Quilting for Others – Featuring Judy from News From Jude!

This site contains affiliate links from which we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Welcome to Day 22 of How to Earn $ From Sewing and Quilting! This week we are talking about Quilting for Others, and today Judy from News From Jude is going to share her experience and words of wisdom!

Judy is another friend I met through blogging, and finally met in real life this year when I went to her place for a mystery retreat weekend. It was great fun and I must say that Judy has a gift for hospitality – we all felt welcome and at home!

I think Judy wins the prize for most quilts quilted… as you will see below…

How long have you been sewing and quilting?

I have been sewing for a lifetime, first on my mums treadle and then sewing for myself and children. Patchwork happened after a daughter got married and I had a room for sewing in, and found a lots of fabric remnants and decided to make a quilt with them!! Only I used a piece of brown paper for a template, and a pair of scissors. And put it together and bound it, and no quilting!! Found out a lot since then.

When did you first decide to quilt for others?

It was difficult quilting large quilts on a domestic, and always wished for a longarm. But had no where to put one, until we moved, and then I realised I could close in a carport and make a studio!! After the machine arrived from America, I started quilting for others in 2002.

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

I started with a Gammill Premier that had a quilting area of only 12”. I used this for a few years, and then bought a second computerized machine, also a Gammill, this time an Optimum, and then sold the Premier, and still using the Statler. I still love my machines, great brand.

Would you recommend the machine you are using to others?

Yes I would recommend my machine to others.

Where you nervous starting to quilt for others?

I was hesitant to quilt for others, and practiced for months before a couple of friends gave me their quilts and encouraged me to do it!

What do you like best about quilting for others?

It is like a quilt show everyday, and I have met some lovely people and made great friends. I love it that I can work from home, and work my own hours. I love the difference that I can make to a quilt, and I like to think I give it soul.

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

I keep track of every quilt with a work order number, although mainly what I do for others. I have quilted over 2,500 for others in 15 years. I have probably made more than 150 quilts myself since 1997.

Has there ever been a quilt you refused to quilt? 

There was one a few years ago, that had some “issues” and I phoned the customer and asked her to come and pick it up and fix it, but she said for me to just do it. It was a long way from straight and square, and it almost made me give up quilting for others. Hardly had too many problems since that I could not rectify.

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

Mostly I like to do what I like, although I like to have some guidance on what ideas the customer has, and to know that we are on the same page!

 

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

To always be happy with your work, and not send anything out of your door, that you would not want your name to be on. A bad job gives you a poor reputation real fast.

Thank you Judy for inspiring us today!

Before I show you some pics of Judy’s quilting, I found this blog post from her blog where she shares her business journey… it’s well worth a read!

If you go to her blog you will see heaps and heaps of photos of the beautiful quilting she does. I did pinch these few of one of her latest quilts because I just love it so much…

The pattern is called Antelope Quilts… isn’t the quilting stunning?! A bit closer up here:

And the back… oh my…

I want one!!!

Please do head over to Judy’s as she has been preparing for the local quilt show so there will be lots of quilt pictures on her blog this week!

And that concludes our week on Quilting for Others… The next topic is Designing and Selling Patterns

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!