Guidelines for Preparing Your Quilt Top and Back For Machine Quilting

The following are my guidelines for preparing your quilt top and back for machine quilting. If you follow these guidelines, we can both have a wonderful experience in quilting your quilt top.

* Your quilt top must lie flat on its own - no puckering or flaring. These are piecing issues and cannot be corrected with quilting.

* Your quilt top must be free of embellishments. This includes buttons, crystals, stuffed animals, baseball cap visors, and anything else that is not cloth or thread. (Yes, I know a fellow quilter who received a top with these things on it!) Wait to add the embellishments until after your top has been quilted. If your top arrives with embellishments, it will be returned to you unquilted.

* To prevent your quilt top from pulling apart when it is loaded onto the frame, please backstitch your seams when attaching your final borders or sew a line of stitching around the perimeter of your quilt about 1/8" from the edge. If your final border is pieced, it is vital that you stitch around the perimeter to keep it from pulling apart.

* 100% cotton fabrics are recommended for the quilt back. Flannel backings are perfectly acceptable (and make for a very cozy quilt).

* Your quilt back must be fully prepared, with any seam lines backstitched and excess material in the seams removed. Seams should be pressed open to reduce bulk. A ½" seam allowance is recommended to add stability. Your backing must measure at least 8" wider and 8" longer than your quilt top. When loading the quilt back onto the frame, seams will be oriented to span the frame, so keep this in mind when piecing your backing. Backings that are not prepared properly will be subject to an hourly service fee so I can prepare them properly, or your quilt will be returned to you unquilted. I will contact you in this case, so there are no unpleasant surprises.