Preparing a Quilt for Machine Quilting

Note: Proper preparation of your quilt top will result in a better finished quilt and can save you money. 

· Remove any selvage edges from your quilt and backing. Selvages are thicker than your fabric and will cause distortion in your quilt.

· Press quilt top well (from the back side of the quilt), making sure all seam are properly pressed.  Proper pressing during quilt construction will make the final pressing simple to do. (Quilt top must be clean, pressed, and threads clipped.)

· Backing seams should be pressed open.

· Batting and backing must be at least 6—8 inches wider and 6—8 inches longer than the quilt top. (This would be 3—4 inches larger than your quilt all the way around.)

· Check for any loose threads or open seams. Trim as many threads as possible from quilt top and back. (Note: dark threads can show through the quilt top in lighter areas. Holding your quilt top up to a light will help you to see these better so they can be trimmed.)

Stay stitch around top and/or backing where there are open seams to prevent the seams from becoming loose while quilting.

· DO NOT baste or pin the quilt layers together—this in not necessary for longarm machine quilting since each layer is loaded separately onto quilt rollers.

· DO NOT add any embellishments to the quilt until after it is quilted.

· If your quilt and/or quilt back is directional, make sure you indicate this by pinning a note to the top of the quilt and/or backing.

· Fold the quilt top carefully.