07/08/2026
Are you ready to have your quilt quilted - either by yourself or by pay? Here is a checklist to be sure it's fully prepared. I got this from Hailey Stitches....
Is Your Quilt Top Ready?
✅ Give It One Last Good Press
If your quilt top has been folded over a chair, hanging on a design wall, or tucked into a project bag for a while, start by giving it one final press.
Flatten bulky seams, smooth out wrinkles, and let everything cool before moving it around again.
A well-pressed quilt top lays much flatter against the batting and backing, which makes basting easier and helps prevent little puckers from sneaking in.
✂️ Trim Those Loose Threads
This one isn't exciting... but it is worth doing.
Turn your quilt over and look for any dark threads hiding behind lighter fabrics. Once the quilt is layered and quilted, those little threads have a funny way of showing through white backgrounds.
A couple of minutes with your thread snips now can make a big difference in how clean your finished quilt looks.
🧵 Sew a Victory Lap
This is probably the tip I recommend most often because it's quick, easy, and so helpful.
Sew a line of stitching about ⅛" from the outside edge all the way around your quilt top.
Some people call this "stay-stitching," but I like to call it a victory lap because you've officially finished your quilt top!
That little line of stitching helps keep seams from opening up while you're handling the quilt, and it keeps the outside edges from stretching during basting and quilting.
If your quilt has pieced borders or lots of seams around the edge, I especially recommend taking the extra two minutes to do this.
🔍 Give Everything One Last Look
Before you pull out the batting, spread your quilt out somewhere you can really see it.
This is the perfect time to check for:
🪡 A seam that didn't quite catch.
🧵 A spot that needs another press.
🔄 A block that's turned the wrong way.
✂️ Any stray threads you missed.
Most of us have had that moment where we notice something after the quilt is already quilted.
Sometimes it's worth fixing. Sometimes we decide it's part of the quilt's personality. 😂
Either way, it's much easier to catch it now.
📐 Measure Your Quilt
Instead of measuring it just once, measure the length in three places (left side, center, and right side), then do the same for the width (top, middle, and bottom).
If those measurements are a little different, don't worry! That's completely normal! Simply average the three measurements for the length and the three measurements for the width. Those average measurements are what you'll use when figuring out your backing, batting, and binding.
I like to jot the numbers down on a sticky note and keep it with the quilt. It saves me from dragging the quilt back out to measure it again later... because if you're anything like me, you'll forget the measurements about five minutes after putting the ruler away. 😉
💡 One More Tip
If you aren't planning to quilt your project right away, try folding it neatly instead of stuffing it into a tote bag.
Even better, drape it over a hanger or roll it around a pool noodle if it's a larger quilt.
You'll spend a lot less time pressing deep fold lines when you're finally ready to finish it.
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