Quilting: a guide for pros
What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.
Offering quilting
Clients hire quilters for finished quilts that look good and last through years of use. Your layering process, your quilting samples and your care note are what win custom orders and repeat clients.
What customers ask
- Can you quilt my top, and how long will it take?
- What batting do you recommend for a washable quilt?
- Can you repair an old quilt?
- Will the quilting show on the back?
- How should I wash and store the quilt?
How to win the job
- On the first call, ask for the quilt size, the pattern or top, the batting preference and how the quilt will be used.
- Show finished quilts in several sizes and quilting designs, with the client's permission.
- Check the top for square seams and flat fabric before layering, and tell the client about any issues you find.
- Show the client a quilting sample on a scrap of the same layers before you stitch the full quilt.
- Put the size, batting, backing, quilting design and binding in the quote so the client knows the full service.
- Give a care note with washing and storage steps for the finished quilt.
What to put on your profile
- Photos of finished quilts from the front and the back, shown with consent
- A list of your quilting services, such as custom quilting, repair, binding and labeling
- The batting and backing types you use, named in plain words
- Your layering and basting process, described briefly
- Your business registration and any local permit that applies to your studio
Follow-up that helps the customer
- Offer a repair visit for a quilt that has worn at the binding or in the corners
- Suggest a care kit with wash instructions and storage tips
- Offer a custom label or memory quilt for a family event
Licenses and permits
A license is often not required for quilting, but rules differ by state and city. Keep your business registration, any local business license your city requires, and sales tax registration where your state requires it, and list your registrations on your profile.
Questions
Do I need a license to quilt for pay?
A license is often not required for quilting, but rules differ by state and city. Check your local city or county rules for business licensing and confirm any state tax registration that applies.
How do I handle a quilt top that is not square?
Show the client where the top is off, explain the options, and agree on the fix before you layer it. Some tops can be squared up, and others may need to be re-pieced.
Should I offer a repair estimate before work starts?
Yes. For an older or worn quilt, look at the fabric, the batting and the stitching first, then explain what the repair involves and what it may not fix.
About this guide
This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
More tailoring, crafts and styling guides for pros
Start here
About this guide
Get quilting requests
Customers pick you by name. Signup is free, and you pay only for leads you accept.
Join as a pro