A Longarm Quilting Glossary
Sometimes the quilting lingo can get a little overwhelming for those who aren't immersed in it everyday. So to make life a little easier I have compiled this quick reference gloassary of common quilting terms. If you don't find the definition you are looking for here just let me know and I will be happy to answer your question and add it here for future reference.
Custom quilting: Anything that isn’t edge to edge, allover, pantograph, etc. One common request that counts as customer quilting is “Just do one thing in the body and something different in the borders.” Ruler work, multiple quilt features in sashings, corner stones, borders, blocks, and multiple thread colors also qualify as custom quilting.
e2e, b2b, edge to edge, allover, pantograph: These are terms that refer to a quilting pattern that has no regard for the piecing of your top; the quilting design is continuous from one edge of the quilt to the othere. On the hand-guided machine, pantographs (pantos for short) are only available in one height size. On the Statler Stitcher, I can scale the pattern for density based on the number of repeats and rows I program the pattern to do in the size of your quilt.
Free-motion quilting: I just let my brain tell my hands where and what to quilt without regard to the piecing of the quilt top. I’ve been told I make it look easy, but years of practice have made that possible.
Gang loading: You have multiple smaller pieces that can be put on one load of backing fabric. This is wonderful if you’re doing placemats and a co-ordinating table runner, matching pillow shams for your quilt top, multiple baby quilts, etc. I will just add the square inches together and charge you accordingly rather than having multiple minimum charges. Please call in advance (of cutting the backings for each item) for instructions on how to do this money-saving technique. Click here to see an example of gang loading.
Meandering & Stippling: Meandering is created b ya freehand motion and often looks like puzzle pieces. Stippling, though similiar in its freehand roots, is very dense and intense and should not be confused with meandering.
Ruler work: This requires adding an attachment to the machine that allows me to firmly control the machine as I guide it along the edge of an acrylic template or ruler. This creates very exact designs and lines for a more traditionally quilted look.
Stay stitching: This is a stitch 1/8” all around the edge of your quilt top to stabilize it and minimize ruffling of the outer edge. This stitching technique is especially helpful on quilts with bias edges.
Turn around time: The amount of time it takes for me to quilt and return your project back to you. If you have a top that just needs and an e2e, I can sometimes turn it around in less than a month because I can go faster on the Statler than I can on the hand-guided machine.