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Preparing Your Quilt Top and Backing for Optimal Results

 

Quilt Top

  • When possible, while handling your completed quilt top, grasp it from the center to avoid stretching border fabric or popping seams.
  • If your top has a pieced border with multiple seams along the edge, consider a stay stitch around the outside 1/8" perimeter of the quilt top.
  • Press your completed top, ensuring that seams lay flat.
  • Clip any dark threads from the back that might show through surrounding, lighter fabrics.
  • Quilt top must be free of any pet hair or other foreign objects.
  • Do a final check by holding your quilt top up to the window or a bright light to reveal any missed seams or obvious threads to trim.
  • If possible, fold  for transport so that your fold lines are not undoing your pressing along any seams. 
 
Backing We have a selection of wide backing fabrics available for purchase if you haven't chosen a backing yet!
If you are providing your own backing, please follow these guidelines:

  • Backing must be 4" larger around the perimeter, of your quilt top, which is the same as a total of 8" longer and wider than your top measurements.
  • If your backing feels "stiff", pre-washing is recommended.
  • Press large wrinkles out of your backing, while ensuring that any seams lay flat.
  • Clip any dark threads from the back that might show through surrounding, lighter fabrics.
  • Quilt top must be free of any pet hair or other foreign objects.
  • If possible, fold your backing so that your fold lines are not along any seams. 


Batting 
We have a selection of batting available for purchase if you haven't picked yours up yet.

If you are providing your own backing, please follow these guidelines:

  • Batting must be 4" larger around the perimeter, of your quilt top, which is the same as a total of 8" longer and wider than your top measurements.
  • Remove any dark threads from the batting that might show through lighter fabrics.
  • Batting must be free of any pet hair or other foreign objects.

 


Why does longarm quilting require extra backing fabric?
On a longarm machine, additional fabric is needed around the edges for loading and holding to ensure that your backing is as flat as possible while quilting is in process. All extra fabric will be returned to you with your quilt. 
A quilt backing must be square to load properly on the longarm quilting machine. If you need help with this, let us know. Don't cut it if you're not sure! We would be happy to help you determine what size or how much backing fabric to cut and provide. 

Other Questions so far?



A Note From your Quilters


Quilting is your hobby, and as such, it should be enjoyable! Not everyone strives to piece each project with precision; not everyone is entering their quilt in a judged show. We will do everything we can to make your quilt square, flat, and beautiful. We don't judge and we don't think that a quilt needs to be flat or square to be loved and cherished. The precision of your piecing will make all the difference in the end result, but whatever that result is, we will be there to help you finish your labor of love! FYI, the quilting process does not ‘fix’ any fullness, wavy borders, inaccurate cutting, or problem seams. Please let us know up front about any issues of which you are aware, and we will try to address them during the quilting design and stitching process. We will inform you of any remarkable inconsistencies noted during intake or as we are quilting. We will communicate with you to solve any problems before making any decisions. We are as excited as you are! 

 


A Few Tips for Great Results on Future Projects

Pre-washing Fabrics
Pre-washing fabrics, or fixing saturated colors with RetayneTM, is never a wasted step. Most fabrics printed with the current production processes are resistant to bleeding, but it is a VERY disappointing moment when you realize a completed quilt has fabrics whose colors are migrating. Pre-washing is also recommended to avoid shrinkage of different amounts in your piecing and backing. ((To be totally honest, we don't pre-wash our fabrics before cutting and piecing, because there are only a few gifted people in the world with a love affair with ironing, and it's not any of us.))
Our recommendation is to complete your quilt with binding and then wash with specialty sheets in the Laundry section that grab any dye that escapes. 

Borders
Measuring and attaching your borders correctly, so that there won't be any stretching, excess fabric, and wavy borders, is easier than you think. Incorrectly attached borders may result in lumpy fabric after quilting or tucks in the border. We are happy to educate you about borders any time so that yours turns out just right!