- Both your top and your backing should be carefully pressed, with seams pressed open or going to one side. If you are planning to “stitch in the ditch” on your quilt top, be sure to press your seams to one side.
- If you press your seams to one side, press seams toward the darker fabric whenever possible, so they will not show thru your quilt top.
- Check your quilt top, as well as your backing if seamed, for seam breaks. Seam repairs are $5.00 each.
- We need your quilt top, batting, and backing in 3 separate pieces.
- The backing should be 4” larger than your quilt top on all four sides or 8” total larger than your top. The batting (if you supply it) should also be cut the same way.
- If you piece your backing, sew a 1/2″ or 5/8” seam and iron it open so it will lay flat.
- Identify the “top” of your quilt top and the “top” of your quilt backing with a single safety pin, especially if there is a directional pattern to the layout.
- Quilt top and backing should be clipped of loose threads, both front and back. Remember, on lighter fabrics, loose threads on the back side of the top may show thru.
- The selvedge edge is a lovely straight line. BUT, it needs to be trimmed off before sewing your backing fabric. The selvedge edge will shrink differently when washed, which may cause puckering at the seam line.
- When adding a border to your quilt, don’t just sew on a strip and cut off the extra. Fabric stretches and this creates uneven and wavy (wonky) borders. Measure your quilt top across at the top, middle, & bottom; take an average of the three measurements & cut a border strip that length. Find the middle of the quilt top and the border and start pinning together from the middle out. This will help produce flat, smooth borders.
- Consider washing all your fabrics before quilting. This keeps your fabrics from shrinking at different rates after you quilt is completed. This will also help prevent your colors from bleeding.
