Lessons from a Longarm Quilter

By Diane K Clow Quilter and Sewist Picker

And, hopefully, Good Friend

Lessons from a Longarm Quilter

Hello. My name is Diane, and I am a longarm quilter. Now unless you make quilts, know someone who makes quilts, or own quilts, you may not know what that is. So, I am going to enlighten you. We are now deep into winter, bored by the freezing weather and bleak leafless trees. Bored by staying inside while Michigan throws its toughest season at us. So bored that you will even read about longarm quilting just for sheer distraction. But it’s a great conversation starter when you do eventually get to go outside and socialize again!

So, let’s get started: people who make quilts primarily make the quilt top. That is the top layer of the “quilt sandwich.” They piece or applique their quilt top and then hand it off to their longarm quilter to add quilted texture to the “sandwich.” This “sandwich” is made up of the quilt top, the batting, and a backing fabric. Many people who make quilts may “quilt” their own sandwich on their domestic sewing machine or sew it by hand.

More will hand off their completed quilt top to a longarm quilter so they can get back to the business of making another quilt top. People who make quilt tops typically have mass amounts of fabrics called “stashes.” Those of us who make quilts are basically fabric hoarders and buy massive quantities of fabric with no intention of ever making anything with it – we just want it in our stash.

Anyway. A longarm quilter operates a large, industrial size (pay attention male readers, I am talking driving heavy equipment here) sewing machine that rides on a large table with rails. My

machine has a 26” throat and rides on a 12’ table. By the way, my machine’s name is Millie, after my Aunt Mildred, and the table is Mable, named after her sister, my grandma Mable. The quilt backing fabric is loaded onto the canvas leaders, then a cotton or poly or wool batting is “sandwiched” before adding the quilt top.

Millie rides across the three layers, quilting them together in a variety of patterns. Some machines are computerized with patterns, but I prefer to hand drive designs, as I like that form of creativity. In my career as a longarm quilter, I have completed over 800 beautiful customer quilts, each with its own special story. It is amazing to see the variety and creativity in fabric color and pattern choices. I continue to quilt for my established customers, but I am now focused on busting my own fabric stash and completing my own quilt projects. Plus, my kids don’t want to get stuck with bales of cotton quilting fabric. Go figure.

One of my quilt-making friends has already included in her pre-funeral arrangements that her collection of completed quilts are to be handed out to all who attend her service, as her final “restin-peace” offering. I think she’s on to something here.

So now you are armed with all the conversation ammunition you need if and when the topic of longarm quilting comes up!

Keeping It in Stitches and you in the know.