SERVICE DEFINITIONS,  PRICING AND ESTIMATES
 

All quilting prices are based on the size of the quilt top in square yards and do not include the cost of the backing and batting materials or binding service. Machine quilting is a wonderful, more durable alternative to hand quilting. Unfortunately, with today's busy lifestyle, many quilts remain unfinished. Like you, I love to quilt. Let me help you make that closet treasure turn into a heirloom by long arm quilting to your style. I take your treasures and treat them like they were my own with tender, loving care and consideration.

To enhance the handmade look that we all cherish in our quilts you should realize the machine we use is hand guided and many of the patterns are done free hand. When you consider this you understand that the end product is not perfect and there will be small variations of the design.


How Much Does a Custom made quilt cost?

There are many variables in arriving at the cost of a custom start to finish quilt including: size, fabric/material, number and size of images (photographs, if any), degree of difficulty in fabrication of the selected quilt, one or two sided piecing, batting, backing, and binding selected. I have made pillows for as little as $20.00 but as a general rule you can expect to pay from $200.00 to $900.00 for a typical quilt depending on the factors listed above. If you supply the material there is no additional cost. If I meet you at the store to pick out material or I make a trip to the store for material for your quilt, there will be $20 trip charge, plus material. I use coupons or discounts as available.

If you have a quilt top and would like an estimate, measure it's length and width (in inches), then email d.rolek@mchsi.com or call 515-222-1463 or 515-238-9916 with these measurements and a description of the quilt pattern(s), size, borders and designs you might like to have quilted. Please be as descriptive as possible and use Quilting Order Form to assemble the information needed to discuss your quilt project.

E-mail or phone estimates are approximate, but I will identify any differences in the final bill from the estimates. I will call you if there will be any difference over $20.00. Estimates are good for 60 days. Minimum quilting charge for an "All Over pattern" is $40.00 and "Custom quilting design" is $70.00.

Mail orders are welcome! Please use Quilt Preparation Tips as a checklist to avoid quilting problems and delays. Mail quilt top in box large enough for sending your finished quilt to: Debbie Rolek, 775 Walnut Ridge Drive, Waukee, IA 50263-9553. I would like to be called or emailed when you ship a quilt and will let you know when it has arrived and when possible completion time is expected. I do not require money up front, but must receive your payment before returning your finished project.. I will notify you the final amount upon completing your quilt and when I will mail your quilt.


Machine Quilting Definitions and pricing:

Basting: Approximately 4" spaced machine quilting stitches to baste the quilt layers together, both horizontal and vertically for hand quilting. Machine Basting is done in a straight lines, in stitches which are easy to remove when you are done hand quilting. This can be done quickly on my machine to prepare your top for hand quilting. I do it in large ½" stitches in a sort of "U" and then an upside down "U" pattern that is about 4" to 6" high and then repeated. Prices for this service are $14.00 sq yard, but with a minimum of $35.00.

Binding yourself: You may do this yourself, and save yourself money. See the tip section or I can do it for you.

Binding-French binding to front: Preparation of binding material is $15.00. Then trimming of excess material, applying the double folded French fold to the front and saving the hand sewing to the back for final finish by you cost $0.11 per linear inch.

Binding a quilt by hand: Binding preparation charge is $15, includes application and trimming of the quilt, then finished hand sewing to the back using a French Fold by Real-Quilts is $0.25 per linear inch.

Binding a Quilt by Machine: Binding is prepared from the material selected and binding applied by completely by machine. It works well for a quilt for heavy use or children and baby's quilts. Drastically reduces time to apply binding, but does not provide the traditional look, but an option. Preparation cost $15.00, trimming and sewing completely by machine $0.16 per linear inch.

Binding-curved: Add an additional $25.00 to the above charges. Not available for Binding by Machine.

Borders: To turn quilt for borders, (for some specific patterns, but not required on all quilts) requires extra work of removing and reapplying to the quilt in the opposite direction to quilt them professionally. This is an additional $15.00.

Crosshatching: Is two sets of parallel diagonal lines crossing one another to create a diagonal grid work, sometimes used around appliqué. See Custom quilting.

Custom quilting: Quilting designed to fit the quilt top itself. Quilting can be stitch in the ditch, motifs to fit block areas, echoing, borders, sashing, cornerstones, circles, feathers, medium to small meanders, fans, crosshatching, and outline stitching. Quilting designs are chosen according to the fabrics, design of the quilt and quilt style to enhance its overall appearance. Quilting may be done free hand or by use of templates. It may be as simple as the center being filled with meandering patterns and the border a different pattern. Or you may choose a very complex pattern with each block treated separately and borders treated differently, yet complimenting. Many of the designs on the market and in antique books are achievable by an experienced professional quilter. $24.00 square yard. (Length x width divided by 1296=sq yards)

Semi Custom: One overall pattern in the center of the quilt and stippling, meandering, freehand work or pattern on the borders. You may choose a freehand large meandering pattern such as floral meandering, heart and loop, simple stars, swirls and curls to name a few allows more open space with the patterns. Priced at $20.00 a square yard.

Echo quilting: 1/4" spaced repeating quilting used around appliqué or pieced work. Echo quilting highlights both piecing and appliqué, see custom quilting. Double echo quilting may have the second echo filled, which adds dimension to the quilting.

Feathers: Heart shaped forms on both sides of a main stem or without a stem. Feathers can be round, full or droopy heart shaped, freeform, or can even be used to fill an area.

Freehand: No specific pattern is used or a combination of patterns. The quilter moves the machine as in drawing textures such as water, wood, or it can be feathers, flower designs, and overall fills. There are many designs to choose from and some are chosen to match the fabrics, style and design of the quilt top by the quilter and quilt maker.

Heirloom Artistic quilting: Heirloom Artistic Quilting is truly a work of art! This may include numerous block motifs, intense crosshatching, faux trapunto, and trapunto ($45.00 square yard) and quilting in all areas of the quilt. Heirloom quilting is like custom quilting - but much more! This technique requires more time, and lots more thread due to the dense custom quilting - thus, the higher cost. But, you won't be disappointed with the results! This service allows you complete freedom as far as the selection and combination of designs. Use designs from my collection, your own, or we will create one specifically for your quilt. It includes quilting that is specific to your creation. Priced at $35.00 square yard. This is not for every quilt but it can make your quilt wonderful.

Meandering: Continuous curving lines, can be small to large, used as overall pattern or in specific areas of the quilt. We can do circles, half circles, and fans to give the quilt a sense of movement and whimsy!

Minimum charge: $40 for all overall and $70 for custom, and $100 for Heirloom.

Motifs: Coordinating design pattern used to fill the quilt block.

Pantograph pattern: Most economical and simplest is an overall continuous repeating lines of patterns in rows over entire quilt. It creating a unified look, and there are many patterns to choose from simple to complex. This type of work is well suited to quilts that will be heavily used (i.e. children's quilts, etc,); or that have busy fabric (or many fabrics) which would hidden more intricate quilting. I have numerous Pantograph designs to choose from, priced at $18.00-$22.00 per square yard.

Rush Service: A rush service charge of 25% may be applied at customer's request for faster service during holiday seasons or per their need.

Quilting Prices: Do not include material, batting, backing, binding, pressing, etc.

Stippling: Is tiny meandering, continuous motion, used around appliqué, areas you wish to have a raised appearance. It is usually around 1/4" spacing between stippling lines. Stippling is a dense pattern of freehand whirls and loops, which accents block patterns and large areas of background fabric.

Stitch in the ditch: Quilting in the seams of the pieced work of a quilt is the most time consuming and most difficult design to achieve perfectly. Stitch in the Ditch is a beautiful choice for star quilts, and other designs where you would rather showcase the design, rather than the choice of quilting. There are many other options to Stitching in the Ditch.

Trapunto: Is raised areas in the quilting design, with additional batting behind these areas. Trapunto is the art of using a high loft batting, stitching around the design to be highlighted with water soluble thread. The top is then removed from the quilting machine and the excess batting is very carefully cut away. The quilt is then remounted with the backing and the batting of choice and the quilting is finished with very small meandering. This makes the design really stand out. Beautiful! The choice of Trapunto quilting will be determined after viewing quilt top. Faux Trapunto is similar, but does not involve trimming extra batting away. Priced at $45.00 per square yard for the whole quilt.

OPTIONAL SUPPLIES:

Batting: You may purchase my batting or provide your own (subject to approval) I keep a small supply on hand as a convenience for my customers. If you would like me to provide the batting, the following are the types and prices for those I carry.

Hobbs 80/20, 90" wide (traditional style-wrinkled look when washed)    $8.50 per yard

Warm and Natural, 90" wide, (firmer finished, used in lots of wall hangings)    $8.50 per yard

Warm and Natural, 90" wide, black    $8.50 per yard

Polyester batting, 90" wide, (lighter, drapes and washes well)    $8.50 per yard

Hobbs - Wool, 108" wide  $16..00

Thermore

Airtex, 16oz.

Trapunto Batting
 

Backing: (*Remember to remove selvage before sewing and a ½" seam is not a problem. The use of sheets or sheeting is discouraged because of poor tension and constant thread breakage. Real-Quilts recommends 100% cotton for your backing fabric. 100% polyester or polyester blends stretch differently result in puckering, tucks, and may "pill or bearding" in the backing. Ideally, the same color of thread for the back and top is the best and reduces the visibility of starts and stops which are most prominent on solid fabric.)

Unbleached or bleached muslin fabric comes 90" wide.
$8.00 per yard

White on white, 108" wide    $14.00 per yard

Per-seam charge for piecing backing material or batting    $10.00 per seam

Material from Local Quilt Stores:

Patterned or solids material, limited colors, 108" wide
$12.99-19.99 per yard

Patterned or solids for backing, binding and top, 45" wide
$4.99-10.99 per yard

Pellon, for t-shirt quilts, stabilization for autographs, photographs and comfort clothing, 24" wide
$2.99-3.99 per yard

Threads:
I have a nice selection of threads. In some cases, your quilt design can be enhanced with more than one thread color. I currently limit two thread color changes for most quilts. This is mainly because the big quilting machine is a very sensitive to certain threads and this may results in a lot of thread tension adjustments. If you would like more than the two colors, there would be a $5 charge per additional colors. If you want the quilting to be more prominent, choose a solid color fabric or a contrasting thread color. If you prefer the quilting to not be prominent choose a busy print fabric and a matching thread color.

This policy has an exemption, with your permission to allow flexibility to add color and types of threads if it will enhance your quilt.

Shipping:
If you are shipping, you will pay the shipping both ways. Please use the Quilt Checklist/Shipping form as a checklist for shipping instruction and notify Debbie Rolek, Real-Quilts, (d.rolek@mchsi.com, 515-222-1463 home or cellular 515-238-9916) when you send your package. Our basic shipping, insurance and handling rate is $15. Please identify the package as "bedding" and do not use the word "Quilt" as a description of the package and address it to Debbie Rolek, (not Real-Quilts). Additional charges will be required for some larger quilts and priority shipping.

Please fill out my Quilting Order Form and enclose one form with each quilt. The payment for the quilt is due upon completion and must be prepaid before shipping.

Preparations, if not done before delivery to me

Repairing seams, unbasting/unpinning, ironing,
$20.00 per hour

Squaring up backing, batting or quilt top
$20.00 each

Piecing batting or backing
$10.00 per seam

Hanging sleeve, prepare and applying by hand
$15.00-20.00

Additional pricing available on pages for T-shirt quilts, photography quilts. and comfort quilts.

PAYMENTS:

Personal or Business check, Money Order or Visa/MasterCard accepted via PayPal.

Final bill must be received before quilt is returned.

Prices are subject to change without notice.

Prices as of September, 2006
 

Please Note: All quilting is hand guided, and some variations may occur.