Tips for Preparing your Quilt Top for Machine Quilting
In order for your quilt top to be quilted free of puckers and pleats, there are a few steps that you, as the piecer, can follow:
It is important to have your quilt top as flat as possible. The seams should all be pressed well and not twisted. This prevents lumps. The back of your quilt top should be as neat as the front.
Your quilt top should be square. Fold in half lengthwise and the edges should line up. Then fold the quilt crosswise. Those edges should also line up. If you edges are wavy or uneven you have either stretched your borders, or you have not measured properly.
You should check the borders by measuring the center of the quilt and then the borders separately. You probably will have to remove your borders and make the necessary adjustment to their length. I can make minor adjustments to correct some flaws, but basically, the quilt will come off the machine the way it went on the machine.
Loose threads on the back of your quilt top should be clipped, especially if you quilt top has distinct light and dark colors. Dark threads will show through the lighter fabric.
If you have washed the fabric used in your quilt top, the backing fabric should also be washed and pressed before it is prepared for backing.
If you are going to piece your backing, you should remove the salvage. Make the backing at least 8 inches larger than the measurement of the quilt top.
Press the quilt top and the quilt backing before bringing it to me to quilt. If there are large wrinkles or creases in the fabric, they will probably still be there when the quilt is finished.
Contact me if you have any questions. My goal is to turn out a quilt we can both be proud of.
