Preparing for Your Longarm Quilting Job

  There are many things you can do to prepare for your longarm quilting job to ensure the vision you have your quilt is met and done as quickly as possible.  If you have a deadline for your quilt, you can call ahead to schedule the quilting date. 
Otherwise you can plan on a 4 to 8 weeks wait time.

Prepare your Quilt

#1  The first thing you can do is to sew your quilt to the best of your ability.  Quilting is a learned skilled.  If you feel you need more quilting skills in your "tool belt" consider taking Quilting 101 from Jackie.  A well-made quilt ALWAYS longarms better!

#2  Cut long sewing threads off the back (don't worry about fabric frayed threads).

#3  Check the top for fabric threads or sewing threads that may be peaking through the seams - carefully clip those off

#4  Sew a scant 1/8" seam across all those seams that are along the outside edge of the quilt.  Sometimes, with just a gentle pull while loading onto the longarm, these seams can come undone.  That little seam will prevent that from happening.
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Chamomile - a Pantograph
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Design drawing for a free-motion longarm quilt job

Design Ideas

Pantographs are an all over edge-to-edge repeating design.  I have several hundred to choose from with sewn examples in my shop when you come with your quilt.  This is the most economical option for longarm quilting.

A custom free-motion design for your quilt takes thought on your part.  Think about what your vision is for your quilt.  Look at my pinterest pages on the longarm board.  Free motion quilting takes more time, but the results are indeed stunning and unique.

Backing Fabric

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104" - 120" wide BACKING FABRIC can be purchased.  The only thing you have to do then is wash and dry it before you bring it to me.  If you take it out of the dryer a little before it is totally dry and fold neatly, there shouldn't be too many wrinkles.  Don't worry about the frayed edges!

The BACKING FABRIC should be at a minimum of 8" wider than the entire quilt.  I usually recommend you buy 10" - 18" more than the width of your quilt.  The larger the quilt, the wider this margin should be and 18" for a quilt over 90" wide is not too much extra!.  This fabric is folded twice on the bolt and can be very crooked.  As I straighten all backings before I use it, sometimes I've seem as much as 8" lost on both sides just to make it straight.  If there is leftover fabric, it'll always be useful to you in another quilt.

If you buy regular width fabric, the same ideas apply.  You will have to sew the pieces together to have adequate width.  Again, the backing should be at least 8" larger than the quilt top on all sides.

Batting

I offer Hobbs 80/20 Premium Cotton batting and Hobbs 6 oz. Polyester batting.  The cotton, being a natural fiber, is cooler and is a lower loft batting.  The polyester is a much warmer batting and has a higher loft.  I prefer using my own batting versus customer batting as I am set up for that.  When you bring your own batting, many times I have to reset my tension, which takes more time.  Price-wise, you may come out ahead with my batting because I only use the amount needed for your quilt, versus you buying a particular size and having a lot of left over.  I do give you any left over from the batting I use for your quilt.