• Mark the top of quilt, with a note held by a safety pin, do the same with your backing if it is a directional fabric.

• Top must be clean, pressed & threads clipped.

• Press the backing well, seams to one side, trim all the hanging threads.

• Quilt and backing must be squared.

• Please DO NOT pin or baste layers together.

• Remove all the selvedges

• Include fabric for binding, king size quilt 1 1/4yd. all other quilt sizes 1 yd.

• Place quilt top, and any fabrics in plastic bag to protect during shipping.

• Please contact us by e-mail or phone 308-234-1663 to let us know that your quilt top is on its way.

Choose backing fabric as carefully as quilt top fabric.  An excellent choice is 100% cotton in a coordinating print to compliment your quilt top.  The use of sheets is strongly discouraged. 

Back stitch all seams that come to the edge. Press the seams flat. The backing must be 4" to 5" larger than the quilt top on all 4 sides. This means it should be 8 to 10 inches larger than the top in both directions.  This is critical in order for Louisa to properly load your quilt onto the Gammill Statler Stitcher long-arm quilting machine. 

For example: if your quilt top measures 90" x 90", the backing and batting should measure at least 98" x 98".

• Hobbs Heirloom Premium Cotton 80/20 (80% cotton, 20% polyester) 96" wide on roll.  Has more loft than typical cotton batting and gives more definition to the stitching than 100% cottons.   Expect shrinkage of 3-5%, can be pre-shrunk to minimize shrinkage.  A strong, long wearing quilt batting. Lightly bonded, drapes well, resists bearding and bunching.
• Hobbs Heirloom Premium Cotton 80/20 (80% cotton, 20% polyester) same as above, but 120" wide on roll.
• Hobbs Washable Wool, 108" wide on roll. Magnificent!  Wool breathes and acts as a natural insulation, helping to maintain a comfortable temperature summer or winter.
• Hobbs Poly-Down (3/8" thick), 108" wide on roll.  Ultra soft and drapes wonderfully, and can be layered if a comforter loft is desired.
• Warm & Natural 100% cotton.
• Warm & White 100% cotton. Just like Warm & Natural, only white.  Perfect for light or white quilts.

Take your time and give extra attention to this step. You'll be much happier with the results.  Otherwise your border can be a real trouble maker!  The time taken to do this extra measuring and pinning will pay off with a smoother border.  Borders that are not smooth can appear puckered once quilted.  In extreme cases a small dart may be needed to absorb extra fullness.

Lay your quilt top out flat, smooth and take three measurements from top to bottom (1.) one at a few inches from the left edge, (2.) one near the middle, and (3.) one at a few inches from the right edge. 

Average your measurements if necessary.

Cut 2 strips.  Divide into quarters and pin onto the quilt top before sewing.  Some easing may be necessary. 

Now you're ready to cut the remaining two borders.  Take three more measurements this time from left edge to right edge (1.) one at a few inches from the top edge, (2.) one near the middle, and (3.) one at a few inches from the bottom edge. 

Average your measurements if necessary.

Cut 2 strips.  Divide into quarters and pin onto the quilt top before sewing.