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PREPARING YOUR QUILT FOR LONG ARM QUILTING MAKE SURE YOUR TOP AND BACKING ARE SQUARE. · The edges of your quilt top should be straight and square with seams intact to the edge. Measure the center of the quilt top vertically. Then measure the outside edges vertically. If there is more than a 1-1/2 inch difference, it is possible that your top will have tucks when quilted. Do the same measurements horizontally. The most common reasons for measurement differences are stretched bias edges and mitered corners that leave extra fabric on one or both sides of the miter. Too much easement when piecing blocks can result in small tents or puckers, which will cause tucks when the quilt is quilted. NO BASTING OR PINNING · Leave all your layers separate. PRESS TOP AND BACKING · Iron down all the seams on your quilt top. If the backing is pieced, use a ½" seam, remove the selvage and press the seam open. To remove the factory crease, wash and dry your backing and then iron it. NO EMBELLISHMENTS · The quilt top should be free of embellishments, such as buttons, charms, pins, etc. If I quilt over an embellishment it will damage my machine and your embellishments. You may embellish to your heart's desire when I return your quilt! BACKING AND BATTING · The quilt backing and batting should be a minimum of 5 inches wider than all 4 sides of the quilt top. More than 5 inches is OK. This is to insure that there is plenty of fabric to load the quilt properly and get the proper tension on each side. The backing should have the selvages removed and be squared up. Do not use a bed sheet for the backing. The fabric is too dense and prevents needle penetration causing skipped stitches and thread breaks. · "Busy" pattern backs are recommended. They hide any stitch imperfections, stops and starts and new bobbin reloads. · Please provide a quality batting. A discounted/inferior batting will not quilt well, will jam my quilting machine and will deteriorate over time. Batting suggestions: Warm and Natural, Quilter's Dream or Hobbs. Your quilt shop can help you choose. I can provide the batting at an additional price. Please contact me. BOARDERS · It is very important to take extra care when applying borders to your quilt. If they are not applied properly, you can expect to end up with wavy borders or wrinkles and pleats in the border fabric. IDENTIFY TOP AND BACKING · The tops of your quilt and backing are not always obvious. Place a safety pin with a note attached to the top of each. TRIM LOOSE THREADS · If you have light colored fabric in your quilt top, make sure there are no dark threads under the lighter fabric because it may show through. QUILTING THREAD · My machine prefers to use Superior King Tut (thick) or So Fine (thin) thread for the top and So Fine or Superior Bottom Line for the bobbin. See available thread colors on the thread tab. Please contact me if you don't see the color you want or if you need some assistance choosing. |