The amount of care you take with preparing your quilt for quilting will definitely make a difference in the finished product!  Follow these helpful hints to help make your quilt a beautiful creation:

·           Wash your backing (if you are pre-washing)

·           Cut and square up your backing.  Remove all selvages.  Backing must be at least 6-8 inches longer and wider than your quilt top.  If you need to piece the backing, consider piecing on a diagonal, which will help keep the tension on your backing even when rolled.  Iron seams open.

·           Select batting and square it up. Batting must be at least 6 inches longer and wider than your quilt top.  If a packaged batting, open it up and let it relax before squaring it up. 

·           Clip threads and remove stray threads, animal hair, etc from top and backing.

·           Measure your quilt top, batting and backing, make note of these measurements.  Measure quilt top lengthwise and widthwise in 3 places and average these measurements.

·           Decide which way the quilt will be loaded on the machine.  (Quilts are usually loaded the long way to minimize the number of times you need to advance the quilt).

·           Attach zippers to the correct sides, following the zipper instructions to carefully center the zippers and not stretch the backing or top.  Remember to attach zippers with wrong side of backing fabric up.  The top only has one zipper; the backing has two.  The ends with the zipper pulls go on the bottom of the quilt top and the bottom of the backing.  The end that the zipper pull attachs to will go on the top of the backing - the same side as the the bottom of the backing.  Check twice to ensure the top and backing go the direction you want them to go.

·           Iron your quilt top and backing. 

·           Fold the top and backing accordion style (individually) so that the folds are parallel to the direction the quilt will be loaded on the machine and hang over coat hangers padded with batting. 

·           Select thread of choice. 

o       Polyester thread is strongest and has the least breakage.  Thread on a cone works best, but thread on a spool will work as well.

o       The thinner the thread, the less it will show up (and therefore hide mistakes!).  Monofilament thread works well too.

o       If you’re going to use the same thread on top as in the bobbin, consider bringing two spools so you don’t need to unthread the machine to wind another bobbin

o       Superior Threads makes excellent thread – Bottom Line is an excellent bobbin thread.  So Fine is a good polyester and King Tut a good cotton.  I have nearly every color of Rainbow variegated thread - see them all at www.superiorthreads.com.

·           Consider how you want to quilt your quilt.  There are many free-motion design books and some pantograph patterns available for your use.  Quilting should be balanced throughout the quilt – not tightly quilted in some areas and loosely quilted in others, so the quilt will lie flat.

·           Consider if you need to practice first.  If so, bring a practice piece with zippers attached or one is available for a small charge.