Quilt borders must lay flat and not have fullness or waves. Borders that do not lay flat may cause tucks or pleats when quilted. Quilts with rippled borders are extremely difficult to quilt, as there is just too much fullness in the outer edges of the quilt compared to the center. In this case correction is necessary. Check the quilt top for “square”; the sides should be the same measurement just as the ends should be the same measurement.
Batting Makes a Difference:
Many types of battings are available and each one will quilt up differently. Remember that the batting will directly contribute to the feel of the finished quilt. Some important considerations about the finished quilt should be made when selecting your batting. Consider the following; the weight, warmth, washed texture (flat, wrinkled or puffy), amount of take up into quilting, maximum distance quilting stitches can be placed, fiber content, and the width of batting compared to the largest measurement of your quilt.
Choose the best batting you can afford. We are often tempted to use "cheap" batting to keep our costs low. Cheap batting tends to be a poor quality and will rear its ugly head later in the quilt's life. You've put all that time and effort into piecing the quilt, so use the best batting you can afford.
Prewash or not – most people do not pre-wash their batting, opting for a more wrinkled antique look after washing. Polyester batting will not shrink like natural fiber batting.
For machine quilting, the batting needs to be 6-8" wider and longer than the quilt top. Packaged batting DOES NOT need to be opened or trimmed.
Also, I have found that Dream Cotton batting in the "Request" loft is not ideal for machine quilting. The "Select" and "Deluxe" lofts are perfect. Batting for use in longarm quilting needs to have a scrim. Check the packing to see if your batting has one, if you are unsure, please call me and we'll figure it out together. I personally prefer Warm and Natural/ Warm and White manufactured by the Warm Company. I’ve had great results using this batting in my personal quilts. If you want a synthetic/polyester batting, I recommend Dream-Poly in the Select loft manufactured by the Dream Quilters.
Batting color is important as well. (I know, who knew batting was this involved. J ) Quilts that are primary white or light colors will look better with a bleached white batting. Quilts that are black or very dark will need a black batting. The unbleached battings look good in everything else. Bearding and batting color shadow through will quickly ruin the overall look of a quilt in a heartbeat.
Communication is the most successful and important aspect of a relationship with a machine quilter. Do not be afraid to ask questions or ask for my opinion. Treat suggestions as an educational experience; I see many unique quilts and my knowledge can be an invaluable to helping you become a better piecer. If you have and questions or concerns, bring it up during the consult when you drop off your quilt. To be safe, a note safety-pinned to the quilt with your any concerns and your phone numbers will be considered a nice gesture for me (I have senior moments).