Longarm Quilting

Machine quilting, or longarm quilting, is done using a large industrial type sewing machine which sits on wheels on a track. The machine is hand guided and can move in a full 360° circle as it stitches thousands of stitches per minute. Each quilt Top and Backing is attached to rollers and, with batting in between, is "rolled up" as each portion is quilted. Longarm quilting is not computer generated, so each quilt is unique. Simple patterns may take a few hours but custom work can literally take days.

Preparing Your Quilt for Machine Quilting ~ Tips and Guidelines

Please follow these important steps and guidelines in preparing your quilt top for machine quilting:

• Batting and Backing must be a minimum of 8 inches longer and wider than your Top to allow for proper loading on the machine (i.e., at least 4 inches extra on each side).

• Top, Batting, and Backing must be squared up to load correctly. (Square up before measuring!)

• Trim all loose threads on front and back of Top and Backing to avoid threads showing through.

• Check all seams for loose stitching. Stay stitch any seams along an outside edge of Top or Backing.

• Check for "wavy" borders by laying your quilt flat. Wavy borders may become pleated while quilting.

• Top and Backing should be well pressed, especially the seams. Don't press Top seams open if you want any "stitch in the ditch" work. When pressing, remember dark fabric shows through on light fabric.

• Top edge of the Top and Backing should be marked with a safety pin if it matters to you which end goes up, and it is not obvious. Other than that, do not pin or baste the quilt.

• If you piece your Backing, cut off selvages before sewing the seam, use ½ inch seam, and press open. You may leave selvages on outside edges of Backing as this will help when loading it on machine. Also, if it matters to you, please indicate where you want the seam to fall.

• If you aren't already a "pre-wash" convert, consider pre-shrinking all material before cutting/ assembling your quilt. This will avoid "bleeding" of fabrics (particularly reds) and ensure an even shrinkage across all fabrics in Top and Backing.

• Using bed sheets for Backings is not recommended.

• Don't scrimp on Batting. Cheaper versions (without scrim or bonding) often fall apart on the machine or poke out of the fabric (called "bearding").

• Fabric with a lot of paint on it (rather than dye) may cause problems during quilting because the paint "grabs" the needle and can cause drag or needle breakage or possibly tearing your quilt.

• If you have a question about the tips, please ask!