dianne31331

Okay all, I'll let you know how my quilt came out. You just won't believe this. I took Shana's suggestion and used baking soda and water to get the yellow chalk out. I did this on the table not in the machine. The chalk came right out!! DH & I were smiling and doing a happy dance. I forgot all about also making some dashes with the purple air-solluble pen too!! AND THEN, AND THEN, as the quilt was drying, alas, what should appear out of nowhere but purple dashes everywhere!!!!!!!!!!! Now, how to get rid of these? I used Oxi-clean with a Q-tip on each dash. This was a full afternoon work getting rid of these. But it did work! When I ironed it there were still a some places that flashed purple but faded as they cooled.
I emailed the Clover company that made this chalk. They apologized for my inconvenience and said to use 5 parts water and 2 parts vinegar to get the chalk out and let AIR DRY. Do not put in dryer.
Bottom line, my customer picked up the quilt tonight and just loved it!! I didn't tell him about my issues but told him if he had any problems with anything to just let me know.
Now, back to my happy dance.

Have you heard of Fels Naptha soap? I have found it will remove stains nothing else will. I have had a bar of it for 15 years and it has saved me on several occasions. I don\'t even know if you can find it any more, but I got mine at Sav-On drug store. I would look in a place like that. Apparently the soap has been around at least 100 years.
Karen
Spiderlegs Quilting
Liberty

Custom work using rulers - this is a highly specialized skill that take months, if not years to perfect. If it were me, I would charge by the hour, not by square inch. Don't underestimate your time and skills. I rarely do ruler quilting for customers because it's so expensive. I find other ways to quilt, or I choose to use minimal amount of rulers and then freehand the rest (combination) Find the going rate for custom heirloom quilting in your area, or ask other quilters in your area what they charge for ruler work. If I were doing ruler work, I would charge at least $35 per hour. For estimates, you could guess that it takes 40 hours and give them a quote. I'm not giving my time away for minimum wage. No way!  I've had many customers ask me to SID their quilt. I kindly explain the costs and time involved and I offer other solutions for them. 

The above suggestions are the best I’ve seen so far. I too have struggled with pricing. By the inch at .015-.02 should be only for the most simple edge to edge pattern PLUS a fee for loading, squaring up, winding bobbins and machine set-up. If all that is done right you get great results but not if you rush it. So my thought after 25+ years is anything other than edge to edge simple stippling (or similar) should be at least triple that amount. I think if you run the figures it makes sense. Our work is skilled, artistic and valuable.

I agree, people DO think that is easy. I got a last minute quilt last year, for a parent's 50th wedding anniversary. All blocks with photos or drawings. She wanted a "quick" "simple" stitch in the ditch.  She was shocked when I explained that this was a custom job and how difficult so called simple stitching is. Super king size and she'd budgeted only $100. LOL Wanted me to bind it too. When I gave her the cost, she almost fainted. Finally took it on after she talked to the rest of the family and they helped with the cost, but she decided to bind it herself too. She still had to pay over $600. I got that one done and out! in three days. All ruler and hand guided. 

We purchased a school projection screen off of the surplus site to try to create a design wall.  My plan is to use fusible fleece to attach to the screen. The fleece is thin; has some stickability to it and hopefully will roll up.  We are looking at a $20-25  cost (screen was $5) and will let you know.  

Yep as Sharon says.  You need to release it to advance or roll the quilt.  I did some adjusting of mine at first without loosening the brake....yikes....what a mess.....the Velcro did move out of place leaving a goopy mess.....I cleaned it with rubbing alcohol I believe...it took a while....then ended up applying a new valcro strip.....good news though....I haven't had to replace it for several years.....I have had to take my Allen wrench and tighten the handle a few times though.....I bought one of those multi sized allen wrenchs that had the same size in it.....I like it better because you have a bigger handle to use when tightening.....

The purpose of the brake is to keep the roller from moving, so be sure to release the brake before you advance or "rewind" your quilt.  You should have received an angled "Allen" wrench with your APQS machine. You may find that over time, the brake handle doesn't hold the rollers as firmly as it once did. The angled wrench is used to set the handle in a position that will enable it to hold firmly. If you purchased a used machine, you may or may not have the instructions for this, but you can find info with a quick forum or google search.
And you are correct, there are NO stupid questions. We ALL had to learn about the brake!
Be blessed as you fall in love with longarm quilting!

I agree with Sharon. I found the APQS video by Dawn Cavenaugh on YouTube to be the most helpful. I must have watched tit ten times before I attempted my first pantograph. Then when I did start one I had a brain cramp at the end of the first row and had to go back and rewatch that part of the video (with lots of pauses) before I moved on. I’ve done three pantograph now and I’m hooked! I love them. Stick with it Dee Dee and don’t give up. I made a busy scrap quilt so hide boo boos the first time. It turned out good. This is a quilt I just made for a wedding gift. I was pretty happy with how it turned out. 

UPDATED FEB 3,2022
Thank you for your overwhelming interest in this piece I quilted for my client back in 2015.  
many have inquired about the pattern for the quilt as well as the digital patterns for the quilting.  
I have attached the book used to inspire this piece as my client did do modifications to the pattern 
for the Stars to fit her liking.  
The Quilting was all freehand on my APQS Milli.  of course,... you could use a feather stencil or digital feather design 
and a ruler for the straighline work... 
I hope this helps anyone looking to make this quilt,.. or a version of it,.. 
Happy Quilting
Laura

Update,..... 
I did point out mistake to customer and we both decided it needed to be fixed. 
so,... spent an afternoon picking out stitches,  and 10 minutes to restitch the Feather,...
I was happy to do it as it was my mistake,.... 
I always point out mistakes if any,.. big or small
and let the customer decide,.... 
this one I knew she would want fixed,.... 
She is very pleased with the end result!!! 
and so am I!!! 
Thanks for looking ,.... 
Happy Quilting,...
Laura
 
 
 
 
Love the combination of the two,...  Simple,.. with a pop!!! 
I used a double Cotton Batting on this one,..  wanted the feathers to stand up
and take center stage,... Matching Glide Threads in the Grey, Burgundy and White Areas,...
Thanks for looking,...
 
** can you see the mistake?  Found it after I pulled it off the frame,....  :0)
 
 

Hi fellow quilters.  I am needing help with this Irish Star.  I made this one, so there is not a problem with how I do this.  I made three of these and two of them I used a panto on.  I am wanting to custom this one.  I have attached a picture of one with the Panto on it, and also pictures of the one I am wanting to custom.  I have drawn a complete blank on what to do.  As you can see, there are three different blocks in this quilt, so it should not be so confusing, but is.  Thanks for any help you can give.

Look what I got to quilt!  It's a pink themed Halloween quilt, to display at our local hospital during the month of October.  Pink because it's breast cancer awareness month.  The Jackson Hole Quilt Guild rotates a quilt display every month at our local hospital.  The nurses and patients really appreciate it.  We've had a hard time in years past trying to find a pink quilt for the October display.  So we had the bright idea to make a quilt just for that.  Different people made the applique blocks, others sewed them together with sashing and border.  I quilted it, and just handed it off to another member to attach the binding.  A terrific collaboration.
Last May I took a few classes from Judi Madsen in Salt Lake City.  I just LOVE her work.  So, you will see that she inspired this quilting.  
The bat bra block is the one that really got me started with the quilt designs.  The lady who made it drew a spider in a web on the cleavage, so clever and so easy to quilt that design!  
Judi had just posted an applique quilt that she'd finished that had bugs in it.  She gave the bugs motion by quilting a swirly design under them.  I thought the ghosts need that swirly design too.  Remember, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?!
I used a wool batting, glide thread with magna glide bobbins.  Love those magna glide bobbins!  Angela Huffman is a great source for them and her delivery is super fast.
Thanks for looking!

Can I share my news?
 
Had a call this evening to tell me that I won 1st for Longarming at Quilts UK, Malvern on my Customer Mary's quilt...WooHoo! 

It was a stunning top even before quilting!
 

Marys Feathered Star Applique 2 by Borderline Quilter, on Flickr   Marys Feathered Star applique 1 by Borderline Quilter, on Flickr  
 
 

This is a small version of the butterfly quilt pattern drafted by Sherrie I love orange and I am making most of my quilts this year with orange in them. 
anybody have a killer name for this quilt....it is always funto play with one of your own quilts.... I hope you enjoy , many of the designs I have not done before
but have found a couple I will do again for sure
 

back of the quilt

close ups of the background

this one I have named bubble wrap

 rulers and freemotion  oops I see a thread....



more thread that will get cleaned up

 

WOW!  Gorgeous quilting!  Great job and choice of colors!  I think I would name it "Fire Fly"!

Once in a while a quilt comes along that is just special. "I Woolly Love Ewe" was one of those, I love the design and the title, and I was thrilled when Wendy asked me to custom quilt it for her. Isn't the black sheep super cute? I am really happy with the way it turned out, and it looks even better now that it is bound and washed. I love the picture Wendy sent me of the finished quilt, the little girl seems to agree with me on the black sheep (I have permission to share this picture online.)

Sew Tweet, a  pattern by Chitter Chatter Designs. I hand appliqued and embroidered the blocks in 2014; along with completing the top. Finally this year, I free motion quilted it on my Mille. This was a very fun project began by me and Lisa E. in 2014.  It was my first attempt at embroidery; I was so blessed my Mother used to do all my embroidery, but she has since passed away. The blue birds remind of Cinderella birdies!!

Just off my quilt frame this week, "Surf Song" bargello.  From the book Twist and Turn Bargello Quilts by Eileen Wright.  Needed a king size quilt for my bed and instead of adding borders to make a king sized "Surf Song" I kept building the bargello to the edges.  I quilted it with IQ and the panto Ripples by Lorien Quilting.  I will make coordinating batik pillowcases and of course still need to bind the beast!!
Robin in MT

My personal Dinner Plate Dahlia is off the long arm.  I don’t have a computer on my long arm so this was all hand guided.  I am thrilled with the finished quilt   
 

Join a local guild but don't be surprised if you get the cold shoulder from the resident quilter in the group. Volunteer to help with their projects. Once they see your work, people will migrate to you. Don't go after the other quilters' clientele but wait for the new members who will find you are available when the others are backed up. Word of mouth gets you lots of repeat customers.

I was told a good way to get clients is to offer free quilting for charity quilts just to get your name and work out there. People need to know your work before they trust you with an actual quilt. 

How about quilting some of the local quilt shops quilts that are on display with the understanding that they will suggest you when someone asks about that quilts.  Also, if you are in a guild, advertise in your membership booklet and/or do some free quilting of charity quilts that are donated to your guild.  If your guild has a quilt show, make sure you place some of your quilts in that show with your quilting on it.  Your name as the quilter will be on that and is great advertisement.
 

What I did when I first started out was I made up coupons for a Free quilting, edge to edge I choose the design, lap size or smaller, to be used within 3 months and handed them out to our sew group ladies.  I also made sure my prices were very competitive ...in fact I was less than the norm when first starting out and then after my clientele was established I gradually increased my price.  I do have another perk for loyal clients... 8 paid bed size quilts, gets a Free quilting for a lap size or smaller.
Doing this I was able to pay off my longarm within 10 months!
 

I was fortunate to be able to quilt Three of these baby Quilts for the same customer. She Used the Pattern Mommy and Me.
She used a white on White Fabric That had a 1" diamond grid printed on it for the Background in the center area as soon as I saw that that 
I wanted to practice some grid work . I just went for it what do you think do you practice on customers quilts?
Hope you have a great Day.

Here is a bag I made for my daughters birthday. She is a music teacher so think she will like it. Thanks for looking. first pic is turned wrong way and don't know how to turn on post, second pic is the inside on bag.