QUILT TOP

• Press your quilt top well. Please make sure that all seams are pressed flat on the back and facing in the desired direction. (This is particularly important if the quilting style you choose requires Stitch in the Ditch for stabilization or effect.)

• Cut off trailing threads from back of quilt. If there are light areas on your top, dark threads can really detract from the finished product.  

• Check all seams and make sure they are caught in the seam allowance -- otherwise they may pull apart when the quilt is stretched on the frame. 

• Remember, borders that do not lay flat may cause tucks, pleats or fullness.  See "Borders" below for more information about attaching borders.

• Stay-stitch 1/4" in from the edge around the perimeter of the quilt top. This keeps seams from "popping" and prevents stretching when attached to the canvas on the rollers.  

• Indicate the Top (as opposed to bottom) with a piece of paper marked "TOP". Attach with a safety pin.

• Fold top carefully.

BACKING

• 100% cotton makes the best backing fabric. Poly/cotton & 100% polyesters stretch differently than cotton and can cause tucks & puckering during the quilting process. Polyester fabrics can also "pill" & encourage "bearding", or migrating of the batting fibers to the surface of the quilt.  

• Please note: Use of sheets or sheeting is strongly discouraged. Some may be fine, but most cause poor tension & constant thread breakage.  My machine does not like them.

• Remove ALL selvages, both from seams and along the edges.
  Please cut your backing AND batting at least 4" larger than your top on all sides.   In other words, both your backing and your batting need to be the length plus 8" by the width plus 8".  If you supply packaged batting, buy a generous size and don't worry about trimming it.  

• I do have a variety of battings available at competitive prices.  See Machine Quilting Services for prices.

• Square your backing.  Fold your backing into fourths (fold in half one direction and then in half the other direction). Square up the piece by cutting raw edges parallel to the folded edges.  

• Press well.   

• Fold carefully..

      BORDERS   

Step 1: Measure the quilt from top to bottom across the center to determine the length of the left and right borders. Join several lengths of border fabric together if needed  and trim off excess length.  Mark the centers of each border strip and the right and left side of the quilt.  Pin each border on carefully, matching the center marks and the ends and easing in any fullness.  Sew border to the left and right sides of the quilt, and press carefully.

Step 2: Measure the quilt from right to left across the center to determine the length of the top and bottom borders. Join several lengths of border fabric together if needed  and trim off excess length.  Mark the centers of each border strip and the top and bottom of the quilt.  Pin each border on carefully, matching the center marks and the ends and easing in any fullness.  Sew border to the top and bottom of the quilt, and press carefully.