Preparing Your Quilt Top and Backing for Longarm Services

Careful preparation of your quilt top and backing can contribute to the overall stability and beauty of your project. These simple instructions are important to ensure the best possible results:
Seams need to be 1/4" and well-pressed (to one side or open, depending on colors and the quilting design desired), and loose threads need to be trimmed. A good example is shown in the photo to the right (some seams are pressed open to decrease bulk, and some are pressed toward the darker fabric to prevent darker fabrics from showing through lighter ones).
If you want stitch-in-the-ditch, ALL seams must be pressed to one side, otherwise, stitch-in-the-ditch can break your seam thread. If you have areas where seams are not sewn correctly (the same direction on one end as the other), ditch quilting has to shift over to the lower fabric and will not have as pristine an appearance as it would if all seams are correctly sewn and pressed.
I will to do a light pressing if necessary, but there is a charge for heavy pressing.
Backing fabric needs to be 5 inches or more wider than the top on every side (i.e., measure the top and add 10 inches to the width and 10 inches to the length for an appropriate size backing). I use grips rather than pins, so backing fabric needs to be slightly larger than it would if pins are used.
Trimming loose threads from the front and back of your quilt top will prevent dark threads from showing through lighter fabrics.
Please do not pin or spray baste. Each layer (top, batting and backing) is loaded onto the longarm separately.
If your quilt and/or backing has a "top" and "bottom" that's not obvious, please pin a note indicating which is which.
It's important remove all selvages from inner seam areas. The selvage is woven tighter than the rest of the fabric and may cause puckering and will shrink at a different rate. It is good to leave selvages that are on the outer edges of the backing (the densely woven selvage edge is helpful for stabilizing backing fabric onto the longarm machine -- it is the outer edge that does not get quilted and will be cut off when during trimming).
Ideally, the quilt top and backing are square and lay flat. If not, puckering may occur during quilting (pleats can decrease the appearance of puckering, but it's preferable to avoid such adjustments if possible). Cutting borders lengthwise from a bolt of fabric may require more yardage but it reduces waves in border fabric.
If you choose to provide your own batting, please make sure the batting is 4 or more inches larger than the top on all sides. Not all batting is created equal, and some brands are not recommended for longarm quilting. I recommend Hobbs or Winline batting, and I keep 80/20 blend cotton/poly batting on hand. I also have access to 100% cotton or wool batting. Warm and Natural tends to beard on APQS Millennium machines and is NOT a preferred batting.
A 1/4" stay-stitch around the edge of your quilt top can help prevent stretching, especially if borders are pieced. Edge seams tend to open if not secured.
Please click here to submit any questions you may have. You may also call 713.301.2459 or send a text to that number.
Seams need to be 1/4" and well-pressed (to one side or open, depending on colors and the quilting design desired), and loose threads need to be trimmed. A good example is shown in the photo to the right (some seams are pressed open to decrease bulk, and some are pressed toward the darker fabric to prevent darker fabrics from showing through lighter ones).
If you want stitch-in-the-ditch, ALL seams must be pressed to one side, otherwise, stitch-in-the-ditch can break your seam thread. If you have areas where seams are not sewn correctly (the same direction on one end as the other), ditch quilting has to shift over to the lower fabric and will not have as pristine an appearance as it would if all seams are correctly sewn and pressed.
I will to do a light pressing if necessary, but there is a charge for heavy pressing.
Backing fabric needs to be 5 inches or more wider than the top on every side (i.e., measure the top and add 10 inches to the width and 10 inches to the length for an appropriate size backing). I use grips rather than pins, so backing fabric needs to be slightly larger than it would if pins are used.
Trimming loose threads from the front and back of your quilt top will prevent dark threads from showing through lighter fabrics.
Please do not pin or spray baste. Each layer (top, batting and backing) is loaded onto the longarm separately.
If your quilt and/or backing has a "top" and "bottom" that's not obvious, please pin a note indicating which is which.
It's important remove all selvages from inner seam areas. The selvage is woven tighter than the rest of the fabric and may cause puckering and will shrink at a different rate. It is good to leave selvages that are on the outer edges of the backing (the densely woven selvage edge is helpful for stabilizing backing fabric onto the longarm machine -- it is the outer edge that does not get quilted and will be cut off when during trimming).
Ideally, the quilt top and backing are square and lay flat. If not, puckering may occur during quilting (pleats can decrease the appearance of puckering, but it's preferable to avoid such adjustments if possible). Cutting borders lengthwise from a bolt of fabric may require more yardage but it reduces waves in border fabric.
If you choose to provide your own batting, please make sure the batting is 4 or more inches larger than the top on all sides. Not all batting is created equal, and some brands are not recommended for longarm quilting. I recommend Hobbs or Winline batting, and I keep 80/20 blend cotton/poly batting on hand. I also have access to 100% cotton or wool batting. Warm and Natural tends to beard on APQS Millennium machines and is NOT a preferred batting.
A 1/4" stay-stitch around the edge of your quilt top can help prevent stretching, especially if borders are pieced. Edge seams tend to open if not secured.
Please click here to submit any questions you may have. You may also call 713.301.2459 or send a text to that number.