Please make sure of the following before sending your quilt:
+ Make sure your batting and backing are at least 8″ longer and 8″ wider than your quilt top. Larger is okay. This allows for 4″ on each of the four sides when its on the frame (see image above).
+ Horizontal seams are strongly suggested, and the fewer seams the better.
+ I do not quilt “double sided” quilts (i.e. quilt tops as backing). The backing needs to be as few seams as possible, some piecing is okay.
+ Be sure your backing is square. At a minimum the top and bottom of your backing need to be square to each other. If possible have the selvage edge of your fabric be the top and bottom of your backing. See below for more information on squaring backing.
+ Label the top of your quilt top and backing.
+ Press quilt top and backing well and trim loose threads. Be sure seams lay flat, especially at seam joins. These will get another light press once they are in the studio and out of their shipping packaging. For stubborn creases I lightly mist the backing fabric once it’s loaded on the frame with spray starch.
+ The top should be free of embellishments like beads and buttons, unless otherwise arranged.
+ Do not pin or baste your layers together. The top and backing will be loaded independently onto the frame.
+ Sheets are not usually considered suitable backing for quilts because of their high thread count. Send for use at your own risk. If sending a sheet, please unpackage and iron out major creases before packing up for shipment. Washing first will help to loosen creases. Sheet backings will not be pressed before loading, but instead given a light misting of spray starch to loosen stubborn folds/wrinkles.
+ I do not accept Minky, Cuddle, Fleece (or similar materials) as quilt backings.
+When quilting is complete I trim around the four sides of the quilt, approximately 1″ from the edge of the quilt top. Feel free to let me know if you’d like for me to trim it right to the edge of the quilt top. I prefer to leave 1″ around the top so that you may square your top as desired and allow for more “filling” in your binding if so desired.
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Squaring Your Backing
1. After you have pieced your backing as desired, fold the backing in half width-wise.
2. Fold your backing in half again, this time in the other direction from the first fold.
3. Your backing will now be folded into quarters. Two sides will have raw edges and two sides will have folds. Make sure the raw edges of the fabric line up as best as possible. They most likely will not line up exactly, and that is why we will be trimming in the next step.
4. With a rotary cutter and large enough ruler, I suggest a 6″ x 24″ ruler, lay the ruler onto one raw edge of your backing. Line up one of the measurement increments on your ruler along the fold of fabric. For example, line up the 1″ line across the ruler with the folded edge of the fabric. Make sure your ruler is very close to the raw edge, but far enough away to give you a clean, straight cut through all four layers. Trim the fabric along the raw edge. You should only be removing a fraction of an inch of fabric. Rotate your ruler and repeat for the other raw edge. If you choose to rotate your fabric as well, do so carefully so as not to disturb your first cut.
Because you used the folds of the fabric to line up your ruler before making your cuts, you backing fabric should now be square. This same method can be used to square up your quilt once it is quilted and back home.