Category Archives: Longarm quilting

Tips for people who are learning how to use longarm quilt machines.

Don’t despair, your personal quilting studio is back!

March 31, 2017Free motion, Longarm quilting, Offers and SalesLouise

Laurena’s Longarm Quilting is opening under new management on April 4, 2017. You’ll still enjoy the same longarm machines and the same cozy studio, but with a new person helping you accomplish your quilting dreams – Louise Rains.

Our new name is Burlington Electric Quilters – a name that should give a large spark to your creativity! We’re still at the same location, same phone number, and website.

As your new manager, I’m so excited to welcome you and to continue with the fun and joy that quilting brings to us all. I have been a longtime renter, and look forward to meeting you all and assisting you with your beautiful projects. Just a bit about myself – I was born in Salt Lake City, UT, and moved to Billerica, MA, in 2002. I have a husband who supports my stash without too much complaint, a little dog named Stormy, and a bicycle or two that I love to ride. My all-time favorite quilting pattern is Popcorn! I have been working in Boston for the past 8 years, but won’t miss that morning commute, especially when the weather is cold and blustery.

For the month of April, all appointments for quilting time receive 15% off our new rates, which are:
* Mini (3 hrs) $75
* Half day (4 hrs) $100
* Full day (max 8 hrs) $175

Also, if we quilt your project, you will receive 15% off on your batting purchase.

We’re also introducing some evening hours:
* Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 9 AM to 6 PM
* Thursday 12 Noon to 8 PM

Studio time is by appointment only, so email or call to schedule your time.

Email: louise@burlingtonelectricquilters.com
Phone: (781) 229-0734

Watch for announcements about our grand opening, classes, klatches, subscriptions, and so much more!

See you soon!
Louise

Thanksgiving Holiday Hours

November 4, 2016Longarm quiltingHoursLouise

We will be closing for the Thanksgiving holiday at 2pm Wednesday November 23rd and reopening at 9am on Tuesday November 29th.

We hope you enjoy the holiday with family and friends. Be sure to have a quilt handy for the nap that inevitability follows that big turkey dinner!

Laurena

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Gammill Vision Longarm for Sale!

October 7, 2016Longarm quilting, Offers and SalesFor sale, Gammill VisionAlanna Nelson

Do you long for your own longarm quilting machine?

I have a used Gammill Vision 1 machine in my fleet for sale!

This sturdy, trusty machine lead demonstrations and quilted many a quilt. You may have seen it in action at a benefit quilt or demo day.

The 18-8 system gives you a color LCD touch screen, choice of stitch regulation or manual mode and an on board bobbin winder. The adjustable laser light is the same as you may have used on the studio’s rental machines.

With an 18″ longarm and a 12″ table, this Vision 1 is perfect for the home free motion quilter. On the tabletop, you can lay out a paper pantograph up to 10″ high and have a comfortable 13″ of free motion space if working from the front of the machine. Swiveled castors on the stand legs lock, but still allow for manageable movement when needed. The Breeze Track System makes for smooth quilting! The leaders have zippered edges.

Are you the lucky quilter who might find this longarm in his/her studio? The price is $7,000.

Its Vision 1 system can be upgraded to a Gammill Vision 2 system. (Gammill charges $1,000 for this type Vision 2 upgrade).

This is a great opportunity to have a sturdy, high quality machine at a great price. Call Laurena at (781) 229- 0734 to make an arrangement to view this Vision 1 machine before it’s gone!

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5 Hints for First Time Longarm Quilters

June 2, 2016Longarm quilting, Perfect Quilttips and tricksAlanna Nelson

Laurena Rental Gammill Longarm Plus Quilting Machine Boston — Does this view make your pulse race?

Our “Learn to Use a Longarm” classes are filling up quickly in 2016. Laurena always says that real quilting begins when you return, ready to use the longarm yourself for the first time after the class.

We’re there to support you on your longarm journey, helping you load the layers and preparing for the first stitch. When the sides are clamped and you’ve tied down your threads, it’s all yours!

Here are 5 Tips for Beginning Longarm Quilters

Be nice to yourself! Feeling unsure is normal; after all, you’re trying something new. Probably you’ve gone to shows, liked photos on social media and read books, so you’ve seen fabulous examples of longarm quilting. You probably don’t see everyone’s first longarm quilting experience. Even if you’ve been machine quilting, remember that you are learning.
Breathe. Are your shoulders hunched, or your jaw tight? Longarm quilting can be really pleasurable. Our hand guided machines all have adjustable table heights for a physically comfortable experience. A couple of long exhales before starting to quilt lets you release any anxiety built up.
Choose a simple quilt top. Practice makes improvement. If the only quilt top you own has 5,000 pieces and you want to use rulers, and fill it with feathers, save it for another day. Make a simpler top, use muslin or a choose a charity quilt top for your beginning longarm quilting.
Choose a simple quilting pattern. Organic, flowing shapes that suggest a motif are great for many quilts. You can practice smooth, consistent movement across the quilt which results in lovely, even stitching.
Give your quilting the horseback view. Did you ever hear the adage that “if you can’t see it from the back of a galloping horse, no one else will?” It’s true!

Rome wasn’t built in a day, so enjoy your time with the longarm quilting machine. It’s about the quilting experience as much as it is the quilt.

Ok, quilters: Do you have any other suggestions or advice for newbie longarm quilters?

Peruse Quilting Patterns on Pinterest

April 6, 2016Longarm quilting, Statler StitcherPinterest, statler stitcher patternsAlanna Nelson

Do you have a love/hate relationship with social media? On one hand, there’s so many cool things to discover. On the other, there’s quilting to be done. We hang out on Facebook, like and occasionally post our own photos on Instagram. Now we’ve figured out a way for Pinterest to work for us!

Click on over to our Pinterest page and you’ll find many of the patterns for the Statler Stitcher organized into quilting style. While we don’t have all of them up, we hope you can begin imagining some of the possibilities for your quilt!

Next step: Creating a board of the hand guided patterns available for renters. Stay tuned!

Now the question: will we be able to resist not clicking and collecting the fabulous images, ideas and patterns for quilters on Pinterest? Do you have a places we shouldn’t miss?

King Size batting – a frugal choice?

October 23, 2015Longarm quilting, Offers and Salesquilt battingAlanna Nelson

It occurred to me this week that not everyone may know one of the little tricks at Laurena’s Longarm….

We sell batting by the inch in widths between 93″ – 122.” The wider batting accommodates king size quilts. Not all of us make king size quilts, but….

Buy quilt batting at Laurena Longarm Quilting Boston — Batting at Laurena’s Longarm Quilting

If you have a 65″ quilt and a 36″ quilt, you can often use the same piece of king size batting, saving a bunch on batting costs. An added plus… there’s a just a little batting leftover when you’re done quilting.

Customers who have us quilt their tops already benefit from our frugal secret. With the new studio block pricing, quilters often arrive with more than one quilt top in tow and this is working out for them, too.

So now that we’ve told you, our frugal little secret is open for the world to hear. King size batting, we salute you!

Your Quilt Drop Off Check List

October 15, 2015Longarm quiltingBoston longarm quilting, quilt by check, Statler StitcherAlanna Nelson

New customers often call with questions about what’s needed to drop off their quilts. We have a quilt drop off list on the web site that covers the basics. Or just continue reading below!

What to do before dropping off “quilt by check?” Your quilt drop off check list:

Don’t baste the quilt layers together! We pin the quilt layers to the frame individually, so you don’t need to climb all over your living room floor, basting a quilt sandwich.
Press your quilt top one last time so it’s ready to be quilted.
Cut away loose threads… those pesky threads always show up, but one last tour with your scissors will snip away a few more.
If piecing your quilt back, remove any selvedge edges from the seam allowance. Press seams open, or if you prefer, to one side. Selvedge edges on top or bottom of backing don’t need to be trimmed.
Your batting and backing should be 6 – 8″ larger than the quilt top. Batting not big enough? Never fear, you can purchase batting by the inch from us. Laurena stocks cotton, blends and wool in white, natural and even black batting.
Try to make the quilt back as square as you can (Did you see my post on squaring a quilt back?).

Once the top is done, sit back and admire your work. Consider just how your want this top quilted.

Who will use it? This helps guide your theme or perhaps even your batting choice!

At your quilt drop off appointment, you will choose the pattern and thread color for your quilt. Let us know the styles that appeal to you to whittle down the pattern choices. Do you want the thread to blend with the back? How densely do you want the quilting? Spend some time looking at other quilts to learn which motifs or patterns attract your attention.

Even if you’ve never visited the studio before, know that we’re excited to turn your top into the best quilt possible. If you have a quilt top and would like to “quilt by check,” call 781 – 229 -0734 to make your quilt drop off appointment.

Meet our Longarm Rental Machines

August 31, 2015Longarm quilting, Offers and SalesBoston longarm quilting, longarm quilting rental, quilt those topsAlanna Nelson

Wish you had a longarm machine? When you rent a Gammill quilting machines at Laurena’s, you grow familiar with the different models AND you get guidance on how to use them. There are currently four Gammill longarms which you can rent at Laurena’s Longarm Quilting.

A Statler Stitcher computer guided machine on a ten foot table
Two hand guided longarms (one on a 10 foot table and another with an 8 foot table)
A sit down free motion Charm

Take our Introduction to Longarm Quilting class (there’s still openings for the October 13th class!) to get an overview of the Statler and hand guided machines. Then reserve a half day or whole day studio block to begin your longarm quilting adventure.

Rent Gamill Longarm Quilting Machine Laurena Boston — Statler Stitcher

The Statler Stitcher is getting more and more popular choice for longarm quilters. The computer guided machine has a ten foot table, which means the short side of your quilt can be up to 115″ long. Laurena has a nice stash of computerized patterns from which you can choose… modern, traditional, textured and thematic motifs. An edge to edge quilting pattern can totally change the impact of your quilt!

Laurena also offers a selection of border and block motifs. This takes a bit more understanding of the Creative Studio software, so not a perfect choice for your first time on the Statler. There’s plenty of learning opportunities for the latest version of the software.

Rent Gamill Statler Stitcher Laurena Longarm Quilting Boston, MA — Gammill Plus Longarm

Our Gammill Plus hand guided machine rolls along a 10′ table, so the short side of your quilt can be up to 115″ long. Thanks to its motorized leg lifts, you can adjust table height to your needs. Whether free motion quilting at the front of the table or following a pantograph at the back, the Plus is a smooth longarm!

Both the Statler and the Plus use 126″ zippers to attach your quilt top and back to the frame.

The Gammill Vision longarm quilting machine has a shorter 8′ table. It’s happy to quilt tops with a short side of up to 88.” Like the Plus, Vision has adjustable table legs for the perfect ergonomic quilting experience. Don’t forget to pin your quilt to the 108″ zipper.

Looking for a free motion experience like a domestic machine but with more room and smooth as silk stitching? Then rent our Gammill Charm. There’s no introductory class needed. This sit down longarm rents for $12/hour with a two hour minimum. We also have a large table for an effortless quilting experience. You simply baste your quilt sandwich before arriving (or use the Charm’s basting stitch to do it when you get here) and you’re ready to quilt.

For all of the longarm rentals, Laurena keeps a wide selection of Superior and Signature thread on hand to find the right choice for your quilt. The thread cost is included your studio block price.

Laurena also offers a rental reward program. After renting for 25 hours, you receive a free half day studio block. A half day block earns you four hours and a full day block earns you seven hours, so it doesn’t take long to rack up rewards!

Now is the time to turn those tops into quilts! If you’ve been interested in learning to longarm quilt, definitely contact Laurena at (781) 229-0734 or by email at info @ burlingtonlongarm dot com to register for the Introduction to Longarm Quilting Class.

Announcing Studio Rental Blocks

August 21, 2015Longarm quilting, Offers and Saleslongarm quilting, studio rental blockAlanna Nelson

As of September 8, Laurena will offer choose half day or whole day studio rental block.

The half day block costs $80 (4 hour maximum). Half day quilt blocks begin between 9 am and 10 am or 1 pm and 2 pm.
The whole day block is $140 (8 hour maximum). Start times are flexible.

How does this impact the frequent renter program? You earn hours at 4 hour and 7 hour increments, receiving a half day block of free quilting when you accrue 25 hours.

Laurena began renting longarm machines in 2008, with one hand guided Gammill machine. Today, LLQ offers two Gammill hand guided long arms and a Statler Stitcher for Boston area quilters to rent.

Laurena’s shown nearly 500 people how to use the longarm machines. She’s seen that quilters need space to practice, learn and experiment on longarm machines. Many of our customers enjoy the extra space to pin, trim and spread out. We enjoy helping you make your quilts the best possible. It’s great to see you turn those tops into beautiful quilts! The studio block program gives you all of this for a set price.

The hourly rental rate will continue on the sit down free motion Charm machine.

Custom Quilters in the Boston area

August 20, 2015Longarm quiltingBoston custom quilters, hand guided quiltingAlanna Nelson

When she began Laurena’s Longarm Quilting in 2007, Laurena imagined that she would use her hand guided Gammill machine to turn customer tops into quilts. It wasn’t long when she realized that new clients might enjoy quilting their own quilts and she began teaching others how to use longarm quilting machines.

That was many quilts ago! Since 2008, nearly 500 people learned how to use longarm quilting machines at Laurena’s. She’s purchased a small fleet of hand guided and computerized quilting machines. As she looks at the future of Laurena’s Longarm Quilting, she realizes that hand guided custom quilting will not be the business focus.

Laurena decided to no longer accept hand guided custom quilting work. She will happily accept edge to edge Statler Stitcher projects (the majority of her “quilt by check” customers use this service). And fortunately, Laurena can recommend other custom quilters in the Boston area.

Margo Coates of Dragonfly Longarm Quilting

Krista Ellis can be contacted at quilterkrista@verizon.net or at (781) 938-6594

Julie Legere of Ironworks Quilting

Carrie Zizza of It’s a Zizza Machine Quilting

Diana Reinhardt Annis is based out of Norton. You can reach her at 508-285-4986 institchesQuilts@aol.com. See some of her work on her Pinterest Page.

If you’ve got a custom job already in Laurena’s queue, don’t worry! She will definitely complete the work she promised. But if you are looking for a hand guided custom quilter, take a look at this list. Or, bring your quilt in and we can suggest some strategies to have the Statler Stitcher quilt that top.