Open Tuesday-Friday: 10-5:30 [Lunch 12-1] - Other By Appointment
Longarming #24 - What Size Is A Quilt? - Part 2
Greetings!
Introduction
This is one of the newsletters in a series of almost thirty on "Getting The Most Out Of Your Longarming Dollar." That was the title of one of Ruth's talks at Shipshewana's Schoolhouse training sessions during their Quiltfest.
 
The purposes of those talks and these newsletters are to:
 
  • Allow you to get the best longarm quilting results;
 
  • Have you end up with a work of art of which you are proud;
 
  • Anticipate the needs of your longarmer because that impacts the cost; and,
 
  • Make the longarming process easier on your longarmer so that they may focus on the quality of their craftsmanship.
 
Prior emails in this series can be found on our web-site: ForeverInStitches.com on the tab newsletters.
What Size Is The Quilt? - Part 2!

I find it interesting when quilters call or email requesting the price for longarming a quilt. Upon further questioning it often turns out that the quilter has no idea what size their quilt is.

They usually depend upon the quilt size as printed on the pattern, but this is usually wrong. There are two major reasons for that lack of information. They will be discussed in this and a previous email.

What Size Is The Bed

We often get calls asking us to price the longarming for a quilt. When we ask for the dimensions of the quilt, the answer is often "A queen." When asked for the measurements the reply is usually "Oh, a typical queen."

I don't know about you, but I still have the same amount of information as when I started: almost nothing. So, Ruth created this partial grid for the Employee Handbook.
It was a great table, shown here, for supplying a customer with a generalized, non-specific answer for planning and estimating.

However, it did not mesh with the actual quilt when it was brought in. The reason is simple:seldom is a "typical quilt" made. Usually the quilt that is made from a pattern, kit, or from scrap.
So What?

When one makes a bed quilt, there are three variables to keep in mind.

  • The Bed Measurements
  • Positional Use Of The Quilt
  • The amount of money you are willing to invest

Bed Measurement

It would appear that the bed measurement could be totally of partially met by the table, above. As we proceed to the second item, the positional use, things get a little more interesting.

Using the high tech, AutoCad, I created bed illustration, so that we can continue with our bed size analysis. This simple bed has one of those huge pillow mattresses that is far larger than a normal mattress. So, some how you need to get the bed measurements.

The table above will give you the size in length and width, but it lacks height. One way to obtain the height is to measure it. When it comes to giving it as a gift and you need to be sly, then try standing next to their bed and noting how high on you leg is measures.

Positional Use

The question now becomes whether the quilt will cover the mattress to the box springs/dust ruffle or to the bottom of the box springs, or all the way to the floor, or some other height?

The next measurement is for the pillow.

  • Will the quilt go up to the pillows?
  • Will it go under the pillows?
  • Will it go over the pillows?
  • Will it go over the pillows and be tucked under the front of the pillows? [My personal favorite.]

With the first three options, you may want coordinating decorative pillow shams. A good pattern for those is RGR141 Sham-A-Lot which has four different sham styles.

Cost:

The answer to the above two questions must match with the investment made in the fabric and longarming.

The Take Away

As I mentioned in the previous email, before you ask for a quote, measure!.
We hope that this has been informative and helpful!

May The Lord Richly Bless You!
Rick & Ruth Grihalva
At Forever In Stitches our goal is to further the art of quilting and longarming.
 
We thank you for your interest in our newsletters. We try to keep our newsletters informative, instructive, and enlightening, in addition to informing you of specials and temporary closures.  

Please join our private mailing list! Remember to forward applicable newsletters to friends who may benefit from the information contained in them!
 
Please note that a history of our newsletters, since mid-2016, can be found on our web-site: ForeverInStitches.com.
Forever In Stitches, LLC
Perfect Corner Ruler
Raggedy Ruth Designs