chickenscratch Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 The local newspaper is doing a little story about me and my award winning quilt. I plan to tell her how I got started quilting, what led me to buy my machine, and other personal stuff like that. I can also advertise Chicken Scratch Quilting Company in this article. What I need from you gals (and guys) is a list of all the reasons people would want to hire a longarm quilter. I know that it is quicker than handquilting, and it is easier for a longarm quilter to quilt something than it is for somebody to try to quilt it on their DSM, but I need GOOD stuff for this article. Okay??? Thanks a million. Y'all are the greatest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GERRY Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Hay Teresa, good question:) I would think time is the biggest factor, thought with the quilting industry grossing billions of $$$$'s a year, there are a great deal more "Piecer's" than there are hand quilters. Plus so many ladies work full or part time, add kids to the mix, & T.V., you land up with a lot pieced tops with no time to quilt them. I, myself have made many quilt tops & have never hand quilted any of them. I also think that for myself, the washing machine has something to do with it. Quilts today need to be fit for the consant washing that our lifstyles require. A hand pieced hand quilted item would not stand up to it. The over all stability of a machine quilted quilt, can with stand many washings & not fall apart. My 2 cents, from a new LAer, 13 year piecer, & a happy Mom with 4 kids/5 grand kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizziesgirl Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 I agree with Gerry. Nothing better than to snuggle under a quilt when your sick or lonely and under those circumstances they need a good washing. Machine quilting is more durable. Also, who doesn't want to have a quilt top finished by an AWARD WINNING QUILTER! Sheryl www.shedznbedz.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue E. Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Don't forget that some people are "toppers" (they only like to piece tops) and dislike the quilting part of making a quilt. They find piecing relaxing but quilting very stressful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Crafty Unicorn Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Congratulations on the article... Things are really going your way! For my 2 cents worth: A lot of piecers say that the quilting is boring and they enjoy making the tops much more than the actual "quilting" and binding. By using a long-arm quilter, they get beautiful finished quilts instead of a closet full of guilt-laden UFO's (OK, that's putting on a bit thick, but you get my point) There's also the economic side. No, we don't work cheap, but how much would it cost if you paid someone to hand quilt a top? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Linda S Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Teresa - It just does my heart good hearing about this! I am soooo happy for you. A month or so ago you were down in the dumps. Now you are an award winning quilter with the news media knocking on your door! You GO girl! I am confident that you will do just fine on your own. Linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onesewise Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Tereasa, I must have missed your "down in the dumps" post! What a difference a day makes, huh? Besides the time factor for having someone else finish your quilts, think of the wrists!How much effort it takes to move a quilt for just a few inches of quilting under a regular machine...the limitations!And all the basting ,and puckers...besides, when you finish piecing a top you want to be done and move on yet you still have to fight your machine to get it quilted...what takes weeks can be done in hours on a long arm...yep, that's my reason! Elaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraC Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 A lot of seniors that bring their quilts to me do so because of physical limitations...back problems, eyesight and arthritis. They can no longer sit at the quilt frame but with the magic of longarm quilters like us they can continue to enjoy their passion of quilting!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Elaine, Just a few weeks ago Teresa was so "down" that she put her machine up for sale. We all had a fit. Look where she is today. Teresa, Wow, what a turn of events! I am so excited for you. Congratulations. What does your husband think now!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenscratch Posted September 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Mary Beth, He's still in the wait and see stage, but at least he's got his eyes open now. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bekah Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Teresa, wow girlfriend, how totally awesome and much deserved. You know what, I think you just need to sit down with your paper and pencil and quiet yourself and write down the things you love about your long arm and all that it can do. My goodness you are now an award winner and not just because you do such good work but because of the belief in yourself and your perserverance. Congratulations and I hope you have your seat belt firmly fastened cause you are about to get launched on a wild and crazy ride that is going to go fast!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quilterscafe Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Hi Teresa, I've thought about this question alot each time I am in a quilt store and see a fabulous quilt on display or when I see many beautiful quilts in photos made by a long arm quilter. I think some people look to long arm quilters as their quilting partner, pairing up what they do best, piecing or applique etc., with someone who has really invested the time and learned how to do the quilting of the quilt. After all, how many people are the best at everything? Some are, but for those who are very gifted in one area, but not the other, pairing up with another gifted person seems to be a winning combination for many people who send their tops out to long arm quilters. I think people who are creating quilts that are not necessarily for show, but for everyday use, might want to have their top done by a long arm quilter, because they are too busy with the other demands in their life like work and family. Even though it is an added expense for them, its "worth" the investment to them because you are helping them do something they might not have the time for. Then finally, I think some people who are relatively new to quilting, who haven't taken all the classes, might feel more confident having someone with more experience finish the quilt for them, which might give them a greater sense of satisfaction with the final look of the quilt. I think after all their hard work piecing together the top, some people are afraid to take risks and make mistakes with the quilting. I think they look to a long arm quilters as a professional with a level of expertise they haven't acquired yet. But mostly I think its just all about seeing their work and simply falling in love with what you see and deciding, wow, I'd really love to have a quilt one day that looks that beautiful! I think long arm quilters log in more hours than your average quilter and have moved through a learning curve that gives them the opportunity to develop a level of skill that alot of people may never be able to achieve, not because they can't but perhaps because they lose motivation, run out of time, or their interests take them elsewhere. It takes alot of time and patience to get to be one of the best, so there are only two roads to owning one of those much beloved quilts, join 'em or hire them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenscratch Posted September 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Thanks everyone for the fantastic responses. I typed up a little blurb and emailed it to the reporter. I have to meet her between 4 and 4:30 tomorrow to have my picture made with my ribbon and certificate. She said she may have more questions at that time. As soon as the article comes out I will scan it and upload it onto my website for you all to see. OOHH, I can't believe this is really happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkitaW Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 Teresa, I have a customer that tells me time is to short to quilt them when someone else can do so quickly and this allows her more time to piece more tops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saundra Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 I think one reason people want machine quilting is because of not having time. The world is so fast, our ladies want to still be creative, but do not have the time to quilt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted September 14, 2006 Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 So, Teresa, how did it go?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenscratch Posted September 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 Mary Beth (and everyone else) First of all, thanks for the help. I can always depend on my APQS friends. Secondly, I went to the newspaper office. She took a picture of me with my ribbon and certificate(I had previously emailed the picture of the quilt). She asked questions about where I work, how I got started quilting, what made me enter the competition, how I got the idea for the quilt, who it was dedicated to, etc. Then she started focusing on my hobby, quilting. I tried to explain to her that I have a quilting business; quilting tops others have made or making quilts start to finish for people on special order. I told her about the machine, the website, etc. She kept trying to bring it back to "but quilting is just what you do part time, right? After you work all day long at the middle school? " I don't know what will be in the article, but she did promise to put my name, the town I live in, my company name, and a picture of my quilt. I will just wait and see. I'll post it to my website as soon as it comes out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 The media! They never seem to get it right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qfairy Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 I think Machine quilting you can do more or should I say different designs than in hand quilting, along with much faster. And the varity of threads we can use compared to the hand quilter is just breaking the rules of the old fashion hand quilting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merles Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Congratulations! Just read your old posts and it sounds like quite a turnaround!! I couldn't find pictures of the quilt though...so can you post it or at least let us know what show you won a ribbon at and what the name of the quilt is? Again this is a fantastic thing!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenscratch Posted September 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Merles, Scroll down in this same area of the forums and find the post I Won! I won! There is a picture of the quit there. THere is also a picture in the photo album on my website. It is the cartoon looking quilt with chickens on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Teresa, Is it my computer failing me once again or do you have a problem with your website...have been trying to sneek a peek and all I get is either I'm not authorized to view this page or the page isn't found. Went also to Quilt Channel Links Directory and it wasn't working there either. Just thought I should let you know of a possible problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bekah Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Teresa, had the same thing happen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenscratch Posted September 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Try it now guys. I just contacted my server and they reset it. I don't know what the problem was exactly, but it seems to be working now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishquiltr Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 I think the biggest reason someone would want long arm quilting would be the different type of patterns that we use to benefit the all over design of the quilt, which in many cases, people notice the quilting faster than the actual piecing. Think about it, what draws you to a quilt to begin with? Colors, design, pattern, quilting, and presentation. A good long arm quilter can, like a black dress, dress it up or dress it down. We make more stitches that will last for years to come unlike Grandma's day, when hand stitches began to frail and fall apart. What I love the most is the vriegated threads that we use. Keep smioling, Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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