Terms and Conditions
Ordering & Payments
We requirement payment by bank deposit. All products and services must paid for in full before shipment or collection. We requirement payment by bank transfer.
Shipping and Handling
We ship completed quilting jobs by Australia Post only. Free return post is provided for quilts within Australia only (excludes postcodes 4350 and Highfields). Where several quilt tops are sent together, they are treated as one order for our discounts on bulk orders, and are machine quilted in one batch. They are packaged as a single order and all must be paid for in full before collection or shipment. In the event that you have posted a quilt to us, but decide not to go ahead with quilting, postage plus a handling fee will be charged for the return of your quilt. If we have already commenced quilting your quilt, full charges for the finished work will apply.
Machine Quilting
KoolKat has served the needs of quilt customers with our professional machine quilting service and related products since 2003. The quality of our service is attested by the testimonials on this website. In any case where a customer may feel there is a quality issue with the long arm machine quilting service provided by KoolKat, we would prefer to solve any such issue by prior discussion.
Click to access refund-sign-services.pdf
In order to assist this process, we have provided some explanation and limitations below.
Long arm machine quilting on any item(s) supplied by a customer, commonly quilt tops, quilt backings, wadding or batting, is a unique service performed for that customer, hence the item and any consumables cannot be returned or exchanged. KoolKat will always provide a high standard of machine quilting, but this can be limited by the quality of the items supplied or prepared by the customer, or from the limitations of the machine quilting process. Our long arm quilting machines use a minimum size 16 needle and it may be possible that needle marks could show on some fabrics.
In addition we advise the following:
Please note we do not accept responsibility for any specific requirement such as a “right way up” with quilt tops or backings unless these are marked or tagged. No discussion will be entered into after you have received your quilt and found you have neglected to notify us of any special requirements beforehand. For example, any specific sides of a quilt top or backing must be labelled; e.g. top or bottom. This should be done where there is a directional pattern in the fabric or design of the pieced item.
KoolKat does not accept liability for failure to detect a “top” or “bottom” or a directional fabric unless this has been marked and brought to our attention.
We do not accept responsibility for precisely centring a backing under any circumstances – we undertake only to achieve an approximation due to the limitations of the long arm machine quilting process. This also applies to “reversible” quilts.
Please do not make your backing the same size as your quilt top – we require at least 4 inches (100mm) extra width on each side of the backing compared to the quilt top to avoid any joins in borders on the backing. In other words, your backing and wadding need to be 8″ longer and 8″ wider than your quilt top.
All raised edges; e.g. applique or added materials; e.g. ric rac and 3D items such as folded borders must be firmly stitched down to ensure these are not lifted by the hopping foot of the quilting machine as it travels over your quilt “sandwich”. Extra charges apply if we have to do this for you.
Any joined backing should ensure even tension of the joined pieces so that no part or section of the backing sags unevenly. To achieve a smooth flat top, cut patchwork pieces on the straight grain where ever possible. Take extra care when constructing a point-on-point (blocks placed on the diagonal) quilt as borders will stretch easily. Consider pressing seams open to avoid bulk, making edge to edge quilting more effective. If your joined backing has no obvious “right side” or is difficult to see the difference between either side, you must attached a label to the join, so that we can ensure the join is not inadvertently placed on the outside of the backing when quilted. We do not take responsibility for not seeing a join if you have not brought this to our attention under these circumstances.
Trim excess dark threads from front & back of the quilt top or backings. We offer no guarantee to remove all threads that may become trapped under stitching on the front or back of your quilt, particularly if these have originated from threads that have been trimmed from your quilt top prior to sending to us, or as a result or additional basting that we have been required to carry out on the embellishments on your quilt, such as ric rac, borders, and so on. While we will endeavour to remove any other threads from your quilt, we do not guarantee that we will be able to remove 100% of these.
Pieced borders should have a line of stitching or overlocking around the edge to prevent the seams opening and distorting the border. Best results are obtained when backings are of similar weave and fabric type to the quilt top. Best results are obtained from quality materials. Use of plain sheeting for quilt backings is not recommended. The use of 100% cotton materials in quilt making is recommended.
Pattern size and shape – e2e patterns for your quilt are based on the computer’s calculation of its length and width. Depending on the pattern, a certain number of rows and repeats are selected to suit the dimensions of your quilt. This can mean that the resulting pattern may not resemble exactly the diagram or illustration that may appear in a catalogue or brochure of machine quilting patterns. This is also the reason that a pattern you have used previously may not be exactly the same shape and size on another quilt.
Please also familiarise yourself with the guidelines and tips below, especially if you are new to quilting and commercial machine quilting.
How to prepare your quilt, backing and wadding.
Tips on getting the best result from machine quilting
Where customers do not specify or supply any item, such as thread colour, pattern, backing or wadding, with a quilt top, KoolKat exercises the right to choose such items at its discretion. While these items will be listed on the invoice supplied (usually on the day when a quilt is received), KoolKat does not seek prior approval from the customer before proceeding, unless specifically requested beforehand (as most quilts are commenced same or next day to meet our 7 day standard). This means that where specific instructions or items are not supplied with a quilt top, and where KoolKat has not been specifically requested to supply this information beforehand and seek approval before commencing quilting, KoolKat’s choices are considered final.
Please include on the order form all special requests, in writing, with your quilt top when it is delivered, as email instructions may not be able to be matched with actual orders when they arrive. We cannot accept responsibility for instructions given via phone that are not subsequently placed in writing by the customer. As we often receive quilts without instructions and therefore don’t necessary expect to find them, please pin yours to your quilt top. Order forms may not be found when we open your parcel unless they are pinned to the quilt top. When sending more than one quilt in the same package, please individually wrap each quilt with its backing and/or wadding.
We require that you download and using our quilt order form – the link to which can be found on our home page.
Your quilt may be photographed and used as an example of a particular machine quilting pattern, or the suitability of machine quilting for a particular type of quilt. We do not seek your prior approval for this, as we assume you are familiar with our Terms and Conditions prior to placing an order. If you do not wish your quilt to be photographed, please contact us beforehand.
Quotations vs estimates.
All prices given either by phone or in writing before a quilt is received and measured by KoolKat Quilting are estimates only. As the pricing is based on the size of the quilt, no firm price can be given until we measure your quilt. Please note that unless you have specifically requested a written quote beforehand and request that we wait for your approval, we will treat your quilt as an order and proceed without further consultation. All information given by phone is advice only and is not a quotation. KoolKat does not take responsibility for your understanding of our pricing structure based on telephone conversations only – we will provide a written estimate based on your measurements given to us by email, and this will account for all items in our pricing structure as an estimate only until we have seen your quilt.
All details of our pricing structure are available on this website.