Welcome to Created by CJ
Longarm Machine Quilting Services
by CJ Tinkle
Russellville, AR ☏ (479) 264-3159 ✉ sales@createdbycj.com
How to Prepare Your Quilt Top for Quilting
QUILT TOP
Please do not embellish your quilts until after they have been quilted. (i.e. buttons, ribbons, etc.)
Mark top edge (direction) of quilt.
Trim all loose threads from the back. Loose threads may show through the top or back.
Seams should be pressed neatly. Seams that are lumpy and going every which direction are difficult to quilt over and can create problems.
Back stitch any seams that come to the edge of the quilt top, and if you have any bias edges on the perimeter of the quilt, please stay stitch them with a 1/8 inch seam. This is very important! Otherwise, your seams may come undone when tension is put on the quilt while mounted to the longarm frame.
Quilt must be clean and free of any odor to prevent transfer to others quilts.
Do not baste quilt. Bring, or send, layers separately.
Pin your name and contact information to your quilt top, backing and batting if supplied. Better safe than sorry!
BORDER TIPS
Perhaps the most common problem encountered by machine quilters are borders with extra fullness that will not lay flat, causing tucks or pleats during the machine quilting, as pictured to the left.
By the time you finish piecing your quilt top, the edge will usually have stretched somewhat, especially if there are any bias pieces on the edge. If you just measure the edges of the top to get the measurement for your borders, you will almost always end up with a quilt that will NOT hang or lay flat. I will do my best to “quilt out” any puffiness, but I can’t guarantee that if your borders are not flat.
To ensure your borders are applied correctly:
- Measure your quilt in 3 places lengthwise: left, right, and center. Add those measurements and divide by 3 to get an average. For example 71 inches +72 inches +70 inches = 213 inches. Divide by 3 equals an average of 71 inches.
- Cut the two side borders to this measurement, in this case 71 inches. Pin border to quilt at each end and center, ease to fit, and pin to distribute any fullness. Sew and press.
- Repeat this process widthwise for top and bottom borders.
- Repeat process for any additional borders.
BATTING & BACKING
Mark top edge of backing fabric if directional.
Cut the backing and batting (if providing your own) 4-6 inches larger than your top on all sides, and trim so that the fabric is square. This will allow the backing to be pinned evenly to the canvas leaders. It also gives the quilter (me) room to quilt all the way to the edge of your top, without running into the side clamps. If it’s a king size quilt, 8 inches is better!
The backing must be square, so it can be pinned to the leaders on the longarm frame. If the backing isn’t square, the quilt will not roll properly, and the end result will be distorted.
If your backing is pieced, the seams should be horizontal, not vertical, or the quilt will not roll up evenly and the quilting may be distorted. The seam creates added bulk when rolling around the take up roller if it’s a vertical seam, creating a “hump” will pulls the center of the quilt more tightly than the sides.
Remove ALL selvages if you have to seam the back, both from seams and along the edges.
Printed backings enhance the finished quilt and will help hide any “starts & stops” necessary when changing threads and bobbins.
If you pre-washed the fabrics in your quilt top, then also pre-wash your backing.