Longarm Quilting Service
Done on our 10' Babylock Regalia

Let’s Talk Longarm Quilting

Now that you've finished a beautiful quilt top, what comes next?  Let us help you complete your masterpiece and give it the finishing touch it deserves.  As easy as 1, 2, 3….

1. Prepare your quilt top

• Check the quilt top to be sure it is square.  If your quilt top is wider at one point than at another the pattern of quilting will look uneven on the finished product.  

• Stitch all around the outer seam edges of each quilt. If the outer seam edges are not stitched, when a quilt top is loaded onto the frame for longarming, seam edges can begin to pull apart.  This can cause some strange looking edges on the finished product.  

• Trim excess threads from the back of your quilt top.  This is most important if you have light and dark colored fabrics in the same quilt top.  When a dark thread ends up under the light fabric it can show through the quilt top.  Once the quilting is complete you are stuck with these threads wherever they happen to be.  It would be disheartening to put so much effort into getting everything just the way you want it only to get it back from the longarmer with dark threads showing through.  

• Ensure the borders are not wavy and that there is no excess fullness in the center of the quilt top.  This often happens when the fabric was stretched while being sewn.  When the fabric relaxes back to its natural state the seam can look wavy or baggy.  This can result in small folds getting trapped in the stitching as it is quilted.   

• Remove all embellishments prior to having the top quilted, better yet leave them off until the quilting is finished.  A quilt top cannot be quilted if there are buttons, lace, or other loose items attached to it.  These items can cause broken needles and damage to the machine.

• Iron quilt top thoroughly and hang it on a hanger to avoid creases.  Creases in the quilt top can cause problems when they end up permanently sewn into the finished product.       TIP: Cut a section of a Pool Noodle to put on the hanger to avoid creasing.

• Make sure your seams lay flat, so you don’t end up with lumps in the finished product.   

   

2.  Select or provide your batting 

• Batting must be 5 inches wider and 5 inches longer than the quilt top on each side and batting must be clean and free of debris.     TIP: High loft batting does not work well for longarming.  Dream Cotton or Warm or Natural batting give the best results. 

See Our Batting Selection Here 

3. Select or provide your backing fabric 

• The backing fabric must be 5 inches wider and 5 inches longer than the quilt top on each side. The extra backing fabric is called overage and is  necessary because the quilt needs to be quilted to the very edge.  Often the quilting pattern will extend several inches beyond the edge of the quilt top.  This is especially important if the quilt is slightly out of square or stretches a bit when loaded onto the frame.  

• Ensure that the backing is square.  This helps the longarmer get it loaded onto the frame straight. 

• Press the backing fabric thoroughly and place it on its own hanger.   TIP: Cut selvages off the backing fabric prior to bringing it in to be quilted.  Selvages do not stretch in the same way the rest of the fabric does, this can lead to the backing fabric sagging in the middle when it is loaded onto the frame.   You can select from Marietta’s 108” wide back fabric, or use standard width fabric to piece for your backing.. See Our Selection of Wide Back Fabrics Here

Once you complete steps 1,2 and 3 you are ready to ‘Go’ to Marietta’s Quilt and Sew - we’ll walk you through the selection of thread color and quilt design choices.  

Our experienced quilters will do a beautiful quilting job using a Babylock Longarm machine and as soon as your quilt is complete, we’ll let you know when it’s ready for pickup.  Couldn’t be easier!

Quilting Services 

Total Quilt Square Inches x 0.025

Quilting services for item less than 2000 square inches, minimum $50.00 fee

If necessary: 

• Quilt prep charge of $50.00

• Quilt Re-work charge of $50.00

• Ironing quilt top/backing charge of $50.00

Click Here For Available Quilting Designs