Preparing your quilt for longarm machine quilting 

• If your quilt does not have a border, or if it is a pieced border, edge-stitch top with a straight stitch (not zig-zag) 1/8” from edge. This prevents these seams from pulling apart when being stretched on the frame, and also acts as a stay-stitch to prevent excessive stretching.

• Prepare backing 4” larger than top all around; bigger than that is NOT better. If the back is pieced, any joining seams within backing must be trimmed of selvages, press to one side.  Selvage on an edge of backing is desired.

• If you are bringing your own batting, it, too, needs to be 4” larger than the quilt top all around.

• You will have pressed your quilt top, but don’t worry about transporting it so it doesn’t get wrinkled (impossible!) as I will do a final pressing of top and backing before loading on the frame.