About Machine Quilting

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About Machine Quilting

How to prepare your quilt for the best results when it is Professionally Machine Quilted

The following is to be used as a guide. It is usual for Professional Machine Quilters to have a waiting list. If you are working on a quilt, and need it quilted by a certain date, it is advisable to advance book to reserve a time slot to have it machine quilted.

Size of Batting and Backing

Both the backing and batting needs to be minimum of 4 inches larger on all sides as the quilt top. This is because the quilt layers are pinned onto large rollers, and held with clamps at the sides. For example if the quilt top measures 60 inches by 80 inches, then the backing and batting needs to measure a minimum of 68 by 88 inches. Please ensure that the backing fabric is square – that is, parallel sides and right angle corners.

Preparing your Backing

Usually the backing will need to be pieced (most frequently with a large seam) to make it large enough. Remove the selvages along the seam line when piecing the backing, and ensure that the seams are not coming apart at the sides. If you choose to have a more elaborately pieced backing please note that it is going to be pinned to rollers, and as each roller is tensioned differently, it is extremely difficult to exactly centre a quilt back. Therefore, a pieced back with a border will not be exactly centered, and may not have the effect that you desired. Unless requested, most will not centre backing. But we can however roughly centre backing (within around two inches) if asked to do so at the consultation.

Choice of backing fabric

For your backing fabric chose 100% cotton, with a similar weight and feel as the quilt top. Fabrics that tend to stretch easily, or pull out of shape are not good choices as backing fabric.

Choice of backing fabric colour

Take into consideration the thread colour you may wish to use on the top of your quilt when choosing your backing fabric colour. Some will use the same colour thread, or threads very similar in both colour and tone, on both the top and on the bottom of the quilt. If you like low contrast choose a backing fabric in colours similar to the thread colour you would like. If you like high contrast then choose a backing fabric in colours different to the thread colour you would like.

Choice of batting

There are many different batting products to choose from. Choose a batting that you like the feel and look of, or be guided by the staff at your favorite patchwork shop. Batting that is difficult for a machine quilter to work with are those which are designed for hand quilting and are softer and tear easily. This batting is difficult to work with because when it is pinned and clamped on the machine care has to be taken that it is not damaged. This may lead to it not being as flat within the quilt as desired.

Preparing your quilt top

Remove all loose threads. Ensure that your piecing is not coming apart. If the border is pieced ensure that the seams are not coming loose at the edges. Check to make sure all pins have been removed from the quilt.

If your quilt top is not flat, some quilting designs are better than others in disguising these bumps and dips. Sometimes if the borders are too wavy it would be better to take them off and re-do them otherwise there may be tucks formed by the quilting. In your consultation you can discuss how to get the best results for your quilt.

Choosing your quilting design and thread colour

In your consultation you can discuss what quilting design and thread colour you would like to achieve your desired result for your quilt

You will need to choose if you want an allover quilting design, or if you want your quilt custom quilted to your individual specifications. Which option you choose will depend on the design and style of your quilt, the effect you want to achieve, and your budget.

Allover designs cover the entire quilt in a repeating pattern, which can be an effective way to allow the design and fabrics of the quilt to shine without there being too much emphasis on the quilting. Most have a range of all over designs which you can choose from in your consultation. Custom designs can be as elaborate or as simple as you require. Generally all over designs are less expensive that custom designs.

Thread colour can be chosen to blend in with the colour of the quilt top, or to give strong contrast. Most quilters provide the thread, and have a wide range of colours for you to choose from.

Last updated Saturday, 10 November 2007

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