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What to do
& how to do it!
My Studio is
SMOKE-FREE & PET-FREE, not even a mouse can be found. Your quilt
top is important to me. The better the quilt top is prepared, the
better the finished result will be. In order to guarantee the
highest quality and satisfaction in the finished product, please
consider the following as you prepare your quilt for quilting.
Do not baste
or pin the quilt layers together. This is not necessary for longarm
machine quilting, as they are loaded separately onto the rollers.
Backing
Select
backing fabric with the quilting thread color in mind. I have found
the best choice for backing fabric is a printed 100% cotton that
matches or coordinates with the front.
Cut the
backing fabric a minimum of 4" larger than the quilt top on all
sides. For example if the quilt top is 70" x 50" the
backing should be 78" x 58" Please have backing squared
with seams pressed flat and selvages removed.
Batting
I have a
quality selection of Hobbs and Warm and Natural batting available
for purchase. Purchasing rolled batting is very cost efficient for you
and it is much easier to work with. The batting that you purchase in
the package is full of wrinkles and sometimes has thin patches in it
that you cannot see until you unroll the package.
I also have
economical 3 and 5 ounce 100% polyester for quilts that will get a lot of
use.
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The batting
needs to be at least 4" larger than the quilt top on all sides.
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Batting choices
will greatly affect the appearance of your quilt. Cotton batting
gives a smoother, flatter look and polyester batting has more texture
or "poof".
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Select a quality
batting that can be quilted 2" - 3" or more apart.
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If you do not
want the old puckered quilt look after washing your quilt,
pre-shrink your cotton batting or use one that is pre-shrunk.
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If you use
polyester, allow an extra 10 inches in length and choose a bonded
batting. Unbonded, traditional polyester battings are too delicate
for handling on the Longarm machine.
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For darker
fabrics (black, dark blue, etc.) a black or a
"non-bearding" batting is suggested so the batting doesn't
migrate through.
The Secret to Perfect
Borders
You have gone to
all the expense and hard work of making your beautiful quilt top. Now is
not the time to sacrifice the look of the frame of your quilt by having
ill fitted borders. I am all for shortcuts and it may be easier to cut a
long strip of fabric, sew it on and then cut the excess off but please
don't do that. This will often create flared borders.
OK, here's the
secret to make sure your borders are attached perfectly. Measure the
length of your quilt top side to side in three places (top, middle and
bottom). Add them together and divide by 3. Now you have the
actual length of the quilt. Cut that length of fabric, then fold the
border in half to find the center, mark, then fold in half again to find
quarters and mark again. Do the same with the quilt top. Pin border to the
sides of the quilt top matching these marks.
Now measure the
width of your quilt top side to side in three places (top, middle and
bottom) including the borders you just added. Add them together and divide
by 3. Now you have the actual width of the quilt. If you do not do this to
your borders, your quilt may not be square and you will have dog ears -
corners are wider than center. This does take some
extra work but I know you will be pleased with the results.
Note: Borders with cornerstones should be cut to the length and width of
quilt top using these measurements, and then the corners added with the
third and fourth border strips.
Fullness &
Puckers
If there are
rippled borders on your quilt I will use utmost care as I quilt, with your
understanding that pleats or puckers may be impossible to avoid. The
quilting process can hide some of those errors but probably will not make
them look perfect.
Quilt Top
Preparations
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Check for any
seams that are not properly caught in the 1//4" seam allowance.
These could come apart when the top is on the rollers.
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Have seams well
pressed (spray sizing helps but do not iron the fabric out of shape)
and clip threads that would cause "varicose veins" under
light fabric areas.
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Be sure that all
the seams that come to the edge of the quilt are backstitched. When
placed on the longarm machine rollers and rolled taught, edge seams
can come loose if not well reinforced.
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Indicate the top
and bottom of the quilt clearly if there is a difference.
Thoughts about
Mailing Your Quilt Top
For added
protection it is a good idea for you to photograph and insure your quilt
top. If it's not photographed and insured, you will have a difficult time
recovering any of the money on it should it get lost. Before mailing,
place your quilt top in a plastic bag.
When labeling your
box to ship, do not list the word quilt on the outside. I ask that you use
this address format:
FFLQ
Vicky Van Houten
4714 Waukegan Drive
Rockford, Illinois 61108
I feel this ensures a safer
arrival of your special quilt.
   
  
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