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Store Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 10-6 Saturday: 10-4 Sunday-Monday: Closed

Quilting Services


PREPARING YOUR QUILT

The three layers of your quilt will be loaded on the machine independently of one another.

We have over 2,000 patterns and thousands more available.  We will try our hardest to meet your needs.

Please take the following steps to keep your cost down and help ensure that you will be pleased with your finished quilt.

THE TOP

  • Please press and square your quilt. Make sure seams are pressed open or to one side.  It is very important to have your quilt top seams ironed flat so take your time.
  • The top should be free of embellishments such as buttons, beads, crystals, and plastic or metal pieces.
  • Do not pin or baste layers together since each layer is mounted on the quilting machine separately.
  • Trim excess seams or points that may cause unwanted lumps. Clip loose threads that may show through the quilt top or backing.
  • Apply a piece of masking tape to identify the head end of the quilt top. Some quilting designs are one direction and we need to know which will be at the head end of the quilt.
  • Stitch a line slightly less than a ¼” from the outer edge of the quilt top, especially if there are multiple seams that are on the outside edges of the quilt top. Your quilt top may be gently pulled during the quilting process and the stitching will help prevent the seams from coming apart. So it doesn't show after the binding is applied. 

THE BATTING

  • We use Hobbs Premium Heirloom 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend.  If you prefer another type, please contact us.  Please note, we will cut the batting 8 inches wider and 8 inches longer than your quilt top.

THE BACKING

  • Press the seam flat.  Make sure seams are pressed open or to one side.
  • To allow for shrinkage during the quilting process, batting & backing should be 8 inches longer and wider than the quilt top for twin size or larger quilt tops. Smaller quilts such as lap quilts or baby quilts need just 6-inches longer and wider. 
  • Backing should be squared. Squared backing will have both sides the same length, with 90-degree corners. Selvages, especially in a backing seam, can cause undesirable puckering; we recommend that selvages be removed from any seams.  Bed sheets cannot be used for backing because they not suitable due to their varying thread count.
  • As with the top, apply a piece of masking tape to identify the head end of the backing.
  • Be aware that it is not possible to center the top over the backing in both directions.  A backing with a center monogram, or with a border, is likely to be "off" in the final product.
  • Thread used on the back side will match as close as possible to the thread used on the top. (Top and bottom threads that contrast too much will result in the appearance of specks of the opposing color.) 

THREADS

  • We use only high quality quilting thread on our machine. We have a large variety of colors to choose from with in-stock thread colors included in your quilting price. 

BINDING SERVICES

  • Please send one yard of fabric if you would like us to cut and apply binding. We will cut 2½ inch straight grain binding and apply it by machine.
  • There are 2 binding options. Choose the one you like, or if you're not sure, ask us questions!
    • Machine front only (we sew binding on the front and you hand finish the back.)
    • Machine front and back (we sew binding by machine to front AND back of your quilt)

Contact Us

  • Birdhouse Quilts