Essential Checklist: Preparing Your Quilt for Long-Arming

Quilt Preparation Guide: What to Do Before Long-Arming

#1. Fabric Preparation
- If you wash the fabric for the quilt top, also wash the backing fabric.
- Read the instructions on the batting regarding whether to prewash it.

**#2. Identify the Top
- Use safety pins to mark the top of the quilt top, backing, and batting.

**#3. Quilt Top
- Ensure the quilt is squared: The top and bottom lengths should match, as should the sides. Lay the quilt on a flat surface to compare. Up to ½” difference is acceptable, but fix anything beyond that to avoid additional costs.
- Cut off any loose or long threads to prevent them from showing through the light-colored fabric after quilting.
- Secure all seams, especially around the edges, and check for holes or unsewn areas.
- Iron the quilt top to remove creases, ensuring sewing lines are not folded over.
- Press all seams flat.
- Make sure the quilt lies flat, not like a tent. Lay it on a flat surface to check, especially around borders.

**#4. Backing
- Remove selvage when sewing seams (cut or tear). Selvage can remain at the edges of the quilt.
- When joining two pieces for the backing, your seam should be ½” to 1” wide and pressed open. Avoid selvage edges.
- Iron out wrinkles and major creases from both the quilt front and backing.
- Ensure the backing is 4” to 6” larger than the quilt top on each side. For custom quilts, it should be 8” larger on each side.

**#5. Batting
- Batting should be 4” to 6” larger than the quilt top on each side.  For custom quilts, batting should be 8” larger on each side.

**#6. Final Check
- Lay the backing on a flat surface, wrong side up. Pin a label to identify the top of the backing.
- Lay the batting on top of the backing, and pin a label to identify the top of the batting.
- Lay the quilt top on the batting, and pin a label to identify the top of the quilt.
- Confirm that the backing and batting are 4” to 6” larger than the quilt top.
- Ensure the quilt top lays flat without any parachute-like areas (fix if necessary).
- Fold backing, batting, and quilt top separately. The long armer will not place them all at once.

**Tips for Enlarging the Backing:
- Backing and batting should be 4” to 8” larger on each side of the quilt top. For example, if your quilt top measures 50” x 50”, the backing and batting should be 66” x 66”. This extra fabric allows for clamping and pinning, preventing tucks on the backside.
- Avoid placing seams in the center of the backing. Seams should be 1” wide, pressed open, and positioned away from the center for less bulk and a less noticeable seam.

Additional Notes:
Square your backing using available YouTube videos for guidance.
Label the top of your backing, batting, and quilt top with a piece of paper pinned with “TOP” to ensure correct orientation for the long armer.

Measurement Formulas:

• Linear inch: (2 x Length) + (2 x Width)
• Square inch: Length x Width