For a quick summary on getting your quilt ready for quilting, check out our Quilt Prep Checklist
For more detailed info, see Best Practices
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Embellishments are removed
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Quilt top, backing, and batting are 3 separate pieces
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Tops of the quilt and back are marked
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Quilt top and back are pressed and stray threads removed
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All seams are secure, appliques are stitched down
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Bias and Pieced edges of Quilt top are stay-stitched 1/8" from the edge
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Backing and batting measure at least 8 inches longer and 8 inches wider than the quilt top
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Backing is squared up and edges trimmed to a rectangle or square
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Backing is NOT a digital print
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Stiff or Flannel backings are pre-washed, minky backings have been de-fluffed
Best Practices for Quilt Prep
General:
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Do not attach embellishments until after the quilting process.
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Do not pin or baste the quilt top, backing and batting together.
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If you have a directional print or preference, please indicate the top of the backing and the top of the quilt top by pinning a note to each.
Quilt Top:
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Press and remove stray threads.
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If edges of the top are pieced, stay-stitch (using a stitch length of 2.0 or less) 1/8" from the edge of the top (be very careful not to stretch the edges).
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If the edges of the top are on the bias, stay-stitch 1/8" from the edge of the top (be very careful not to stretch the edges).
Backing:
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Press and remove stray threads.
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Backing should measure at least 8 inches longer and 8 inches wider than the quilt top so it can be attached to the longarm frame for quilting.
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Square up the backing and trim the edges if necessary so that you have a rectangle or square with no uneven edges.
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If you piece your backing, please use a 1/2 inch wide seam allowance and iron the seam open. We prefer a horizontal seam if possible.
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If you use the selvage edges in your seam, make sure none of the selvage shows on the outside of the back. It is best practice to completely remove the selvages from this seam, but it is fine to leave the selvage on any of the outer edges of the back since you will be trimming them off after the quilting is complete.
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No digital prints on the back of the quilt - these fabrics will work on the top of a quilt, but do not needle well on the back.
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Flannel backings should be pre-washed since some of them shrink more dramatically than quilting cotton.
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Fabrics with a hard finish should be pre-washed to soften them for needling
Batting:
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If you provide your own batting, it should measure at least 8 inches longer and 8 inches wider than the quilt top.
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We do not recommend piecing batting together, but if you do so, please note that most batting has a top side and a bottom side - be sure that all top sides are up.
Note:
Your quilt top, batting, and backing are loaded onto the longarm machine separately. Each layer is centered when it is attached to the machine, but it is impossible to exactly center the quilt vertically and horizontally with the backing. If you have a special backing with borders or other design elements, we will do our best to center it, however, it may not end up perfectly centered due to changes in the fabric during the quilting process.