Preparing Your Quilt for Machine Quilting

Quilt Top:
Make sure that your sides are as close to the same width and the same length as possible.  If you have pieced your quilt top accurately, properly squared it up, and calculated the length of your borders by properly measuring your quilt top, it should lie flat and be free of puckers.  Any inconsistencies with the quilt top will not be "quilted out" with machine quilting.

If you have bias seams or a lot of seams along the outside edge of your top, stay stitch the seams to prevent the edges from stretching and to keep the seams from coming apart.

Trim all the loose threads that are on the top of your quilt. 

Press your quilt top well and fold it carefully.  All seams should be pressed flat.  Please do not layer top, batting and backing before folding.  Fold each piece separately.

Do not baste or pin your layers together.

If your quilt top has a specific orientation (the top is different from the bottom), mark the top of your quilt with a piece of paper marked “TOP.”  Attach the paper to the top of your quilt with a safety pin.

Backing:
Your backing should be 100% cotton.  Poly/cotton blends and 100% polyester will stretch differently and could cause tucks and puckering when quilting.  Please, no sheets.

Cut your backing and batting at least 8” bigger (width and length) than your quilt top and square it up.  Example:  If your quilt top is 60 x 80 then your batting and backing should be at least 68 x 88.  If folded in half and laid on a flat surface, you should have 90° corners.  This ensures the backing goes on the machine quilting frame straight and is important for keeping the design straight with your top. 

If you need to piece your backing, use a 1/2" seam allowance and cut off any selvage edges after stitching the seam.  You can leave selvage edges on outside edges of the quilt backing.

Press the back of your quilt top.  Press any seams open.

Batting:
I carry Quilter's Dream Blend batting on the roll and can special order Quilter's Dream Cotton in natural or white, Quilter's Dream Poly (white), Midnight Dream Poly (black), Quilter's Dream Angel (flame retardant), Quilter's Dream Wool and Quilter's Dream Puff (high loft poly) in packaged sizes.  Ask me to see samples when you drop off your quilt.

If you are providing me with your own batting, I prefer using Quilter’s Dream, Warm & Natural, or Hobbs Heirloom batting.  Please check with me first if you have some other type of batting.