Longarm FAQ
Longarm Quilting Services
Let me make life easier with professional longarm quilting. You can stop basting.
Professional longarm quilting services in Clifton Park, NY, serving the Capital Region and accepting mail-in quilts from customers nationwide. Bring me your finished top, your backing, and your batting (or use mine), and within a few weeks you’ll have a fully quilted top ready to bind, gift, send to a show, or keep for yourself.
Ready to Get Started?
I’d love to help you finish your quilt. Whether you’re local to Clifton Park, somewhere else in the Capital Region, or anywhere in the country with a quilt to mail in, the process starts the same way:
Call or text: 518-222-6363
or
Email: stitchedbyspencer@gmail.com
Booking & Turnaround
How do I schedule my quilt? The easiest way is to call or text 518-222-6363. I keep flexible hours and can work around your schedule for both drop-off and pickup right off exit 9 in Clifton Park. You can also reach me at stitchedbyspencer@gmail.com.
What’s your turnaround time? Standard edge-to-edge pantograph projects take 3 to 4 weeks from drop-off. Custom quilting starts with a consultation, and we’ll set your turnaround during that conversation based on the design and complexity.
Do you have busy seasons I should know about? Yes. The months leading into Christmas and spring graduation get busier and queues run longer. If you have a deadline, tell me at intake and I’ll do my best to work with it.
Do you accept rush orders? On a case-by-case basis. If you have a tight deadline, call or text me and we’ll see what’s possible. Working in a rush job typically means a longer day so the customers already in line don’t get bumped, so there may be a rush fee depending on the timeline. Reach out and we’ll talk it through.
Do you accept mail-in quilts? Absolutely. I accept mailed quilts from anywhere in the country. Customers cover shipping in both directions, and we’ll coordinate intake by phone, text, or email before you ship. See the Mailing Your Quilt section below for packing instructions.
Pricing
How is pricing calculated? By the square inch. Multiply the length and width of your quilt top, then multiply that total by the rate for your selected design.
Example: A 40″ x 60″ quilt top with a light pantograph 40″ x 60″ = 2,400 square inches 2,400 x $0.025 = $60.00 (plus applicable sales tax)
What are your rates?
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Light pantograph | $0.025 / sq. in. |
| Medium density pantograph | $0.03 / sq. in. |
| Heavy density pantograph | $0.035 / sq. in. |
| Light Custom (blocks and borders) | $0.06 / sq. in. |
| Full Custom design work | Starts at $0.08 / sq. in., priced at consultation |
Is there a minimum fee? $35 minimum for small projects.
What other costs might I see?
- Hobbs 80/20 batting, can be purchased from me for $9 per yard (price subject to change with supplier cost) but bring any batting you prefer!
- Binding services, available, pricing on consultation
- Customer-requested pantograph designs, cost split with customer (see Services)
When do I pay, and what do you accept? Payment is due at pickup (or before return shipment for mail-in orders). I accept cash, check, PayPal, and Venmo. Applicable sales tax is added at checkout.
Services
What types of quilting do you offer?
- Edge-to-edge pantographs in light, medium, and heavy density
- Custom quilting, both hand-guided and computerized
- Ruler work integrated into custom designs as needed
- Double batting for show-quality loft or fluffier finished quilts
- Binding services (pricing on consultation)
- Backing piecing when you don’t have it ready to load on the frame
Examples of finished work, including custom pieces, live on my Gallery page.
What’s the largest quilt you can handle?
The short side of your quilt must be under 110 inches. If the longer side is significantly larger than the short side, we may need to discuss non-directional pantograph options based on how you plan to orient the finished quilt. This is easy to talk through at intake.
Do you take T-shirt quilts, memory quilts, or vintage tops?
Yes, all three. These projects require an in-person intake meeting so we can assess the condition of the materials and align on what’s realistic for the finished piece. I’ll walk you through anything that needs to be repaired before loading and flag any spots where the condition of the top may cause puffiness or pleats.
Can you double-batt my quilt?
Yes. Double batting is a great option if you want your quilting to really pop on a show quilt, or if you simply prefer a fluffier, cozier finished quilt. We’ll discuss batting choice at intake.
Can I bring you a pantograph design I found that you don’t already own?
Yes, with one condition. If you find a digital pantograph design you love from a reputable site, I’m happy to split the cost with you and add it to my library. Send me the link before purchasing so I can confirm the source.
Do you take charity quilts?
I currently quilt for several charities in the Capital Region through the three guilds I’m a member of, and I’m at capacity for charity work. I’m not able to take on additional charity projects at this time.
Materials
Do I need to bring my own batting? You’re welcome to. I also stock Hobbs 80/20 batting at $9 per yard if you’d like to use mine. If you want a different fiber or brand, just bring your own.
What about backing fabric? You can supply your own, or I can order backing for you (typically through Linda’s). If your backing isn’t quite big enough, I’ll piece it at $25 per hour as long as you’ve supplied enough fabric to work with.
What kinds of backing fabric can I use? The best results come from quilt shop cotton, which loads cleanly on the frame and quilts predictably. That said, I regularly quilt with other fabrics and am happy to work with them:
- Minky: I quilt with minky frequently. It loads beautifully but does have its own quirks (it can shift more during quilting, and thin battings may pull through).
- Canvas and satin: I’ve quilted both successfully. Results can vary depending on weave and weight.
If you’re thinking about anything other than cotton for the backing, mention it when you reach out and we’ll talk through what to expect.
How does thread selection work? I stock about 30 colors of Superior So Fine and can source a special color if you need one. You can either let me match thread to your top based on color and style, or we can lay out samples at intake and you can choose. Thread and needles are included in your quilting price. No separate thread fee.
Preparing Your Quilt
How should I prepare my quilt top?
- Completely finished and well pressed
- Loose threads trimmed front and back (dark threads can show through light fabric once quilted)
- All seams secure with no open seams or holes
- Borders attached evenly without waves or fullness wherever possible
- Stay-stitch 1/8″ from the edge if you have lots of seams meeting the outer edge
- Top of the quilt marked with a safety pin or note if orientation matters
What about embellishments? Add buttons, beads, and any other surface embellishments after quilting. Anything raised on the surface can damage the machine, the quilt, or both during quilting.
How big do my backing and batting need to be? Both need to be at least 4 inches larger than the top on all sides (so 8 inches total in both length and width). This gives me enough fabric to load the quilt properly onto the frame.
How should I prep my backing?
- Pressed flat and squared up so it loads straight on the frame
- If pieced: 1/2″ seam allowance, pressed open, with all selvages removed (selvages don’t stretch like the rest of the fabric and will pucker if left in the seam)
- Whenever possible, run pieced seams horizontally to reduce bulk on the backing bar
- Match your backing fiber to the dominant fiber of your top. Cotton top, cotton backing. Mixing fibers can cause uneven shrinkage and puckering after washing.
One important note about pieced backings: Once a backing is loaded on the longarm frame, it cannot be shifted mid-quilt. That means a symmetrical or centered backing design (medallion blocks, centered focal panels) will almost certainly end up off-center on the finished quilt. If you want a specific design on the back, the safest approach is to use larger plain panels or an asymmetrical layout. Let’s talk through it at intake if you’re not sure.
Should I baste my quilt before bringing it? No. Please bring your top, backing, and batting as three separate, unbasted pieces. I’ll load them individually on the frame.
What will we talk about at intake? A few things, including:
- The intended use of the quilt (everyday, baby, show, wall hanging, heirloom gift) since this affects density and design choices
- Pantograph or custom design selection (I keep a binder of hundreds of pantograph designs on-site for you to browse)
- Thread color
- Backing, batting, and any add-on services
- Timeline and pickup or return shipping
- Whether you’re comfortable with me sharing photos of the finished quilt on social media to showcase my work
What You Should Know Before Quilting
Can you quilt out wavy borders or fullness in the top? Unfortunately, no. Fullness, waves, raised areas, or excess fabric in a quilt top cannot be quilted out. I will always do my best to ease in extra fabric and keep things flat, but small pleats, tucks, or wrinkles can occur in those areas. The best result comes from a top that’s flat and square before it reaches the frame.
Will my finished quilt be the same size as the top I brought you? No, and this is normal. Quilting draws up the fabric. As the longarm stitches through all three layers, the top, batting, and backing compress and shrink slightly. The denser the quilting, the more pronounced the draw-up. A heavy custom design will pull in more than a light edge-to-edge pantograph. Expect your finished quilt to measure roughly 2 to 5% smaller than the unquilted top in both length and width, with denser work on the higher end of that range. This is one reason backing and batting need to be 4 inches larger than the top on all sides: it gives the layers room to draw up without running short at the edges.
Can you guarantee my pieced backing will line up with the top? No. Longarm machines only allow the backing to be mounted one way, and the layers shift slightly during quilting. I cannot guarantee that a specific design on the backing will end up centered or aligned with the top.
What if my quilt has issues you can’t safely quilt? On rare occasions, I’ll ask for a top to be repaired before loading, or recommend against quilting a piece that won’t hold up under the longarm. We’ll always talk this through together, and any decision is yours to make. I will never proceed without your buy-in.
Will I see my quilt before it ships back? Yes. For mail-in customers, I send photos of the finished quilt by text or email before it goes back in the mail.
Mailing Your Quilt
How do I pack my quilt for shipping?
- Three separate pieces (top, backing, and batting if you’re supplying it), not pre-basted
- Each piece sealed in its own plastic bag inside the shipping box
- Your name and phone number pinned to both the top and the backing
- A note pinned to the top of the quilt top if orientation matters
- Tracking required, insurance strongly recommended since I cannot replace a lost-in-transit quilt
Who pays return shipping? You do. I’ll send tracking once your quilt is on its way back.
Studio
Is the studio pet-free and smoke-free? Yes. Your quilt comes back to you in the same condition you sent it.
Pantograph Selection
I keep a binder of hundreds of pantograph designs on-site for you to browse during your intake meeting. I’m currently stitching out my own samples to share here over the coming months, each photographed with a coin for scale so you can see exactly what each density looks like.
Ready to Get Started?
I’d love to help you finish your quilt. Whether you’re local to Clifton Park, somewhere else in the Capital Region, or anywhere in the country with a quilt to mail in, the process starts the same way:
Call or text: 518-222-6363 Email: stitchedbyspencer@gmail.com Clifton Park, NY 12065
Serving Clifton Park, Saratoga County, the Greater Capital Region, and mail-in customers nationwide.
You can stop basting!
Simply bring me a top, backing and batting and within a few weeks have a fully quilted top ready to bind and gift