Longarm Machine Rental

Our Longarm quilt studio is located just north of Houston, TX in Old Town Spring. At Double E Quilting, you can rent time on one of our APQS longarm machines. We offer basic rentals which cover free motion quilting & quilting paper pantographs from the back of the machine; as well as rental of our computerized software Quilt Path which will give you that perfect edge to edge every time.

Our machines are super-simple to use, and we’ll teach you everything you need to know in the Certification Class (required of all new renters) to get you off on the right foot.  You’ll learn the basics such as machine functions, loading a quilt with either quick zippers or using leaders, basic quilting designs, and more as you tackle your first small quilt right in class. 

If you have rented time on an APQS machine from another rental source, you are required to attend a Rental Re-Certification course.

Once you have taken this class at Double E Quilting - you can rent a longarm in our studio forever!

Please read this entire page for class/rental information and how to prepare your quilt top for the longarm. FAQ’s at the bottom.

Certification Classes

Free-Motion Rental Certification Class

$150.00

Lasts 3-4 hours. Is required prior to your first rental.

Includes the Following:

  • Machine Operation & Safety

  • Threading the Machine

  • Changing Bobbins

  • Tension Adjustment

  • Bobbin Winding

  • Loading the Quilt

  • Attaching Zippers or Leaders

  • Basic Quilting Skills

  • Starts & Stops

  • Pantograph Set-Up & Alignment (We offer a limited seleciton paper pantographs for purchase, or feel free to bring your own paper pantographs if you choose to quilt using this method)

  • Simple Overall Quilting Designs (Free Motion Quilting)

  • Doodle & Quilting Time

  • Reviewing the Policy Statement

  • During your Certification Class, we will provide a small donation quilt and batting for you to practice with. You can choose to take it home with you, or leave it with us to donate to a local animal shelter for bedding.

Quilt Path Rental Certification Class

$150.00

Lasts 3-4 Hours. Is required prior to renting Quilt Path.

Includes the Following:

  • Machine Operation & Safety

  • Threading the Machine

  • Changing Bobbins

  • Tension Adjustment

  • Bobbin Winding

  • Loading the Quilt

  • Attaching Zippers or Leaders

  • Quilt Path Safety

  • How to choose the right pattern

  • Designing in PowerPanto or Basic Mode

  • Quilt Path Operation

  • Advancing the quilt

  • How to finish your edge to edge

  • Reviewing the Policy Statement

  • During your Certification Class, we will provide a small donation quilt and batting for you to practice with. You can choose to take it home with you, or leave it with us to donate to a local animal shelter for bedding.

Quilt Path Certification Add-On

$100.00

Lasts about two hours. Previous Double E Quilting rental certification required.

Includes the following:

  • Quilt Path Safety

  • How to choose the right pattern

  • Designing in PowerPanto or Basic Mode

  • Quilt Path Operation

  • Advancing the quilt

  • How to finish your edge to edge

Rental Re-Certification

$50.00

Lasts about one hour. Is required prior to your first rental. Previous APQS Longarm experience required.

Includes the following:

  • Machine Operation

  • Threading the Machine

  • Tension Adjustment

  • Loading the Quilt

  • Practice Quilting Time

Longarm Rentals

Basic Rental

$25.00/hour

All rentals require a 2 hour minimum

Quilt Path Rental

$35.00/hour

All rentals require a 2 hour minimum

What’s included in my rental fee:

  • A longarm specialist will always be available for help during your rental time.

  • The use of a cleaned and oiled APQS machine with precision stitch regulator

  • Zippers or Leaders to attach your quilt to the frame for easy loading.

  • Top Thread and Pre-wound Bobbins. (We have wide selection of standard colors available for your use)

What is not included in my rental fee:

  • Backing fabric.

  • Batting. *

  • Specialty Threads. **

  • Winding Bobbins. (If you choose to wind your own bobbins at our store, that extra time is not included in your rental time. so please come in early to take care of this task.)

How to prepare my quilt for my rental?

Zipper Loading Backing Fabric Measurements: Backing will need to be at least 4 inches larger than the quilt top on all 4 sides. (Ex: 50” x 50”quilt top, needs 58'“ x 58” backing).

Leader Grip Loading Backing Fabric Measurements: Backing needs to be at least 8 in. wider and 12 in. longer than the quilt top (Ex: 50” x 50” quilt top needs 58” x 62” backing) to accommodate for the additional space required.

  • The top and bottom edges of your backing should be straight and parallel to each other

  • Press the top and backing fabric

  • Trim loose threads

  • If piecing your backing, remove selvedges first. Try to make a horizontal seam for easier loading if possible

  • Do not baste your quilt layers together for longarm quilting

* We have high quality Quilters Dream and American Fiber batting available for purchase at our store. If you are providing your own batting, please make sure it is of good quality. Please remove the batting from the package and unfold it at least a day before you plan to rent, spreading it out to remove any deep folds. You can lay it out on a bed or flat surface overnight to allow folds to relax. Batting may also be placed in a dryer on low to help remove creases.

If providing your own batting make sure your batting is approximately 4” larger on each side of your quilt top (Ex: if your quilt top is 50'“ x 50” your batting needs to be 58” x 58”). Excess batting (10+ in. on each side) may impede loading with the side clamps. Please note that it is ok to have excess batting at the top and bottom, because the extra can hang off the bottom when we load it on to the machine frame and will be trimmed off later.

** We have cones of Hab+Dash thread in specialty colors available for purchase in 1,000 meters & 5,000 meters