How to prepare your quilt for the longarmer

  1. Prepare your quilt top. Trim any loose threads. Press your quilt until it is as flat as can be. Check the edges for seams that are coming undone. Baste around the edge at 1/8 inch if necessary to keep everything together. Square it up.

  2. Mark the top edge of the quilt if your quilt is directional. A safety pin or a sticky note with a safety pin is great. How do you know if your quilt is directional? When you go to show off your quilt top, do you always look for that one edge that should go up? It’s directional and you know which edge is up. Just want it quilted the long way instead of across? Please let me know.

  3. Choose your batting. You can bring your own or buy from me. The higher the quality of your batting, the better your quilt will be. Your batting must be at least 4 inches larger on all sides than your quilt top. Can you have two layers of batting? Yes, and it makes quilts look amazing because the quilting becomes more pronounced.

  4. Prepare your backing. Your backing must be at least 5 inches larger on all sides than your quilt top. Longarm machines need space to move around the clamps that we use on the sides. Square up your backing. Longarms need straight edges to attach to the frame. If you are piecing your backing, try to use horizontal seams.

  • Think about how you will use the quilt. This will often dictate how densely you want it quilted.

  • Think about your design choices for quilting patterns.

  • Think about thread color. Do you want the quilting to fade away or stand out? Do you want more than one color thread?

  • Ask questions. An educated client is a happy client.