Quilt Preparation

Please use our checklist prior to sending projects. We want to keep your cost low and minimize the time in our hands and on the machine. Occasionally we all have seams come loose, wavy borders or puckers. I would love to say these things are ok but they will cause issues when quilting your quilt, we would love to say we can “quilt it out” but we just can’t. I have found some ways to work around these things that might make them nearly invisible, but depending on the situation it may still be noticeable.

• Quilt tops should lay flat and be square to avoid puckering when quilted.
• Excess fabric in borders can result in puckering.
• Edge seams should be secured remove all excess threads.
• Pin your name and phone number to your quilt top and backing.
  
• Mark the top of your quilt top if it is not easily noticeable if you have a preference.
• Press the back of the quilt top, seams should lay flat (press to one side).
  
• Press from the finished side (the front), and if you use starch it will be especially appreciated.
  *This is really important and can make a big difference in the final look of the quilt.
  **Use this step to double check your seams to check for “holes” in your quilt top as well as any wavy borders.
•   Square up your quilt back. You can do this by folding it in quarters and using your rotary cutter and ruler to trim it even.

Press all seams accordingly as you are piecing. If they do not lay flat this will cause folds and bunching on the top of your quilt.

• Make sure all seams are secure
• Clip all loose/long thread tails on the front and back of top
• Dark threads may shadow under lighter fabrics
• Puckers, tucks, and fullness cannot be quilted out
• Remove all pins
• If quilt top is directional, mark the top with a safety pin
• Press the top from the front side, taking care not to stretch and distort

Your quilt should be as square as possible. We will center and square the top to the machine and back fabric. We take every effort to keep your top straight by following ruler guides and the lines of your quilt top

Backing should be 4" larger on each side than the quilt top. For example, a 60" x 60" top would have a backing that is 68" x 68"

• The additional backing is needed to be pinned to the canvas leaders on the long arm frame
• If seaming your backing, use a horizontal seam across the width of your quilt backing. If you piece your backing make sure to trim the selvages off as they shrink unevenly and create a puckered line when you wash the quilt. If you choose a directional fabric for your backing fabric take that into account when piecing.  Please mark the top of the backing fabric.
• Press the seam open OR to one side
  
• DO NOT SEND A BED SHEET

• We can provide batting for your quilt or you may provide your own batting, please just send it along with tops.
• If you supply the batting, make sure it is 4" larger on all sides.

If you would like us to match thread color to a specific fabric color, please pin it with a note. We supply a variety of thread colors, including variegated.

You may choose from our vast Quilt and Panto Catalog for your Quilting Design. We DO NOT charge for you to use any of our designs
Edge to Edge Quilt Designs and Pantographs are patterns that are repeated across the quilt from edge to edge, top to bottom.