Preparing Your Quilt for Long Arm Quilting
It is important to apply your borders squarely. If borders are put on without accurate measurement, even by the slightess amount the top will not lay flat. This may cause pleats and puckers to develop during the quilting process.
To Apply Borders
| 1. Meause your pieced top (before the borders are added on). To do this, lay your top on a flat surface and measure it in at least three different places. (Top, Middle, and Bottom) |
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Horizontal: |
Top: |
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Vertical: |
Right Side: |
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Middle: |
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Center: |
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Bottom: |
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Left Side: |
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| 2. If the measurements are not equal, calculate the average measurement and use this result to cut the borders. Example: If the top is 40” / Middle is 40-1/2” / bottom is 41”, you would cut the borders to 40-1/2”. |
| 3. Apply the border to the quilt top evenly. |
| 4. Fullness and/or puckers within the borders cannot always be quilted out. We try our best to work in some fullness, but cannout guarantee thta puckers and tucks will not be sewn in. Please, just remember, the flatter your quilt top lays, the better your finished quilt will look. |
Preparing the Quilt Top
- Make sure all of your seams are secure and your threads are clipped. Unclipped threads will show through lighter fabrics.
- Press all seam allowances to leave the least bulk at the seams
- Mark the top edge of your quilt top with a safety pin
- Press your quilt top and fold it gently.
Preparing the Quilt Back
- Quilt backing should be quilt quality material. (A Sheet or blanket is not recommended).
- Cut off any salvege edges before stitching a seam joining backing pieces. Use at least 1/2” seam allowance. Leave the salvage edges on the outside edges of the quilt backing. This can help to keep the quilt back from stretching when being pinned onto the longarm leaders.
- The size of the quilt back must be at lease 8” wider and longer than your quilt top. I need at least 4” on each edge to attached the quilt to the leaders and side clamps on the longarm.
- You should cut edges of your backing so they are straight and square. This ensures that the quilt will load onto the machine straight. This is important for keeping the design square on your top.
- It is perfered that the back seams will go horizontal and not vertical.
- Mark the top edge of your quilt with a safety pin
- Press your backing. Try to keep your backing from getting creased by folding it gently.
Batting
Batting needs to be 8” wider and longer than the quilt top.
Please note, that when you deliver your quilt, do not pin or baste your quilt together. Please deliver in 3 seperate pieces.
