How Large
Should the
Backing & Batting Be?
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The Batting on this quilt extends
about 3" beyond the quilt Top
and the Backing extends about 4".
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Click on any picture to see a larger view.
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Cut the Backing fabric and the Batting 3" to 4" larger than
the quilt top on all sides. For example, if the quilt top is 50" x 60",
the Batting and Backing should measure between
57" x 67" and 58" x 68".
Make sure the Backing fabric is cut straight.
If you've had to piece two lengths together to get it large enough,
make sure they are the same length after sewing the seam.
I need straight edges to pin or clamp the fabrics to the machine.
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Backing Fabric
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The best choice for Backing fabric is a printed
100% cotton fabric that matches or coordinates
with the quilt front. A small print will hide all of the
starts and stops of the quilting.
Large print fabric also works.
Please do not purchase a bed sheet for the backing.
Some of them cause the machine to skip stitches.
Backing fabrics should be pre-washed and pressed.
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Fullness & Puckers
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If there is fullness (or little puckers) where you have sewn your pieces
or blocks together, I may not be able to quilt them out.
The quilting process can hide some of those errors
but probably will not make them look perfect.
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Borders
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Example of blocks set On Point
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If you cut the wrong length for the borders, the outside of
your quilt might be wavy or the quilt center section might poke up.
The secret is to measure through the center of the quilt top, side-to-side.
Have the quilt flat to measure it.
Then cut two border strips to that measurement and
sew them to the top and bottom.
Next, measure through the center top-to-bottom
(including the border strips you just sewed on)
then cut two border strips
to the new measurement and sew one to each side.
BIAS EDGES....YUCK!
When you measure,
be especially careful if your outside edges are on the bias.
It is terribly difficult to get a correct measurement when dealing with bias.
Also blocks "On Point" give the same problem.
The blocks may have On-Grain edges
but when they are On Point, they become bias
and can be stretched when measuring.
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Before Delivering
or Mailing
Your Quilt Parts
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Make sure your quilt top is clean, pressed and loose-thread free.
Trim the loose threads off so they do not show through the top.
Make sure the top is squared off.
If one side is 1 1/2" longer than the other,
I can work some of that in,
but the quilt probably will not end up square
if I don't start with a square.
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Should You Baste Your Quilt
Pieces Together?
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I need three separate pieces - Top, Batting, Backing.
The three pieces are loaded to the longarm machine separately.
Do not baste them together...save that time to read a good book.
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