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FAQs

What is longarm quilting?

Longarm quilting is a method of sewing together a quilt top, batting (the middle layer), and backing fabric using a longarm quilting machine — a large, specialized sewing machine mounted on a long frame.

How does it work?

What services does Momma Llama's Quilting offer?

Is custom quilting available?

What is edge-to-edge?

🧵 1. Prepare Your Quilt Top

Before taking it to a longarm quilter, you (the piecer) finish sewing your quilt top completely — all the blocks, borders, etc. Then:

• Press seams flat.

• Stitches in the blocks and rows are secured (no open seams)

• Trim threads and make sure edges are straight.

• Make sure it lies flat and square (no puckers or waves).

🪡 2. Provide Backing and Batting

Longarm machines quilt three layers together:

1. Quilt top (the pretty part you pieced)

2. Batting (the fluffy middle layer)

3. Backing (the bottom fabric)

Requirements:

• Both the backing and batting must be larger than the quilt top (usually 4–6 inches extra on all sides).

  • Example: if your top is 60” x 80”, make your backing and batting at least 68” x 88”.

• Some quilters offer batting or backing for purchase if you don’t have them.

🖋️ 3. Choose the Quilting Design

This is the fun part! You’ll work with the quilter to choose:

• A quilting pattern (overall design or custom work)

• Thread color

• Quilting density (how close or far apart the stitches are)

If it’s a computerized longarm, you can pick from hundreds of digital patterns. If it’s hand-guided, the quilter can create more free-form designs.

💬 4. Discuss Details and Pricing

Quilters usually charge by the square inch (e.g., $0.02–$0.04 per sq. in.), plus any extras like:

• Thread upgrades

• Binding services

• Trimming or squaring the quilt

• Batting/backing provided

Turnaround time (often 2–8 weeks) and how the quilt will be delivered to you — either in person, drop off point or by mail.

📦 5. The Quilter Loads and Quilts

The longarm quilter:

• Loads your quilt layers onto the longarm frame.

• Smooths and aligns everything carefully.

• Stitches the chosen design across the entire quilt.
  

🎁 6. Pickup or Shipping

You’ll get your quilted project back — now a finished quilt sandwich, ready for you to bind and label.

🧵 1. Edge-to-Edge Means

• “Edge-to-edge” (or all-over quilting) refers to a single continuous design that covers the entire quilt from one edge to the other, top to bottom.

• The same pattern repeats evenly across the quilt surface — it doesn’t change for each block or border.

• Examples of E2E designs include swirls, feathers, loops, paisleys, hearts, stars, meanders, or geometric shapes.

So unlike custom quilting, which is tailored to each block or border, E2E keeps a uniform, cohesive texture everywhere.

💻 2. What “Computerized” Means (We use a Gammill Statler longarm)

• A computerized longarm machine is equipped with a robotic arm and design software.

• The quilter chooses a digital pattern and the computer precisely stitches it using motors that guide the machine head.

• The quilter still does prep work — loading, aligning, choosing thread, setting tension — but the stitching pattern itself is controlled by the computer.

This allows for:
✅ perfectly consistent stitches,
✅ repeatable patterns, and
✅ faster turnaround for large quilts.

🎨 3. Why Edge to Edge is so Popular

Computerized edge-to-edge quilting is:

• Affordable (less labor-intensive than custom quilting)

• Durable and even in texture

• Beautifully finished with professional precision

• Versatile — suits almost any quilt top, from traditional to modern

Most quilters charge by the square inch for E2E designs and offer dozens (sometimes hundreds) of patterns to choose from.

✳️ Example in Plain Terms

Imagine your quilt like a sheet of paper and the design like a wallpaper pattern. The computer “prints” the quilting design evenly across the whole surface — same swirls or feathers repeating from the left edge to the right edge, row after row, until the entire quilt is stitched.

🎨 What Custom Quilting Is

Instead of one repeated design (like in edge-to-edge quilting), custom quilting involves:

• Different stitch patterns in different areas of the quilt (borders, blocks, sashing, background, etc.).

• Designs that enhance the piecing — for example, feathers in borders, echo stitching around appliqué, or detailed motifs in specific blocks.

• Often done free-motion (hand-guided) or computerized with multiple custom patterns placed individually.

Each section of your quilt gets its own unique treatment — like artwork designed to fit your specific quilt top.

🧵 When People Choose Custom Quilting

Custom quilting is great when:

• The quilt has show-level detail or sentimental value.

• You want to highlight certain fabrics or piecing.

• You’re entering a quilt in a competition or show.

• You simply want something extra special and one-of-a-kind.

💰 Cost and Time

Because it’s much more time-consuming and requires more planning, custom quilting usually costs more than edge-to-edge — often 2–5× the price per square inch — and takes longer to complete.
Many longarm quilters will provide quotes after reviewing your quilt or photos.

💡 Examples of Custom Work

• Stitching feathers or motifs in borders

• Echo quilting around appliqué

• Ruler work for crisp geometric lines

• Background fills that make designs “pop”

• Custom block-by-block quilting plans

🧵 1. Edge-to-Edge (E2E) Quilting

• Computerized longarm quilting using one consistent design across the entire quilt.

• Wide selection of digital patterns — swirls, feathers, geometric, modern, or traditional.

• Perfect for everyday quilts, gifts, or charity projects.

🎨 2. Custom Quilting

• Detailed, one-of-a-kind quilting designed to fit each block, border, or motif.

• May include ruler work, echoing, dense background fills, or free-motion artistry.

• Ideal for show quilts, heirlooms, or special commissions.

🪡 3. Batting and Backing

• Hobbs 80/20 batting for an additional fee

• We do not carry wide-back fabrics at this time, all backing is provided by client

✂️ 4. Trimming and Binding Services

• Trimming: For an additional fee we will trim the edges after quilting.

• Binding: We will do machine or hand-binding for an additional fee

  • options — either attach to front only or fully finish.

🧺 5. Quilt Preparation Help

• We provide guidance on pressing, backing size, and choosing thread or pattern.

📦 6. Mail-In Quilting Service

• Clients are responsible for all shipping costs and insurance.

• Many clients simply mail their quilt top, batting, and backing to the quilter.

• Payment in full received before the quilt will be shipped back to client.

❤️ 7. Specialty Services

Momma Llama's Quilting also offer the following for an additional fee:

• Restoration or repair ($40/hour)

• Custom embroidery labels ($20/label)

• Gift certificates on request