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Longarm Guide
Pricing, turnaround, insurance, batting — what's worth confirming before you ship your quilt to anyone.
Experience isn't everything, but a quilter who's finished thousands of tops has seen more of what can go wrong (and how to avoid it) than someone a few months in.
This varies enormously — some quilters finish in a week, others quote 2-3 months during busy seasons (fall and pre-holiday are typically the slowest). Get a real estimate, not just "pretty quick."
Per-square-inch is most common, but minimums, rush fees, and pattern-tier pricing all vary. Ask for a full quote in writing before you ship anything.
Most longarmers stock common batting types and will quilt with yours if you have a strong preference — confirm which applies and whether batting is priced separately.
Some quilters have a large thread stock and let you pick a color family; others use one or two standard colors. If color matters to you, ask before you ship.
A professional operation should carry insurance on work in progress. Ask directly what their policy is if a top is damaged or lost — before you need the answer, not after.
Photos of finished quilts (their own, not stock images) tell you more about a quilter's actual style and quality than any price list.
Confirmed early — some businesses are strictly local, some are mail-in only, and many do both. No point falling in love with a quilter who can't actually take your quilt.
Covers you if measurements were off, the top wasn't square, or your plans change after shipping — good to know upfront rather than mid-project.
At minimum: their experience level, current turnaround time, pricing structure, whether they supply batting, thread color options, insurance/damage policy, and whether they accept mail-in tops. Asking for photos of finished work is one of the best ways to judge quality and style before committing.
Look at photos of quilts they've actually finished (not stock photography), ask how long they've been quilting professionally, and check reviews or guild/directory listings if available. A quilter who answers pricing and turnaround questions clearly and specifically is generally a good sign.
Some longarm quilters ask for a deposit on custom work, especially for large or time-intensive projects — it's common but not universal. Ask about their specific payment terms (deposit, due on completion, etc.) before shipping your quilt.