Quilt Prep
How do I prepare my quilt top?
It all starts with great piecing! Do your best to press and square up as you go and measure before putting on your borders. The more accurate the top, the better the finished product will be. Seams may be pressed open or to the sides, but if it’s extra bulky please press open and make as flat as possible. A clapper, or stream iron and mallet can be very helpful for those quilts with lots of pieces! Check the top for threads that need to be trimmed and get those dark strays from the back as well. We don’t want them peeking through the light colored areas of the top after quilting. It’s also very important to inspect for any open seams in your quilt top.
How do I prepare my quilt back?
I carry a variety of colors and styles of quilt backings (108” wide) for your convenience. If you provide your own backing, it’s best to use a 1/2” or larger seam allowance and press open to reduce bulk. It is best to piece the backing horizontally rather than vertically. Although it is ok to piece your backing with leftovers, the extra bulk/seams on the back can also create puckering issues if not put together well.
Most importantly, please make sure your backing is at least 8” wider and longer than your quilt top. For example, if your top is 50” x 75” please provide backing that is at least 58” x 83”. This will give me an extra 4” on each side for my clamps and for testing tension, etc. Squaring it up so that the opposite sides are parallel and the corners are 90 degree angles is also important. This will ensure that I can load it on my machine correctly and do a great job on your quilt!
May I mail a quilt to you?
Absolutely! Please reach out to me first via email or phone (see bottom of page) to check my turn around time and get my shipping address. Download and print the “Quilting Request” form and include it with your quilt when shipping. Client is responsible for shipping costs.
Do you trim quilts after quilting?
This is included as an extra service for no charge upon request. However, I do charge to trim quilts with minky backing because of the clean up involved.
Do I need to mark the top of my quilt?
Yes, especially if your quilt top and/or backing is directional, please mark the top middle of each with a safety pinned note.