Prepping for Long Arm Quilting

[Margo C.]

For any long arm quilters in this forum, I need your advice? I am fairly new to quilting. Can someone please explain the process for "squaring up" a quilt top and backing in preparation for long arm machine quilting. I'm talking in very basic terms, LOL!! I'm really green. I do have a 12.5 square ruler and I did read that they are useful but... what exactly am I looking for when I put that square ruler on the fabric... if the borders of the top and backing veer off a bit, am I supposed to be trimming that??? Won't that then make the border uneven??? I'm just totally confused and am having second thoughts about taking my project to a professional long arm quilter. If I've messed up, I sure don't want an expert seeing it, LOL!!! She requested that I square up both the top and backing on all sides, and of course leave 4-5 inches extra of the backing all around.

[Eileen K.]

Jessamina,
Don't be afraid of sending your quilt out. The fact that you're asking for help shows how much you care that you and your quilter can have a good relationship. You and your Longarmer are partners in your quilts.

Squaring the backing means that it's not just a lopped off piece of fabric sewn together. Do you know how sometimes when you're sewing long seams, the top or bottom piece will be longer? Well, those ends need to be the same length. Make sure you remove the selvages before you sew your center seam. If you are using a wide backing, fold it into quarters to make sure all the edges are even. If they're not, you'll have to use your rotary cutter and ruler to even them up.

Squaring the top doesn't mean cutting it. What it means is that your borders should not be wavy. The quilt top should lay completely flat, and if it doesn't, take off the borders and re do them. Also, when you measure it, the top and bottom measurements should match and the 2 sides should match-at least as closely as possible.

If you don't take the time to do these things and your quilter has to do them for you, she will charge you for it. She doesn't want your quilt to end up with tucks or puckers.

Longarm quilters want to do the best job possible for our customers. Our names go out the door with the quilt. We often say that if a customer likes our work they'll tell two friends but if they don't like it, they'll tell everybody.

Hope this helps,
eileenkny 8)

[Eileen K.]

Thank you so much!! I finally got the courage to actually talk to the long arm quilter who will be working on my quilt. She sent me a very helpful video. It's on YouTube.... I'll paste in here, maybe someone else might find it helpful. Not sure it will work but anyone interested can just copy and paste into the URL address on their internet page:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y49nvZyjkN8

I squared up my backing using this method and it worked out great. I haven't touched the top yet, and glad I didn't. I think it's fine but I will measure per your instructions. The long arm quilter I am working with said when we get together next week she can help me with the top so, I just may leave it alone until she looks at it. I don't want to cut anything and end up ruining it.

[Eileen K.]

Jessimina

Thanks for the link "to square the backing for a quilt" I have been looking for something like that. I will check it out for my next quilt.

Margarita in Auburn, CA

[Eileen K.]

Margarita,
Remember-the amount of fabric needed for a quilt that's being sent to a longarmer is different than for hand quilting. When you square for hand quilting, you don't need nearly as much.
eileenkny 8)

[Tammy G.]

Hi! Just my two cents... I hope it helps even though it's a bit late. Please, please, please, don't be embarrassed by your work. Trust me, we've seen it all, and a lot of it has come from seasoned quilters. If your quilter knows you are new, she/he will probably go out of her way to be sure you understand- it will help you both, on your first quilt, as well any future quilts you will have quilted. Ask your quilter to help or to give further instruction if you are unsure. She wants her work to look as good as you want yours to look, and the more you work together, the more beautiful your quilt will be. Most quilters I know are more than happy to help their customers, and I for one, love to teach people things about quilting that they didn't already know. Just keep asking questions!

Don't forget, we were all new to quilting at one time, so be proud of what you've accomplished. A lot of people don't even make it to the quilting stage- they give up before it gets that far. :wink:

Welcome to the world of quilting! I'm sure your quilt will be absolutely stunning!

By the way, there are bunches of videos on youtube, try doing a search on another quilting subject, you might be pleasantly surprised by all the information available there!

[Eileen K.]

Jessamina, if you're out there-do you have a picture of the completed quilt? We'd all love to see it.
eileenkny