Jump to content

Gator

Dealer
  • Posts

    3,940
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    61

Posts posted by Gator

  1. Sorry, I missed your post earlier.  I do a ton of quilting around embroidery and applique.  I machine baste the sides then use pins around the areas I'm working on and remove them as I finish the area.    I float my quilts,  so I also have pvc clamps to hold the bottom of my sandwich firm on the roller it's draping. However, it sounds like your not floating the quilt.  Sorry Jim,  I never heard of using safety pins on our longarms, not to say it wouldn't work.  I would think small safety pins would roll fine.   Amy (APQS educator) suggests using the flower pins, they are very flexible  but be careful of getting stabbed by them. 

  2. I prefer the Olfa, but only buy them with 40-50% off coupons at JoAnns and HobbyLobby.  Michaels may also have coupons.   I saw info on the Quilter's Cut blades on FB and bought them because of the price.  I think they are good blades for the price.  The seem a little thinner than the Olfa but can't tell a difference in the cutting.  I have a mix match of the different blades in my cutters so I think I'll do a comparison on how long each lasts before going dull.  I think you will be fine either way.

     

  3. I'm just a curious person.  I was wondering  if you prefer forums or facebook groups?  I'm a forum gal.  I love the forum because you can guess how long a person has been involved with a product or skill.  I like how topics are divided into categories and doing a search for topics are fairly easy.  I just feel cozier with the forum group than facebook, I'm not sure if that's the correct verbiage.  I'm not against Facebook groups in fact I belong to a bunch.   I just wonder how long a person has been using a product before they start giving advice, etc.   I've seen bullies on both but not so much on forums now.  Forums and Facebook Groups seem like two different environments to me.  Wondering minds are curious. 

  4. Lora, great topic which needs to be brought up every now and then.  I like hearing what's happening in other parts of the country and world.  I have Millie with an IQ.  I did not raise  my prices when I got my computer.  I didn't need to because I could do more quilts which evened the field.  I charge a penny and a half for loose pantos/e2e and 2 pennies for tight pantos/e2e.  I have a Quilt finishing shop a block away from me (I'm also in a small town) who charges about the same.  The owner and I have a great relationship because she just does pantos/e2e.  She also sells batting, wide backs and flannel.  She does no custom, so she sends those customers to me or another longarmer.  There's work for everyone.  You really have to flow with the local pricing or you will loose those "bread and butter" customers.  When I moved to Michigan, I asked around about longarm pricing before I decided on what to charge.  I ask my customers  to pick out the panto they want from the hundreds I have  but  if a customer wants a particular panto design that I don't have (i.e. hippos, fire hose, particular flowers),  I charge them a one time special design charge of $15.00,  plus my normal square inch charge.  It will help you build your design catalog fast  without coming directly from your pocket.  I do the same with my embroidery business. 

    Great info, advise and thoughts everyone.

×
×
  • Create New...