Quilt Preparation Guide

Before sending your quilt for longarm quilting, please take the time to prepare it properly. Good preparation ensures better results, prevents extra charges, and avoids delays. Follow these guidelines to help your quilt shine!

Quilt Top Preparation
Batting Guidelines
Backing Fabric Instructions
Final Checklist

Quilt Top Preparation

Square Your Quilt Top

Ensure that your quilt top is square—this means all corners should be 90 degrees. A skewed or uneven top can lead to puckers and distortions during quilting.

Press Seams Well

Iron your quilt top thoroughly, pressing seams flat and preferably in the same direction. This minimizes bulk and helps achieve smoother quilting results.

Remove Loose Threads

Clip all loose or stray threads—especially dark ones—on the back side of the top to prevent shadowing through light fabrics.

Mark the Top Edge

If your quilt is directional, please mark the top with a small note or piece of tape pinned to the fabric.

Avoid Embellishments

Do not attach buttons, beads, or other embellishments until quilting is complete.

Batting Guidelines

Choose the Right Batting

You’re welcome to bring your own batting or choose from my selection. Batting is sold by the linear inch, so you pay only for what you need. Our inventory includes several types of batting, including the following:

  • Quilter’s Dream Cotton:
    This 100% pure cotton batting is a natural and environmentally friendly cotton.

  • Quilter’s Dream 80/20:
    The perfect blend of 80% high-grade cotton fiber paired with 20% fine denier poly microfiber for a soft, silky batting that drapes beautifully and breathes well.

  • Quilter’s Dream Wool:
    Made with a blend of fine domestic and Merino wool, this wool is scoured and super-washed for superior cleanliness and to eliminate shrinkage, creating an exceptionally soft drape, uniformity, and strength.

  • Quilter’s Dream Bamboo:
    A luxurious blend of velvety Bamboo, luscious silk, strong, silky Tencel®, and soft, stable Cotton. Dream Bamboo’s natural fibers bring you the most desirable qualities of softness, strength, warmth, and breathability with a silky soft drape.

Size Matters

Batting must be at least 3" wider and longer than your quilt top (i.e., 3" extra on each side). For example, for a 60" x 72" quilt top, batting should be at least 66" x 78".

Backing Fabric Instructions

Size Your Backing Properly

Backing fabric should be at least 4–5 inches larger on all sides than your quilt top. For example, a 60" x 72" quilt requires a backing of at least 68" x 80".

Square Your Backing

Ensure your backing is on-grain and square.

Directional Backings

If your backing has a directional print, please mark the top with a note or piece of tape.

Final Checklist

✅ Quilt top and backing are square and pressed

✅ Loose threads trimmed

✅ Backing and batting are 6–10” larger than top

✅ Top edges are marked (for directional quilts)

✅ No embellishments attached

✅ Quilting preferences (thread color, design) are communicated