from the body of the quilt.  The pricing will vary depending on how may borders you have and the density of the designs chosen for those borders.

Light Custom- Custom in general, to me is when each section of the quilt top has a different design element in it.  If you had a sampler quilt, each block might have a different design applied and the sashing and corner stones would be quilted differently.  This is another place to be creative with border applications too.

Heavy Custom-  These can be very pricy and well worth it. Think about how will you be using this quilt, are you gifting it, is for show? Depending on the complexity of the design, the price will vary.

Binding Options, Labels, & Other Fees- Some longarmers choose to charge for these elements by the linear inch or by the hour.  This includes, but is not limited to, binding application, piecing your backing, and making or applying quilt labels. Some longarming charges that may not fall under the already discussed categories include loading fees, bobbin fees, and thread fees. 

For more information about Stephanie's business, you can visit her website at www.stephaniezquiltz.com/about

On October 11, 2022, Guild Member Stephanie Baker shared with us some great information about how a longarming business works, how pricing is determined, and tips for keeping your longarmer happy.  Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing what we learned during Stephanie’s presentation.

A little bit about Stephanie: "...my sewing journey began when she was 8 years old.  My mother was a seamstress.  All her free time was spent in her sewing room and all I ever wanted was to learn how to sew.  I started with garments like my mother.  It wasn’t until years later…after my second child was born that I decided to make my first quilt.  After that I was hooked.”

A few years later, Stephanie decided to get certified to teach Judy Niemeyer's Quiltworx patterns. She came home from final certification with 5 quilts that needed to be custom quilted.  It would have cost roughly $800-$1,200 per quilt, about $4,000-$6,000 for those to be completed by someone else.  She decided to invest in a computerized longarm and within a month of owning her first machine, she was quilting for hire.

Part I: Intake and Quilt Top Basics

Intake Form- Most long armers have what’s called an intake form.  This gives the long armer all the information needed to complete your quilt.  Intake forms may include: personal information, contact information, quilt details such as size, color, how you want it quilted, thread color, batting and backing information, etc.  These are all items that should be discussed with your quilter to make sure that you are both on the same page. 

Quilt top preparation- Your quilt top should come to the long armer ready to go on the frame.  It should be pressed, all threads on the front and back of the quilt should be trimmed and it should be square.  Square, meaning measurements from opposite corners should be the same.

Quilt top embellishments- These can be added either before or after the top is quilted.  Some longarmers will choose not to quilt with embellishments or it may incur an additional cost.  They can also steer the quilter towards a custom design, depending on the quilt.

We will continue our journey in Part II: Backing, Batting, and Thread! See you soon!

For more information about Stephanie's business, you can visit her website at www.stephaniezquiltz.com/about