Long-Arm Quilting

Quilt Top

-Pressing is important and will help turn out a flat quilt. Press your block seams accurately by having all seams pressed open or to one side. Also, press your quilt top from the front.
-Avoid wavy borders. Please note if borders are wavy your finished quilt will require one or multiple tucks.  Below is information on how to avoid wavy borders.
-Depending on the outside border, you may need to stay stitch it with an ⅛” seam allowance and regular stitch length if you have any seams that run into the outer edges of your quilt to keep your piecing from coming apart. (Ex. piano keys, bias edges) This helps ensure that the seams don’t pop open or get caught in the quilting.  These stitches will be covered after your binding is added.
-Take time to trim small threads and fabric strings because these will show through after being quilted.
-Remove all pins, and do not add embellishments-it is better to add them after the quilting is completed.
-Indicate the top front and top back if there is a preference.

-Do not tack, pin or baste your quilt top to the backing. Gently fold them to bring into the store.

Borders around a quilt top or panel:

-Borders that are not properly measured and applied may appear wavy (slightly too long), or pinched (slightly too short). In either case, quilting will not fix it.

1.     When possible, cut your borders lengthwise of grain (parallel to the selvedges) and this is the strongest line of grain and has the lowest potential to stretch.

2.     When ready to cut and add the borders, lay your quilt flat and measure 3 times through the center of your quilt for the first 2 borders. Cut 2 borders to that average length.

3.     One border at a time, fold lengthwise in half and then in half again. Place pins at these fold points. Do the same for the quilt; fold in half and pin, fold in half again and pin in the 2 folds.

4.     With rights sides together, pin the border to the quilt matching the pins. Also pin the ends of the border to the quilt.

5.     There is sometimes extra fullness on the quilt top or the border. Whichever side has the most fullness, place it towards the feed dogs when sewing. The feed dogs will help ease the fullness; you may need to gently move the fabric up and down near the presser foot to help ease the seam along.

6.     Press your seams to the outside from the right side of the quilt top.

7.     Follow these steps to add all of the borders to your quilt, including top and bottom borders.

Quilt Backing:

-We offer a limited selection of wide back (108” or 118” inches wide) for purchase, or you can supply your own backing.

-Make sure to allow at least 4” extra on all sides due to the way the quilt gets loaded onto the machine.  Measure your finished quilt top and add at least 8” to the top and sides.

-It is fine to use a pieced backing or extra wide fabric backings.  Sheets are not recommended nor appropriate to use as quilt backings.

When using a pieced backing:

-Stitch your backing with a ½” seam allowance and press open.
-Square your quilt back. This is essential for the proper loading of the quilt.  One piece should not be longer than the others.

When using a wide backing:

-The backing needs to be square.  When purchasing a wide back fabric, tear do not cut the backing.  This is recommended as I have seen backings from the most reputable manufactures being off square up to 4”.  It is just too hard with the width of fabric to have it folded and wrapped on the bolt square.  If the backing is not square the quilt may not lay nice after being quilted.

Batting
-It’s now time to select the fluffy and warm part of your quilt. There are many types to choose from, each with unique qualities and factors to consider when deciding which one is best for you. We are happy to help guide you with this. We offer several different types of quality batting that you can buy off the roll in your own custom size. If you would like to provide your own batting, please make sure that it is made specifically for the long-arm quilting machines. You are spending money to have it professionally quilted, so be sure to select a batting that will turn your work into a special keepsake.

-If your backing is a very dark fabric, please consider a black or gray batting. Longarm machines require the use of very large needles, and even with the sharpest needle in the world, some batting may poke through to the back. To avoid white dots here and there showing through on your backing fabric, a dark batt may be just the answer.

Pricing:

-There is a minimum charge of $45.00 regardless of the design choice. 

-Edge to Edge quilting fee is $.02 per square inch.  

-To estimate the price of quilting you will measure the width and length of your quilt top. If your quilt is 72 inches wide and 84 inches long you would do the following:  72x84=6048 square inches.  Then multiply by .02. So 6048x.02=$120.96.

-Sewing your Backing fabric together is $10.00 per seam.

-Adding "salvage leaders" to your backing fabric is $10.00 per leader. (This happens when the backing fabric is not at least 8 inches longer and 8 inches wider than the quilt top).

-If you mail your quilt top and back to me, the return shipping charge will be added to your invoice.

​-If you have a firm due date, please let us know. Rush fees may apply.

​Normal Turnaround: 4-6 weeks