Threads
One of the reasons I chose the APQS Millenium machine is the ease with which you can change thread types. While many longarm machine manufacturers advertise you can use any type of thread on their machines, this is not really the case. Not until I tried the Millenium, was I able to use some of the best threads on the market.
Many quilters have been taught that cotton thread is the only thread you should use on a quilt, and while there is nothing wrong with cotton thread, there is absolutely no reason to not use some of the more beautiful poly, blend, or metalic threads also. The old wive's tale of poly thread being too strong for the fibers in cotton fabric, and cutting the cloth over time is simply not true. There are cotton threads with much higher tensile strength than some poly threads. If you don't believe me, just do a break test on some different threads and see. The advantages of poly thread are it's consistency, it's colorfastness, and the fact that it leaves little or no lint. This last point is a great advantage to machine quilters and customers, as the lint, if not cleaned continuously, can cause the machines to operate poorly, change tension erratically and cause thread breakage.
Pricing
I use a wide variety of cotton, poly and metallic threads from the best makers such as Superior, YLI and Signature. My thread pricing is simple. A flat fee for any of my standard cotton or poly threads, including varigated colors, of $5-13.00 based on the size of the quilt and density of the design. This includes up to 3 color changes of the same thread type on custom quilting. Special order threads and metallic are billed at the actual cost of the thread.
Batting
Customers may supply their own batting, but often they find it easier and more economical to have me supply their choice of batting off the roll. After owning a quilt shop for 5 years, I have tried most battings on the market. I have chosen these to offer my quilting customers based on my experience and from years of customer feedback.
Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend, Natural
This batting is by far my most popular. It is a great weight and loft, shows quilting designs beautifully. Because of the poly blend,it is washable and has minimal shrinkage, about 2-3%. $6.75/yd off a 96" wide roll.
Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend, Black
This batting is identical to the natural version above except dyed a deep charcoal black. It is strongly suggested to use black batting with medium to darker colored fabrics, especially darker backings, to prevent show through. $8.00/yd off a 108" wide roll.
Hobbs Polydown
This is a great and very economical batting for utilitarian projects. It offers a little more loft, about 1/4-3/8". It is soft and drapes well, and because it is 100% poly, it is washable and has little or no shrinkage. It is also pure white, so excellent for quilts with white or light backgrounds.$5.25/yd off a 108" roll.
Legacy 100% Cotton, Bleached
Legacy is a new line of batting produced by Pellon (known for their interfacings). Their bleached cotton is white, soft and dense. Similar in loft to Hobbs 80/20 at about 3/16". This product has a ultra fine scrim binder that allows flexibility of quilting, durability and reducing shrinkage somewhat. Expect shrinkage of 2-4%. $8.50/yd off a 96" roll.
Legacy 50/50 Bamboo/Cotton Blend, Natural
This batting is again, similar in loft to their 100% Cotton above, but includes a 50% blend of their Bamboo fibers. Bamboo is an eco-friendly fiber. It has beautiful drape and is softer than cotton. It also breathes better than cotton, making it much more comfortable to sleep under. $9.25/yd off a 96" roll.
Legacy 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend, Natural
This batting is the same blend as the Hobbs 80/20 above, but it is slightly lower loft, is a little softer and has a little nicer drape. The feel is similar to Quilter's Dream 100% Cotton, but at a lower price. It is an excellent choice for flannel, or flannel-backed quilts. $6.75/yd off a 96" roll.
Quilter's Dream Cotton, Select Weight, Natural
The select weight is medium-light, slightly lighter weight than Hobbs 80/20. Perfect for flannel quilts, or quilts with flannel or fleece backings where a lighter batting is preferred . Moderate shrinkage, up to 5%, will give quilts a bit of an antique look after a few washings. It is incredibly uniform, clean, soft, durable and drapes beautifully. Their natural color is almost white, making it useable on just about any color background. $8.50/yd off a 93" wide roll.
Quilter's Dream Wool
This has to be the most incredible all around batting. It is super washed then carded, crosslapped then uniformly thermal bonded. It is warm but lightweight, has moderate loft, about 1/4", and beautiful drape. QD Wool breathes better than any other fiber making it the perfect quilt batting for bedding. Finished quilt can be dry cleaned or gently machine washed and dried. With proper care, shrinkage will be less than 1/2 of 1%. Highly recommended. $13.50/yd off a 93" wide roll.
For those customers with King quilts or quilts wider than about 90", I do have packaged King size batts (120" x 120") in Hobbs 80/20 blend and QD Wool.
One of the reasons I chose the APQS Millenium machine is the ease with which you can change thread types. While many longarm machine manufacturers advertise you can use any type of thread on their machines, this is not really the case. Not until I tried the Millenium, was I able to use some of the best threads on the market.
Many quilters have been taught that cotton thread is the only thread you should use on a quilt, and while there is nothing wrong with cotton thread, there is absolutely no reason to not use some of the more beautiful poly, blend, or metalic threads also. The old wive's tale of poly thread being too strong for the fibers in cotton fabric, and cutting the cloth over time is simply not true. There are cotton threads with much higher tensile strength than some poly threads. If you don't believe me, just do a break test on some different threads and see. The advantages of poly thread are it's consistency, it's colorfastness, and the fact that it leaves little or no lint. This last point is a great advantage to machine quilters and customers, as the lint, if not cleaned continuously, can cause the machines to operate poorly, change tension erratically and cause thread breakage.
Pricing
I use a wide variety of cotton, poly and metallic threads from the best makers such as Superior, YLI and Signature. My thread pricing is simple. A flat fee for any of my standard cotton or poly threads, including varigated colors, of $5-13.00 based on the size of the quilt and density of the design. This includes up to 3 color changes of the same thread type on custom quilting. Special order threads and metallic are billed at the actual cost of the thread.
Batting
Customers may supply their own batting, but often they find it easier and more economical to have me supply their choice of batting off the roll. After owning a quilt shop for 5 years, I have tried most battings on the market. I have chosen these to offer my quilting customers based on my experience and from years of customer feedback.
Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend, Natural
This batting is by far my most popular. It is a great weight and loft, shows quilting designs beautifully. Because of the poly blend,it is washable and has minimal shrinkage, about 2-3%. $6.75/yd off a 96" wide roll.
Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend, Black
This batting is identical to the natural version above except dyed a deep charcoal black. It is strongly suggested to use black batting with medium to darker colored fabrics, especially darker backings, to prevent show through. $8.00/yd off a 108" wide roll.
Hobbs Polydown
This is a great and very economical batting for utilitarian projects. It offers a little more loft, about 1/4-3/8". It is soft and drapes well, and because it is 100% poly, it is washable and has little or no shrinkage. It is also pure white, so excellent for quilts with white or light backgrounds.$5.25/yd off a 108" roll.
Legacy 100% Cotton, Bleached
Legacy is a new line of batting produced by Pellon (known for their interfacings). Their bleached cotton is white, soft and dense. Similar in loft to Hobbs 80/20 at about 3/16". This product has a ultra fine scrim binder that allows flexibility of quilting, durability and reducing shrinkage somewhat. Expect shrinkage of 2-4%. $8.50/yd off a 96" roll.
Legacy 50/50 Bamboo/Cotton Blend, Natural
This batting is again, similar in loft to their 100% Cotton above, but includes a 50% blend of their Bamboo fibers. Bamboo is an eco-friendly fiber. It has beautiful drape and is softer than cotton. It also breathes better than cotton, making it much more comfortable to sleep under. $9.25/yd off a 96" roll.
Legacy 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend, Natural
This batting is the same blend as the Hobbs 80/20 above, but it is slightly lower loft, is a little softer and has a little nicer drape. The feel is similar to Quilter's Dream 100% Cotton, but at a lower price. It is an excellent choice for flannel, or flannel-backed quilts. $6.75/yd off a 96" roll.
Quilter's Dream Cotton, Select Weight, Natural
The select weight is medium-light, slightly lighter weight than Hobbs 80/20. Perfect for flannel quilts, or quilts with flannel or fleece backings where a lighter batting is preferred . Moderate shrinkage, up to 5%, will give quilts a bit of an antique look after a few washings. It is incredibly uniform, clean, soft, durable and drapes beautifully. Their natural color is almost white, making it useable on just about any color background. $8.50/yd off a 93" wide roll.
Quilter's Dream Wool
This has to be the most incredible all around batting. It is super washed then carded, crosslapped then uniformly thermal bonded. It is warm but lightweight, has moderate loft, about 1/4", and beautiful drape. QD Wool breathes better than any other fiber making it the perfect quilt batting for bedding. Finished quilt can be dry cleaned or gently machine washed and dried. With proper care, shrinkage will be less than 1/2 of 1%. Highly recommended. $13.50/yd off a 93" wide roll.
For those customers with King quilts or quilts wider than about 90", I do have packaged King size batts (120" x 120") in Hobbs 80/20 blend and QD Wool.
Copyright 2008 Wind River Quilting
