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How Do I Prepare My Quilt For Longarm Quilting?

You want to make sure all your seams are ironed flat and there is not a lot of fabric bulk. This is one of the most important step to producing a high quality product. Too much fabric bulk can cause skipped stitches during the Longarm quilting process. Check for loose threads on the top side; we will remove thread if you miss a few. Trim all long hanging threads on the back of your top quilt.

It is not always easy to make a perfectly squared quilt. One way to check your quilt is to measure across the top, middle and bottom. Take these measurements top to bottom and side to side. Depending on the quilt pattern and boarders you may be able to trim the edges to square your quilt. If you are only off by a 1/4″ it’s probably not a big deal but, no more than 1/2″.

Make sure the batting and backing have at least a 4 inch allowance on all sides. The best way to calculate material needed is to measure the length and width of your quilt and add 8 inches to the length and the width. It’s okay to leave the selvage on your backing outer edges. The selvage will need to be removed from any seams in the backing. Absolutely no selvage in the top quilt. Selvage can cause skipped stitches during the Longarm stitching process. Also, the shrink factor in the selvage is different than the material. Remove the selvage!

Press and remove loose threads.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt? Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt. Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Can I Piece Together Leftover Batting?

I always recommend using a one piece batting on all quilts that are going to receive heavy use. If you decide to piece together your leftover batting, do not use iron on tape. The iron on tape does not hold batting together as the batting is not stable and the tape will separate from the batting. Instead butt the pieces together and run a zigzag stitch to secure the pieces together. This will help prevent the longarm stitching from having stops in the middle of the stitch design. My goal as a Longarm stitcher is to not have any stops.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Why Does My Thread Break When Sewing?

There are several reasons why thread breaks. Is your thread old? If so, replace your thread. Good quality thread is so important. I use Mettler in my sewing machine and I use OMNI made by Superior. You can test your thread strength by wrapping the thread around a couple fingers and pull. You shouldn’t be able to break the thread. If the thread breaks replace it. If you have determined that your thread is good quality, review your machine settings. Check the upper tension and the bobbin tension. Sometime you just need to rethread your sewing machine as sometime there can be a miss threaded machine.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt? Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt. Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Is There A National Quilt Day For 2021?

National Quilt Day is three months away.  In 2021 it will be observed Saturday, March 20, 2021. National Quilting Association began in 1991. Over time ‘National Quilting Day’ has unofficially expanded to the whole month of March. National Quilting Day/Month of is now recognized world wide as a time to celebrate the history of quilting.

During the month of March quilters will be sharing the rich history of quilting. The oldest quilt still around to day is ‘The Sicilian Tristian Quilt’ said to have been made around 1360-1400.

Watch for upcoming events.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Want A Heavy Weight Warm Quilt With High Loft?

Try using the Hobbs Tuscany Supreme Batting. It truly is the ultimate quilt batting. Quilts with cotton batting are heavier weight and have lower loft; where as, the Wool batting has a lighter weight and a higher loft. The Hobbs Tuscany Supreme Batting gives you weight, warms with high loft.

Gallery – Bluff Springs Quilts
Ultimate Quilt Batting

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Can Someone Just Bind My Quilt For Me?

So, you love to quilt but you don’t like the binding process? That’s great. We would love to bind your quilt for you. One way to add value to you quilt is to use an heirloom binding stitch. Lady VanWinkle’s provides a beautiful finished binding and she is ready to help you finish your quilt.

HEIRLOOM BINDING

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Why Do Quilts Cost So Much?


Quilts cost a lot because quilts cost a lot to make. Good cotton materials will cost on average $12.00 per yard. A queen size quilt, depending on the style of quilt and the amount of seams in the quilt it will require 18 to 20 yards of materials for the top (piece work), backing and the binding materials. Then batting and thread is needed. Good cotton Batting can cost up to $30.00 to $45.00 for a queen size quilt. High quality thread is approximately $9.00 per spool. Materials alone can cost between $280.00 and $350.00. Then you have to pay the long arm quilter which is approximately $180.00 to $250.00.

The labor for a queen quilt can be 45 to 65 hours. I use $15.00 per hour. The labor cost around $675.00 to $2050.00. Total cost for a queen quilt $955.00 to $1,325.00. I have seen quilts cost over $3,500.00. Quilts are truly a work of art. That’s why they cost so much.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Does Quilting Relieve Stress?

I believe quilting or other creative tasks help relieve stress. I’m speaking from personal experience. I know when I’m stressed or anxious I go down to my studio and start quilting. The creative process distracts me from feelings of stress and anxiety. Quilting also gives me a sense of purpose.

When we create, we invoke our imaginations, which is a productive and constructive use of our minds. It’s a great way to unwind.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Is Quilting An Expensive Hobby?


Yes, quilting can be expensive. Mainly because the materials are expensive. Good cotton materials will cost $6.00 to $11.00 per yard and Batik and Grunge material will cost up to $13.00 per yard. A quilt 76″ X 86″ will require approximately 5 yards of fabric for the top and 5 yards of fabric for the backing. But that’s not all, Batting and thread is needed. Good Batting can cost up to $21.00 per yard. High quality thread is approximately $9.00 per spool. I recommend using high quality thread. Quilts are meant to be pass down through the generations. Good Quality materials are necessary for heirloom quilts.

You can spend up to $160 just in materials and this does not include the cost of labor and the cost of a Longarm Quilter. If you want more information on Longarm Quilting click on the link below.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.

Want to Learn How To Quilt?

Want to learn how to quilt? There are a couple great ways to learn how. Visit your local craft store, if they don’t have classes, they can probably point you in the right direction. Another great way to learn to quilt is to Youtube, ‘Beginning Quilting’. In the current state of Covid-19, this is a great way to get started on your new craft. There are several step by step instructions on how to piece together a quilt top.

Once you have your quilt top pieced together, you will need ‘Batting’ and ‘Backing’ materials to finish it off your project. I recommend using a Longarm quilter to quilt it all together. Lady VanWinkle’s has what you’re looking for.

Want high quality stitches? Contact Lady VanWinkle’s.

About Lady VanWinkle’s

Are you looking to buy a handcrafted quilt. Check out our Quilts for Sale. If you are looking to customize your own quilt? Click the following links for Longarm Stitching services or contact us.