Quilt Preparation Check List

This is a helpful guide to assist you in preparing your quilt top and backing for the longarm quilting process. If you follow these steps, you will have an amazing quilt!

  • Backing

    In order for the machine head to reach the absolute edge of your quilt top, backing fabric must be 5″ larger than quilt top on all sides. (Ex. if your quilt top is 40″x 40″ then the backing will be 50″ x 50″) Please DO NOT send bed sheets as backing.

  • Border

    If your quilt does not have an outside border, we highly recommend that you “stay stitch” slightly less than ¼” around the edge of your entire quilt to ensure the seams do not pull apart. This stitching will be hidden once your binding is attached to the quilt.

  • Remove

    Remove all pins, buttons, charms, sequins, couching, and any other embellishments from your quilt top. The sewing foot on the longarm quilting machine only has the clearance of a nickel. That’s not much room between the fabric and the sewing foot.

  • Identify

    Identify the top of your quilt and top of backing fabric with a piece of masking tape.

  • Trim

    Trim all loose threads on the top and the underside of your quilt top. Loose threads can get caught in the quilting process and the results would not be very pretty.

  • Press

    Make sure your quilt top is well pressed. Keep in mind that your project will be quilted in the condition in which it is received.

  • Measure

    Measure your quilt across the top, bottom and center. All measurements should be the same to ensure puckers do not occur in the quilting process. Borders that do not lay flat will cause tucks, pleats or fullness.

  • Drop Off or Ship

    If you live in the Fargo/Moorhead area feel free to drop off your quilt top, please call prior to dropping off to ensure that someone is available to meet you.

    If you are shipping your quilt top – please make sure to include the following:
    • Quilt top
    • Backing fabric

    Ship to:
    Fancy Stitches Quilting
    3356 10th St S.
    Moorhead, MN 56560

Failure to follow above guidelines may result in additional hourly charges due to the need to have your quilt properly prepared for use on our machine. Fancy Stitches reserves the right to refuse to quilt any project that does not meet the acceptable standards listed above. Fancy stitches does not attach binding at this time. Your quilting project will be returned to you un cut/trimmed, all excess backing/batting will be returned to you along with your quilt.

We look forward to quilting your creation in the professional manner that you deserve and expect.

Fullness Disclaimer –
Fullness and/or puckers within a quilt and its borders cannot be quilted out. We can not guarantee that puckers and tucks won’t be sewn in and therefore we are not able to quilt to satisfaction and the quilting project will be returned to you.

Mechanical Disclaimer
Please be aware that sewing machines including longarm machines are mechanical devices. Although we do our utmost to ensure perfect results every time, on very rare occasions mechanical problems can occur which may cause minor damage to a quilt top and/or backing.