Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to do to prepare my quilt top for longarm quilting services?
Press Well: Make sure your quilt top is flat and pressed, especially seams. Avoid folds or bulky intersections.
Trim Threads: Snip loose threads from the back of the quilt top so they don’t shadow through lighter fabrics.
Square the Quilt: Make sure edges are straight and the quilt is as square as possible. Uneven edges can cause problems when loading on the frame.
No Embellishments Yet: Save buttons, beads, or other 3D elements until after quilting.
If I am providing my own batting what should I keep in mind?
Size: Like the backing, batting should be at least 8 inches larger than your quilt top (4” all around).
One solid piece, please do not sew smaller pieces of batting together, this can cause lumps in the quilt and uneven stitching.
Quality: Use a batting that fits your project (cotton, wool, poly, blends). Ask your quilter if they supply batting—they often do.
Does batting color matter?
Yes, for example if your quilt top and/or backing is predominately darker fabrics, with no white, a black batting would prevent batting fibers being seen through the fabric.
For quilts that have white fabrics, a natural colored batting will create a softer toned white, while a white batting will increase the brightness of the white fabrics in your design.
General tips to help your quilter?
No pins or basting of layers. There will be an additional charge if your quilter needs to remove any pins or basting stitches holding the fabric and batting layers together.
Label the top of your quilt, this will help with quilting design orientation.
Check for stretchy or wavy boarders. This can cause puckers that could increase the quilting time or even delay the delivery schedule of your quilt. Tip: If you cut your boarders from the long length of the fabric, especially for the sides of the quilt, this can reduce stretching.
How should I prepare my backing fabric?
Size Matters: Backing should be at least 8 inches wider and longer than your quilt top (4” on each side). Example: if your quilt is 60” x 80”, your backing should be 68” x 88”.
Square It Up: Backing should be squared and free of wavy edges.
Seams: If piecing the backing, use ½” seams (stronger than ¼”). Press them open to reduce bulk.
Remove Selvedges: Don’t leave selvedges in backing seams—they stretch differently.
Wider Width Fabrics: Specially designed backing fabrics in wider widths can save you time and money, as well as saving your quilter time. Quilt backing fabrics come in 104” and 108” options.
Do you have a checklist to help me prepare?
Yes! You can find the document here.