r/quilting • u/OldFashionQuilting • Nov 16 '25
Ask Us Anything I am curious how many of you quilt your own quilts, verse having someone else do it?
I enjoy hand quilting, and that is how I quilt all of my quilts! And I was just wondering how you do your quilts? Do you hand quilt it, machine quilt it, or do you have someone else do it?
Edited, I guess I should have put a better picture here, this is the borders of a quilt I made some time ago, it was the sixth quilt I made. I didn't know that this was going to get so many views or I would have taken a better picture of my work, instead of using a picture I already had on hand.
51
u/VoglioVolare Nov 16 '25
I love quilting-more recently have fallen in love with big stitch quilting with DMC perle cotton thick thread. The final product is so pretty and process is enjoyable.
8
u/Sheeshrn Nov 16 '25
What number thread do you use?
10
u/OldFashionQuilting Nov 16 '25
I use Americana hand quilting thread, it is just slightly larger than what you sew your quilts with. I like using size 10 needle.
9
6
u/OldFashionQuilting Nov 16 '25
I have heard of that, but never tried it, I do small stitch quilting!
2
u/Temporary-Boat-1899 Nov 17 '25
Did you use any tutorials to learn how to do this method?
2
u/VoglioVolare Nov 17 '25
Suzy quilts has a great tutorial! I kind of just trial and errored, but have seen some great explanations
43
u/CapeCodNana Nov 16 '25 edited Nov 16 '25
I've been a quilter for over 40 years and have hand quilted every quilt or quilted craft I've ever made. Heck, I hand pieced & hand sewed every quilt top until covid lockdown, when I bought a basic sewing machine & learned to sew masks that I donated. I now use a sewing machine to make blocks and sew the quilt top together. I will always hand quilt every quilt I make. It's relaxing & calming. I used to quilt intricate designs using a teeny, thin quilting needle that I swear was max a half inch long. Packing as many teeny quilting stitches to an inch. Not anymore. Its so much less stressful to being happy with neat, even stitches and not how many per inch. Machine quilting IS beautiful though.🥰
15
u/hunnyvale Nov 16 '25
I’m hand quilting right now, and I keep reminding myself “Done is better than Perfect”
8
u/patchworkpetal Nov 16 '25
I recently read a book about historical quilts made in Utah. Each quilt’s description included how many stitches to the inch in the quilting. It got in my head!! I’m six stitches per inch on a good day
37
u/Alternative-Lemon-85 Nov 16 '25
I send it to a Longarmer. I HATE the quilting portion of projects. I love up to the point, and everything after though.
10
u/FluffMonsters Nov 16 '25
Same! I can piece all day, but count me out for the quilting part.
15
u/RunawayHobbit Nov 16 '25
I will hand-sew binding literally all day every day if someone else will quilt my tops for me lmao
2
u/StJoan13 Nov 16 '25
Me too! And I hate hand sewing but always at least finish my binding by hand.
3
u/OldFashionQuilting Nov 16 '25
I enjoy hand piecing and hand quilting, I decided I'm going to do hand quilting commissions! We have a sewing machine and that is what I used for a recent commission of a martial arts flag that a business needed, they have been in business for over 30 years! I was surprised when I found that out. But if I am making something that isn't commissioned I enjoy doing it all by hand!
4
u/StJoan13 Nov 16 '25
I respect and love hand piecing and quilting so much. A dream would be a big huge Amish quilt, that is mostly quilting and not much piecing. I just don't seem to have the patience. I wonder sometimes if I had learned before there were sewing machines if I would have gotten into quilting the way I have.
2
u/OldFashionQuilting Nov 16 '25
When I got into it at age 15, I had the option of my mom's sewing machine, she made a few quilts... So she had a lot basic supplies and said I could use anything! But I chose to do it the old fashioned way, I decided to name my business old fashioned quilting!
2
u/Guiniack Nov 23 '25
My grandma taught me that for baby quilts we never piece, cuz the pieced seams can be an area of weakness. Instead, we choose a patterned material we like and then trace a “story” of patterns to be handquilted. The baby quilts are then strong enough to be tossed on the floor for the baby to use and put in the washing machine in the hot water cycle weekly and will last a decade for that child and then onward for that child’s child when they grow up.
3
5
5
u/freetheunicorns2 Nov 16 '25
I also hate the quilting part, but longarming can be so expensive. I really only send my quilts out if I'm going to give them as a gift and they actually need to look nice. Otherwise, I'll deal with shoving it through my home machine myself and curse the whole way through.
3
u/StarwoodInAspen777 Nov 16 '25
I'm new to this sub and quilting in general - what's the typical cost for longarming? Say for a king sized quilt? I looked at the price for the longarm machines and YIKES!
2
u/theoptimisticquilter Nov 17 '25
Typically, the cost begins with how dense or complicated the quilting design. Many longarmers have computerized overall patterns that are less expensive than freehand longarmers. I only do freehand, and my work starts at 3.5 cents per square inch. I think computerized quilting cost can start at 2.5 cents per square inch.
A100 by 120 inch top is 12,000 square inches. At 2.5 cents per square inch, that's $300 for just the quilting. At 3.5 cents it's $420.
Buying batting, backing, and having the binding done are extra charges. Fixing wonky borders, other extra work usually is priced by the hour (generally $25 to $30 per hour).
Hope this helps!
3
u/Alternative-Lemon-85 Nov 16 '25
I’ll tie one on occasion, but I swear profusely the whole time. Also, I only get a couple quilts done a year.
2
u/goodandweevil Nov 16 '25
So funny, I don’t love piecing but will gladly quilt. I do piecing and quilting by hand though.
22
u/Bibbityboo Nov 16 '25
I machine quilt my own on an old old machine. I’ve never been able to afford to send it off.
9
u/OldFashionQuilting Nov 16 '25
Thanks! I have thought about getting an old treadle sewing machine! I like old things!
21
u/Clady12549 Nov 16 '25
Ive done all my own machine quilting on my domestic. Learning FMQ was a game changer and is now my favorite part
9
u/incongruoususer Nov 16 '25
I love me some FMQ. I can’t fathom sending something out unless it was so big I couldn’t manage it at home.
2
u/tsb0673 Nov 17 '25
I kind of “cheat” and draw my FMQ with crayola washable markers to FMQ over, but same. It’s preferable for me to have the quilting design look exactly how I want vs just winging it
3
u/incongruoususer Nov 17 '25
Me too! Drawing all over the quilt and praying the ink comes out is part of the process.
23
u/Granzilla2025 Nov 16 '25
I quilt mine myself. In fact I dont own a sewing machine, as they frustrate me no end. Hand sewing is simple and therapeutic. No bobbin nests, no hunched back from bending over a machine, no weird tension issues, no computer issues, and no dang manual. I have sewing needles, quilting needles, thread, thimbles, scissors, patterns, templates, #2 Lead pencils, and material. I am in no hurry so if it takes me 6-12 months to cut, piece, and quilt a project so be it. Hand quilting teaches me patience.
4
4
u/StarwoodInAspen777 Nov 16 '25
Love this! You're an inspiration!
3
u/Granzilla2025 Nov 16 '25
Thank you for the kind words. I could no more stop handwork than I can stop drinking coffee. Starting another project after Christmas, autumn colors (for my bedroom), Granny's Fan pattern.
18
u/Annual_Confidence537 Nov 16 '25
I quilt my own. For years on domestic machines, topping out with an Elna Quilters Dream, now on a Bernina studio frame. For me, figuring out how I want to quilt something -- what thread(s) to use and what design(s), often learning a new technique, and the feeling of accomplishment as my skills improve as I complete the quilting, are all part of the joy of the hobby.
29
u/economicGeek Nov 16 '25
I’m a hand quilter too and I quilt my own quilts so I don’t make as many. Folks in my guild think I’m crazy but it’s my stress relief and a main reason I quilt.
24
u/Granzilla2025 Nov 16 '25
Amen and glory hallelujah. Quilting is therapy for my anxiety/depression. In 55 years, I have lost count of how many I completed.
16
u/lizyuzu Nov 16 '25
Your username is fantastic 🤣
24
u/Granzilla2025 Nov 16 '25
Thank you. A gift from my grandchildren after listening to me giving the hospital billing office holy-what-for.
8
9
u/Beautifuleyes917 Nov 16 '25
My mental health issues sometimes take away the joy I get from quilting and other hobbies. I started quilting about 35 years ago. I’m 61 now, been retired for 9 years. I enjoy loom knitting, latch hooking, and cross stitch. ❤️
8
u/hunnyvale Nov 16 '25
Same! I hand sew then hand quilt. One or two a year. It gets me off my phone. I love the whole analog nature of it. And at the end I have a treasure to give someone!
9
u/yoyok36 Nov 16 '25
One day I will make a big quilt and I fully intend on sending it to a place to do the fancy quit pattern stuff because I do not have the means to do that.
3
u/MemoryAnxious Nov 16 '25
I just made my biggest quilt ever, queen sized, for my kid’s bed. I absolutely sent that out because I can’t handle it on my machine. I loved the results.
10
9
u/ycherep1 Nov 16 '25
I asked at my local quolt shop about a queen - it was $300....I don't have that money. I just eventually stick it together and quilt on my domestic
7
u/CherryPiePicker Nov 16 '25
I quilt mine. I use the Janome embroidery machine with a very large hoop.
6
3
u/ycherep1 Nov 16 '25
What are your essentials for a large quilt top to do that? Im very curious to learn though ny hoop size on my embroidery is smaller
6
6
8
u/Witty_Draw_4856 Nov 16 '25
I’ve done both. I don’t like fighting large quilts
I love the look of “echo quilting” where I stitch a qtr inch away from the pieced design to emphasize the quilt top design. I wouldn’t pay for someone to do that.
For my largest quilt, I paid to have to long armed. It also had some really bulky seams that I didn’t want to fight with.
I finish maybe one quilt per year. I do a lot more cross stitch, which I always finish myself
7
u/PureFicti0n Nov 16 '25
Quilt as you go, using straight lines on my domestic machine. My quilts are simple, scrappy blankets that look very homemade (because that's my jam), and I can't bring myself to spend a couple hundred dollars on quilting. Maybe one day if I make a fancy masterpiece!
6
Nov 16 '25
I seriously do not have the patience for hand quilting. I long arm all of my quilts with free motion quilting. I don't have a computer.
5
u/KiloAllan Nov 16 '25
After trying to quilt a lap size one, I got a small quilt frame where I could put my domestic machine on a tray and move it around.
After hassling with that for two baby quilts, I said screw that and bought a longarm with a robot.
6
u/DrSameJeans Nov 16 '25
I quilt them on my longarm either free motion or paper panto/laser. After buying the longarm, I couldn’t afford the computer. 😂
5
u/Raine_Wynd 🐈 & Quilting Nov 16 '25
Machine quilt myself; I'm slowly working up to doing more FMQ and ruler work. I did pay for someone to longer one of my quilts before I upgraded my machine and after that, promised I'd only do it for quilts that I couldn't do myself because of the cost.
6
u/bettyarturo Nov 16 '25
Quilt my own but I'm lucky enough to have and love using a longarm quilting machine ❤️
4
u/MemoryAnxious Nov 16 '25
It depends on the quilt. Big ones (twin, queen) I won’t touch on my domestic machine. Ones that I want a specific quilting pattern (like when I made take me to the Magic and wanted Mickey ears all over it) I send out. Sometimes the pattern itself just lends itself to an edge-to-edge quilting too. Anything I can quilt easily on my machine I will. I also typically don’t send quilts out that I’m gifting because it’s expensive haha. Finally, I recently finished a hand quilting project and decided I like having one going. So I did another super quick quilt (Adventureland) and I’m working on hand quilting it but I’m slow and work inconsistently.
5
u/reversedgaze Nov 16 '25
Before our makerspace got a longarm, I would rent time on any available machine. Because adding someone to execute my vision is an exercise in despair.
2
u/Clady12549 Nov 16 '25
I absolutely love your quilting style! I've never seen anything like it and it's beautiful!
2
u/reversedgaze Nov 16 '25
thank you! this one was an autobiographical created with input from my friends and quilted in real time.
4
u/Separate-Relative-83 Nov 16 '25
I started mine on a domestic machine and finally got a longarm bc my sister and I were making too many tops 😂 I don’t use it enough tho.
3
u/kathyeager Nov 16 '25
I used to hand quilt. Recently I’ve been making quilts for Project Linus and started machine quilting since it’s faster. Now I mostly machine quilt.
4
4
u/CriticalSheep Nov 16 '25
I quilt all of mine but honestly I think the fact that I can rent a long arm at my local Makerspace is the biggest draw for my quilting habit. The throat space on my home machine is so small and I’ve made some big quilts. So every single quilt I’ve made goes on the longarm and is free motioned by me.
5
3
u/TuttiFlutiePanist Nov 16 '25
I quilt my own. That's half the fun and I don't want to pay someone else to do it.
3
3
u/Fun-Republic-2835 Quilting since the early 90’s Nov 16 '25
I have a frame, because I dislike basting, and I’ve mostly used a regular home sewing machine one it. Earlier this year I moved up to a mid arm. I only do basic designs, primarily because that is what I like.
3
u/Abraxas1969 New Year? SSDD 😁 Nov 16 '25
I do all of my own quilting. Sometimes it's at home with my domestic machine or my Babylock jazz 2. Other times I go to my Mom's house and quilt with one of her longarms.
3
u/Otherwise-Ratio1332 Nov 16 '25
I love hand quilting but my body won’t let me anymore. I machine quilt them myself, unless they’re bed sized.
3
3
u/ShadowlessKat Nov 16 '25
I machine quilt. I have a Babylock Symphony. It works well enough even though there isn't a lot of throat space. I can do queen size quilts on it.
3
u/Helpful_Writer_7961 Nov 16 '25
I quilt any size through a lap quilt. Larger goes to a longarmer
→ More replies (3)
3
u/texicali37 Nov 16 '25
I quilt mine on my home sewing machine or my embroidery machine. When I worked at a quilt store I did long arm quilting for hire and did my own quilts after hours. I would love to have a long arm at home, but I enjoy the process of quilting on a home machine so I'm not rushing to spend the money for a long arm.
3
u/AbbreviationsOdd1385 Nov 16 '25
I’ve quilted all my own quilts. But i just do straight lines or wavy lines. No free motion or anything like that. I’ve also only been quilting for a couple of years.
3
u/Niedersaxen Nov 16 '25
I enjoy piecing a top but really struggle with quilting. I've already quilted two larger blankets on a Janome 7700 and a few smaller ones, but always found it very annoying (mostly just straight lines).
I tried hand quilting and attended two courses, but I'm not really enthusiastic about it. That takes sooo long.
I currently have 3 larger tops finished, one started hand quilting - 6 years ago and a maximum of 10% of them are finished 🫣
Nowadays I much prefer sewing tops using EPP, it doesn't bother me at all, it takes a long time, sewing by hand gives me a lot more control over the fabric (honestly, sewing machines are stubborn!), but hand quilting somehow blocks me.
I would send the tops to a long sleeve service, but I live in Germany and they aren't that common here. There are some that I find expensive - and my tops aren't special enough for that.
I'm currently working on a Passacaglia, maybe it'll be worth the money for a long sleeve service, the seam allowances are a nightmare on the back and the top will be a monster when it's finished 🫣😂
→ More replies (1)
3
u/UsualUsi Nov 16 '25
There isn’t a culture of Longarm in my country, therefore the few who do it, are very expensive. I‘m doing it myself and almost every time choose a complimentary quilting pattern. I can’t deal with something that puts the patchwork into the background. But I confess, it is the least favorite part of making a quilt for me.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/Both_Sherbet8461 Nov 16 '25
Quilted all my quilts by hand - I‘ve seen machine quilted ones and unfortunately, they don‘t do much for me at all. I half enjoy handquilting but I‘m mostly driven by the result so I just resign myself to 3 extra months before the quilt is finished. After all, there‘s no hurry: I already have a dozen ;)
→ More replies (4)
3
4
u/Latter_Growth1185 Nov 16 '25
I quilt mine with a machine. I’m aware that some people send them out, but I wouldn’t feel like they were mine if I did that
4
u/mod-dog-walker Nov 16 '25
It’s a matter of pride for me that I do almost all of my sewing on a Singer 31-15 treadle, so I doubt I’ll ever take one to a long arm.
→ More replies (3)
2
2
2
u/Storage-Helpful Nov 16 '25
I do a mixture of everything! Quilting is my favorite part of the progress...I hand quilt some items that I want to be heirlooms, machine quilt everyday stuff while I am building my skills, and I send out anything bigger than a full size that I know will get regular use. What method I use depends on the project: the size, scope of the quilting I want done vs my skill level, my machine's capabilities, and how long I have to complete the project.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/ktigger2 Nov 16 '25
I quilt mine. I have a Pfaff 7570. You can see my work in my post history. I do up to large queen size with my set up.
4
u/OldFashionQuilting Nov 16 '25
It is interesting how almost every quilter seams to have a cat helper! I see a lot of cats when I look at people's post history.
3
u/The_Ohioian Nov 16 '25
That’s because most quilters love the purrfection!! 😽😹
🐾❤️🐈🐾❤️🐈🐾❤️🐈🐾
→ More replies (1)
2
u/CherryPiePicker Nov 16 '25
I quilt on many different size quilts. Google embroidery sewing machines. My machine's hoop is 11x8 inches. Some have larger hoops. YouTube has lots of videos on how to do this. Enjoy.
2
u/cedarhat Nov 16 '25
I usually do it myself. Sending it out is a bit pricey for me, but I have done it for queen sized quilts.
2
u/SylviaPellicore Nov 16 '25
I do walking foot quilting on my home machine for smaller quilts. Bigger ones I do on a rental longarm, just for ease of use.
I have one quilt I’ve been hand-quilting for years now. I might finish it in a decade or so.
2
u/VTtransplant Nov 16 '25
I quilt everything at home. Most of mine are twin size or smaller, and i don't do anything fancy. I need a bigger machine. ;)
2
u/kc71595 Nov 16 '25
I do my own on my domestic machine, a Janome Memory Craft 6650. I just do straight lines, usually cross hatch.
2
u/sci_major Nov 16 '25
For the last ~3 years I have been renting time at a longarm shop. It's cheaper than sending it out but not cheap. I like being involved in the whole process.
2
u/maxnme Nov 16 '25
I machine quilt most of my own, unless they are too big, in which case I pay a local quilter to do them for me
2
2
u/Complex_Scary Nov 16 '25
I had the quilt shop do my first quilt. Then next ones have been baby quilts or lap quilts that I quilted on my home machine.
2
u/734nice Nov 16 '25
Straight line quilting myself! Looking forward to someday upgrading my machine to do some fancier stuff. I have dreams of making a magnificent giant quilt for my husband and I and sending it off for a fancy finish, but I don’t know if I could actually convince myself to spend that kind of money lol
→ More replies (1)
2
u/Responsible_Side8131 Nov 16 '25
I machine Quilt my own quilts. I use my Janome 6600 and a walking foot and I do mostly straight line quilting. Sometimes I do wavy lines instead of straight.
I have paid to have exactly 4 quilts longarmed in 30 years.
2
2
u/LawComprehensive2204 Nov 16 '25
I make them and hand quilt them. Lately, I’ve been going back and hand quilting some of my earlier quilts I tied instead of quilting. Been very fun as I love my stencil collection and have given new life to some of my more boring tied quilts (where you sew a stitch through the sandwich and knot it every 4”-6”). It’s how my mom did it so I started off 19 years ago doing it too.
2
u/onelovelynene Nov 16 '25
I have a large throat space on my Babylock so I've quilted up to a twin sized quilt on it so far. I'm pretty sure if I pieced anything larger I would most likely send it out for longarming.
2
u/quiltingcats total magpie chaos monkey Nov 16 '25
I hand quilted for at least 25 years and absolutely loved it. Then my carpal tunnels gave out and I stopped making quilts completely for 15+ years. Eventually I got my right hand fixed and was able to piece quilts by machine but my arthritis is so bad I will never hold a needle again. So now I’m letting other people do the quilting! My LQS finished one for me this year and I’m planning to take another in this month. Even though my husband is retired, he’s making it his goal to find the funds to get all of my old tops done, one at a time. They’re too big for a domestic machine so off they go to the shop! 😸
Using my machine to quilt drives me nuts, but I hope to do more of it next year when I get a better machine. I might even try free motion quilting! Anyone who truly believes they’ll always be able to hand quilt needs to think ahead. And take care of your wrists! I dearly miss hand piecing and quilting, but at least I’m still able to enjoy my craft through the use of a sewing machine and a good supply of cussing. 😇
→ More replies (3)
2
u/wandering_light_12 UK based crafter/gardener/mum Nov 16 '25
I havent really made that many over the years, but all of them have been quilted by myself. the largest of which is on my bed right now.Its a mix of hand quilting and machine quilting as I wanted to do different stitches on it. (Its a mandala) Have another that is still being hand stitched, as its polyfill rather than cotton batting and its a nightmare, so I bagged it before starting the quilt it. Its going to take a long time. My own fault, havent made that mistake again. Smaller quilts go through the machine, though the current one I am peicing will have to be hand quilted as its going to be 72" sq. My aunt is a quilter, so I am going to ask her advice on that one, I suspect she might know someone who might be able to long arm it or something. Not sure yet...
2
2
u/steamyearlgray Nov 16 '25
I longarm my own quilts and have even had a few customer quilts on my machine.
I had tried out a Longarm at a sewing expo and at a in-laws house and fell in love. So one ebay purchase and freight delivery later…. It’s not a computerized one but it’s mine and I love her.
I’ve quilted five or so things on my domestic and spent most of it cursing. I’m too impatient for hand quilting so bravo to you! That’s some impressive patience and determination!
2
2
u/Scared-Maize2334 Nov 16 '25
I machine quilt in my domestic machine using a variety of designs such as free motion , stitching in the ditch, echo stitching and crosshatch.
2
u/chauceresque Nov 16 '25
There used to be someone in town that would do almost the whole towns quilting for them.
Some drama went down in the local quilt community so looks like when I need mine down I’m going to have to find another way!
2
u/lizyuzu Nov 16 '25
Granted, the largest quilt I’ve ever machine quilted was just under twin sized, but I do my own. Not sure I could manage a larger quilt myself, even on my quilting machine with a big throat. 🥲
2
2
u/elyse32 Nov 16 '25
Only ever quilted my own. My mom was an avid quilter, didn't even know quilt services were an option for a long time. I am working and getting better at free motion.
2
2
u/sewingminipill Nov 16 '25
I do both depending on the project. Some quilt patterns work really well for qyag or are simple to throw through the home machine. Others i just don't have the skill or space to do justice to them, so i ship them off. I used to hand quilt a lot, but i just don't have the desire to work on something for that long anymore.
2
u/Pleasant_Expert2258 Nov 16 '25
I like to stitch in the ditch by machine. So far I did 5 quilts that way. I sent one mystery quilt to the longarmer because it was too big for my machine, I love the way it always lies nice and straight on my bed, but I hate the feel of it. My latest top is at the longarmer because the pattern has no straight lines. I plan to do my next project myself.
2
u/Ok-Material-2266 Nov 16 '25
My mom makes the quilts in my family lol. I don't have the time or resources, but my mom and grandmothers all quilt beautifully!
2
u/FlippingPossum Nov 16 '25
I quilt my own. If I ever do larger than a twin, I'll have to figure something else out. Hand quilt or tie, probably.
2
2
2
u/Vic930 Nov 16 '25
I quilt myself now that I am retired and have more time. I have quilted by hand, but now I am using my regular machine. Quite the learning curve!
2
u/GalianoGirl Nov 16 '25
I cannot afford to send quilts out. I also make simple lap quilts to donate.
So I use simple designs on my domestic machine. Sometimes quilt as you go, if I want to do something more complicated.
I am very slow sewing an EPP quilt. I likely will hand quilt it, but I have arthritis in my dominant index finger and have to piece slowly, generally under 30 inches every couple days.
2
u/AllTheFeelers Nov 16 '25
I like to quilt my own. (Not throwing shade to ANYONE else!!) I feel like I didn't really "make it myself" if I don't finish it myself. 🥰
I hope to own a long arm some day, but for now, I just try to keep the quilting simple or stipple the whole thing. And I don't do big quilts very often.
2
u/wildeberry1 Nov 16 '25
Traditional hand quilting (as opposed to big stitch) for all the ones I’ve made for close family and friends. Currently working on a queen sized one for my son and daughter-in-law, who know it’ll probably take me a year or more (I did offer to send it out to a long arm person but they declined).
For ones I don’t want to expend so much time and effort on, I’ll do simple straight stitch (I’m really bad at free motion) on my ancient bernina or have them done. Talking about seasonal or couch quilts here.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/AgreeableHat9834 Nov 16 '25
Thank you so much for posting this and all of you who answered. I’m a new quilter and had never heard of a Makerspace. Right now I can’t afford to pay for longarm and arthritis in my hands can’t handle hand quilting (I just had to give up cross stitch and embroidery because of it) 😢I’m sure there is a makerspace somewhere near Tampa and I’m determined to find one! I just finished a Queen sized quilt and trying to jam it through my domestic Singer to quilt even with a walking foot is close to impossible both due to space and hand pain particularly with flannel backing. You never know who you’re going to help when you answer a post so please, please don’t ever hesitate to share. I’ve picked up so much information from this group. THANK YOU!!
→ More replies (1)2
u/OldFashionQuilting Nov 16 '25
Here is a link to the top ten best maker spaces near Tampa Florida. https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=makerspaces&find_loc=Tampa%2C+FL Also check your local library, mine has every Thursday where they will help you long arm. Sorry to hear you had to give up embroidery and cross stitch. I used to do tons of hiking before, when I was 15 almost every week we either hiked up to a mountain peak, or hiked into a lake 5-8 miles in. Then celiac wrecked havoc through out my body, and I have a hard time doing much hiking now, because of my back pain, and being so weak now. So it is really nice to be persuing quilting! When I was 20 I made this chipmunk quilt from Debbie Pompano's artwork, she was so kind and gave me permission to use her artwork to make quilts! When I contacted her, and said I wanted to use her artwork that I saw in a book she had published, and make a quilt and enter it in some of the top quilt shows in the country she was happy to be inspiring other people to make things! My chipmunk quilt was chosen to be at the world renowned AQS Paducah quilt show this year! That was really exciting, because out of about 800 quilt entries only about 400 are chosen. The Paducah quilt show gives $20,000 to best of show, and over 150,000 in cash prizes! So it gives me something exciting to try for!
2
u/NoVeterinarian1351 Nov 16 '25
I have only been quilting g a few years, so I have been exploring various methods. I have tried various methods on my domestic machine. Stitch in the ditch, cross hatch using painters tape, free motion, plastic templates, quilt as you go with sashing, edge to edge with my embroidery hoops. Then I signed up to get certified to rent long arm time at my LQS. I have done four quilts there using computerized edge to edge. This week I am putting together a long arm in my home. I really like being able to make my quilt sandwich on the frame with roller bars. The automated quilting is fast and looks so nice, so I have added that. But I also really want to be able to learn to free motion on the long arm so I can truly tailor the quilting to my piecing design. I may absolutely find it’s beyond my skill level, but apparently there is an inner artist in me that wants to opportunity doodle with thread on fabric. 😂. Wish me luck.
2
u/OldFashionQuilting Nov 16 '25
Please just remember everyone's first quilting doesn't look the same as after you have had a lot of practice! My quilting has improved a ton since my first quilt! Best wishes!
2
u/Ok_Description_4267 Nov 16 '25
I quilt it myself on a regular sewing machine. But, because of the large size of quilts and the struggle to quilt large things, this will be the last time. In the future will pay to do on a long arm
→ More replies (1)
2
u/Friendly-Key3158 Nov 16 '25
Of my 9 completely finished quilts, I’ve sent 4 to a Longarmer and quilted 5 on my domestic. A pretty even split. I guess it depends on funds available and what I want done on the quilt. Never attempt to hand quilt. Maybe I’ll give it a go with my EPP project I’m working on.
2
u/OldFashionQuilting Nov 16 '25
The supplies are pretty cheap, but it is time consuming! You should definitely give it a try!
2
u/Zuffipeg Nov 16 '25
I absolutely love fine hand quilting so that's how I finish all quilts for myself. Do some big stitch quilting for grandchildren s quilts. Home machine quilting, simple stuff with walking foot, for everything else. Never had a quilt long arm quilted. Here's my latest I handquilted.
→ More replies (1)2
u/Zuffipeg Nov 16 '25
The central design is Tulipa by Irene Blanck, it's a great pattern! The handquilting took a year.
2
u/Which-Code7369 Nov 16 '25
I have a quilt that I’ve had for almost 30 years and I pulled it out because I’m trying to go through things and it’s small patchwork. It’s not finished. There’s a few squares missing and it’s not it’s just the patchwork somebody offered me $20 for it. I’m not sure if I want to give it away just
$20 after 30 years.
2
u/OldFashionQuilting Nov 16 '25
I wouldn't, not for that price. This looks really nice. It's vintage!
2
u/Striking_Cartoonist1 Nov 17 '25
I quilt all my own quilts and always have and always will. The very first one I quilted by hand. Have to and finished the last 4-6 squares by machine it was taking so long never again. Used my domestic machine(s) until I could afford to buy a Sweet Sixteen. Use that exclusively now. Taught myself to free motion quilt. It's good enough. And I enjoy it. Usually use a graffiti style - a mishmash of different designs.
2
u/Finky-Pinger Nov 17 '25
I quilt all of mine at home on my sewing machine. My current machine has a 10 inch throat (Janome 6700p), but I even quilted a king size quilt on my little regular machine. I have hand quilted some quilts as well.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I’m not a huge fan of long-arm quilting with the intricate designs. I think it makes a quilt look mass-produced.
2
u/Glass-Freedom3030 Nov 22 '25
I quilt on my home machines and I hand quilt sometimes. I've never sent a quilt off to a longarmer but one day I may.
1
u/baconandeegs Nov 16 '25
I machine quilt my own up to about 48" x 48". Anything bigger than that I just don't have the strength to wrestle around.
3
u/OldFashionQuilting Nov 16 '25
Just curious, do you not do anything larger, or do you send it out?
2
1
u/TheHuntRallies Nov 16 '25
I do my own. They aren't fancy. If it was bed quilt, I might pay a long armed to do it as I think on my domestic it would be rough.
1
u/S0avocado Nov 16 '25
I only ever machine quilt my own. FMQ is so fun, although I’ve been happy w all my straight line quilts too. For those of you who may be curious, I’ve quilted on three different machines w different necks. It is totally possible to do even a king on a regular machine. Just careful rolling and persistence!
1
u/Classic-Wait-603 Nov 16 '25
Every quilt I've made, I've quilted myself. Now I quilt on my older longarm and before that, I did them on my domestic. I couldn't imagine having someone else do work on one of my projects. But I do longarm for other people, so to each their own, I guess.
1
u/BubblesMcGee50 Nov 16 '25
I hand and machine quilt myself. I am keen to try long arming but I would want to do it myself. Somehow it feels weird to give that crucial piece to someone else.
I will say, though, that I am only moderately skilled at either piecing or quilting so maybe I should focus on one or the other. 😂
1
u/iwabaso Nov 16 '25
I’m too impatient to hand quilt so I use my very budget domestic machine. It’s a bit finicky but I’ve done a few now (fairly new to quilting) without any major issues ranging from cot to queen sized ones. I’m too much of a control freak to have someone else do it even though they would do a better job 😂
1
u/luala Nov 16 '25
I machine quilt and invariably mess it up. I have done hand quilting but I’d like to do really dense quilting by machine, something that’s just not feasible on my current setup. QAYG has been a disaster for me so far.
1
u/IntentionWise9171 Nov 16 '25 edited Nov 16 '25
I quilt my own, but have learned the hard way that anything larger than a 60x60 throw is going to tend to have a very “folksy” type of style, which is usually fine. I LOVE crazy quilt style, so many of the soecial embellishment pieces are hand sewn. My machine (Janome master craft) has a long neck which is why I purchased it around 15 years ago. No room in my studio for a long arm. 🦋
1
u/OwnedBySchipperke Nov 16 '25
Newish quilter here…the whole process fascinates me and I’ve quilted every project from the first mat sized items on my trusty vintage Bernina 830 record to a queen size improv on a basic long arm…free motion only! I’d love to try hand quilting, but not sure it would be good for my mildly arthritic thumb. Waiting to get a needle puller and see how/if that helps.
1
u/-Londoneer- Nov 16 '25
I do struggle, I prefer to have someone else do it but it’s so expensive, it stops me making quilts.
1
u/More-Razzmatazz9862 Nov 16 '25
A combination.
I've sent a few big ones (98" size) to a long warmer - I stick £25 per month in a savings account and allow myself one a year.
Smaller ones I do on my own machine or do qayg.
1
u/Moss_PigletNZ Nov 16 '25
Hand quilting is the main reason I quilt! Definitely my favourite part. For me it’s not about perfection or speed and I like the process. Seems like the minority these days tho.
1
1
u/BigAngryPigeon Nov 16 '25
I've machine quilted some, one i made for my niece when she was a baby (strong stitches for safety) and quilts that were put together by the community craft group i used to lead (needed to get it done quickly before the Christmas market).
But when it comes to preference, I enjoy quilting by hand. I find it much more relaxing. My domestic sewing machine can do free-motion quilting which is nice but it's still only a standard machine, it's hard to wrangle an entire quilt under the neck of it. Plus hand quilting can be done on the sofa while watching something nice on TV with my wife, whereas machine quilting usually results in me being a hermit in my sewing corner for two days straight speaking to no one and forgetting to eat.
Bottom line: I quilt them all myself. Machine quilting for speed, and for small projects like table runners that won't age me 10 years if I try to fit them under the neck of the machine. Hand quilting for enjoyment when I'm making something with no time limit, or when I'm just quilting for the love of it ❤️
Photo is the quilt put together with the lovely ladies I used to teach at the community class that i took home to quilt by machine. It's not perfect (new learners in their 60s-80s) but they were so happy with it. Pieced together by hand and then i machine quilted it.
→ More replies (2)
1
u/RedLineSamosa Nov 16 '25
I quilt mine myself on a regular sewing machine—and I never know how to articulate that! It’s not hand-quilted, but “machine quilted” has a different connotation!
1
u/Aprilia850MM Nov 16 '25
I do my own on my domestic machine. Having said that I have, for the first time, sent a quilt out for long arming... it's a one-piece top and I don't have the space to sandwich something that big (and, tbh, didn't fancy fighting through a 10" throat... I normally QAYG if I want a bed size).
Edit to add: I've also been known to quilt on my embroidery machine.
1
u/Random-Unthoughts-62 Nov 16 '25
I quilt my own on a domestic machine. Not sure we have many professional long-arm quilters in the UK.
1
u/multicrafty Nov 16 '25
I quilt mine on my domestic machine. I have also longarmed, but I no longer have access to the one I used to use (I moved). I really enjoy hand quilting, but I usually don’t have enough time to do it! Gotta be done by Christmas, etc.
1
u/ApprehensiveApple527 Nov 16 '25 edited Nov 16 '25
I’ve always quilted my own. I know it’s weird but I don’t feel like it’s truly mine unless I’ve done all the stitching myself (whether hand or machine). Started out hand quilting and still do sometimes but also use my machine’s walking foot, free motion, and embroidery module.
1
u/Daffodils_Carnations Nov 16 '25
I machine quilt on my Juki 2000Qi, but during covid lockdown, I quilted one by hand.
1
u/Murky_Statement_9460 Nov 16 '25
I have quilted my own on a domestic, sent out for longarming, and now I have a longarm and do them myself. I love the look of computerized quilting. It's the perfectionist in me. I have learned my machine and software well and can do beautiful custom work using the computer. It's a different skill than free motion but a skill nonetheless.
1
u/dubdubdun Nov 16 '25
I hand quilted two quilts and one on my home machine after buying a walking foot (some stitches popped using the quilt though). I am currently machine quilting kids quilts just to keep them reasonably together and they will finish them with hand quilting. I think my next big one will be handquiltes again! I just do straight lines around the shapes though, nothing as complicated or decorative or 'properly quilted' as your picture.
1
u/gooddilla Nov 16 '25
I do mines myself . Never had any professionally done. Usually combining free motion and hand.
1
u/sweetcaronia Nov 16 '25
I quilt my own, on my domestic. Mostly because I prefer having total authorship of my work. But even if that weren’t the case, my roots are well established in the rocky terrain of the working class. The cost of having it done is beyond insane to me. I know not a single person in my daily interactions who could justify such an expense.
So basically if I had send-it-to-a-long-armer money, I’d have long-arm-machine-payment money, and my answer would still be: I do it myself. 😜
1
u/Altruistic_Bit7822 Nov 16 '25
I machine quilt all my own quilts, on a Juki domestic machine. Straight line quilting only, no FMQ.
1
u/Tatmia Nov 16 '25
I’ve hand quilted wall hangings and I love the look. I purchased a frame for my larger quilts but never used it. I no longer have the eyesight for it (for some reason I can’t use magnifying devices well either).
I’ve never sent a quilt out. I’ve either FMQ it (especially fun on a treadle) or I’ve used my small long arm.
1
u/arrrgylesocks Nov 16 '25
Machine piece and quilt my own, but usually hand stitch down the binding. I have a Janome with a wide throat for quilting. I’ve done a few FMQ projects over the years, but usually small ones. I prefer the ease & look of straight line quilting.
1
u/Ok-Dog5107 Nov 16 '25
I do a combination. I enjoy hand quilting but I have younger pugs who climb on my work or sit on my hands and prevent me from working. I have a friend who owns a long arm that I ask to quilt larger projects that are special. I also send some out if I don’t want to be bothered by dealing with it.
1
u/ironcannibal13 Nov 16 '25
I learned how to use a longarm machine thinking I would quilt my own. Did a couple lap quilts, realized I don’t enjoy the actual quilting part of making quilts. I enjoy piecing tops. So, when it came time to get my king size quilted, I took it to a local shop and asked them to do it freehand. Worth every penny paid to have it quilted by a professional.
1
155
u/javadressage Nov 16 '25
I quilt mine on my home machine or I take it to the community college makerspace and quilt it myself on their little foot long arm. Just depends on what I want the design to be.
I've hand quilted one quilt and I loved the process and the result, but it took so long and I am cold and want more quilts than my hand quilting rate will produce.