Long Arm Rental

We appreciate that there are some quilters who want to have 100% of their own work and TLC in their finished quilts. For these we have a long arm rental service. These are the steps to participate in this service.

This class is the beginning long-arm quilting, taught on our Gammill Premier, stitch-regulated long-arm machine.  It must be taken before you can rent the machine, and can vary between 2 hours to 6 hours, depending on your experience level.  Classes are by appointment and will be charged at $20/hr.  You need to bring a sketchbook and a pencil, and you also need to bring your lunch (or lunch money as we have lots of places near by where you can grab and go). For the class, we supply the quilt tops, backs and batting, and ESPRESSO.  However, you are welcome to bring a quilt top to quilt on during or after the class.

In this hands-on class you will learn how to load your quilt and the basics of using the machine, such as bringing up the thread from the bottom, starting and ending. We will cover basic free motion quilting such as all over loops, swirls, loops and stars, etc. We will also cover using an all-over pantograph pattern—how to set it up and how to roll your quilt using the pattern. You will use a laser light, or stylist, on the machine to follow the pantograph pattern. By the end of the class you will be able to quilt an all-over design on your own quilt.  We know from experience that it will take a few rental sessions to learn the system, so you can expect free help during this period from Rainy Day Quilts. 

Once you've taken the basic long-arm class, we invite you to rent a long-arm machine by the hour and get those quilt tops made into quilts!

• The machine rents for $20/hour.  Gentle coaching is free for the first 3 rental sessions, but extended instruction will be charged at $15/hr, 1 hour minimum. 
• Machine rental is by appointment with a 2 hour minimum, in a 4 hour time frame, between 8am and noon, and 1pm and 5pm.  If you rent all day, you have the flexibility of taking up to a 1 hour lunch break without being charged.  The rental begins either when you begin pinning on the back, or addressing the machine.  The rental ends after trimming your quilt or just before you put your coat back on.  However, flexibility rules here!
• Check, cash or PayPal accepted. There is a Cancellation fee of $30.00 within 24 hours of rental.  Any bad checks or chronic cancellations will disqualify you for future renting.
• We know threads and we know what this machine likes.  We use SoFine or Bottom Line in the bobbin, and polyester in the top.  We also have variegated thread for the top which is cotton.  You are welcome to bring your own top thread, but must use RDQ’s bobbin thread. There is no credit if you bring your own top thread.
• We have Pantograph patterns you may use, and we are willing to order others if you find something you would like to quilt.  We also have grooved patterns for an even easier experience with almost foolproof results.
• The table holds a 112” wide quilt.  You have 3 options for pinning on your quilts.  1) Purchase at least one, or two sets of zippers from RDQ, and a box of pins.  The zipper sets are $25 each and the box of pins are $10.00.  2)  If you have an existing zipper system, please feel free to try it before purchasing more. 3) Use our in-house zippers and pin on your backs here.  All in-house zippers cannot be taken out of the studio.
• You are welcome to use the huge cutting table to trim your quilts after quilting, or your backs and batting before quilting, but please bring your own rotary cutter.
• You are not allowed to have anyone accompany you while you are using the machine.
• You will need to bring in your own tops and backs to quilt after you have taken the class.
• A Valet service is also available for $25 and must be scheduled at least a day before your appointment.  This means the quilt top, back and batting needs to be in our studio a day ahead also.  Full Valet means we will attach your quilt back to the zippered leaders, wind the bobbins, and load the quilt back, batting and top for you.   For $10 we will sew your back onto the leaders and load it onto the machine ready for you to apply the batting and top.
• We do sell batting on the roll, and in packages, so you may purchase batting from us, or you may bring in your own.  We also carry an incredible 50 bolt selection of 110” wide goods in prints and solids for backs. 
• If it has been more than six months since you have had a class or rented the machine, you must pay for mentoring.  You will be charged $15 for mentoring the first time back after the class.
• We are flexible here at Rainy Day Quilts, but we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone at anytime.  This is for those who just cannot understand how to handle the machine without damaging it, or who are unwilling to follow the quilting guidelines laid out in this rental program.

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