Longarm Prep Checklist

Longarming Checklist

Quilt Top

Seams

No popped or open seams (one seam repair of 2" or less is included in every quilt top, but each additional repair is $10)
Seams are pressed as flat as possible (open or to the side, it doesn't matter)
Excess threads and fraying edges are trimmed as best you can (nobody is perfect)

Edges

Quilt is squared
"Top" is noted with a safety pin (if your quilt has a defined top and bottom)
"Victory lap" of stay stitching 1/8" from the edge around entire quilt to keep seams in place and prevent unraveling and stretching (optional but highly recommended)
Borders are attached in proper sequence and measurement to prevent ruffling (If you're not sure, there's a fantastic tutorial here about attaching borders!)

Quilt Backing

Size

Backing MUST be at least 4" longer and wider than your quilt on all sides so that I can attach your backing to my frame. If you are an inch or two short, you can attach a strip of fabric along the short edge to make a "sacrifice leader" that you will cut off when you square your final quilt.
Measure again to be sure (yes, it's really that important!)
Tip: 4" is the minimum! If your backing is larger, that is wonderful! Keep selvedges attached whenever you can except on seams.

Square

Backing is squared to keep the design in line with the lines of the quilt
After squaring, measure to ensure there are at least 4" extra on all sides.

Press & Trim

If backing is pieced, trim off any selvedge that is a part of the seam (leave selvedges on the ends to prevent warping and to provide me with a straight edge to attach to my leaders)
Press backing to ease out the worst of the creases
Measure again to ensure pressing did not shrink the backing smaller than the required size