Preparing a quilt for Longarming

 

Quilt Preparation for the Longarming 
wequilt.org

Quilt preparation is the first step for getting the best quilting possible.

 We operate a hand guided longarm using edge to edge patterns. We enjoy working closely with the quilter to optimize their desires regarding the finished product. Custom work is accepted after a one on one consultation.

 Square Quilt and Backing:  Your quilt should be square (same width top & bottom/same length left and right side) to load on the frame correctly for best results during the longarm process to prevent waviness.   Note: Very often there is a slight difference…1/4 to 3/4” variance…this is no problem. So, please square your blocks in your top and measure your quilt at the top, bottom and middle – get an average measurement and cut your borders to fit your quilt based on that average. This helps in preventing wavy borders.  

If you are piecing your backing, please square your blocks as you piece to keep the seams as straight as possible without puckers. If there are any squaring issues, we will contact you so they can be corrected. Backing seams should run horizontally (left to right) This eliminates puckering as the quilt is being advanced on the frame. A thick vertical seam can easily cause issues as the quilt is advanced in the longarming process. Remember…when it is all said and done…the back is 50% of the quilt you have spent hours making. Don’t short change your efforts by cutting corners on the backing. We would never recommend ‘muslin’. If that is your choice, we will complete your quilt as you request.  

If you are not putting a border on your top, stitch the perimeter of the quilt (stay stitching) as close to the edge as possible to eliminate seam separation when tension is applied when loaded on the longarm frame.

Extra Backing and Batting:  To fit your quilt on the frame we need an extra 8” – 10” (10” preferred) of backing.  This means 4” – 5” extra of backing all the way around the quilt. Minky backs MUST be 10” Wider/Longer than the top. The best results using Minky are seen when the “selvage” edges are left and right (width) sides of the backing. Not TOP/BOTTOM.

If you provide batting it should be 6” wider and at least 10” longer than the pieced top. Currently we charge $.20 cents an inch for 80/20 96”. We stock Hobbs. We carry packaged batting in different lengths and blends. Our cost plus 15%. We will use whatever you supply.

Pressing the Fabrics:  Please press all the fabrics of the quilt top and backing.  Press the quilt top so that all the seams lay as flat as possible and press the backing fabric so that there are no deep creases (especially in batik fabrics.)  Backing seams should be ½” and pressed open. When pressing the borders, it is good to press the border’s seams open when possible. Before loading we press out creases due to hanging/folding/shipping at no charge.    

Trim Threads:  Cut loose threads on the pieced top, they can catch on the hopping foot of the longarm.  Cut loose threads on the back of the top as well as threads can get lodged between your quilt sandwich and show through backing and/or the top.

Batting:  There are many kinds of batting available.  If you are doing a quilt with very dark fabrics you might want to consider black batting. Please use quality batting, craft batting will not hold up as well. 

●          If your quilt backing or top is directional, please mark it clearly or mention it during the intake process. Let us know any specifics about your top and back.  

●          Any quilting issues such as puckering, weak seams/holes, wavy borders, pleats etc. will NOT go away with the quilting, they may be exaggerated.  We will do our very best to work with the issues to minimize them in the end product. 

●          In most instances, we can say we have been able to determine difficulties that may be encountered during the longarming process before the first stitch is applied. In those cases, you will be contacted so we can determine how you want to handle the situation. On occasion the problems may be encountered during the process. Again, we will contact you to work out what would be the best outcome for your quilt.

 It is our goal, when finished, to compliment your quilt. We will do everything possible to attain that goal. The first step is working with you during the intake process to meet the needs and desires you envisioned.

Same Journey...Diffferent Day

 

All aboard! Ladies and gentlemen…we have encountered a slight delay in blog departure. Before we get this blog train steaming down the tracks a few things need to be highlighted and commented on and about. 

One…I must take a moment to thank an individual, two really. One, Elaine, her support, guidance, encouragement, and foresight has made the last 60+ years of having her being a part of my life more than just purposeful. I am who I am because of her. She honestly is the better half. I still have some rough edges that need work…thankfully she hasn’t given up. 

The second individual is one of a very special group, quilters, that encompasses what keeps me moving, keeps me busy, keeps me motivated and keeps me living with a daily purpose. The move from Virginia to Pennsylvania meant leaving a cast of some terrific quilters that let me be a part of their quilting journey. Once settled and ready to longarm again was not quite as productive. I didn’t know any locals, not familiar with any guilds and thankful for having Quilts of Valor to keep me busy. The worry about generating another group of quilters to share the journey with was short lived. Dottie Thomas, often referred to as “The Machine” contacted me about longarming some of her work. Our first meeting involved six quilts that needed longarming. Since that first encounter, she was responsible, for the first two years, for 80% of the quilters I longarm for. Her introductions and referrals put Studio One, Thee Leatherneck Kilted Quilter and We Quilt on the Pennsylvania map. The number of quilters I get to share with has grown. The appreciation I have for Dottie reaching out and providing me with an opportunity to share my craft with others is a memory I will hold dear forever. 

Dottie, to you, and all of you that have allowed me to be a part of your quilting journey, one quilt or an endless number of quilts, from my body, soul, and whole heart…Thank you. Thank you all whether from PA, VA, MD, DE, NC, and to the many volunteers from the Quilts of Valor Foundation, coast to coast, who we have longarmed for, quilted with and been allowed to award QOV’s to the many who are or have stood watch over our freedoms and liberties. 

As you scroll down the blog you’ll come to “Source Links.” Links to us, links to organization(s) and links to vendors. Regarding the links to vendors…we have not, not now or not ever taken any gratuities. If we post a link to a vendor, it is because they have earned our business based on the quality of their product, meeting the claims they advertise, and their customer support. Being part of our daily lives and providing us with all three of the above mentioned…the least we can do is reference them here on our blog. We encourage you to give them an opportunity to be a part of your quilting journey as they have ours. This is true with any testimonials we make, recommendations we may provide in our entries, photos, or videos we post here or on wequilt.org including later additions to the Source Links.

 All Aboard!!! Oh yeah, Quilt till you wilt, we do.  

 

 

 

 

 

 We will be returning to the We Quilt Blog on April 1, 2024. Renewing our efforts to share with those that enjoy crafts, quilting and longarming as much as we do. We do appreciate those that will choose to follow and hope your visits are informative and entertaining. Thank you all, past, present and future visitors to our blog. 

Les and Elaine.

Suspending Use

 Until a vitalized need for this blog is determined no further posts will be made. The information already published will remain. 

Please refer to our website, www.wequilt.org for updated information and to follow our journey with quilting and the Quilts of Valor program. 

later...Les...

Quilt till you wilt...we do. 

Welcome to Pennsylvania...

There seems to be a pattern developing here. We only buy houses in states ending in "a". Not to mention following our son and his family. Okay, we're following the grandkids. This maybe the last move. I said maybe...because once before I swore the move to Virginia from California was the last and "never" again. My bad.

For the most part we are pretty much moved in to the new digs. We still have the kitchen to be remodeled, cabinets are due to be delivered on 5Apr. No date set yet for installation as yet. The sewing room is up and running, much to Elaine's satisfaction...like me and the longarm...in storage for five months. 

The Longarm...well...Elaine needs light, windows, she has three, and sun, all day till dusk. She says I've been in the dark for so long that the basement would be the perfect place. I hate it when she's right. The basement is now Studio One. Well actually the whole house is Studio One. I could be happier, not by much...I have to leave to take a shower and use the facilities. No bathroom in the basement. With her on the second floor and me in the basement we have to schedule meetings and meals to see each other. Which really is working out well. We haven't shared lunch time together for years. It has been a very pleasant change. 

It is in fact the first time the Longarm, the drums and the Man Cave are in the same room or even on the same floor. I mean really, who wouldn't like to have this much space for their hobby, passion and entertainment. PlayStation 5 yet to be installed. 

Longarm Area

Ironing Table Area

Coffee, or maybe a cold drink?

  

Storage, absolutely, plenty.

The two visitors, son and grandson, will have to fight over the left side recliner. Mine is a given. 

Did I forget to mention a small basement workshop?...Sorry. 

The crème de la crème...A first floor office. It will be the quilter's area where they can choose their pattern and thread to be used for their quilts. It eliminates them having to take the trek down to the LA Room. Not to say that they can't, but for many navigating the steep stairs can be troublesome...I know. It also serves as my morning "to do" area. First cup of coffee, the days scheduling, weather check, Blog and website editing/posting and review, emails and messages, and the daily routine of banking and financial matters associated with everyday life. Not to mention a quick browse on Amazon, Lowes and Walmart...you know, just in case I need something. 

We truly hope that if you are ever close, that you won't hesitate to drop in. Our emails and phone numbers have not changed. If Virginia Quilter's still want to use my longarming they can. Just send them via USPS or UPS and once completed I'll pay 50% for the return shipping. 

There are downloadable documents on the website, wequilt.org, that provides information regarding current processes, available services, address, emails, etc. The longarm preparation document is there as well. There is conservative breakdown of the cost of a quilt to help you develop pricing if you want to sell a quilt or are just curious. 

May this coming year be one of your best years yet, stay safe, healthy and...

Quilt till you wilt...we do. 

31,536,000 Seconds

That is 2019...well was. Here's hoping you lived to the fullest every one of them. If someone says they would give you a penny for every second this year...do not hesitate...take it.

Once again we are coming up on the Mancuso Quilt Festival in Hampton, VA. We hope to see you all there. A major change for this year is we will not be raffling off a Singer Featherweight...sorry it just didn't happen this year. It is getting harder to find them at a reasonable price and even though we are graced with the exceptional skills and talents of Jason and Rebecca Olah from Olah's Restoration & Service out of Moyock, NC it is hard to budget for even with their generous donation of their skills and time. We haven't given up, but this year it just wasn't in the cards. If you need service, restoration or repair for the sewing machines you own that aren't full of computer chips and electronics Olah's is the place to go. Their FB Page link is on the left side of this blog page under Source Links. Check them out. If you've visited our booth in the past...you've seen their work.

Hampton Roads Convention Center 1610 Coliseum Drive Hampton, VA
Feb 27-28-29/2020 10 AM to 6 PM
March 1, 2020 10 AM to 4 PM

The Not Forgotten QOV Booth will again be set up in the lobby. We will be raffling off a quilt. The drawing will be Sunday, Mar 1 at 3 PM. Tickets will be $1 each or 7 Tickets for $5. All of the proceeds are submitted to the National Foundation. These are the funds, from our Trust, that we use to purchase all of the materials and supplies that are used to craft the many Quilts of Valor that are awarded here locally. To the many volunteers who give of their time and talent Elaine and I will forever be grateful for sharing in our commitment to our active service members and veterans. Without you Not Forgotten QOV is just a passing thought. For those of you that purchase raffle tickets, donate and support Not Forgotten QOV, well, we can't thank you enough.

This year we will follow the Quilt Festival with the Events Management Groups (EMG) Annual Spring Craft Market.

Virginia Beach Convention Center

1000 19th Street

Virginia Beach, VA 

March 6-7 10 AM-6 PM

March 8    10 AM-5 PM

We will also have a Raffle Quilt with ticket prices the same, $1 each, 7 tickets for $5.

We will be located inside this event. Please stop by and say hi. Always good to see you, even if just in passing. 

We have some $2 off coupons, limited amount, but if our paths cross or you want to stop by the house and pick one or two up...please do so. I don't think we'll even unload the Subaru between the two shows. 

I will admit to being very busy last year, many of the 315+ million seconds was spent longarming. I finished over 190 projects beating my own record of 175 from the previous year. Off to a running start with 26 projects already completed for 2020. 

We hope your New Year is off to a great start. Hope to see you and share in some joy with a little quilting thrown in for good measure. 

Quilt till you wilt...we do. 

Open Letter - Follow Up

Open Letter…Follow-up

Several weeks have passed since I posted my response to the Board of Directors approved 2020 Budget that was presented to the membership via an email from the salaried Executive Director. I emphasize salaried since it is misleading to anyone that visits the qovf.org website. If one reviews the posted Policies and Procedure’s you will find the following content:

“The Foundation’s leadership consists of its Board of Directors, its Executive Staff, and its State Coordinators, who are all unpaid volunteers. The Foundation expects its leadership staff, member group leaders, and members to adhere to the standards and policies described in this manual.”

There are several positions on Executive Staff that are salaried. In 2016 the reported figure was a shade under $1500. By the end of 2017 that had climbed to over $15,000 and at the end of 2018 to over $109,000. The Executive Director’s position has been budgeted for 2020 a 33% increase in salary. One can assume the final figures for salaries, other compensation, and employee benefits will rise above the $109,000 numbers for 2019 and most certainly for the year 2020. To convince me that the increase to the membership is to only cover Group operational costs would take a team of CPA’s from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC.

But that is not the good news. There has been some reevaluation of the proposed budget. The Board has approved the new Group Business Fees be allowed to be withdrawn as an approved expense from a Groups Trust. Previously the Groups Fees were out of one’s personal pocket. The increase for one that chooses to be a National Member associated with a group has been reduced from $15 to $10. A reasonable increase as the Foundations Operational costs for a group could have easily increased along with just about everything else in existence since 2014. How much is yet to be determined. Considering the many Chapters of Project Linus pay $100 a year for operational costs…QOVF is still a bargain.

The very good news. Through the efforts of a very dedicated and committed group of volunteers who spend countless hours helping with our fundraising functions annually, Not Forgotten QOV has sufficient assets and will be able to utilize the offering from National to pay our Group Business Fee from our Group’s Trust. We are reminded daily who really makes the Foundation a success, understands and thrives to accomplish the Mission, and without pause continue providing the symbol known to our service members and veteran recipients as a Quilt of Valor, the Volunteers. Without them the Mission would be a failure, Catherine’s vision but a passing thought and Not Forgotten QOV but a title.  

We thank you for your support and kind words and responses as we trekked through these muddy waters.

later…Les…