These
Suggestions will help me do the best job on your quilt.
Make sure you have pre washed
the fabric used in your quilt top and backing. Some colors do bleed. It is a
shame for you to put time and effort into your quilt only to have it ruined the
first time you wash it or to have the color from your fabric “bleed” onto
the quilting thread during the machine quilting.
Cut
off any threads hanging from the back of the quilt top. If there are light
fabrics in your top, dark threads can show through like "varicose
veins", and really detract from your finished product.
Quilts that have been pressed
well as you sew will produce a nicer finished.
If you do not have any borders on your top or If your outside edges are
on the bias, "Stay-Stitch"
a scant 1/4" in from the edge around the outer edge of your quilt top
or (the better way) machine
baste strips of scrap fabric to the edges.
Be careful not to stretch your bias edges as you sew. With the scrap
fabric stitched to the edges, your top will not stretch as it is machine quilted
and you can easily trim the scrap off as you trim up your quilt before you bind
it..
This keeps seams from "popping" and prevents stretching when the top
is attached to the canvas zip leaders.
Your backing and batting must be
at least 4 inches wider on each side (8" total) and 8 inches longer than
the top. The
quilting takes up more of the backing. If your backing is not straight on grain,
please add an extra 5 or 6 inches to the length so we can straighten it before
quilting. If
your backing fabric has a stiff finish you should wash it to remove the
sizing. Press
the back of your quilt top well. Make sure that all seams are pressed flat on
the back. Remove ALL selvages if you have to seam the back, both from seams and
along the edges. If you choose not to press your quilt top, the quilt will
be quilted "as-is", but this will not give the best results.
If you are going to turn the backing over for your binding, please pin a note to
the quilt top to let us know.
Your name and phone number must be pinned to each top.
We use a
very narrow French type binding width. We will apply straight plain binding for
$20.00 quilts under 84” wide, $30.00 over 84” wide and $10.00 under 45”
wide. If you want your binding to match your top or backing, please include 1/2
to 1-1/2 yards of material. Do NOT cut or join the fabric.
Any extra fabric is returned with your quilt. Please
allow 10 to 14 extra days for binding. PLEASE NOTE: If your quilt top is not
square, your binding will not be square!!!!
I only quilt it, I do not work miracles.
Please
make sure your borders are
1.
Measured
correctly.
2.
Even
at all the corners.
3.
Straight
on grain.
4.
Sewn
to your quilt without stretching or ruffling.
If these 4
are not followed, your finished quilt will not come out square
Please
enclose check or money order made out to Linda Camp. Place number of quilts in
the memo area. If you do not send payment with the quilts or there is a balance
due, your quilts may be held till payment is received. All
Canadian and Foreign payments must be in U.S. Currency in the form of an
international money order or check drawn on an American Bank.
Quilt tops
are checked for marks and problem areas before we quilt them. Please note:
we are not responsible for any seams that split during quilting if you use too
narrow a seam allowance or your stitching breaks so check your quilt before you
send it. I try to keep a reasonable turnaround time.
If your quilt has a problem, I cannot stop to fix it. I will notify you
and send the quilt back if it was mailed in and you will be charged for the
extra postage. If you are local, I will call you to pick up your quilt so that
you can fix the problem. Either way,
your quilt will go back on the list when it is returned.
BORDER TIPS
Perhaps the most common problem encountered by machine quilters is
a border with extra fullness that will not lay flat, causing tucks or pleats
during the machine quilting.
By the time you finish piecing your quilt top, the edge will
usually have stretched somewhat, especially if there are any bias pieces on the
edge. If you just measure the edges of the top to get the measurement for your
borders, you will almost always end up with a quilt that will NOT hang or lay
flat.
To ensure your borders are applied correctly:
1. Measure your quilt in 3 places lengthwise: left, right, and
center. Add those measurements and divide by 3 to get an average. For example
61"+62"+60"= 183". Divide by 3 equals an average of
61".
2. Cut the two side borders to this measurement, in this case 61
inches. Pin border to quilt at each end and center, ease to fit, and pin to
distribute any fullness. Sew and press.
3. Repeat this process widthwise for top and bottom borders.
4. Repeat process for any additional borders.
5. Don't forget to "stay-stitch" the edge as soon as
you're done attaching the border. This will prevent any stretching from further
handling.