174
CHAPTER PREPARING A QUILT FOR QUILTING
Prepare a Quilt for
Longarm Quilting
Longarm quilters use sewing machines with a long arm (head) that allows them to quilt large sections
of a quilt at a time. In longarm quilting, the quilt top, batting, and backing are not basted together, but
loaded onto separate rollers and stretched taut for quilting. The longarm machine sits on rollers and
is moved back and forth across the quilt top to quilt it. In contrast, you would move a quilt back and
forth under your stationary home machine to quilt it.
If quilting on your home machine seems daunting, you may want to have it professionally quilted.
However, you must reserve a spot in advance with the longarmer you choose—many have long waiting
lists. Each longarmer is an artist, so look for one that that suits your style. The cost of longarm quilting
depends on the size of the quilt and the type of quilting design(s) you choose. Pantographs (all-over
patterns) are the least expensive option. Custom quilting is more expensive, but it allows you to select
different designs for the blocks, borders, and sashing of your quilt. Prices vary, but in the United States
you should expect to pay from 1
1
⁄
2
–5 cents per square inch, plus the cost of batting and thread.
Press and starch the top.
Press and starch the quilt top, checking for loose threads and
removing them. Check your top for squareness and trim as
needed. Staystitch a scant
1
⁄
4
inch (.6 cm) from the edge
of your top to stabilize those edges and keep them from
stretching on the longarmer’s quilting frame.
1
Piece and prepare the quilt back.
Cut the selvages from the backing fabric before piecing, and
then starch and press it. If you piece the back, avoid creating
a design that must be centered perfectly.
2
Staystitched
edge
175
PREPARE A QUILT FOR LONGARM QUILTING
To check whether a quilt is square, take three measurements at dierent points
across the quilt. If measurements are within
3
⁄
8
inch (.9 cm), the quilt top is
square.
Decide on a quilting design.
Pantograph, or all-over, quilting is the perfect choice for quilts that get a lot of use and must stand up to frequent wash-
ings. With all-over quilting, the design fills the entire quilt, extending from the blocks into the sashing and borders without
stopping. Custom quilting is suitable for heirloom quilts or quilts with large unpieced areas or areas with plain fabrics. With
custom quilting, complementary but dierent patterns fill the blocks and borders.
3
Package the quilt top and backing for transport.
Mark the top edge of your quilt top and back so the long-
armer will know how to load it onto the frame. Fold the top
and backing carefully, and place on a hanger inside a large
plastic bag. If you’re shipping your quilt to a longarmer, wrap
the top and back separately in plastic bags.
4
Custom
quilting
Pantograph
quilting
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