Quilting Resources

Here are some tips on how to get your quilt ready for the Long Arm Quilter, or the quilt show. 

1> Always iron your top and back before you quilt your quilt. Creasing is hard to get out as your quilt is getting quilted. 

2> Cut the threads on the back of your quilt before you quilt your quilt. The little dark threads will show under your light fabric. It may not be fun, it but end result is worth it!

3> If you are planning on sending your quilt of for someone else to quilt it, put a little note on your quilt to indicate which side is up on your front and backing, just in case your fabric is directional and your quilters didn't notice this. 

4> Make sure you measure your quilt before you put on your borders, make sure all borders are the same size, and pin them on before you sew them on. If you sew and cut your borders to size, it will wrinkle your borders and it will not look right.  Sew it with the larger fabric on the bottom, lay your border on the top. 

5> If your quilter asks you to make your backing larger by at least 4 inches on the top and bottom, and 4 on each side inches bigger than your top, please make sure it is at least 4 inches. The extra fabric is needed for your quilter to load the quilt onto the machine. Also, your top may stretch a little during quilting and it would be sad if the backing will not cover your whole quilt. 

6> Minky has a stretch to it, and sometimes it can only be loaded one way, so make sure you have the right length if you choose minky as a backing. Also, some minky might slightly pull into the quilt, the higher texture, the more likely this will happen, but your quilt will be nice and cozy!

7> If you have a quilt for the front and the back, know that lining those up is really hard to do, due to stretch and not being able to see the back while quilting.  It may not be as perfect as you imagined it would be. Also, remember that your quilters is looking at your top while quilting and not your bottom. 

8> Your quilter wants your quilt to look amazing when done, call them before to ask for advice if you are not sure before you bring your quilt over to have it quilted. 

9> Batting makes difference. 80/20 tends to not shrink as much as 100% cotton. Some people like the light weight of polyester. Some people like the quilting to be more pronounced by layering 2 layers of batting.  Your batting will also have an indication of how close it needs to be quilted, in order for it to not bulk up inside in your quilt and make your quilt lumpy over time. 

10> Your quilter may not want you to bring your own thread. Please contact them to ask if they will accept your thread. Your quilt usually looks best when the bottom and top thread are the same color and the same brand of thread. Take this into consideration when asking your quilters about which colors you prefer they use. 

11> If you have a specific idea or pattern or feel that you want your quilt to have, make this known to your quilters when you meet with your quilter. Taking a few minutes to discuss this prior to them taking in your work, will make sure you are on the same page with one another. 

12> When you prepare your binding, think about how thick your quilt will be. You can make your binding wider than 2,5 if you want, you may chose to cut binding at 2 3/4 inch. Just this little bit may make a difference.