Sallys' Sewing Circle

General Information on becoming a Certified Longarm Renter

We're excited to offer you an opportunity to be your own quilter with our Longarm Certification classes! The first class is $150, plus tax; and includes a HandiQuiter© manual and all necessary supplies. This is a full-day class from 9:00am - 3:00pm. Due to the hands-on training given, this is a private tutorial: one student to one teacher ONLY. Sorry, no exceptions. After certifying in one of the below, you may take the remaining class at a reduced cost. We offer two longarm classes:
 

1. Free-Motion (hand-guided quilting) – How to work from the front of the machine using free motion, rulers, stencils; and from the back of the machine using a pantograph.

2. ProStitcher Premium© (computerized quilting) - How to use ProStitcher Premium to quilt Edge-to-Edge, individual blocks, or rows from thousands of pre-programmed designs.

 
In both classes, along with quilting, you will learn:
 

• How to turn the machine on and off and how to oil the machine.

• How to calculate and size your backing and batting.

• How to square your quilt top and backing, and how to load your quilt.

• How to thread the machine and use proper thread tension

• How to avoid thread "nests" and how to use tie off stitches

Please NOTE: Once certified you are responsible for providing your own supplies. We give you the best experience possible, by offering you a class discount of 15% off your purchases* the day of your class. (Some exceptions apply. Refer to our newsletter for details.)

Rent Long Arm Quilter

Once certified, rent the HandiQuilter Fusion for $25 per hour (2 hours minimum) or $100 for 6 hours (9:00 am - 3:00 pm or 3:00 pm-9:00 pm ).
Rental fee is due upon reservation.
 
Please NOTE: First-time rental is a full day ($100, plus tax). We recommend that you have a quilt top ready to quilt upon completion of your certification class ' and that you rent within 30 days of certifying.
 
If 90 days has lapsed without renting, we require you to take a 1-hour refresher course for $25 which is in addition to your full day rental, totaling $125, plus tax.

​

Supplies needed for longarm quilting include:

• SIZE M bobbins (package of 5)

• Oiler (to oil machine before, during, and after use)

• Tweezers

• Snips

• Lint Brush (to clean bobbin case and machine)

 
Required supplies are listed in blue. The other supplies listed are highly recommended as they will greatly improve your project's outcome, but they are not required.

Quilt Preparation:
Now that you have completed your certification and are ready to rent, we ask that you please come prepared and have all the supplies needed to quilt. Always bring your owners' manual. We will supply your needles, a cleaning rag (for wiping down the machine during use), and free oil refills.

• Do not baste your quilt before arriving.

• Identify and mark the center (and head, if needed) of your quilt top and backing.

• Make sure your outside borders are flat, and that the quilt top and backing are square. If there is more than one inch difference your quilt is out of square and you will have to make tucks when quilting.

• Check your quilt top for seam breaks. Broken seams can cause tearing during the machine quilting process.

• All buttons, pins & any kind of embellishment MUST be removed before quilting.

• Clip any loose threads on your top's front and back. Do the same on the backing fabric. Loose threads can cause uneven stitching. On lighter fabrics, loose threads on the underside of the quilt top will show through, especially dark threads on a light-colored top.

• Press your quilt top.

• Please remove the selvages before piecing your backing fabric together. Backing seams should be pressed open or to one side.

• Make your quilt back and batting 8 inches longer and wider than the top to allow for a 4 inch margin all around for pinning and clamping.

We are pleased to offer Valet Service to our renters for $35, plus tax (per quilt)

One of our staff members will:

• Load your quilt top, batting and backing to prepare for quilting

• Wind your bobbins, taking into consideration the size of your quilt and the complexity of the selected quilting design

• Oil and thread the machine

• Baste your quilt top to the batting and backing

• Prepare your selected pantograph if applicable (or download your quilting pattern from the cloud).

• Prepare the machine for your arrival

• Assist you in rolling your quilt as the quilting progresses

By noon on the day prior to your rental reservation, bring in your prepared quilt top (with the center and top marked), thread, empty bobbins, batting & prepared backing (8 inches wider and longer than the quilt top).
If you would like us to center and square your quilt top or prepare your batting or backing there is an additional $20 charge.
Some calendar restrictions may apply. Be sure to call ahead to confirm dates and times if using Valet Service.

Don't want to learn the longarm, or don't have time.  We can longarm the quilt for you.  Sally W. is a prize winning quilter and can take your quilt to the next level.

 

Quilting Your Quilt

​

Basic Edge to Edge

$0.018 to $0.02 per square inch

​

Thread Heavy or Complex Edge to Edge

$0.02 to $0.03 per square inch

​

Partial Custom Quilting

Starting at $0.05 per square inch

​

Full Custom Quilting

Starting at $0.10 per square inch

​

So, why should you take your precious top to me to quilt?

There are several advantages:

 

1. If your top is large it is difficult to move around in your sewing machine.

2.  If you don't know how or don't like to do the quilting.

3.  If you prefer to piece the tops and don't want to fuss with the quilting.

4.  If you want me to baste it so you can hand quilt it more easily.

 

ls it cheating to have me do your quilting?

NO! and I'm not just saying that as a longarmer. Some people say that it is cheating if you don't do it all, or that machine quilting isn't what 'they' did in the old days. My answer is they didn't use sewing machines either; they had to hand piece every stitch. They also didn't have rotary cutters or cutting mats or-gasp-specialty fabrics! They only used the tools they had, and we are free to take advantage of the tools we have available to us, too. Anyway, they didn't always do all the quilting themselves, either. .. ever heard of quilting bees? Think of me as your one-woman quilting bee.

If you like to get your quilt done in a reasonable amount of time, not years like in the old days, let me help you out. A good longarmer works to enhance the natural beauty of each quilt, not to make it hers. It is still your quilt!

Sally W.

​​