Preparing Your Quilt For Machine Quilting

1. Press the back of your Top well. Please make sure that all seams pressed flat on the back and facing the desired direction. (This is very important if the quilt requires Stitch in the Ditch for stabilization.)

2. Trim all trailing threads, they become unsightly "Varicose Veins"! Not a pretty sight!

3. Stay stitch 1/4" in from the edge around the perimeter of your Top. This keeps the seams from "Popping" and prevents stretching when attached to the canvas on the rollers.

4. Indicate the Top (as opposed to the bottom) with a piece of paper marked "Top" pinned with a safety pin.

5. Gently fold your top & put on a hanger, or if shipping, Gently fold separately from the backing & batting. Please do not baste or spray adhesive the layers together!

Backing

1. Choose ONLY 100% Prewashed cotton for your backing. Please note:We can not accept Poly/cotton sheets, as polyester fabrics cause poor tension & constant thread breakage. They also can "pill" & encourage "bearding" of the batting fibers to the surface of the quilt.

2. Remove all selvages from seams along the edges. Use a 1/2" seam when piecing & press them OPEN.

3. Backing and Batting need to be AT LEAST 4" TO 6" LARGER than the Top on all four sides, and be SQUARE(!), 90 degree corners. If you piece the backing, PLEASE make sure all pieces are the same length!

Borders

Please attach your borders properly. Make your quilt fit the borders, instead of your borders fit the quilt. Measure for your borders through the center of your quilt, & cut your borders to that length. Then mark both the border strip & the quilt edge in eighths. Match the marks & ease the quilt into the borders.

REMEMBER: The better job you do on preparation, the better job we can do for you!