The first decision to make when bringing your quilt to Craftwright Quilts is whether you want edge-to-edge quilting or custom quilting. Edge-to-edge (E2E) quilting is the application of a single, repeating design all over the entire quilt. Any borders, block seams or other breaks in the quilt are ignored and the single design is placed all over the quilt. E2E quilting designs range from simple repeats to complex, interconnected designs.
Custom quilting, on the other hand, involves the use of free motion quilting, ruler work and computer digitized designs to ensure a unique design specifically tailored to your quilt. Custom quilting delivers heirloom quality results for your most special project.
The primary reason for choosing E2E quilting over custom quilting is cost. E2E quilting, particularly simple designs, can cost a mere fraction of custom quilting. View our pricing here. While computer digitized designs can be used to help lower the cost of custom quilting, those design still require a significant investment of time by our longarm quilters to ensure the designs precisely fit every corner of your quilt. View Our Custom Designs
One advantage to using Craftwright Quilts is that we have hundreds of E2E designs available for our customers, and are willing to share the cost to obtain new designs with our customers. Learn more about our Available Designs and the considerations when selecting the right E2E design.
Here are additional considerations when evaluating E2E versus custom quilting. But, as always, Craftwright Quilts is happy to arrange a consultation regarding your quilt to determine which process is best suited for your desired goals.
Quilt Design and Purpose:
- Edge-to-Edge: This method involves quilting the same design uniformly across the entire surface of the quilt. It’s ideal if the quilt pattern is busy or if the quilt is intended for everyday use where the quilting pattern won’t be the main focus.
- Custom Quilting: Custom quilting means different designs may be used in different blocks or areas of the quilt. It’s often chosen to enhance specific elements of the quilt top, such as appliqué or piecing work, and is well-suited for display pieces or heirloom quilts.
Cost:
- Edge-to-Edge: Generally less expensive because it is less time-consuming and can often be done by a computer-guided longarm quilting machine without much intervention.
- Custom Quilting: More labor-intensive and usually more expensive because it requires more detailed work and planning, often done freehand or with specialized rulers.
Time:
- Edge-to-Edge: Faster to complete since it involves repeating the same design across the quilt.
- Custom Quilting: Takes more time due to the complexity and the care needed to highlight the quilt’s design elements.
Quilt Top Complexity:
- Edge-to-Edge: Best for quilts where the piecing is very intricate, and additional complex quilting might make the quilt look overdone.
- Custom Quilting: Great for quilts with large areas of negative space where the quilting can add to the design without overwhelming it.
Thread Choices:
- Edge-to-Edge: Typically uses one or two thread colors throughout to maintain consistency.
- Custom Quilting: Can involve multiple thread colors to match or contrast different parts of the quilt.
Visibility:
- Edge-to-Edge: The uniform pattern may not stand out, particularly on very patterned or colorful quilt tops.
- Custom Quilting: Allows for high-contrast threads or additional stitching in certain areas to make the quilting more of a feature.
Use and Wear:
- Edge-to-Edge: Good for quilts that will be used frequently and washed often, as the uniform quilting can be more durable.
- Custom Quilting: Ideal for wall hangings or quilts that will see less wear, as the intricate quilting can be more delicate.
Personal Preference:
- Edge-to-Edge: Some quilters prefer the look of continuous patterns and the rhythm of stitching them.
- Custom Quilting: Others enjoy the creativity and challenge of designing unique quilting layouts.
Ultimately, the choice between edge-to-edge and custom quilting is yours, building on the the intended use, the value you place on the quilt, and the time and resources you’re willing to invest. It’s also quite common for quilters to choose a combination of the two, using edge-to-edge designs in some areas and custom quilting in others to create a balance between cost, time, and aesthetic appeal. Craftwright Quilts is happy to tailor a quilting plan that suits your budget and design needs. With the number of computerized digital designs available, it is becoming easier than ever to achieve custom quilting results at a more economical price.