How to Layer Your Quilt to Guarantee No Bulges or Puckers After You Have Hand Quilted Your Quilt
Many quilters write in saying that they want to know the best way to layer their quilt so that they don't end up with puckers or bulges after the quilt is quilted.
While I still haven't worked out a method to guarantee no puckers or bulges after machine quilting, using this method to layer your quilt for hand quilting will assure that your finished quilt will be smooth.
Step 1
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The first step is to find a smooth, hard surface that is large enough for you to spread your quilt on, and spread out the backing fabric - wrong side up. Smooth the fabric. It doesn't need to be perfectly flat, but be sure to get it as flat as possible.
This is fairly easy for smaller quilts. I have a cardboard cutting mat - left over from my clothes-making days - that I unfold and lay on my bed.
I have also been known to use a floor in my house, or clean off the concrete in the patio (really well!) and spread out a quilt there.
Some quilt shops offer their large tables to quilters for basting.
Step 2
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Next, lay your quilt top on the backing - just to be sure that the backing is large enough. The size of your quilt will determine how much excess backing fabric and batting that should extend beyond the quilt top.
For smaller quilts, use about 2" extra, for larger quilts, I have at least 3" of the batting and backing extend beyond the quilt top.
This will be trimmed off after you quilt, and before you add the binding. It's purpose is to ensure that the batting, backing and top all end up the same size after they are quilted.
Step 3
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Once you have determined that the backing is large enough, remove the quilt top. You will note that the backing is still extra long, and will need to be trimmed.
With the quilt top put aside, lay your batting onto the backing. The backing is still facing with its wrong side up.
In this step, smooth the batting out. It is critical to get the batting as smooth as you can. If there are bulges and puckers in the batting, it will be very difficult to have a smooth quilt.
I use all kinds of nudging, patting and pushing to get the batting smooth. I have also resorted to pressing - although that is a last resort!
Step 4
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Lay your quilt top on the batting, facing right side up.
Smooth the quilt top out until it is flat. This step is critical, too.
Make sure that all of the wrinkles are out of the top, batting and backing. You can feel them with your hands.
Don't stress too much, though. If you use a hoop in hand quilting, you will be able to get even more of the wrinkles out.
Step 5
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Now you get to cut off the excess backing fabric and batting.
If this is a bed-size quilt, you will want to leave about 3" around the edges of your quilt top. For smaller quilts - wall hangings - you can be safe to leave around 2." If you cut the backing fabric and batting the same size as your top, you are likely to end up short. (Your top will be larger than the back and batting.)
Finished!
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Trimmed and layered quilt, ready for basting .Your quilt top, batting and backing are now trimmed and ready to be basted!
Penny Halgren
Master Quilter
