Have you thought about hiring a long arm quilter, but aren’t sure how to find one or how much it will cost. Keep reading for all the details.
Hiring a Long Arm Quilter Will Save you More Than Time
Let me start by saying that pushing a quilt sandwich through a sewing machine is hard work and the smaller the throat space on your machine, the harder it is. This also includes straight line quilting. Quilting is hard on your body, and your shoulders, arms and hands all get a work out. Hiring a long arm quilter to quilt your quilts can be the best decision you ever made.
How to Find a Long Arm Quilter
Long arm machines have become progressively more popular in the last ten years or so. As a result, there are a lot of people who own them, and some have chosen to start a business long arming quilts for others.
A quick Google search of “long arm quilters near me” may produce some results, or not. If you belong to a Quilt Guild or have a Quilt Guild nearby, long arm quilters often advertise with them.
A visit to your local quilt shop may also be in order since many shops are happy to recommend long arm quilters to their customers.
What to Expect and How to Prepare your Quilt For Quilting
The first thing to expect is you will probably be required to provide a batting and backing fabric or pieced back that are at least 4” larger than your quilt top all the way around. If you find this outrageous and are feeling like you are getting ripped off, I assure you that you are not. The main reason for this requirement is that quilts shift when being quilted. This even happens when you quilt on your domestic machine. This extra batting and backing gives the quilt top a place to shift to.
When it comes to quilt preparation, your quilter will tell you what they expect. Usually, quilters do not want you to baste the quilt sandwich together as all three layers are loaded onto the frame separately.
It is best to remove as many threads as possible, particularly long threads to stop them from being pulled up to the top in the quilting process. Also, if you have a light coloured backing fabric, leaving dark coloured threads on your top can mean they could become visible through the backing, if pulled through during the quilting.
Press your quilt top and backing the best you can, and fold gently before handing your project over to your quilter.
How Much Will it Cost
This will depend on two things:
- Your quilter’s expertise e.g. how long they have been long arm quilting
- How you want your quilt to be quilted e.g. all over pantograph vs. custom quilting
Quilters tend to charge in per square inch amounts. The cost for a pantograph is a fraction of the cost for custom quilting. Custom quilting involves quilting different designs in different areas of the quilt. Unlike an all over pantograph, custom quilting can require multiple thread breaks and thread colour changes and is just a lot more expensive. Ruler quilting is considered to be custom quilting.
You will need to speak with your long arm quilter about their rates.
Having your Quilt Long Arm Quilted Still Means you Made the Quilt
I have seen this subject talked about a lot in Facebook groups and other forums. If you have your quilt long armed, did you still make your quilt? Of course!!! You made the decision to have your quilt long armed and it is just a step in the process. You took the time and spent the money for the materials to make the quilt, and that is all that matters.
My Final Thoughts
Yes, hiring a long arm quilter will save you time, but it will also save you the wear and tear on your body and potential frustration pushing a large quilt through a domestic sewing machine. Long arm quilters can do amazing things with your quilt, but expect to pay a higher price for custom quilting. Check out Natalia Bonner on Instagram for amazing custom quilting.
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