Quilt Preparation

Quilt Preparation Instructions

Quilt Top:

  • Please have your top as square (or rectangular as the case may be) as possible This will facilitate proper long-arm machine loading and successful long-arm quilting. If your quilt top is not “squared” then most likely it will come back to you appearing unsquare after the completion of long-arm quilting.
  • Press your top flat, from the back, this will help you direct your seams. Press light material in the direction of the dark material (if possible) so that dark design does not show through on the quilt top front.
  • Trim all or loose threads.
  • Repair any loose seams, if you don’t then our machine’s foot can possibly rip your quilt. We will not be held accountable if this happens.
  • You might want to add 3-4 stitches across the seams around the perimeter of your quilt if you do not have a border about 1/8″ from the edge of your quilt.
  • If your quilt top has a definitive top edge, please leave a note indicating the top edge.
  • If your quilt top has embroidery, appliqué or folded fabric, please advise in advance; we need to talk about this aspect of your quilt. Depending on your requirements, this may require custom quilting which I do not offer.
  • Please keep all layers (quilt top, batting, and backing) separate. DO NOT baste the quilt top, batting and backing together. We will NOT take spray-basted quilt sandwich for long-arm quilting.

Backing:

  • Please have your quilt backing 6- 8″ larger than your quilt top. For example: If your top measures 40″x40″ then your backing (as well as batting) should be between 46″ x 46″” and 48″ x 48″. The extra backing material and batting is needed to load the quilt unto the longarm machine.
  • If your backing has a top edge please leave a note on the backing too. If dropping off quilt, I will do this when doing your consultation.
  • Preparation of backing (if needed) is charged at a rate of $10/seam
  • No 2 sided quilts

Quilt Batting:

  • Please provide quality batting that is uniform in thickness. Batting that is irregular in thickness will cause irregularity in finish quilt stitching.
  • Please make sure that the batting is as big as the quilt backing and let us know the batting brand name.
  • We recommend 100% Cotton or 80% cotton, 20% polyester as a good all-purpose batting.
  • If quilt top and backing are dark, I strongly suggest that you provide black batting material. This will provide the most pleasing result.