The Process
All of our customer quilts go through a four step process that we call CPAQ:
Consult
Plan
Approve
Quilt
Let's take a quick look at what each step involves!
Consult—We will speak by phone, e-mail, in person, often all three! We will discuss your project in detail: what it is, who will be using it, and how it will be used. Yes, you will answer a LOT of questions, but that's to get a better feel for how best to work with your quilt, and allows recommendations before moving to the next steps. We will discuss what kind of treatment (edge to edge, custom, or heirloom) is best suited to your quilt and budget. At this point you will get an approximate time frame for completion. We will discuss thread type and color(s) to be used, batting, any extra services desired (piecing backing, special trimming, etc.).
Plan—We will take your quilt into the studio, enter details into our tracking database, take accurate measurements, and start the process of selecting designs for use. This often happens at the same time as the consultation, as some quilt tops immediately "tell us" how they want to be quilted. Other tops require more detailed planning that may include creating a graphic of the quilt in EQ 6 to use for auditioning quilt designs.
Approve—You may receive a proposed layout of several selected designs that would work well for your quilt top (for edge to edge quilting), or, for custom/heirloom work, a detailed layout of motifs and borders. You get the final say on this. It gives you a clear idea of how your finished quilt will look, and gives us a "road map" that makes it easier to do the actual quilting. Our goal is for you to be involved in the design process. The only surprise we want you to have is a delightful one when you see how the finished quilt looks.
Quilt—Now we're coming into the home stretch. Backing and batting are loaded, and the top is laid onto the frame. The edges of your quilt top will be hand basted to the other layers. Hand basting is a slower process than basting by machine, but it allows very precise control of the edges, and minimizes any stretching of delicate seams. You can either bind right over this edge basting, or remove or trim it when the quilt is returned to you. Some quilts require prebasting using dissolving thread, to provide a stable quilting surface and minimize draw-in (the shrinkage caused by the quilting process). After quilting is done, we will inspect the quilt before removing it from the frame, trim loose threads, and trim the quilt if requested. You will receive the finished quilt in a reusable bright colored hanging bag (either red or teal), which is our way of saying thank you for your business!
Below are the quilting design plan (left) and the PDF that was sent to the client for approval, along with a close up photo of the center of a Bear Paw block.
