Quilt Prep - It's easy when following the check list!
Is the quilt top clean?
Are all excess threads clipped?
Are all seams secured? Please check.
Has your quilt top been squared on all sides?
Has your backing fabric been squared on all sides?
Is the backing and batting 4" larger than the quilt top on every side?
Press all seams open and fold quilt top & backing neatly and place on a hangar.
Are you aware that machine quilting shrinks the quilt?
Mark the top edge of your quilt with a safety pin.
Do not pin or baste the layers together.
Please stay stitch around the quilt edge if there is a lot of piecework to the outside edges.
Note: Any preparations not completed I will have to do before loading your quilt. Therefore, I charge a fee of $10.00 - 20.00 per hour to do these preparations. I prefer that you square your quilt top to your liking.
Quilting Tips & Terms Defined
Pantograph/Edge 2 Edge - One design is stitched from edge to edge and repeated over the entire quilt.
Custom - This includes one or more of the following: use of stencils, block work, stitch in the ditch, echo quilting, feathers and other motifs, background fills and cross hatching.
Batting - You may bring your own batting or I have batting available for purchase. For the best quilting results I do not quilt using pieced batting or some Mountain Mist batting. You have worked hard on your quilt top, it deserves a good bat. Batting should be 3-4" larger on all sides than the quilt top. Batting brands I prefer which provide good results are Quilters Dream, Hobbs, & Warm & Natural.
Backing - 100% cotton fabric provides the best results. Please remove salvage edges before seaming.
Backing must be 8" longer and 8" wider than the quilt top, in other words, 4" larger on each side.
Sheets are not an acceptable backing fabric.
I have found for larger quilts, 108" to 110" wide fabrics are often more affordable and do not require piecing. The local quilt shops often carry a selection of wide fabrics. If you are looking for specialty wide back, I suggest checking www.Christianlanequilters.com. They offer a variety of prints and colors and ship priority mail so they usually arrive within two days.
Thread - I have a variety of thread colors to choose from. There will be an additional charge for specialty threads or color changes. I would be happy to discuss thread options when you drop off your quilt.
Binding - Bring your prepared binding & it can be attached to the front of your top for your hand finishing on the back I also do complete binding, machine sewn on the front and hand sewn on the back. Please see the pricing page for fees.
Basting - This service is for hand quilters that do not want to assemble the quilt sandwich themselves. I will baste the layers together across your quilt approximately 4" apart to stablize it for your hand quilting.
Special/Additional Fees - Preparation work listed on the "Preparing your top" page is necessary in order to load fabrics on my longarm machine and assure a quality outcome. Because this takes extra time to do, I charge a prep fee if it is not done in advance. I have provided a preparation check list to make quilting as quick and affordable as possible.
