quilterkp

Hi y'all. My beloved 2013 Lenni is for SALE! Yea! I'm going for a Millie and a computer - and of course, my sweet Lenni needs a new home. The image here is all of the details. The machine is located in NE Tennessee and will need to be picked up by the buyer. If you are interested, message me, and we can schedule a test-drive. Thanks!

I finished my Petit Fours quilt last night! I'm very pleased with how it turned out. It's a layer cake/jelly roll pattern from Hummingbird Highway.  I tried a new binding technique that was shown at our last quilt guild meeting and just LOVE the effect it has on the quilt. It's a flange binding which gives it the piping detail look. Very easy to do and I think it gives this quilt a 'Tuxedo' look to it. 

I need advice.  I got my Lenni in 2010, at that time I didn't know anything about having a longarm.  I really stretched the canvases, really pushed my skills at keeping things square. I went to floating my tops just so I didn't have to use the horribly stretched canvas (thank god for all the you tube videos). I am replacing them today (they got stained in the move) and want advice on what everyone does to keep them in great shape.  TIA

Please feel free to email me at dmphillips762@aol.com

Judy:
If you do some research, you will find that Handi Quilter makes all these Sweet 16 copies.  They just tweak them with changes/upgrades for Baby Lock, Viking, Pfaff, etc., to make them their own model.  
If you want a sit-down, keep your eye open for a APQS George.  It is worth the wait.  Do not worry about the stitch regulator, you do not need it, as you brain is the best stitch regulator ever made.
Cagey

Fake It 'Till I Make It Longarm Machine Quilting Services

Judy,  you have a very nice set up and I love your pumpkin quilt.
Karen

Sorry im just now replying. I have had my George since september 2015. I have probably done 4 quilts and about 4 wall hangings or baby quilts.   I like to sew ,knit and read so some days i dont get around to quilting. Not many weeks go by though. 

Yes, I am still looking at messages.  :-)  It is a concern because the longarmers here (except for one) only have a two week turn around.  I don't need to make enough money to live on -- just enough to supplement the pension I will be receiving as  I would like to wait a bit to draw social security.  There are two rental places within driving distance, so I plan to visit both.  My retirement is in four years and 7 months, but if I get a machine, would get one in about two years so I have enough time to practice.  

I am a bit late in responding to this question so I hope you are still looking at messages.
 
I have a longarm business and have had my longarm for 12 years.  Over the last year or so, I see more and more of my customers buying machines to do their own quilts.  I still have enough business to pay my bills but could be busier.
 
Personally I would be cautious in looking at your area right now.  Join several quilt guilds and see how many of the quilts shown at show n tell and at quilt shows are done by the piecer and how many are done by quilters.  Try to talk to some of the longarmers in your area to see how busy they are.  The girls that do the fancy custom quilts for hundreds of dollars have long waiting lists.  I can't afford to do those quilts and make most of my money doing some light custom and edge to edges. 
Three years ago I purchased the Intelliquilter robotic system and have been extremely happy with it and my customers appreciate getting those designs without an additional charge.
If you can, see if there is a rental longarm system in your area before purchasing it so you can make sure you like it.
Best wishes,
Charlene
 
 

I forgot to answer the part of your question about the color of the batting.  For quilts that are primarily white I used the white Hobbs 80/20 on my own quilts.  It seems as though the white is dull after washing if I use the natural. 

Kathy,
if you are wanting more quilting definition, using Quilters Dream Deluxe 100% cotton may be an option instead of double batting.  I have been recommending it to customers who want their quilts to feel like a "real" quilt.  I love the way it looks, it shows off your quilting without the loft of wool batting.
 
Carol

I too have a Lenni.  I have done hobbs 80/20 on the bottom with wool on top.  The combination has worked great for me (more than once).  I did not need to raise my hopping foot.  However if it seems you are pushing the quilt top and not just stitching it then maybe you'll need to raise it a hair.  This is very easy to do. I just put the wool on top of the 80/20 and off I went, straightened all layers as I rolled along.  I like the definition wool batting gives the quilting.

The only time I doubled my batting was on a Qnique quilting machine on my frame. I used Warm and natural all cotton and had no problem, it was tightly quilted so bunching could not be allowed. No problem with the quilting, didn't even raise my hopping foot. Quilt turned out fine. Never did it again, because I never really thought it was such more special than a single batting quilt. Hope you love the outcome of yours!

I have not yet tried to use a double batting on my longarm but I think the difference between a domestic walking foot and the longarm hopping foot would make for a better outcome on the longarm.  There is no "give" in the needle bar of the domestic walking foot when you lower the presser foot so it would push the double layers of batting.  With the longarm the foot hops and if it still pushed the layers you can change the height of the needle bar......or at least you can on the Millie's. Perhaps someone who has quilted with double battings will chime it on this issue. 

This small quilt is a gift for a new mom to be's baby shower next weekend. I've known this lady for about 25 years since she was about 12. It took her a long time to meet Mr Right and now they are expecting their first - a little boy. This pattern is a MSQC and is in the tutorials. 2 charm packs used with poly blend batt and glide threads. 

No it is not bad that you want a millie. Reach for the stars!  Mary Beth's comment about setting time for your family is correct. More than likely you will have Millie in your home. A home business is hard to walk away from at 5:00.  Best of luck. I certainly admire you. 

I agree there is work available.  I am a hobby quilter, but I am often asked if I will quilt for someone.  I do a few now and then, but I do not want a business.  Make your work visible and you can keep busy.  

I will just add, quilting is very rewarding because you become a part of the history of that quilt. You may be the only person who knows that, but to me that was very rewarding. It is hard work, and to be honest, you will need to set aside time for family. But you should do that anyway. It may take a little time to build your business, and you will need sell yourself, but there is plenty of business out there.

Humble opinion, but there are quilters who like to piece, there are quilters who like to quilt and there are the ones who like the complete process.  Before I committed to buying mine, I spoke with a couple quilt store owners and with a couple long armers in the area.   They said there was plenty of work in our area.
 
 

I have had a profitable longarm business for 10 years.  There are many benefits to having a business - a lot of expenses that you would have had any way due to quilting being your hobby, will now become business expenses, offsetting your income. I agree that there is lots of business out there, especially for people that do quality work with a reasonable turn around.  Good luck!