Before You Take Your Quilt to a Quilter, Watch This!!

In this video, I share tips on taking your quilt to a longarm quilter. There are some things you can do, to help ensure your quilt turns our great!

[@yourlongarmquilter]

Longarm quilter here. Great tips, all of which I include on my website. One last thing I would mention is to place a pin or a pin and sticky note at the top of your quilt if it's directional.

[@marinaabad4995]

Pat Sloan strongly recommends that.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Great tip! Thanks for sharing!

[@brendagriffin6437]

These are great suggestions! I am an experienced quilter. I had used several longamers up to this point, but my main person had passed away so I had to look for another who had an opening. I got a recommendation from a friend of a friend. Bad decision...but I did have a deadline as it was a gift. Important: Know where they are working on your quilt. I left a queen size quilt that took me months to do for a wedding gift. It was square, no ripples. It was pressed flat and the threads picked. Backing was pressed. Quality batting was supplied. Pristine. She met me on her enclosed porch to discuss particulars. I didn't see where her machine was. Turns out it was in the unfinished cellar. That year we had extremely wet weather. Rained for weeks on end. She said 2 weeks turnaround. 3 months later I'm still calling for completion. I finally got it back, but she wasn't there to give it to me....FIVE days before the wedding. One of her family members asked for the money. What I discovered when I got home-- Not only was it damp/wet and stunk of cellar, but the quilting was horrible. I had specific requests that weren't unreasonable and was very doable. in fact, she had a suggestion that we agreed to, but it didn't happen. She didn't trim it, either. I got it back in a garbage bag! I should have checked it right there, but her family member was in a hurry to leave. I figured out why. I was extremely upset. She wouldn't return my call. I hung it to dry. Trimmed and put the binding on. Still smelled, so I washed it/dried. It ended up OK, but it's not the way I wanted to deliver this wedding gift. It took me a long time, but I found a longarmer that is exceptional here in NH. She's done over 25 large quilts for me since the Wedding Quilt Fiasco. Every time I get one back, I am so happy. She is experienced and professional. 2 to 3 weeks turn around. She has quality batting available. Lots of thread choices and patterns, too. She spreads it out on her large table in her studio so I can see her work. It's all trimmed and ready for binding. I would wait 6 months or more, if I had to, to have her do my quilts.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks for sharing! I have learned to carefully examine the quilting before I leave the shop. I'm so glad you found a great long arm quilter!!!

[@TheHgt78]

Thank you for sharing all these great tips.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are so welcome!

[@kathrynmayer3991]

I would not have thought to put a pool noodle on my hanger - great tip there! Also, as a longarmer (for personal use only), I would recommend that if the backing is pieced, that your seam is a horizontal seam not a vertical. The vertical seaming will add bulk and as the quilt advances causes some 'loose' edges on the side - always ask your quilter, though, what their preferences are. Another great video. Thank You.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks for sharing!

[@EOgma]

All good suggestions. Honestly, I have quilted all my quilts on my domestic Janome for 25 years. It's just not in my budget to hire a longarmer. Not a criticism, just the way I do it. I've even done a King size quilt...a little awkward, but I did it. Thanks for your video.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I think that is great! Thanks for sharing!

[@user-ld2co5bb4d]

I'm a new quilter and still learning. I really appreciate all of these great tips. I've been watching the longarmer at my LQS and spoken to her and asked questions to prepare. Almost ready to take my first piece in for quilting. Thanks again!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are most welcome1

[@cece624]

Thanks for all this useful information about preparing for long-arm quilting!!!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are so welcome!

[@mariawells8026]

Michele I learned some very important tips for when I quilt my own quilt. Thank you! That quilter that used red thread should have called you.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Glad it was helpful!

[@conniefath5126]

I watched your video on this a few years back before I took my first quilt I made to the long armer’s. She was so impressed. Thanks to your great advice, she told me she would be happy to do my quilts anytime.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I am so glad you found the information helpful! These extra steps do make a difference!

[@carriemayer2980]

Trimming the threads off the back of the quilt top was something I didn't know when I started quilting. One thing I learned the hard way...I finished trimming all the threads and thought I was being smart by then running a lint roller over it to pick up any loose threads. Wrong! The roller started pulling threads away from the seams and I had a bunch of new threads to trim! Won't do that again! 😂

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Oh no!!!!

[@connieking9873]

This is a great informational video. You always present so well and have good information. I also think it is hard to pick a quilter and taking the time to ask all the questions is important. Thanks

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Glad it was helpful!

[@marianfrick3604]

Great tips. Thanks

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Glad it was helpful!

[@patriciamoller3060]

Lots of great advice , thankyou

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are most welcome!11

[@susanrichtarcik5672]

Thank you. I guess I thought they were all basically alike. So I truly appreciate the information . Very good advice

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are most welcome!

[@allysonrabalais3364]

Looked up more about the stay stitching, will be very useful in making sure all my pieces stay when I have a piece quilted. I may even suggest to my quilt ministry since we do ties for prayers. Thank you for all the tips.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are so welcome!

[@delwyngraham4033]

Thanks for the hints😊

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are most welcome!

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

Thank you Michelle, as always you are very thorough with your videos. You really opened my eyes on the before, during and after of sending a quilt to a long armer….I wish there was a compilation of people with state and town and telephone numbers and…ratings.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

That would really be nice!!!

[@livingweirdestherc6644]

Thank you for the advice

[@thesimplequilter7499]

No problem!

[@sandycampbell6087]

1) Be sure to label ‘top’ of quilt for directional purposes (vertical or horizontal) taking into consideration the design/pattern when placing quilt top on longarm. Thanks for sharing your longarming tips!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks for sharing!!! I forgot to mention that one!!!!

[@pennysero6084]

I found a great long-arm person that I am happy with. When I go to her house to take my Quilt, the both of us pick out the pattern and thread together. She has a binder with oodles of different patterns. When we pick out the thread, she bring out several colors and lays them on the quilt to see what looks best. She does ask that I take the batting out of the package so there aren't any folds or creases in the batting. I usually put my batting in the dryer on a fluff setting and fold it gently. Thanks for the great tips.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are most welcome! Sounds like you have a great longarm quilter!!

[@fransak2723]

Great tips even if you do your own quilting on a domestic or longarm machine.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Very true!

[@edover60]

If you have to piece the backing, try to make the seam run horizontal. That way the seam runs along the bar and will stay flat and taut. If it’s vertical, then it’ll pile up along the seam and cause the rest of the backing to be loose. It’s very difficult to work with like that.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks for sharing!

[@hazelem1266]

I am a new quilter who began my quilting journey when Covid started. My aim was to make 4 quilts, one for my granddaughter and one for each of my three children. Each quilt was going to be a queen sized reversible photo, memory, story quilt 100% hand sewn. First quilt took two years and I delivered it to South Africa when our borders opened. I’m busy 18 months with the second and am struggling with the large story appliqué. I fleetingly wondered if I should try a long arm quilter but changed my mind because I wanted specific colour thread as I’m using his old hoodies and Tshirts as a backing and photos on the front. I am going to deliver it to Croatia next month where I will complete it. More and more I’m thinking of how I will do the next two quilts. Thank you for your tips which, even though I am hand sewing, are extremely helpful to me.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Great story!!! Thanks so much for sharing your quilt journey!!! You are most welcome!

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

I have been longing to get out a quilt that I could have quilted by a long armer but as you say there are so many things to consider on top of the hefty prices….its crazy.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

It is expensive.

[@bethk7648]

Make sure that your longarmer has your phone number. Mine will call if she has any questions and I really appreciate that!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Yes!! That is very important!!! Thanks for the reminder!!

[@ingridhunt7841]

Great tips.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks for watching!

[@ingridhunt7841]

@@thesimplequilter7499 I enjoy your content. Keep up the good work.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

@@ingridhunt7841 Thank you so much!

[@karonwostenholme6533]

Thank you x

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are most welcome!

[@joycethurman5546]

Oh boy! Great tips! I went with a family friend. Big mistake! It was by home machine. She said she had done many previously. It took me a couple years to paper piece it. Disaster!! Stitches very uneven, custom quilted very poorly, and the worst thing was there were sizable places - like 5” sections- without batting. I had spent a long time on the top, so I picked out all the quilting and took to a quilter I knew. Tons of work, but i’m happy with my pieced top. Pride came after the unpicking and paying the price of quilting twice.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Oh my! That does sound like a disaster!!! I'm glad you are happy with it now!!!

[@gisellejones1139]

Can use a cardboard tube from paper towel roll on your hanger if dont have a pool noodle 😊

[@thesimplequilter7499]

That would help disperse the pressure where the quilt is folded over the hanger. If you are going to use the tube, I would suggest you cover it with a small piece of batting to help protect your top from any glue or residue that might be on the tube. Just a thought.

[@kathleen.rogers1442]

The videos of previous tutorials did not show up on the screen when you pointed! Not sure if you were aware of that. As always very instructive, I did not know all the questions to ask and how to prepare the quilt top for the Longarmer👍🏻 thank you Michelle 😊👍🏻😊👍🏻😊👍🏻

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks for letting me know! I don’t know why they didn’t show up?????

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

What are your thoughts on bamboo batting? i have a sheet set and hate them but I have a T-Shirt and I live it especially to sleep in….

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I have never used it so I really can't say. I have used wool, cotton, and a cotton polyester blend and that is it.

[@marinaabad4995]

This the first comprehensive YT video on prepping for the long armed. Long arm quilting videos ( not that I have exhaustively watched them all) usually don’t cover this info, they tend to to slant to long arm issues and how they solved problems or thread selection. Two questions… Is only the pieced quilt top (flimsy) measured? Not the excess batting and backing of the sandwich for calculating square inch cost? Please define custom quilting? What is it? Tip: For a first pass of collecting loose threads is to put in the dryer with (empty lint screen first) no heat for 20 minutes. That should remove most loose threads and deposit them in the lint screen. It will also remove dust and loose lint from the fabric. Then thoroughly cut the remaingthreads on the back. I find using the Ott light with magnifier makes the job easier and quicker.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Only the quilt top is measured for calculating the cost. You need to be sure your batting and backing are the size of the top with the needed overage. The quilt batting and backing must be bigger than the quilt top. Custom quilting is when the quilter selects a unique collection of quilt designs to use in a quilt that typically compliment the piecing. It is very individual and is not just a repeating design that is used from edge to edge. Thanks for sharing how you get the threads off the back of your quilt.

[@kayraper295]

I can not afford to take my quilts to be quilted. I pay enough (too much) for fabric, thread, batting and backing. I just quilt on my sewing machine.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I think that is great!

[@joycerideout6311]

Like to do my own quilts

[@thesimplequilter7499]

That’s great!

[@TLStitches]

I have done machine quilting for others for 25+ years. Please save any embellishments for AFTER the quilting is finished. Please don't use layers and layers of fusible web with machine applique. It is too stiff and there will often be issues with skipped stitches or thread shredding. I cannot stress enough how much of a difference it makes that bulky intersections are pressed in such a manner that they don't create areas of bulk that are difficult to quilt around. This is where pressing seams open or making sure seams alternate directions, even taking a clean towel and covering the intersection and a hammer and tapping over that bulky area will help stubborn areas.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks so much for sharing those additional tips!!!