How to Find Someone to Complete Your Quilt

You've started an ambitious quilting project, collected the best materials and made a valiant start, but you no longer have the time to finish or the skill to refine it to the level you would like. Rather than let it languish in a corner, find someone to complete and put the finishing touches on your quilt.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Ask someone you know and whose work you've seen and admire. This person might be just the one who will take on the project of completing your quilt.

2. Look for someone local if you don't know anyone personally who's a quilter. Find quilters under "Quilting" or "Quilts" in your yellow pages. Ask at your fabric store; at your community college or adult education center; and at arts and crafts shows and specialty shops that sell handmade articles.

3. Make an appointment with a quilter to see some samples of her work. Take your partially completed quilt and materials with you.

4. Discuss with the quilter how you would like your quilt to be finished. Ask the quilt maker what she will do, how she'll do it, what other materials she'll use, how long it will take and how much it will cost.

5. Emphasize that she can call you if she has any questions at all. This is your quilt, and you don't want her guessing.

6. Ask if you may call first, then drop by to see how the quilt is coming along. This is one of the advantages of taking your quilt to someone locally.

7. Leave a deposit with the quilter. It's always a good idea, too, to write an informal agreement that you both sign to avoid misunderstandings.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are unsuccessful in locating a local quilter, look for a professional quilter on the Internet (see Related Sites). Be sure to discuss shipping and insuring your quilt.
• You can use these steps to find someone to finish other embroidery or sewing projects you've begun and cannot seem to complete.