Welcome to Katydids Quilting Service Longarm Machine Quilting Services By Patty Butcher HOW TO PREPARE YOUR QUILT FOR QUILTING. QUILT TOP Mark top edge (direction) of quilt with a pin or “Top” note. Trim all loose threads from the back. Loose threads may show through the top or back. Be sure all seams are secure. Check to make sure none of your seams are coming loose. If you have a pieced border, for best results, “stay stitch” 1/4" around the edge of your quilt top. This helps keep the seams from separating while being quilted. Be sure your top is "square". Measure your side borders as well as the middle of the length of your top. Your measurements should be the same. Measure the top and bottom and across the middle width wise. These three measurements should be the same. If not, there is a possibility that there will be puckers or tucks in your quilt. Seams should be pressed. Quilt must be clean and free of any odor to prevent transfer to others quilts Do not Baste quilt. Bring, or send, layers separately. BATTING & BACKING Make sure your backing is square and at least 8@ larger than your quilt top. Your batting should be 8" larger also. Mark top edge of backing fabric with pin or "Top" note. If you are not sure if your backing is square, please make it larger so that I may square it up. If using a pieced backing. Cut off selvedges and seam with a ½” seam pressed open. Return to Katydids Quilting Main Page Katydids 105 Dominica Way Niceville, Florida 32578-4067 850-729-0873 patty@katydids.net