Please mark the top edge of the following with a safety pin:

• Quilt top
• Quilt backing
• Batting

This helps ensure all layers are loaded in the correct orientation.

Please do not baste or pin the quilt layers together. Each layer is loaded onto the longarm machine separately.

Please press your quilt top thoroughly before bringing it in.

Flat seams help reduce pleats, puckers, and tucks, resulting in a more beautiful finished quilt.

Batting should extend 4–5 inches beyond the quilt top on all four sides.

If you provide your own batting:

• Label it with your name.
• Mark the top edge with a safety pin.

If the batting is too small, I can substitute batting from my inventory or wait for replacement batting, which may delay completion.

Your backing should extend 5–6 inches beyond the quilt top on all four sides.

This extra fabric is required so the quilt can be properly loaded onto the frame and maintained under even tension throughout the quilting process.

If your backing is pieced:

• Use a ½-inch vertical seam
• Press the seam open
• Remove selvedges whenever possible

This helps produce a smoother result and reduces the chance of waves appearing along the seam.

For best results:

• Use 100% quilting cotton.
• Choose backing fabric with a similar weight to the quilt top.
• Busy or coordinating backings help disguise quilting thread.

Avoid:

• New bed sheets (pre-wash several times)
• Thin sheets
• Extremely mismatched fabric weights

These fabrics may affect stitch quality and tension.

A square quilt top produces the best quilting results.

Before bringing your quilt:

• Trim loose threads.
• Square the edges.
• Ensure borders are measured correctly before sewing.

Please remember:

A quilt that is not square before quilting cannot be expected to return perfectly square after quilting.

Please inspect your quilt carefully.

• Secure any loose seams.
• Backstitch seams around outer borders.
• Clip loose piecing threads, especially on light fabrics where dark threads may show through.

If your quilt contains bias edges, stitch a ¼-inch seam around the outside edge to stabilize the quilt before quilting.

If you would like me to stitch around the perimeter of your quilt, preparation time is billed at $30/hour.

If your quilt contains appliqué that you do not want stitched through, please let me know before quilting begins.

Avoiding appliqué often requires modifying the quilting design and may change your project from Edge-to-Edge quilting to Semi-Custom or Custom Quilting.

Please wait until quilting is complete before adding:

• Buttons
• Charms
• Beads
• Pins
• Other dimensional embellishments

These items prevent the quilt from moving safely through the machine.

Any preparation required before quilting that has not been completed by the customer is billed at:

$30/hour

Examples include:

• Seaming backing fabric
• Stabilizing edges
• Additional pressing
• Other preparation work

The next step is to fill out the Quilt Intake Form with as much detail as possible. The information you provide will help us understand your quilt, your preferences, and any special considerations before we begin quilting. For example, let us know if your quilt has:

• Wavy borders
• Fullness
• Areas of concern
• Repairs
• Special requests

Once we have received your form, we will be in touch to arrange a convenient time for you to drop off your quilt and discuss any details or questions you or we may have.