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Next Steps

Thank you for choosing Snowbirds Quilting to add the finishing touches on your work of art. We will take the utmost care to bring your vision into reality. Below is the order form and some brief instructions on the preparation of your quilt top and backing.

Quilting Order Form

Quilt Dimensions:

Quilting Design

Multi choice

Thread Color:

Batting Choice

Choose an option

Additional Services

Multi choice

Shipping

Multi choice

What else would you like us to know?

Let us know if you prefer us not to publish photos of your quilt.

Preparing your quilt and backing

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Preparing Your Quilt Top:

  • Make sure there are no seams around the outer edge of your quilt top that are coming loose. 

  • Trim loose threads on the front and back of your quilt top. This is especially important when dark threads are sticking out from raw edges onto light colored fabrics on the back of the quilt. When quilted, those dark threads tend to show through on the lighter fabrics.

  • Be sure to press your quilt top well. 

  • After pressing, I like to fold the quilt top and hang it on a hanger to keep it from getting creases again.

  • Stabilizing bias edges: If your quilt top has pieces cut on the bias around the outside of your quilt top, you may want to stitch around the outer edge of your quilt to keep it from stretching. 

 

Squaring the quilt top: 

 

Preparing your backing:

  • When choosing a backing, keep in mind what color you want your quilting thread. We use the same color on the top and bottom. If the thread color contrasts with the color of the backing fabric, the stitching will show up more. Bold prints tend to hide the stitching on the back. It is your personal preference; just some things to keep in mind.

  • When piecing your backing, remove the selvage edges on the edges you will be sewing together. (The outside selvage edges can stay on. They help to keep the edges straight and help with squaring up the backing.) Use a ½” wide seam allowance, and press the seam to one side. 

  • Squaring up the backing fabric: after sewing the backing strips together, square up your backing. Here is a YouTube video with a great, simple demo on how to square your backing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgrMWLmrimc 

  • Mark the “top” of the backing with a safety pin if you have a preference for which direction you want the backing to go.

  • Press your backing. I like to hang the backing on a hanger after pressing. If the quilt top or backing requires extensive ironing, I will iron for $10.00 per hour with a minimum charge of $10.00. (Ironing is not my favorite thing to do!)

 

Batting:

  • If you choose to provide us with batting, please make sure the batting is 4”-5” larger than the quilt top on all four sides. So, if your quilt is 60” by 60”, the batting should be at least 68” by 68”. 

 

 

Please reach out to us with any questions you have about preparing your quilt for longarm quilting!

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