Types of Quilts

Types of Quilting

Edge to Edge - is a single, hand-guided, pantograph design quilted over the entire top.

Free hand - overall - free-form quilting over the entire top.

Meandering - free-hand quilting in a fairly uniform pattern over the entire top.

Outlining - free-hand quilting around applique work or around printed designs in the fabric.

Custom - is a combination of pantograph designs, block insets from templates, channel quilting and a variety of free-hand quilting including, but not limited to, outlining, meandering, stitching in the seams, and echo quilting around figures and appliques.

Heirloom - Patterns such as small background grids or meandering, intricate feather designs, wreaths, trapunto, dense free-hand designs, or wholecloth designs requiring the quilt be hand-marked. Heirloom quilting is generally intricate, heavy quilting designs that are very labor intensive.

What is Longarm Quilting?

A longarm quilting machine is a large sewing machine that has 360 degree movement. It is guided by handles with controls and moves across the quilt top. The machine sits on wheels which move along rails embedded in a very long table. The quilt top, batting and backing are attached separately to a series of rollers. Side clamps help ensure a wrinkle-free quilt sandwich.

The machine floats on a carriage system that allows the operator to manipulate it easily in any direction over the surface of the quilt.
Machine quilting is not intended to replace hand quilting. There is a place for both. Machine quilting, however can be more durable, and in many cases totally unique. Quilting by use of a long arm machine gives the creator of the top more time to spend doing the part of the quilting process they enjoy most - designing and piecing.

Preparing your Quilt for Machine Quilting

1. Do not baste your quilt.

2. Identify the head and the foot of the quilt top.

3. The quilt backing and batt should be a minimum of 4 inches wider all the way around.

4. Measure through the center of the quilt top vertically. Then measure the outside edges vertically. If there is more than a 1-1/2 inch difference, it is possible that your top will have tucks when quilted. Do the same measurements horizontally. The most common reasons for measurement differences are stretched bias edges and mitered corners that leave extra fabric on one or both sides of the miter. Too much easement when piecing blocks can result in small tents or puckers, which will cause tucks when the quilt is quilted.

5. Remove any buttons, charms, pins, etc. from the quilt top.

6. Check quilt top for seam breaks. Please repair any seam breaks before sending your quilt.

7. Clip any loose threads, both front and back, (these may cause snags and uneven stitching). On lighter fabrics, loose threads on the back side of the top will show through.

8. Top and backing should be pressed with seams pressed open or to one side.