Guidelines for Preparing a Quilt Top for Longarm Quilting
Due to my allergies, I need quilts and backing to be unscented. If your quilts are heavily scented, I can use an all natural neutralizing spray on them for a $5 - $10 charge. Customers meeting in my studio - please do NOT wear colognes or scented lotions.
- Pre-Washing
Always check for color fastness.
If the quilt top fabrics have not been prewashed, then the quilt back does need not be prewashed. If you do prewash the back, the front and back will shrink differently when laundered.
- Attaching Borders
Gently press quilt top before adding borders.
Adding borders by adding strips to each side and trimming the strip afterwards often results in stretching the quilt top. The sides or top/bottom may not end up the same length. This can cause distortion of the quilt or fullness in the body.
A good way to attach borders:
Measure across the quilt top in three different locations.
Determine an average length and cut two borders that length.
Fold each border, end to end, 2-3 times, depending on the size of the quilt.
Press the folds and mark each fold with a pin.
Fold quilt top the same way and mark each fold with a pin.
Unfold the quilt and borders, matching fold marks/pins.
Attach the two borders to the quilt top, easing in fullness if necessary.
Press the seam gently to one side.
Follow the same procedure for the opposite borders.
- Preparing the Quilt Top for Longarm Quilting
Remove all selvages from fabrics before beginning to piece the quilt top.
Do NOT add embellishments (e.g. buttons or beads) before quilting.
Press quilt top well. Make sure all seams are pressed. If seams are pressed open, stitching in the ditch is not recommended.
Trim all hanging threads. You do not want dark threads showing through the quilt top. Trim threads on the front as well.
Remove pet hair.
Identify the top of your quilt with a safety pin.
If the outside edge of your quilt top has bias edges or multiple seams, stay stitch a scant 1/8" from the edge of the entire quilt to prevent unraveling during loading and quilting.
- Quilt Back Preparation
100% cotton backing works very well. I also work with specialty fabric for the back; minkee, fleece, flannel, wool, etc. If I have to cut minkee, there will be an additional charge due to the extra time required to clean my quilting area of minkee "droppings."
Remove all selvages. This may be done after stitching seams.
If backing is pieced, use at least 1/2" seams. You may press them open or to one side.
Quilt backing should be at least 4" larger than the top on each side. If your quilt top is 62" x 74" then your batting should be at least 70" x 82." This allows enough extra to load the backing to the rollers and to clamp the sides during quilting.
- Batting
Type. Good quilt batting is a must. I reserve the right to refuse any customer supplied batting that has inconsistent density. The final product is my Number One consideration and good batting can increase the longevity of your quilt.
Size. Quilt batting needs to be larger than the top but not necessarily as large as the backing. A good rule of thumb is to have batting 4" larger than the top on each side. If your quilt top is 65" x 75" then your batting should be at least 73" x 83."