Preparing Your Quilt

Quick Checklist

If you're an experienced quilter, this checklist provides a quick review before delivery. Detailed explanations for each item follow below.

• ✔ Quilt top has been pressed and all loose threads removed.
• ✔ Borders lie flat and the quilt is reasonably square.
• ✔ All seams, especially along the edges, are secure.
• ✔ The top edge of both the quilt and backing are clearly marked.
• ✔ Backing and batting are the correct size.
• ✔ Backing has been pressed, squared and folded carefully.
• ✔ Batting is suitable for machine quilting.

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Preparing Your Quilt Top

A carefully prepared quilt top helps produce the best quilting results. Taking a few extra minutes before delivery can prevent delays and avoid problems once your quilt is loaded onto the quilting machine.

1. Press Your Quilt

Proper pressing is one of the most important steps in preparing your quilt.

• Press all seams flat and in the direction they are intended to lie. This is especially important where several seams intersect, as bulky seam allowances can be difficult to quilt over.
• Give the completed quilt top a final pressing from the front just before bringing or shipping it for quilting.
• Take care that no pleats or tucks are accidentally pressed into the quilt during this final pressing.
• Using steam is generally preferable, or a product like Best Press or Acorn, although the choice is entirely yours.

2. Check the Construction

Quilting enhances your quilt—it cannot correct construction problems. Before delivery, take a few moments to inspect your work.

• Make sure all seams are secure, particularly those along the outer edges of the quilt.
• Check that all borders lie flat and do not ripple. Fullness or waviness in borders cannot be quilted out.
• Measure the quilt diagonally in both directions. The two measurements should be the same or within approximately one inch of each other. This helps ensure the quilt loads squarely onto the frame.
• Once your quilt has been loaded onto the quilting machine, repairing loose seams is generally not possible. Please double-check them before delivery.

3. Final Preparation

• Trim all loose piecing threads from both the front and back of the quilt. Dark thread tails left beneath light fabrics may become visible after quilting compresses the layers together.
• Mark the TOP of your quilt by using a safety pin, green or blue tape a note labelled "TOP" to the edge that will be at the head of the bed or the top of a wall hanging.
• Fold the quilt carefully to minimize wrinkles during transportation or shipping.

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Preparing Your Quilt Backing

Your backing is just as important as your quilt top. Proper preparation helps your quilt load correctly on the frame and ensures there is enough fabric to complete the quilting without difficulty.

A pieced backing can be an issue and I do not guarantee that it will be pleat free, however I will try my best.

1. Choosing Your Backing Fabric

There is no single "correct" backing fabric. The choice depends on the finished look you want to achieve.

• A solid fabric beautifully showcases the quilting design and can make your quilt appear almost reversible.
• A printed fabric helps disguise the quilting stitches and any small tie-off knots.
• Whenever possible, choose a backing with the same fibre content as your quilt top so both fabrics will wear evenly over time.
• I have successfully quilted fleece, Minky and other stretchy fabrics. These can produce beautiful results, but they are more prone to shifting and may increase the possibility of small tucks or puckering during quilting.

2. Prepare the Backing

• You can leave the salvage on your backing, or remove it, that is a very personal choice. However if you decide to leave it on, you must make sure, you are sewing outside of the salvage. Also, if you remove it, please use a wider seam, like a 1/2", as 1/4" create a ridge and there is nothing there to take the stress at the back. Opening the seam, makes it easier and remove bulk.
• If your backing is pieced, use ½-inch seam allowances for added strength and stability.
• Press the backing from the right side to ensure no pleats or tucks remain in the seams.
• Square the completed backing before bringing it in for quilting.
• Also ensure that your batting has been squared.
• If your backing fabric has a directional print, or if you want seams oriented a particular way, mark the TOP on the right side of the backing.
• Fold the backing carefully to minimize wrinkles during transportation.

3. Make Sure Your Backing Is Large Enough

Extra backing and batting are required so the quilt can be attached securely to the quilting frame.

• For most quilts, both the backing and batting should be at least 6 inches longer and wider than the quilt top (3 inches extra on every side).
• Example: A quilt top measuring 60 × 80 inches requires backing and batting measuring at least 66 × 86 inches.
• Stretch fabrics such as fleece or Minky require additional allowance. These backings should be at least 8 inches longer and wider than the quilt top (4 inches on every side).
• Example: A 60 × 80 inch quilt using a stretchy backing should have backing and batting measuring at least 68 × 88 inches.
• If you pre-shrink your backing fabric, measure it again after pressing to ensure it is still large enough.
• Before delivery, lay the quilt top, backing and batting together to confirm that all three pieces are the correct size.

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Choosing Your Batting

Batting plays a major role in the finished appearance of your quilt. Before making your selection, think about the look and feel you want your completed quilt to have.

• Always choose a quality batting that is specifically labelled as suitable for machine quilting.
• Different fibres produce different results. For example, cotton and wool batting each create a distinctive appearance and texture once the quilt is finished.
• If you're unsure which batting is best for your project, I'd be happy to discuss the options and help you choose one that suits both your quilt and its intended use.

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Don't Worry if Your Quilt Isn't Perfect

Every quilter has looked at a finished quilt top and noticed a seam that isn't quite straight, a point that doesn't quite match, or a border that isn't perfectly flat. That's completely normal.

Over the years I've quilted many "less than perfect" quilt tops, including first quilts, and I've been amazed at how much the quilting transformed the finished project. Watching a quilt come to life on the frame is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

While quilting can enhance the appearance of a quilt, it cannot correct every construction issue. Significant fullness, rippled borders or quilts that are badly out of square may still result in puckers or fullness after quilting.

Careful construction from the beginning will always produce the best results, but don't let the pursuit of perfection prevent you from finishing your quilt. Every quilt tells a story, and every finished quilt is something to be proud of.

If you have any questions about your quilt before bringing it in, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'm always happy to discuss your project and answer any questions before quilting begins.