Quilt Preparation
To ensure the best possible quilting results, please follow the
guidelines listed below.
Guidelines:
- The quilt top should be free from all embellishments, such as
buttons, pins, charms, etc.
- All loose threads should be trimmed so they don't get caught in
the machine or show through light fabrics.
- Indicate the top and bottom of quilt if there
is a difference.
- Carefully press the top and backing.
- Square up your quilt top and your backing.
Make sure the edges are straight.
- If you have a pieced border or bias edges on
the outside of your quilt it is best to staystitch to provide more
stability.
- Do not baste or pin your quilt together.
- Batting and backing should be a minimum of 4
inches larger than the quilt top on all sides. For example, if the
quilt top is 50” x 50”, your batting and backing should be a minimum
of 58” x 58”.
- Please do not supply sheets for backing. The
higher thread count in many sheets can cause skipped stitches on
your quilt.
- If the backing requires seaming, remove
selvedges first. Stitch with a short stitch length (2.0 – 2.5mm) and
use a ½” seam allowance. Press seams open. Do not serge seams.
- When choosing the fabric for your backing
think of the color thread that will be used in quilting the top.
If you want the quilting on the backing to be subtle then choose a
color or print that will blend with the color of the top thread.
However, if you want the quilting to stand out on the back then
choose a fabric that will contrast with the thread color.
- Custom quilting can have many stops and starts
and a busy backing fabric tends to hide these beginnings and
endings.
- If you have selected a pantograph (all over
pattern) and have a preference, please specify whether you want the
pattern to go vertically or horizontally on the quilt.
- Fullness and puckers pieced into the quilt top
cannot necessarily be quilted out. We will do our best to reduce the
appearance of extra fullness and puckers, but quilt tops with these
problems, may still have the problems after quilting is complete.
- If we are applying your binding, please
include fabric and specify the desired finished width. Binding is
applied using the French-fold method and machine or hand stitched to
the back.
- If you plan to attach the binding yourself,
the quilt will be trimmed even with edges after quilting is complete unless
requested otherwise. (Any usable scraps are retained and used
towards charity quilts unless instructed otherwise).
- If you are shipping your quilt to us, please
send it in a box large enough to hold the finished quilt (allow
extra room for the batting if we are providing the batting).