Quilting for Others – Featuring Susan from Granny Smith’s Quilting!

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Welcome to Day 20 of How to Earn $ From Sewing and Quilting! This week we are talking about Quilting for Others, and today Susan from Granny Smith’s Quilting  is joining us!

Susan and I are blogging friends turned real life friends! We even lived in the same town for a year, which was lots of fun because we got to have sewing days together!

Susan is a fantastic quilter – not only does she do beautiful long arm quilting, but she also designs quilts… and she has a book in the making! I can’t wait till it is done!

But today is all about quilting for others, so on with the questions….

How long have you been sewing and quilting?

Sewing since I was 7 (51 years) & patchworking for 40 as I made my first quilt in 1977.

When did you first decide to quilt for others?

Kinda of when I was made redundant from the bank in 1999.

What kind of machine did you start with and is it the same one you still use? 

My first was a Designer Quilt short arm with a huge weighty oil-bed underneath.  I now have a lovely 22″ Gammill with a Statler computer.

Would you recommend the machine you are using to others?

I’d definitely recommend a Gammill. I didn’t have such a good run owning an APQS.

Where you nervous starting to quilt for others?

Oh yes! I still get so anxious which is why I don’t do much anymore.

What do you like best about quilting for others?

As long as all goes OK, I like to see something finished for someone.

Do you keep track of all the quilts you have finished for yourself and others? 

Yes I do, but not sure where the old book is, that I kept.  Not many per year usually for others, but lots for myself.

Has there ever been a quilt you refused to quilt? 

Once, for an “extremely” fussy lady & another who wanted the most amazing custom quilting which I couldn’t do.

Do you like it when customers say “do what you like” or do you prefer for them to be more specific? 

Either, depending on whether I know them or not.

Some quick fun questions:

Favorite color: 

Pink

Food you can’t resist:

Dark Chocolate

All time favorite movie or tv show:

Calendar Girls.  Maybe we could do one in the nuddy wrapped in quilts (lol).

(Joy ~ Lol, you first Susan!!)

If you could be an animal, what would you be?

Tough, oh, I don’t really know.

What is your favorite quilt block?

Stars!

What advice would you give to quilters who want to start quilting for others?

Do your research, go slowly & practice, practice, practice.

And now for some of her beautiful work! These are quilts she brought to my place one day to show me…

Lovely variety of quilting on this one….

I just love this one….

Close up of one of the blocks and quilting:

 

Thanks so much Susan for sharing your journey and beautiful quilts with us!

I’ll see you all again tomorrow with Quilting for Others – FAQ About Quilting for Others Part 2

PS Please remember I am answering your comments in the comment section below and not via email like I usually do. Sorry for the hassle, but I am hoping this month we can share ideas!

PPS The main page of this series is here along with links to each post for this series.

PPPS You can download the FREE EBOOK of last year’s series, 31 Days of Quilting UFOs HERE!