Prepare your quilt for the longarm
Every longarm quilter has their own way of readying a quilt for the frame, but these simple steps will help your quilt begin its journey smoothly. A bit of care before you send it off can make the quilting process gentler, prevent little surprises along the way, and often save you from extra preparation fees.
Think of it as giving your quilt a moment to breathe and settle before its final chapter is stitched.
The following guidelines will help you to prepare your guilt top for the longarm and will help me to give you the best results.
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Press & clean your quilt top and backing so they’re smooth and free of loose threads and pet hair.
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Square both the top and backing to help them load evenly on the frame.
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Backing must extend 5″ beyond the quilt top on all sides.
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Batting must extend 2.5″ beyond the quilt top on all sides if you’re providing it.
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Mark the top edge of the quilt top and backing if either has a directional print.
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Consider your quilting style—motifs, themes, density, or patterns you love.
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Share any thread or batting preferences; I’m always happy to help guide these choices.
Tip: How to prevent wavy borders
Many quilters take the “quick” route of sewing on one long strip of border fabric and trimming the extra at the end. It feels fast and tidy, but it often sneaks a few extra inches of fabric into the border without noticing.
Those hidden inches usually reveal themselves only when the quilt is loaded on the longarm. The border begins to ripple and wave. These waves make it harder to square the quilt and can lead to puckers or tiny tucks in the quilting.
Measure the required border length from the quilt and cut your border fabric. Carefully pin the border onto the quilt top starting at the ends, then the middle, place additional pins in between, and then sew the border on.