There is an expression well known to quilters everywhere - "Quilting makes the quilt".
The skilled professional machine quilters at Creations SewClever take that phrase to heart!  Each quilt is treated as if it were the quilter's own.  If our machine quilter has questions about the best way to showcase your beauty, she asks input from all our other staff members.  This collects ideas and opinions from many talented and skilled quilters, therefore guaranteeing the best possible enhancement to your pieced quilt top. 

For best results with machine quilting, we like to begin with a wonderful quilt!  Here are a few tips to assure that your quilted treasure will be as beautiful as it can possibly be!

* Please piece carefully to get accurate ¼" seams.

* PRESS-AS-YOU-GO!! This not only makes certain that your
   top will lay flat, but with frequent pressing, mistakes can be
   found and corrected before theyare compounded.

* When finished, clean your work - trim off unsightly
   dangling threads on both the front and back of your
   quilt.  Threads that are left hanging on the back of
   your quilt can show through your top after the
   quilting is complete, leaving distracting shadows
   under the quilted top.  PRESS again!

*  It is most important that we begin with a straight
   quilt top.  If the sides are wavy, or the top is wider at
   the top or bottom, it is impossible to make that "right"
   with the machine quilting.  We do the best we can to
   "ease in"  all the excess fullness, but we can't make
   the extra fabric "go away"!

Frequently the problems leading to a distorted quilt top begin with the borders.  Below are suggestions for sewing perfect borders!

ON THE BORDERS
Many folks stitch together stunning and precise quilt tops….until it's time to add borders.  At that point accuracy is left behind.  When that occurs it's impossible to successfully machine quilt the beauty.  If you've had problems with this, consider some of these suggestions:

1) Measure both of the long sides of the quilt, plus measure through the center, lengthwise. Add those numbers together and divide by 3. This is how long the actual side borders of your quilt should be. Sew the 2 side borders on the quilt, pinning to fit, and press seams toward the borders.

2) Measure again, this time across the top and bottom (to include the newly-added borders) and through the middle of the quilt. Again, add the numbers together and divide by 3. This is the measurement of the top and bottom borders. Sew them on and press seams to the borders as above. Continue in this manner until all borders are added.

3) It is best if all border seams are Straight Grain, rather than bias. Less fabric is used or wasted, and there is less chance of distortion.

4) If you still find you have problems with your borders stretching, try cutting all your borders along lengthwise grain rather than the more convenient crosswise grain.  There is absolutely No Stretching when you use the lengthwise grain. Because you will be using your fabric differently, it is important that this decision is made at the time of your fabric purchase!

If you've spent your hard-earned dollars and precious time making a beautiful quilt top, please don't compromise the results by being sloppy or rushed in your border applications!

We HAPPILY quilt tops from novice quilters!  We don't need perfection in order to do quality machine quilting!  The above suggestions are to help you aim for the best results possible with your skill level.  Even the most basic top by the total novice will be beautiful and something to show off when it has been quilted.

WHAT WE NEED
When you are ready to bring or send your top to us to be quilted, we ask that if you provide backing it be at least 3" larger than the top all around.  Therefore the backing should be at least 6" longer and 6" wider than your top.  We will not quilt through sheets for backing.  The dense thread count damages our machine needles and can throw the machine timing off.

We will only machine quilt through quality batting.  If you send batting that we cannot quilt over, we will call for your permission to replace it.  We sell quality Hobbs battings as well as Quilters' Dream and Warm Products.

If you send binding for us to use and it has been pre-made, we request straight-grain for straight-sided, cornered quilts, cut 3" wide, seamed with selvages removed, end-to-end, and pressed in half lengthwise, right-sides-out.  If you have a quilt with rounded corners or scalloped sides, please make your binding from bias 3" wide strips and finish as suggested above.

If you have completed your beautiful top and just want us to finish it, we will happily supply your choice of backing, batting and binding.

We hope you're inspired to make Many Happy Creations SewClever!