Create A Business Plan to Start Your Longarm Quilting Full Time

Create A Business Plan

I started my Longarm Quilting business waaayyy back in 2003 when we moved to Houston. I worked from home (WFH)  at corporate job for about six months after moving, knowing my job was ending. I did create a Business Plan.  Looking back, I was way off course in what I thought would work and what actually worked in getting my quilting business underway.  But, that is OK.  I had a plan, and it made hubby happy to spend the upfront cash. Those first years, I updated the information once or twice a year and MODIFIED my plan as my business progressed.

Why Do You Need A Business Plan?

Creating a business plan for your longarm machine quilting business should provide you with a three-to-five year road map that outlines how you plan to achieve your goals – whether that is to quilt only one quilt a month for friends and family for a small fee, or to earn a living quilting for others.

How To Use a Hat in a Memory or T-Shirt Quilt

Using Hats in a T Shirt Quilt 

Wow, you have a favorite hat from your favorite baseball team, favorite hobby or pastime. Hubby has a favorite hat that has an obscure image from  the insert of a 45 record adapter that you use to play on a record player. Whatever your hat represents, you probably want to include it in your t-shirt quilt.  The image represents YOU!

We have had mixed opinions over the years on whether we can include the logos from a hat in a t-shirt quilt.

What is the Best Filling Material For Pincushions?

Pincushion Passion!

I LOVE pincushions!  I collect vintage pincushions and just adore anyone who gifts a pincushion to me!

I lived outside of  the Houston area for about 20 years where I was a member of an awesome 'stitch' group that met on a regular basis.  Not referring to the monthly Quilt Guild meetings, but a sub-group of the guild that met on a more personal basis.  We usually met on a rotating basis in member homes.  The best part of this was that we exchanged 'homemade' gifts at Christmas time.  A good number of these gifts were some pincushion variation.  Please note that I STILL have (and treasure) all of these pincushions.

Storing Woolen Items

RAW Uncleaned Yarn

Many, many years ago (2010), my daughter had a destination wedding in Hautulco, Mexico, The sister-in-laws (SIL) all went shopping in the quaint little town.  On the town square there was a great little shop with hand dyed and hand spun wool.  They were busy weaving rugs with this yarn.   SIL's and I wandered into this great shop.  They even turned the lights on in the open air shop when we came in to browse!.  Laurie (experienced knitter) and I (beginner knitter) Donna (not a knitter at all) went to the back of the shop where we discovered skeins and skeins of hand dyed wool hanging from the rafters.   We were thrilled and bought a 'bunch' of yarn and brought them back to the USA. 

So, mine, because I am more of a quilter than a knitter, was stored this wonderful yarn in a plastic bag under a counter in my quilting shop.....  Soon, forgotten, and I proceeded with my quilty business and life in Houston, TX.  

My Favorite Quilting Notion

 Favorite Quilting Notions

Wow, had a FUN guild meeting today (June 2024)  at  Lake County Quilters Guild in Florida. The subject was "Bring Your Favorite Notion".  It was very interesting and entertaining meeting.   

NOTE: Be SURE to remind members to just bring ONE favorite notion, or the meeting might get out of control!  (What???  One gal brought 15 items!!!  Folks were not happy and it drug out the meeting a bit. Just saying.). Otherwise, the meeting was well received and very interesting.

Here We Go

BINDING: Gallon milk jug for binding - OK, I didn't get a picture of this, but the gal cut a large (approx 4") hole in the side of the gallon sized milk/water/tea jug.  As she ironed binding, she drops the pressed binding into the side hole in to the jug.  When applying binding, the fabric is fed through the pour spout.  Looked like a great way to corral lots of binding.

NOTE: We have created a couple of these binding jugs  and my quilting buddy is LOVING this.  You can see the prepared binding in the jug.  She says it comes out the top, and she hasn't run over the binding with her chair or gotten tangled in it.  This was a winner! 
2nd Note: We were doing marathon binding, and didn't have anyplace to put the 'next' binding!  Need more jugs!!!