Become a Longarm Quilter

have what it takes to take the helm of a 14-foot machine?

WHAT IS LONGARM QUILTING

Imagine your sewing machine with a quilting space extended by 19 inches. Then imagine that the fabric is loaded and stays still while you move the machine instead of the fabric. Imagine how much easier that would be for stitching anything besides a straight seam. That’s the beauty of the longarm quilting machine. By spreading the quilt onto rollers across the 10-14 foot surface and allowing the machine to move freely over the quilt, you can achieve the intricate designs and patterns of hand stitched heirloom quilting in a fraction of the time and with nearly perfect stitches. It transforms quilting from a tedious and laborious task into something fun and enjoyable, and something that you can make a living at as well

What It’s Really Like

a glimpse in the life of a longarmer

Thinking of getting into longarm quilting professionally? I’d love to answer any questions that you have. I also have a blog for both newbies and long-time quilters that tackles the nitty gritty details behind the scenes. However, here’s what it’s really like as a full-time longarm quilter in a nutshell:

80% QUILTING

10% NETWORKING

5% DESIGN

5% PAPERWORK

I spend at least 80% of my working time actually designing, loading, quilting, binding, etc. In other words, the large majority of my time is spent in hands-on money making work.

For me, the best way to clients is through networking.  I know my local quilters through quilting groups and quilt meet-ups.  Quilters tend to attract quilters and these ladies will spread the word about who they use for finishing their quilts.  In the past, I’ve worked part time at a local quilting shop.  Just dropping in at local quilt shops and making sure they have a stack of your business cards and chatting with the ladies working there to remind them of who they are.  Quilt shops are the perfect place to spread the word about your business. 

A significant amount of time goes into researching and visualizing the best design to be stitched onto quilt to compliment the beauty of the piecework.

This chunk includes invoicing, finances, photographing quilts, etc.

SO, AM I LIVING THE DREAM?

For me, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I work the hour s I want to work, I meet amazing ladies who all have quilting in common, I get to be a little bit left-brained and a little bit right-brained, and I get to make an income doing it.

If you have any other questions about the day-to-day life of a longarm quilter, don’t hesitate to reach out!

WHY APQS?

There are a variety of longarm quilting machines on the market, but I truly believe that APQS is the best. When I was first interested in launching kd did quilting, I didn’t take it lightly. This is a serious investment and I did the research into every machine available and always returned to APQS for several reasons.

THEY LEAD THE INDUSTRY WITH THE STITCH REGULATOR.

This was a make it or break it for me. What’s the point of purchasing a state-of-the-art machine if your stitches end up looking like they were done by hand? I want to be able to move fast when I’m doing a simple patter n and slow when I’m working on a intricate design and know that the stitches will always remain even.

THEY’VE BEEN IN THE GAME FOR 30 YEARS

If there are other long arm quilters in your market, what will draw customer s to you? Will you be the most affordable? The best at custom designs? The fastest? If you do decide to focus on one area, make sure that you are indeed the best.

THEY ARE EASY TO USE

They pride themselves making machines for “quilters, not mechanics.” When I’m using the machine, it feels lightweight and moves smoothly and easily and it is comfortable in my hands meaning that I can quilt for hours at a time and the machine keeps up easily.

ARE YOU READY?

A longarm quilting machine is a serious investment. They are expensive, they take up a serious amount of space and they will eat up your time. Make sure that you are prepared for what to expect when your new machine arrives.

DO YOU HAVE A CLIENT BASE?

Do you have a network of quilters actively looking for a longarm quilter? If not, take some time to join local quilting groups and attend meet-ups. Hang out at local quilt shops and get to know the employees. Find out if quilters are happy with the longar m quilter that they have, and if so, decide what you can offer that’s unique.

WHAT NICHE WILL YOU OWN IN THE MARKET?

If there are other long ar m quilters in your market, what will draw customer s to you? Will you be the most affordable? The best at custom designs? The fastest? If you do decide to focus on one area, make sure that you are indeed the best.

HAVE YOU TRIED OUT THE MACHINE?

You can read all the reviews you want, but you really need to try out the machine, and preferably a variety of machines, to really know what you’re looking for. Please contact me if you’d like to come see my studio and try my APQS Millie.

DO YOU SPACE FOR A LONGARM QUILTING MACHINE?

Measure the space where you plan to put your machine and then measure it twice. I suggest that you have at least 2 feet of space on either end and 8 feet of space in width for a comfortable working space.

AM I PREPARED TO LEARN A NEW MACHINE?

While the APQS machines are very intuitive and easy to learn, it still takes some time to master the craft and get to know your machine intimately. I highly suggest taking classes before even purchasing the machine so you can hit the ground running, and don’t stop there. Continue to learn in a classroom setting or even from your peer s at workshops and by connecting with longarm communities.

READY TO CHAT?

Whether you have more questions or you are ready to take your quilting to the next level, I’d love to talk to you about next steps for purchasing a longar m quilting machine.