Maritime Quilter

I require 5-6” longer on each side of your quilt top– this is 10-12” longer and wider than your quilt top.
For example if your quilt measures 70” wide – I would need 80-84” in width.
If you quilt measures 80” long – then I would need 90-94” in length. Your backing fabric can be no smaller than 80”x90”
I need this additional space to load the quilt on the frames properly.
I can only focus on one side of your quilt – so I will accept a directional backing – but I cannot guarantee precision lining up etc on the back. I will do my very best!
If we find when measuring that your backing is not within this range – we’ll work together to come up with a solution – again I’ll do my best with what I’m given!
I will return to you every piece of backing that is provided to me.

I request 4-5” longer on each side – this is 8-10” longer and wider than your quilt top.
Your 70” wide quilt top would need 78-80” wide batting, 80” long would need 88-90” long.
You could get away with a 78 x 88” piece of batting.
I can work with most types of batting – I do have an 80/20 cotton/polyester blend available that is quite popular. It lays flat and will wash well and crinkles up nicely. Its not super heavy -but with a flannel/heavier backing it is quite nice.
It is $4.00 per foot – and is 96” wide – so for your 70” x 80” quilt – for example you would need approximately 78×88” batting – (the long side will fit in the width of the batting) and 78” is the minimum width required. The batting would cost approximately $26.00. ($4.00 /12 inches X 78”)

I can offer trimming your quilt up / squaring up the quilt after quilting – my space is somewhat limited but I will do my best to ensure the sides and corners are straight. This will depend on how straight we started with too! +$10.00

I will provide Glide thread – this generally blends with most of the quilt colors. I will use the same color thread in the top and in the bobbin most of the time. This means if the front of your quilt and the back of your quilt is drastically different colors, they showing may show up more or less on the backing. Ie a plain black/dark backing with a light-colored top will have stitching show up a great deal!
I will pay attention to the front of the quilt with some consideration to the back if I’m able to – for example I have a fine thread that I can use in the bobbin that blends nicely.
You can assist me with your color thread preference.

How will you be attaching the final binding on your quilt? Are you using a traditional method where you sew the fabric to the front or the back and turn to the other side?
If you are using the backing to turn to the front – how much room do you need?
I use the sides of the borders (the extra 5-6”) to test tension/stitch length and sometimes thread color! If I am aware you are using this additional space – I will keep this to the bare minimum and use outside of the area as much as possible.
I can provide a service to attach a binding to the quilt and hand stitch the backing down – attaching a 2 ¼” folded binding strip to the front of the quilt – turning the strip and stitching the binding closed on the back. This will include squaring the quilt and trimming it as well.
For this traditional method: The fabric requirement here is generally every strip of fabric is around 40” long – and the width is the 2 ¼”. You need approximately 15-20 additional inches added to the area of the quilt – staying with the 70×80” quilt – you would need 70+ 70 + 80+80+20=320” including the extra. Since one strip of fabric is 40” long you would divide 320 by the 40 and that is the number of strips you need – rounded to the greater whole number! 320 / 40 = 8 strips. 8 strips x 2 ¼” wide = 18”. If providing me with the fabric to cut – a couple inches of wiggle room is appreciated!
Quilt size 70 x 80
Obtain the perimeter of the quilt = (2 x 80 + 2 x 70)= 300 inches plus 20 inches extra
You will need 320 inches of 2 ½”-2 ¼” width fabric to create your binding of your quilt.
To put this in terms of fabric to buy off the bolt:
Standard width of Fabric measures 40”.
320”(perimeter measurement) / 40” = 8 strips required. 2 ¼” (width of binding) x 8 strips = 18” or
2 ½”(alternate width of binding) x 8 strips =20”

If I am doing an all over pattern I can sometimes work in small messages or words or names. If you wish for me to do this – please note the exact spelling here – I cannot guarantee but will do my best (depending on the design).

Only with your permission.