QUILT PREP

Preparing your quilt.  These guidelines are to help insure that your quilt will be as ​beautiful as possible.

A fee may be added for any quilt preparation that has to be done. Your quilt will be quilted in the condition it is received. It should be as free of pleats, fullness and tucks as the piecing allows.

QUILT TOP:

Do not pin or baste your quilt, with pins or any other method.

Square up your top and press well, check for loose seams.  Please measure your borders so they lay flat with the quilt. ( extra fullness in the borders may create the need for tucks to quilt your top flat)

Indicate if your top and or backing have a direction, mark it with paper pinned or taped to the fabric.

Trim loose threads on your quilt, they can show under light fabrics and can get caught on the machine.

Your top should be free of embellishments, such as buttons, beads, charms, pins, rhinestones, etc. Feel free to embellish when your quilt is completed.

Your top should be flat. If not, this may cause tucks, pleats, or fullness.

If you will be shipping your quilt top, batting, and backing fold them neatly and they will ship beautifully.

BACKING:

Allow an extra 4-6 inches on ALL sides of your quilt.
Press well.
Square your backing.  When piecing the backing, use a minimum 1/2" seam to prevent the seam from coming open during the quilting process. (This is on the back and we can not see it until the quilt is finished.) 

 Trim off any selvage that is in the backing seam. (The selvage is a tighter weave and will shrink differently creating puckers in your backing when washed.) Please make sure there is still a 1/2" seam allowance after trimming. The easy way is to use a 1" seam allowance and then trim half off.

Press backing seams open, please.

I will seam your backing for $10.00 per seam. Or please provide your own seamed, squared backing that is 4-6 inches larger than your quilt top. Wide backing fabric is preferred and 100 % cotton is recommended. Bed sheets are not acceptable as backing. The dense nature can prevent needle penetration, causing skipped stitches.

BATTING:

Allow 4-6 inches larger than the quilt top on all 4 sides.

You may purchase your batting from  Quilts By Vickie Lynn, (at my cost) or send your own. We feel using a fiber company’s best-quality product for quilting will produce wonderful results.

My preferences are 100% Cotton, Wool, or an 80/20 poly-cotton blend, of the manufacturer’s recommended weight for your type of fiber request.  If you purchase from me, I will be using the Hobbs Premium 80/20 blend.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?:

When I receive your quilt top, the backing, and batting will be measured, and I will check for loose threads and seams. Thread and patterns will be selected. I will contact you with the final cost of the service and confirm the date it will be returned to you. Your quilt will be neatly hung and covered until it is time to be completed. If you like I will send an email with a photo of your quilt. Final payment is due before shipping. You may pick up your quilt or have us return it to you by USPS or UPS insured.

DISCLOSURE 

• I make every effort to treat your quilt as if it were my own. However; in the event of fire, theft or destruction of the building, I can only be responsible for the cost of your materials if original receipts are provided.
• The longarm machines are automated systems that can malfunction especially if it comes in contact with pins, staples or open seams. Please double check your work. Although I do not charge you for my machines repair bill, this will cause a delay in your quilt being completed and could result in damage to your quilt top.
• If your quilt top does not lay flat, it won't become flat when quilted without puckering.
• If you have given me permission to choose a design for you, know that I make that choice based on our conversation about the quilts' intended use or recipient.
• By quilting with me you are giving me permission to publish pictures of the quilt through social media, unless notified in writing prior to the work being completed. It is also within my discretion not to publish any quilt.
  

Use your prefered method to ship your items to me.  Please place items in a plactic bag to prevent damage in the event of box damage.  Place bag in a sturdy box for shipping.  Once the quilt is finished and  ready to ship to you, I will notify you of the cost to ship it back to you.