Do not pin or baste the quilt top, backing and batting together. These 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.

Please carefully press your quilt top and backing, pressing seams flat, and removing any stray threads.

Please be sure that the quilt top is squared up and edges are trimmed so that you have a rectangle or square with no uneven edges. This does not apply to curved edges like those found in Double Wedding Ring quilts, and circular quilts

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.

Double check your quilt top and backing to be sure that all seams are completely sewn and appliques are completely attached at the edge of the applique. This helps to prevent the quilting foot from catching and damaging a seam or applique as it stitches over the area.

If edges of the top are pieced or are on the bias, 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).

If you have a pocket, or a fabric photo that you don't want us to stitch over, please mark the area with a note pinned to the quilt. Likewise, if there is an area on the quilt that would not react favorably to a hot iron or a spritz of water, please mark the area with a note pinned to the quilt top.

The longarm quilting machine cannot stitch over embellishments like beads, buttons, or stuffed applique. Please wait to attach these until after the quilting process.

Please be sure that the backing measures at least 8" longer and 8" wider than the quilt top - that equates to 4" extra on all 4 sides. This amount is necessary to attach the quilt backing to the quilting frame an to hold it taut during the quilting process.

Square up the backing and trim the edges if necessary so that you have a rectangle or square with no uneven edges. We attach the edges of your backing to the quilting frame, if the backing is not "square" there will be slack areas in your backing resulting in wrinkles or tucks quilted into the final product. If you piece your backing, please remove the selvage edge from the seam and use a 1/2" wide seam allowance. Press the seam open. Use a horizontal seam if at all possible. It is fine to leave the selvages on the outer edges of the backing

Fabrics with a hard finish should be pre-washed to soften them for needling. Flannel backings should be pre-washed since some of them shrink more dramatically than quilting cotton. Either toss your Minky backing into the dryer to help remove the lint from the cut edges, or roll the edges with a lint roller.

We do not accept stretch fabrics for the backing of your quilt, except for good-quality Minky fabric. Minky fabrics should not be pieced.

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.

Please be sure that the batting (if you provide it) measures at least 8" longer and 8" wider than the quilt top - that equates to 4" extra on all 4 sides. We do not accept pieced batting.