To make things easier I charge by the square inch. This price includes loading the quilt, actual quilting time and quality, imported American quilting thread but it does rely on you doing a certain amount of preparation work. You can calculate the cost of quilting by measuring your quilt’s length and width in inches and following this formula:
Length X Width X Rate = Cost.
Example: 100 X 80 X R0.13 = R1040
I have 3 different levels of quilting available in order to suit your budget and quilting requirements:
- Allover patterns done with IntelliQuilter computerised system. R0.13 per square inch
- Simple, hand guided custom quilting at R0.30 per square inch. (Some stitch in the ditch, central design and a different border pattern)
- Complex, hand guided custom quilting at R0.40 per Square inch. (Stitch in the ditch, complex patterns and fills with multiple borders)
I have polyester, 100% imported wool and an 80:20 cotton blend batting available should you wish to buy from me. Please ask for the latest price.
- Joining backing fabric: R100 per seam. I would much rather be quilting than joining fabric so I highly recommend you join backing fabric yourself.
- Squaring up backing fabric: R50 – R100 depending on the size of the backing fabric.
- Pressing quilt top and backing: R100. Again, I would rather not stand at the ironing board so press your quilt top and backing well and fold it carefully before dropping it off for quilting. Make sure backing fabric seams are pressed open to reduce bulk.
- Binding your quilt: this is a time consuming process so I recommend you do it yourself. However, I can help you if you prefer.
Preparation of straight binding strips, machine stitching onto quilt with mitre corners and hand finished: R3 per running inch
To calculate this cost, measure the width and length of your quilt and use this formula:
Width +width+length+length x R3
i.e. 100 + 100 + 80 + 80 x R3 = R1080
I really want you to love your finished quilt. Please help me to achieve this by considering the following when preparing your quilt for quilting:
- Press your quilt top well. Press the seams in a consistent direction and make sure the top and backing lay flat
- Join backing fabric and batting if necessary
- Square up your backing fabric
- If your quilt top and/or backing fabric has a top and bottom please mark these
- Remove loose threads from the front of your quilt top to prevent them being quilted in
- Remove loose threads from the back of the quilt top, especially dark threads which can show through to the front of the quilt
- Make sure the backing fabric and batting are 4-6 inches bigger than the quilt top on all sides
- Make sure your borders lay flat and are not wavy. Ripples cannot be quilted out and may result in tucks and pleats
- Remember that quilting will draw in your quilt top so it will end up smaller than when you finished piecing it. The more quilting the more it will ‘shrink’.
- Please try to avoid adding embelishments such as buttons and beads until after the quilt is quilted. They are wasy to forget and if the machine foot gets caught on one it could tear your quilt.
