frequently asked questions | Heather Spence Designs

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How does your pricing work?

Pricing is based on cents per square inch (p.s.i.) and starts at $.02 p.s.i.

and can go up to $.06 p.s.i. depending on the type of quilting desired.

How long does it take to quilt my quilt?

It all depends on the size of the quilt but, as a general rule, small (crib size) quilts to small queen quilts can be finished in a day. Larger queen to king size quilts can take two days. But these estimates are for pantographs (also known as all-over designs). Custom quilting can take significantly longer even smaller quilts and can take anywhere from two to four days, or longer, depending on the complexity of the quilting design.

What are the biggest challenges for longarm quilting?

There are a wide array of problems but I’ll address the biggest ones here.

~ Backings which are too small. On many occasions I’ve gotten backings that are simply too small. All backings need to be six to eight inches larger than the quilt top on both measurements. Please avoid laying your quilt top on the batting then cutting it one to two inches bigger than the top.

There is a tutorial in the freebies section that walks you through an easy way to put together backings so they are large enough.

~ Ruffled borders. Ruffles mean the borders are too big. At the minimum they cause extra fullness around the quilting. At the worst there are large bunches of fabric that bubble up between the quilting, puckers, pleats and folding. Usually massive amounts of pins and diligence is required to keep the ruffling evenly distributed through the border. However, if the ruffling is bad enough there is little that can be done once the quilt is on the frame and quilting has started. The best way to tackle the ruffled borders is to apply them properly at the beginning. How to spot ruffled borders? Hold it out flat with two people holding either end of the quilt top. If the borders droop lower than the middle then they need to be reapplied. My tutorial in the freebies section will give you guidance applying them properly.

~ Blocks that are too big and/or too small. Essentially it’s the same as the ruffled borders for blocks that are too big. Though the ruffling is contained within the block area. Blocks that are too small actually cause the quilt to stretch unevenly and then cause the rest of the quilt be ruffled. Be sure to square up your blocks.

If the top isn’t going together properly take the time to figure out where the problems are.

~ Batting. Inexpensive bagged polyester batting, even after it’s rested, can have areas stretched and distorted. During the quilting process these areas can’t be quilted out. They fold over and cause bumps in the quilt. For this reason I recommend cotton batting, preferably from a roll.

Do you have tutorials/classes?

Tutorials. Yes! They can be be found here on my website in the freebies and resources sections. The tutorials in the resources sections are the printable pdf’s.

Classes. Currently I am teaching longarm certification classes at a local quilt shop. Other than that…I’d be up for it. Tell me what you want!

How does your batting compare to retailers?

I carry Warm Company batting and will special order bagged batting. It is one of the most popular battings used by quilters and most quilt shops carry it. The only difference is price. I charge a bit less because my studio is in my home.

What can I do to make my quilt top easier to quilt?

Press seams open whenever possible. That is, press seams to the side when it’s needed to match points. When seams are folded to one side and it’s not necessary it creates extra bulk and harder for longarm machines to stitch through. In addition these seams can break needles and cause tension problems which can mean costly repairs and time lost not quilting.

Finish the quilt top by stitching a 1/8″ stay stitch around the outside. This simple addition helps to keep the fraying of the fabric down, secures border seams and keeps them from popping open, and helps me with the quilting.

Can you use different thread on the top to the back?

Yes, I can. However, if the contrast is high (white and black, as an example) there will be what is called ‘pokies’. ‘Pokies’ are when the bobbin thread is pulled through to the top or bottom of the quilt. I highly recommend that you use the same color thread on the top and the bottom to alleviate this problem.

Do you piece backings?

Yes, for a nominal fee.

Do you apply binding?

Yes, I can make the bindings and attach them to your quilts. Or I can make the bindings, attach it to the quilt top then fold it over and stitch it down by hand.

What is the difference between custom quilting and pantograph quilting?

Pantographs are line drawings on a long piece of paper that are placed on the table of my quilting frame. There is a laser attached to my quilting machine which I use to follow the drawing while the machine is running, therefore quilting the quilt top.

Custom quilting is specialty quilting including feathers, continuous curve, cross-hatching and the like which usually involves templates and marking the quilt top. As a side note: I do not do stitch in the ditch on my longarm machine. Despite the fact that there are so many other lovelier quilting designs for quilts, stitch in the ditch is extremely difficult because it is a very rare occasion when seams don’t curve. It takes too much time and I would have to charge far too much.

What is the largest/smallest quilt you can quilt?

The largest quilt top in size is 104″ in width. The length doesn’t matter.

The smallest quilt top I’ve quilted is a pillow top of about 12″ square.

Do you use a computer to quilt?

No. *big grin* I use only manual stitch while quilting.

How far out are you booked?

Currently, two months. I’m looking for additional quilting help to bring the time down.

Do you offer discounts?

Yes! When you refer a friend to me you will receive a coupon for free thread on your next quilt.

What kind of machine do you use?

I have two Tin Lizzie 18’s. These machines are stitch regulated but do not have computers.

If you have any further questions please send me a message through ‘Contact’ and we’ll answer it and put it on this page.

Thanks for stopping by!

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Good News! With the help of the new quilting machine I'm able to quilt more quilts. Even so, if you have a quilt you want to gift at Christmas, please schedule with me no later than December 19, 2014. Click here to schedule your quilt.

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