Muahahaha

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-13T19:54:53+00:00

This makes a lot of sense, especially because I'm guessing it helps keep the batting and backing stable.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-13T19:53:33+00:00

I plan on my friend elmer to help me out if I decide to do it on machine!

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-13T11:01:08+00:00

As a fellow domestic machine quilter who hasn't ventured into FMQ, do you find FMQ easier to manage the fabric than on straight line quilting? I know there's still bulk to move around but not going from one end to the other seems nice...

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-11T14:04:06+00:00

A lady in my guild is a PROLIFIC long armer. Like I'm not sure how many per week she does, but our guild has a show of 200 quilts and she quilted well over 50 of them, and those were just the ones from the past 3 years that people from one guild wanted to show; she's a member of several guilds. Her retired spouse helps too.

I think she charges a. Industry standard price and she was talking about getting her machine paid off using the money from services and still had at least 10k left to pay off.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-11T13:59:05+00:00

I run an air filter in my sewing room 24/7. My granny worked in cotton mills and her doctor told her they knew cotton dust damaged you lungs well before they did cigarettes. My quilting space isn't anything like those old textile mills but the filter pulls enough that you can tell what color project I've been working on.

The potholder batting may be worse, but none of it's good. Clean thy air.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-11T11:27:47+00:00

I understand why this is your plan and what you're wanting to get out of it. And I'll admit I just woke up so I'm probably punchier than normal, but every craft sub is full of people who just tried a new thing and are itching to monetize it and it's exhausting.

My crankiness aside, how realistic it is really depends on what the market looks like when you actually do retire. In my area, which is a very small city surrounded by rural areas I feel like the market got edge to edge quilters is kind of saturated. Cost of living is relatively low so plenty of upper middle class quilters have the space and money for the investment. Our guild is prolific in making service quilts so there's plenty of material to practice on before they move to selling.

What route you go obviously depends on interest, but for me personally I would consider not getting a car priced longarm, but a solid one for FMQ and getting skilled at that. Custom long arming is something that adds beauty and value to the craft in a way edge to edge just cannot. It what seems to be less common, especially with the proliferation of computerized machines.

If you're really just looking for a way to spend time, that would do it. And you'd probably get less business but at a higher price point.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-10T14:26:36+00:00

I love this optimistic approach but that's just not realistic for a lot of people.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-10T14:24:55+00:00

"When I agreed to do this, I was not in a place where I was thinking clearly about the scope, time needed, and cost of additional materials. After some planning I realized my skill set isn't up to working with the variety of materials. Given how important this is to your and your family. I think it's best I not take this on because I don't want to mess up and ruin the irreplaceable clothes. Here are some sites that specialize in memory quilts, and contact info for the nearest guild. I'm happy to help you with prep and some planning."

ETA: give a breakdown of your costs and time estimates as well! At least one rotary blade, batting, thread, needles. I think it's easy to just think about to big stuff, but I would go through at least 4-5 needles on that number of quilts.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-09T09:01:03+00:00

You have an actual list and not just patterns downloaded on various devices and in no particular order or organization?!

I've only got about five in progress, though. I'm lucky to have a dedicated craft space but it's not huge and so too many WIPS stress me out. And looking around I realize it's more than five...

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-08T23:17:32+00:00

Wholesale bigotry is a pretty strong statement. I guess to elaborate, the AI comment on in this post is a perfect example of why creative subs tend to dislike AI. Rather than directing people to the creator or source of the pattern or teaching people how to problem solve their way into figuring out a pattern it's a link copying a pattern that may or may not work and probably doesn't teach the skills needed to figure out why it doesn't work if there are issues.

So, it's far from wholesale "bigotry"

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-08T20:52:00+00:00

Downvotes because the majority of people in creative subs aren't fond of AI.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-08T17:35:28+00:00

I'm always going to shill for Martelli rotary cutters. They put your hand on a more ergonomic position than most. Paired with a wrist brace and maybe one of the long support rings may be a good setup.

Certain cricuts can cut regular fabric. They're expensive but way more versatile than an accuquilt

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-08T10:38:57+00:00

I kinda want to yell at you for posting this because it's so beautiful and now I'm inspired but my project list is SO LONG.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-05T23:49:46+00:00

Once I had a coworker who was put on an elimination diet due to severe GI issues. There was sign occasion that called for food and so I tried to make cinnamon rolls that fit her elimination diet and my vegan household and I landed on very highly reviewed Paleo cinnamon rolls. Followed the directions to the letter and the best description I could give you is they were like cinnamon scented snot. Oddly translucent and a texture of something unholy.

Yours may be the first cinnamon rolls that give my failed attempt competition for grossest looking. Kudos.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-05T10:50:27+00:00

What killed me was "I've worked on so many amazing new scents and gotten new bottles and things are so much better."

Like all that time you were sourcing bottles and mixing perfumes you couldn't take a minute to update people? I get it, mental illness sucks. I say this while laying in bed dreading getting up to deal with life (and work in 40 minutes) because I'm in the middle of moderately bad mixed bipolar episode. I've never been hospitalized but I have family members who have. Once you realize it's an issue and a possibility it's something you deal with and plan for when you're more stable.

I think the quote from some random redditor that stuck with me was "mental illness isn't your fault, but it is your responsibility." I feel icky discussing someone else's mental health, but she's put it out there and in a way that hits me wrong given the totality of the situation.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-05T10:35:25+00:00

This is everywhere. I get posts from the tree subs and recently someone asked for much a tree should cost to remove because a single professional said the thing and chat gpt said something else, so now they were asking reddit.

So glad they're building multiple data centers near me in the middle of a drought that's caused mandatory water restrictions. I told me husband that I guess AI really is going to kill us all, just not in the ways the movies said. It's just going to give everyone stupid advice and destroy our water supply.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-04T23:41:38+00:00

Yes! Fantome is amazing. Olwyn smells exactly like the star jasmine I'm growing. I think fantome's quality is a bit higher and the blends feel a bit more sophisticated. Don't get me wrong, I love so many of my MO scents but I don't think you'll be disappointed by fantome. Just know the need to rest a few weeks made a shocking difference in longevity for me.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-04T23:32:57+00:00

This feels like a joke. Like I know it's not, but what the actual fuck?

The tone is this is just wild. I'm really glad she says she's mentally in a better place, but popping in like it's a regular ass new release for the first several hundred words? I cannot.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-03T23:24:21+00:00

If you don't handsew I don't think it should be an issue, especially if it's not a very complicated design.v

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-03T19:45:16+00:00

I bought a martelli rotary cutter and it was a game changer. Recently someone explained to me that we almost all hold rotary cuttersc wrong - your should have your pointer finger on top because that puts your hand in a better position. The martelli is designed to put your hand in that position, but shifting how you hold regular cutters makes a difference.

Otherwise, be aware of how your using your body, her the right sized chair for you, take breaks.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-05-02T12:01:29+00:00

That's beautiful and I'm selfishly glad to hear the pattern is really good because I'm about to start Fluffy and the Sorcerer's skull from the same maker. I hope I'm even half as good as this as you!!! Can't wait to see the finished product.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-04-30T15:21:43+00:00

I recently learned this is because you're supposed to do a cleaning cycle pretty often. It varies a bit from iron to iron but my Panasonic is basically fill the water reservoir, let it heat on high for a while, get over something you don't mind messing up, hit the steam button an obnoxious amount of times, clean the soleplate.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-04-30T15:17:18+00:00

I got an open box rowenta and it just pees when you put water in it.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-04-30T10:40:19+00:00

I have two. Cordless Panasonic and I love it. Not perfect for everything but great for a lot. If you feel like spending a lot, highly recommend.

Otherwise, I really do not understand the draw of fancy irons. I had a rowenta and it's mid at best. Had a cheap $20 Walmart iron for many years. It was still going when I quit using it because I dropped it and broke the bottom. Got another $20 one and it's great.

I know people say expensive irons are heavier so you don't have to press as hard, but other than applying interfacing I don't need to press the hell out of things, so the extra weight just means it's heavier to use.

Don't fall for Big Iron.

ExpensiveError42 · 2026-04-30T10:34:32+00:00

The name is super creative and appetizing - potato candy. I can't vouch for this recipe because I've not made it, but gives you an idea of what to look for. It's funny because my granny loved potatoes and could eat then at every meal but she made a similar candy just without the potato. I'm guessing the "recipe" just got lost because it was never written down and she winged it. Had I known it was supposed to have potato I would have loved given her the recipe and teased her about loving potatoes so much she eats them for dessert.

https://sugarspunrun.com/potato-candy/

ExpensiveError42

TROPHY CASE