How to Prepare Your Quilt

Quilt Top

• Press your quilt top well. Make sure that all seams are pressed flat.
• If your quilt has been designed with a top/bottom direction, indicate the top of your quilt with a marked piece of paper attached with a safety pin.
• Trim all trailing threads. Long threads on the back of your top can show through (especially on light fabrics) and may cause trouble during the quilting process.
• Check for loose seams at the edge of your quilt top. Especially if your edge is pieced (anything that has a lot of seams), stay-stitch a scant 1/4" from the edge around your quilt top. This will stabilize and prevent those seams from pulling apart.
• Tucks and Fullness: If there is too much fullness in your quilt, it will most likely result in a rippled look in your borders. Please understand that we will do our best when working with your quilt though puckers or pleats may be impossible to avoid.

Quilt Back

• Choose 100% cotton for the back of your quilt. Make sure that it is squared and pressed well.
• Remove all selvages from the seams and along the edges.
• Be sure your back and batting is 8" longer and 8" wider than your top. For example: if the top is 60"x80" then your back should be at least 68"x88".
• If your backing has a top, mark it with a piece of paper attached with a safety pin.
• When choosing a backing, consider the possible quilting thread color. It is best to choose a backing that is similar to the color of the quilting thread. This usually means that it will blend with the colors in the top of the quilt.
• We carry a selection of wide backs. Contact us to check what is available.

Batting

We offer a variety of battings for convenient purchasing. Our most popular are Warm and Natural, Warm and White, and Heirloom Cotton battings. If providing your own batting, be sure that it is 8" longer and wider than your quilt top. Purchasing rolled batting is preferred to the packaged batting. Packaged batting has a lot of wrinkles and may have thin spots when rolled out. When selecting a batting, consider what the finished look is that you desire. For example, do you want a flat look, a puffy look, or an old fashioned wrinkled look?

Binding

We offer binding services. Extra fabric must be provided for binding. Usually 1.25 yards will make enough binding for a queen size quilt. All unused materials that you send to us will be returned to you.