Machine Quilting
Service
The time you take to prepare your quilt for quilting is well spent to achieve the best result:
PREPARING YOUR QUILT TOP
Press all of your seams well during the piecing process, ensuring that they do not twist
Clip all loose threads from the back, especially dark threads on light fabrics
Ensure your borders lay flat.
Fullness that is pieced into the quilt may not necessarily be able to be quilted out.
YOUR BACKING
Your choice of backing is very important. Please use a quality 100 cotton backing fabric for your quilt. A weight similar to your top produces the best results.
Many backing fabrics are now available as "widebacks" ranging from 90" to 110" wide. There is no need to remove your selvedges if you use these wide fabrics. All excess will be returned to you.
COLOUR
Keep in mind that the thread choice for the quilt top will be the same for the bottom thread.
PATTERN
Small busy prints will `hide' the quilting on the back of the quilt. All over patterns can look great on a plainer fabric making a `reversible' effect on the quilt.
SIZE
The backing should be a minimum of 6 inches wider and 6 inches longer than your quilt top.
This is to allow for the backing to be pinned onto the rollers, to allow supporting at the sides and for some taking up of fabric into the quilt. If in doubt, leave it bigger and I will trim it to size.
JOINS on BACKING
Remove all selvedges
1/2 " (1.5 cm) seam allowance
Use a very narrow zig zag instead of a straight stitch if you have to piece your backing as this will have more 'give'.
Press seam allowance open .
SQUARING
The backing piece needs to be squared off at the top and bottom as it will be attached to roller bars. If the edges are not square, the quilt will be distorted due to the backing fabric being pulled irregularly.
WADDING/BATTING
If you supply your own wadding/batting it should be a minimum of 6 inched wider and longer than your quilt top.
I also have 1.5m & 2.4m wide wadding/batting in stock, usually Matildas Own 60/40 Wool Poly blend which quilts up softer and with a slightly loft than cotton wadding.
