How to prepare your Quilt Top AND BACKING
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Getting Started:
After you fill out the “book your quilt” form, you will need to prepare your quilt top and quilt backing. No need to baste or create your own quilt sandwich, this will be included in all edge to edge, semi-custom and custom quilting, free of charge!
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Quilt Backing:
I require your quilt backing to be 4” extra ON ALL SIDES. Here's an easy way to remember: Four-for-four! For example, if you have a quilt top that is 60" x 80", your backing should measure at least 68" x 88". It can be bigger, not smaller.
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If you need to piece your backing, you will have best results with a horizontal seam. I understand fabric is sometimes directional and therefore a vertical seam is unavoidable, however horizontal seams are best when possible. Pressing your seams open is also best (this is for the backing fabric only… you can press your quilt top seams to the side or open depending on your preference). If a vertical seam is a must and unavoidable, please let me know and we can discuss options.
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Remove pet hair and loose threads.
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Backing must be squared up in order to load onto my machine properly. This means no uneven edges. The backing must be pressed as well.
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Extra fees may apply if I need to put extra time and effort into getting your quilt ready to load. If you have questions, I’m happy to walk you through the process.
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Quilt Top - TIDY UP!
Press your top so that seams lay flat and the top is ready to load. Clip stray threads or raveling fabrics as best as you can. You might not be able to get them all, but to prevent dark threads from shadowing through your quilt top, please don't skip this important step!
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Don’t forget to trim or square up your top! This ensures proper alignment on the frame for best results.
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Extra fees may apply if your quilt top is not pressed.
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Quilt Top - Take a VICTORY LAP (optional):
I will not be picky about this one, but it makes a huge difference, especially if you have a lot of piecing on the bias. Simply stitch the full perimeter (of your top only) at about an eighth of an inch from the edge to ensure no outer seams try to come undone while on the frame. You can also achieve this same effect by backstitching the outer seams when piecing your quilt top.
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Disclaimers:
I use techniques to help ease fullness into the quilting and will do everything I can to smooth and flatten fullness, but sometimes puckers / fullness cannot always be quilted out and excessive fullness may cause a squared quilt to no longer be square.
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