Longarm Ready Checklist
Ensure your quilt top is perfectly prepared for longarm quilting with our quick checklist. Covering everything from sizing and batting to pressing and labeling, this guide helps you achieve professional results and a smooth quilting process.
1. Properly Sized Backing
Your backing fabric should be at least 4 inches larger than your quilt top on all sides to allow for quilting margins and handling.
Example: 60" x 80" quilt should have a backing fabric of 68" x 88"
It can be bigger, not smaller. Extra fees may apply if I need to put extra time and effort into getting your quilt ready to load.
2. Adequate Batting
Make sure you have enough batting to cover the entire quilt area with a few extra inches for overlaps and smoothing.
Example: 60" x 80" quilt should have batting measuring at least 65" x 85"
3. Check for Gaps, Waviness, and Bubbles
Inspect your quilt top for any gaps, puckers, or waves. Smooth out and fix any irregularities to ensure a flat, professional finish.
4. Trim Wayward Threads and Loose Ends
Check over your pieced top and trim away any long threads so they don't end up showing through light areas of your piecing. Small bumps or thread pulls may occur if loose threads are left untrimmed.
5. Press Your Quilt Top and Seams
Iron your quilt top thoroughly, pressing seams flat and down to reduce bumps and bulkiness. A smooth top will help achieve the best quilting results.
6. Label Directional Fabric
Label the top left corner of your quilt top and backing fabric if any fabric is directional to ensure proper orientation of your quilt during quilting or finishing.
7. Mail-In Instructions
Mail-in customers will have special instructions sent. A must have will be to include your name and quilt identification with your quilt to help us match it with your intake form when it arrives.
8. Book a Quilt
Feeling ready?! Click Book a Quilt and get started with the intake form to start your quilting journey with Coastal Maine Quilts!