• The three layers of your quilt will be loaded on the machine independently of one another.
• Please do not pin or baste them together. 
• Identify the head or top of your quilt by applying a piece of masking tape to identify it.
• Be sure to square up your quilt top making certain the sides are the same measurement and that both ends are the same measurement.
• Check quilt top for seam breaks, especially around perimeter, repair as needed.
• Press seams well. Be sure the top lies flat. Ripples and "puffy" places may not quilt flat.
• Seams should be pressed consistently to one side, especially on borders and sashings.
• Trim all loose threads from right and wrong sides of quilt top, they can show under light fabric.
• Stay stitch (1/4") around the edge of your top to prevent stretching and fraying.
• Quilt top should be free of embellishments such as buttons, beads, etc.
• Dimensional blocks cannot be stitched over.
• Best results are achieved on quilt tops that lay flat with no fullness in blocks and borders.
• Borders that do not lay flat may cause tucks, pleats or fullness that may not quilt out.
• Quilts will be quilted in the condition they are received.
• If possible, send along a small sample of the fabric used in the quilt top for setting tension.

• Quilt borders must lay flat and not have fullness or waves.
• Borders that do not lay flat may cause tucks or pleats when quilted.
• Quilts with rippled borders can not be quilted as there is just too much fullness in the outer edges of the quilt compared to the center. In this case correction is necessary.
• Check the quilt top to be sure that it is square; the sides should be the same measurement just as the ends should be the same measurement.

          How to Add Borders to the Quilt Top:

1. Add borders to the sides of the quilt top first. This will give a more pleasing balance to the quilt. The quilt will look too long if the borders are sewn to the top and bottom first.
2. Carefully take three lengthwise measurements of the quilt top; one on each side and through the center. Average the measurements if there is a discrepancy; example: 50”, 51”, 50.5”; use 50.5” as your average measurement. If there is a very large difference corrections should be made to the quilt top before adding the border.
3. Cut your side borders the same length as the quilt measurement determined in step #2.
4. Mark half way and quarter way matching points on both the quilt top and the borders.
5. Place right sides together, pin the matching points, sew the border to the quilt. Be careful to ease where necessary, the ends should match with no hang-overs. Back stitch at the beginning and end of the border seams to prevent the seams from coming undone while quilting. Now repeat for other side of the quilt top.
6. Press the seam allowances towards the border.
7. Repeat steps #2 through #5 for the top and bottom borders.
8. Stay-stitch a narrow 1/8” seam from the raw edge around the perimeter of the quilt to reinforce a pieced border.
9. Please avoid mitered corners as they flare rapidly while being quilted no matter how careful you were during construction.
   
    

Backing:

• Quilt backing fabrics should be of similar weight and fiber content as the quilt top.100% cotton backing is recommended. Bed sheets & stretchy fabrics are not recommended.
• Flannel is very nice but be sure to preshrink by washing at least two or three times and use only the length-wise grain rule when purchasing yardage. 
• Backing fabrics can be a busy print to hide the quilting or plain fabrics to accentuate elaborate quilting.
• Consider the thread color when selecting backing color.
• Square up the backing. The sides should be straight and the top and bottom square.
• Allow an extra 4-6 inches beyond all sides of the quilt top.
• The batting and backing should measure at least eight inches longer and eight inches wider than your quilt top. For example, if your quilt measures 60"x80", the batting and backing should measure at least 68"x88".
• Trim selvage edges from seams and press to one side.
•  
  Backing preparation services are available if desired.

         

Length-wise Rule:The length-wise grain of the fabric is parallel to the selvage of your cloth yardage, making the length of the cloth stronger which acts as a stabilizing force for the hang of a garment or quilt. Therefore, you should always have the length-wise grain of backing fabric running the length of the quilt. This length-wise grain factor will also help reduce the backing from sagging or rippling while being quilted. A length-wise backing will help contribute to a flat hanging quilt.

 

Standard width of most cotton is 45" wide (115 cm); which means most large quilts need two or three widths of fabric to make a wide enough backing. Following the length-wise rule of thumb for purchasing backing means you need to calculate the amount of yardage to buy according to the length measurement of your quilt, plus some extra yardage for shrinkage. The backing should be 4"-6" larger all the way around the quilt top. Which means the quilt backing is 8"-12" larger than the quilt top. The extra fabric is needed for take up in the quilting, used to mount to the quilt frame, a good area to test thread tension and a place to practice your quilting stitches. This extra fabric is trimmed off after the quilting is completed and before the quilt is bound. The trimmed strips can go in your strip stash for log cabin or string quilts or used as the binding.

Avoid a center back seam in your backing as it can make a crease line on the front of your quilt. When piecing two widths of fabric together; first cut two lengths of backing 8"-10" longer than the quilt length. Trim the selvages off both lengths of fabric, split one of the lengths in half on the length-wise fold line. Sew one of the long sides of the half-width to one side of the full-width of fabric. Repeat on the other side of the full-width of fabric. Now you have two seams joining the backing fabric, one on either side of the center panel. Sew a fat quarter inch seam to join and press to one side. Pressing the seams open on the backing weakens the seams over time.

 

How much backing fabric to purchase?

• 45" wide (115 cm):
• 2 x quilt lenght + 20" if the quilt is 75" wide or less
• 3 x quilt length + 30" if the quilt is wider than 75"
• Another solution to the 45" wide fabric dilemma and how much backing fabric do I buy?
• Look for extra wide fabrics and purchase 10"-20" more than the length of your quilt.
• Especially if you are doing a king or queen size quilt.

Labeling Your Quilt:

• Be sure to include a label on the back of your quilt that includes the name of the quilt, a poem or dedication to the owner of the quilt, plus all the people who have worked on the quilt like the long arm quilter, pattern designer or pattern name and any other credits you might include.
• Be sure to date the quilt (day, month, year) and include the address of the owner or maker or both.
• The label will be a valuable tool for recognition if lost, while being appraised, or may one day become a treasured family heirloom.
• Quilts are a living legacy to be treasured, honor your time and effort with some recogntion.

Batting:

• Batting does make a difference in how your quilt will look.
• Many types of battings are available and each one will quilt up differently.
• Remember that the batting will directly contribute to the feel of the finished quilt.
• Some important considerations about the finished quilt should be made when selecting your batting.
• Consider the following: the weight, warmth, and washed texture (flat, wrinkled or puffy), amount of take up into quilting, maximum distance quilting stitches can be placed, fiber content, and the width of batting compared to the largest measurement of your quilt.
• Prewash or not - most people do not pre-wash their batting, opting for a more wrinkled antique look after washing.
• Polyester batting will not shrink like natural fiber batting.
• If you send batting, please check the package to be sure it is suitable for machine quilting.
• We offer Warm and Natural cotton batting if you would like to purchase your batting from us.
• It is priced at $9.00 per yard and is 90 inches wide.
• Check with us to be sure it is available.

Extra charges may be added for necessary quilt preparations that must be competed prior to quilting. (ie. mending, unraveled seams, etc.)

Prices subject to change without notice.