quilt preparation

Give the entire top and backing a good press before folding. Consider folding them on the bias using the technique shared here to fold your top and backing to prevent deep creases. How to fold fabric on the bias tutorial.  You don’t have to use this method of folding, but it can make the quilting process speedier on my end. 

If your quilt is heavily pieced all the way to the edge, and especially it there are bias edges along the sides (think the edges of triangles) stay stitching helps to keep your top square and true. Shorten your stitch length a tiny bit shorter than usual, and stitch anywhere from an eighth to quarter inch in from the very outside edge of the quilt all around. This stitching will disappear under your binding, but can make a significant difference in the final shape and flatness of your quilt.

Please don’t assume I understand your quilt top exactly as you do. I haven’t spent nearly as much time with it! If your top and/or backing are directional, please indicate someway (pin a note, use some masking tape) which end is up. If you choose a directional quilting design, this will matter!

Give your top the once over for any threads poking up between seams, and clip them, please. I try and catch all the stragglers I can, but it slows the process down, and if I miss them, they occasionally get stitched over and tacked down pretty well. 

I recommend sending your materials enclosed in some kind of plastic sack or bag to protect against possible moisture in transit and then placed in a hard-sided cardboard box. Make sure the box is securely taped and labelled clearly.

Quilt backings need to be square to be properly mounted to the quilting frame. By square, I mean that the corners have to be 90 degree corners, and the opposites sides have to be parallel to one another.

It is important and interesting to note that wideback fabric manufacturers and longarmers nearly all recommend tearing your wideback fabrics. Cutting them with a rotary cutter will not actually lead to a straight edge. It can lead to a VERY wonky edge with one side of the fabric MANY inches larger than the other. Please tear your widebacks… Use this video tutorial to help out.

If you have a seam in your backing, ideally it would run horizontal across the width of your backing. This way when the backing is loaded onto the longarm the seam isn't stressed during the entire quilting process.

I use a 1" seam allowance when I piece my backing and iron the seam open to reduce bulk when quilting. The extra allowance helps ensure the seam lays flat during quilting. 

It is helpful to leave the selvage on your backing. This will help me load the backing with a straight edge.