Finishing First Quilt...Have Questions!?!?!

[Trac]

So, I have the top of a king size quilt done, have [I]finally[I] chosen a fabric for the back, and will be having it machine quilted. This is my first quilt, so please be gentle . I just have a couple question about getting it ready to go to the longarm quilter.

I will have to piece together the batting (2 pieces)...how do you sew those together...one overlapping the other, or butt them together? And what sort of stitch?

When the quilter lady says she wants the batting 3-4" larger than the top and the backing fabric 4" larger, does she mean "at least?" Will it be ok if it's 5" or 6"? Does the excess just get trimmed off, or does it have to be folded in somehow?

She doesn't have anything to do with the binding, is that correct? Will it come back all quilted and such, but with the binding still to do? Will there be anything she needs to know about the binding?

If you have any other things that I'm not obsessing about, lol, please let me know! Thank you!

[Porcelain Interior]

Originally Posted by Trac

So, I have the top of a king size quilt done, have [I]finally[I] chosen a fabric for the back, and will be having it machine quilted. This is my first quilt, so please be gentle . I just have a couple question about getting it ready to go to the longarm quilter.

I will have to piece together the batting (2 pieces)...how do you sew those together...one overlapping the other, or butt them together? And what sort of stitch?

When the quilter lady says she wants the batting 3-4" larger than the top and the backing fabric 4" larger, does she mean "at least?" Will it be ok if it's 5" or 6"? Does the excess just get trimmed off, or does it have to be folded in somehow?

She doesn't have anything to do with the binding, is that correct? Will it come back all quilted and such, but with the binding still to do? Will there be anything she needs to know about the binding?

If you have any other things that I'm not obsessing about, lol, please let me know! Thank you!

First off I'd just call her and ask. Pieced batting sounds a little scary to work with and she might not accept it. Usually you buy batting in a size that fits your quilt. 4 inches larger on all sides is the standard, if it's even bigger that's not a huge deal.

Longarm quilters will trim or leave the excess whatever you decide you want done. It doesn't get folded in. If the quilt comes back to you untrimmed you'll have to trim the batting and backing edges even with the quilt top before applying binding.

Some quilters do binding, but it's extra $$$.

Call and ask! There's nothing to be embarrassed about.

[ribbon]

I've never heard of anyone piecing batting-if you need to, you bought it too small. It would be pretty impossible with the polyester stuff in the first place, and it would leave a huge lump down the middle of warm and natural.

Usually they just want the pieces sent seperately, they'll stretch them out on their own frame anyway. Why don't you call and ask her again?