Preparing your quilt for machine quilting:
- Do not baste or pin quilt layers together
- Trim all loose threads on the top and bottom of the quilt. Loose threads on the top can catch on the machine and cause tears on the quilt. Loose threads on the bottom can show through pale fabrics
- Press quilt top and ensure it lies flat
- Clearly mark top of quilt if it is directional
- Remove any buttons, Suffolk puffs or other embellishments, unless you want custom quilting
- Remove selvedge’s from backing and join seam straight and not stretched. Ensure it is squared up and lies flat. The easiest way to do this is to fold it in half each way. The sides then should be even.
- Press seams open
- Backing must be 6-8” larger than quilt top
- Wadding must be 6-8” larger than quilt top
Continuous Quilting (E2E):
Continuous Quilting has the same pattern stitched in rows all over the quilt. It is the cheapest and quickest option for machine quilting. There are a LOTS of choices of designs available.
Custom Quilting:
Custom Quilting allows for different quilting designs in different parts of the quilt. Designs will be made to fit blocks or areas of the quilt. Custom quilting includes cross-hatching, stitch-in-the-ditch, freehand work and echoing.
Basically you can have whatever you want, wherever you want it on your quilt. Because of the greater detail than continuous quilting it is the more expensive option but can really highlight the designs of your patchwork.
NOTE : If your patchwork quilt top does not lie flat there is a chance that pleating can occur during quilting. I will aim to minimize this but it can happen.