Longarm Quilting Service
Done on our 10' Babylock Regalia

Now that you've finished a beautiful quilt top, what comes next?  Let us help you complete your masterpiece and give it the finishing touch it deserves.  As easy as 1, 2, 3….

1. Prepare your quilt top

• Check the quilt top to be sure it is square. 

• If your quilt top is wider at one point than at another the pattern of quilting will look uneven on the finished product.  

• Stitch across any seams that meet the outer edge of the quilt. 

• If the outer seam edges are not stitched, when a quilt top is loaded onto the frame for longarming, the seam edges can begin to pull apart. This can cause some strange looking edges on the finished product. 

• For quilts with borders, there are fewer seams that meet the edge, so reinforcing the individual seams is enough--but for quilts with a lot of piecing around the outer edge, running a line of stitching around the entire perimeter of the quilt is faster and easier. 

• Trim excess threads from the back of your quilt top. 

• This is most important if you have light and dark colored fabrics in the same quilt top.  When a dark thread ends up under the light fabric it can show through the quilt top.  Once the quilting is complete you are stuck with these threads wherever they happen to be.  It would be disheartening to put so much effort into getting everything just the way you want it only to get it back from the longarmer with dark threads showing through.  

• Ensure the borders are not wavy and that there is no excess fullness in the center of the quilt top. 

• This often happens when the fabric was stretched while being sewn.  When the fabric relaxes back to its natural state the seam can look wavy or baggy.  This can result in small folds getting trapped in the stitching as it is quilted.   

• Leave off (or remove) all embellishments until the quilting is finished.  

• A quilt top cannot be quilted if there are buttons, lace, or other loose items attached to it.  These items can cause broken needles, which will damage the quilt top.

• Iron the quilt top thoroughly as you piece to make sure all seams lay flat.

• Ironing before you bring in the quilt for longarming will prevent a $50 surcharge. Creases in the quilt top can cause problems when they end up permanently sewn into the finished product.  Fold the ironed top carefully and hang on a hanger to bring to the shop. 

   

2.  Select or provide your batting 

• Batting must be 8 inches wider and 8 inches longer than the quilt top to provide 4 inches on each side of the quilt top when it is loaded on the frame. 

• If you choose to bring your own batting, it must be clean and cut to the correct size.   However, we can supply the correct batting, if desired.

• Do not bring high loft batting.  Dream Cotton or Warm & Natural batting give the best results. 

See Our Batting Selection Here 

3. Select or provide your backing fabric

• The backing fabric must be 10 inches wider and 10 inches longer than the quilt top to provide 5 inches on each side of the quilt top when it is loaded on the frame.
  • The extra backing fabric is called overage and is  necessary because the quilt needs to be quilted to the very edge.  Often the quilting pattern will extend several inches beyond the edge of the quilt top.  This is especially important if the quilt is slightly out of square or stretches a bit when loaded onto the frame.  

• Ensure that the backing is square. 

• This helps the longarmer to get it loaded onto the frame straight. 

•  You can select from Marietta’s 108” wide back fabric, or use standard width fabric to piece for your backing.  

• If piecing your backing, best practice is to remove selvedges from the seam allowance.

• Leave selvedges on the outer edges of backing for stability on the quilting frame.

• Press the backing fabric thoroughly and place it on its own hanger. 

See Our Selection of Wide Back Fabrics Here

Once you complete steps 1, 2, and 3, bring your quilt, and we’ll walk you through the thread color and quilt design choices.  

Click Here For Available Quilting Designs

Calculating the Cost

Quilting for items less than 2000 square inches is a minimum of $50.00.

If necessary: 

• Quilt prep charge of $50.00

• Quilt Re-work charge of $50.00

• Ironing quilt top/backing charge of $50.00

Calculating the Cost Example: