Batting
Batting and Backing needs to be a minimum of 6″ wider and 6″ longer than your top. If, for example, your top is 50 x 50, you need batting and backing that is 56 x 56. The extra allows me to have the needed room to attach your quilt to the frame, and you get all the extra back. My preferred batting is Hobb’s Heirloom 80/20 cotton batting. You can supply the batting for your top or get it from me. Please note that if you do bring me batting, there are certain batting types I can not accept as they will not work well on a longarm frame.
Please note: There are some battings that are too fragile for use on the longarm. Please ask me before sending your own batting.
Backing
I carry over 130 different wide back fabrics that are perfect for your project! You can see them all here. You can also bring your own backing in for your quilt if you’d rather do that.
Backing needs to be a minimum of 6″ wider and 6″ longer than your top. Sheets are not the best choice of backing for your handiwork. If you must send a sheet as a backing, ensure that you have washed it in hot water a number of times to ensure it has shrunk as much as it will. If you piece your backing fabric, remove any selvages before you sew the pieces together as they shrink at a different rate than the rest of the fabric and will cause puckers along the seam. Use a seam allowance BIGGER than the standard 1/4″ piecing seam (I like a 5/8″ seam or so). Press the seams open.
Preparation of backing (if needed)- $ 10/seam
Binding
We offer a complete binding service. We will prepare and attach binding to the front of the quilt by machine from fabric you provide and hand-finish it to the back of the quilt. To figure this cost, multiply the cost of the service you want times the total linear inches of the four sides of your top. We ask for one yard of uncut fabric to construct the binding. Please see the prices below to make your binding:
Machine stitching binding to front of quilt only $ .11/linear inch
Machine stitching binding to front and back of quilt $ .22/linear inch
Make binding out of 1 yard of provided fabric $ 25
Needle
There is an $8 new needle and thread charge for each quilt top. This includes around 708 yards of thread (about 3 bobbins worth). Additional thread is $1.50/bobbin.
Thread
Standard thread- First 708 yards included
Variegated thread $ 4.00
Preparing Your Quilt Top for Machine Quilting
- Make sure your quilt top is well pressed and seams are flattened. Seams should be pressed flat not pressed open.
- Trim all hanging threads from the back and edge as much as you can. Those threads will show through light areas of the quilt.
- Quilting does not correct piecing problems. If there is fullness in the center or wavy borders, you may wind up with pleats or puckers. I do my best to correct such problems as I quilt, but I can’t guarantee that I can work out all problems. To avoid wavy borders and pleats, you must make your quilt fit your borders. Measure through the middle of the quilt and cut your borders to that length. You may need to ease the quilt to fit the borders.
- Quilts must be clean and free of offensive odors. ( I reserve the right to refuse Quilts with strong odors so that they may not contaminate the work of other clients and my equipment).
- Identify the top of your quilt and backing with a safety pin if it has a directional print.
- If you want curved corners, please wait until the quilting is finished to cut the curves. Proper attachment of the quilt to the long-arm machine depends on straight, square corners.
Preparing the Backing for Machine Quilting
- The backing fabric should be 100% cotton fabric. I know flat sheets are popular for backings, but I do not recommend them. If you really want to use a sheet, please be sure that the thread count is no more than 180 and wash and dry it at least five times.
- I reserve the right to refuse backings that may cause tension problems or to charge a fee for the extra time necessary to work with such a backing.
- If the backing fabric isn’t big enough, please use a 5/8″ seam to piece the backing. Press the seam open.
- The backing must be at least eight inches larger in length and width than the top.
- Please press the backing fabric.
- A busy fabric backing can hide stops and starts when doing custom or heirloom quilting
Batting
We carry about 10 different kinds of batting. Price is dependent on the size needed. You may provide your own batting, but we recommend that you choose a good quality batting. Inexpensive battings found in discount stores and big chain fabric stores are thin and uneven. They may cause tension problems during the quilting process. We reserve the right to refuse poor quality batting. We do not accept Mountain Mist brand, Fairfield brand, or the generic brand from JoAnns.
If you bring batting instead of purchasing it, it should be cut to the same width as the backing, but may be longer than the backing.
Please do not baste the quilt top, batting, and backing together. We need all three layers separated so we can attach them individually to the frame.
Your quilt will be insured while in our possession for the cost of the materials ONLY.
