Welcome to Custom Quilters

We’ll help turn your work of art into a treasured heirloom.

682-241-1349 ~ info@customquilters.com

FAQ Information

Custom Quilters information, solutions and answers.

1. Average Bed Sizes

2. Who will be handling my quilt?

3. Edge-to-Edge quilting

4. How big of a quilt can Custom Quilters handle?

5. What if my quilt has fullness and wrinkles?

6. How is my quilt attached to the machine?

7. What is included in the quilting charge?

8. I do not have my own backing.

9. I do not have my own batting.

10. Choosing a batting for machine quilting.

11. I have my own backing and/or batting.

12. Can I use sheets for backing?

13. Advice on making a backing.

14. Custom Quilters' bindings.

15. Tee-Shirt quilts.

16. Denim or double-knit quilts.

17. Preparing and Shipping my quilt.

18. Turnaround time

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Bed Size

Bed Size	Mattress Measures	Comforter	Coverlet	Bedspread
Crib	28 x 52	37 x 62	37 x 62	37 x 62
Youth	33 x 66	57 x 78	65 x 92	74 x 94
Bunk	38 x 75	62 x 87	70 x 101	79 x106
Twin	39 x 75	63 x 87	71 x 101	80 x 106
Twin Long	39 x 80	63 x 92	71 x 106	80 x 111
Double	54 x 75	78 x 78	86 x 101	95 x 106
Double Long	54 x 84	78 x 92	86 x 106	95 x 111
Queen	76 x 80	84 x 92	92 x 106	101 x 111
King	76-78 x 80	100 x 92	108 x 106	117 x 111
California King	72 x 84	96 x96	104 x 110	113 x 115
Twin Dual	78 x 75	102 x 87	110 x 101	119 x 106
Twin Long Dual	78 x 80	102 x 92	110 x 106	119 x 111

 

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1. Who will be handling my quilt?

Your quilt is totally under Custom Quilters' care.   Custom Quilters does not send your quilt out to another quilter for finishing nor do we work on more than one quilt at a time.  You can be assured that your quilt arrives at Custom Quilters' front door; it stays in the studio, sealed in an air tight security pouch until placed on the quilter, and then returned directly to you.

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1. What is edge-to-edge quilting?

Edge-to-edge, Pantograph or Panto quilting is applying a pattern that does not necessarily follow the pieced pattern of the quilt top. It is a design that is applied in separate or interlocking rows from left to right; top to bottom.

1. How big of a quilt can Custom Quilters handle?

The limiting factor is the quilt's width.  Custom Quilters can handle most quilts up to 120 inches wide.  Length of the quilt isn't limiting because it is just rolled up on the machine.

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1. What if my quilt has fullness and wrinkles? 

Wrinkles and fullness pieced into a quilt top will not "quilt-out".  Custom Quilters will try very hard to avoid tucking fullness or a wrinkle so that your quilt will be as free as the piecing will allow.  Choosing the right quilting pattern helps with this problem.  If you want to disguise fullness, select a meandering design for the entire quilt.  Meandering has no quilting lines that cross which allows distribution of the fullness.  If there are lines that cross in the quilting pattern and fullness in the piecing, there will be tucks. If you are reluctant to have it finished because of the piecing, meandering is the answer to your prayers.  Don't take all those seams out, it will look fine with this pattern on it and you will have your quilt for years to come.

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1. How is my quilt attached to the machine?

The quilt backing will be chain stitched at the top and bottom to leaders for the quilting machine. These leaders are attached to rollers which pull the fabric from top to bottom.  Your quilt top and the batting are basted at the top to the already loaded backing fabric and then the bottom edge of your top is chain stitched to a third leader on the machine.  This allows the top and backing to be pulled tight (not stretched) independently.  The sides of your quilt are basted through all three layers so that they are stable.  Side clamps are applied to the backing fabric.  There is no stress applied directly to your quilt top.  Custom Quilters pulls it only enough to keep it taut for the quilting process.  There is no stretching.

1. What is included in the quilting charge?

The quilting charge does not include batting, backing fabric, binding, borders, or other extras.  Use the order form page to get an idea of what your quilting charge will be.  The fees are listed on the pricing page.

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1. I do not have my own backing.

Custom Quilters has bleached and unbleached muslin 96, 108“and 120 inch wide and prints in 108 inch width, all at a reasonable price.  You can see these fabrics on the Backing page. 

1.  I do not have my own batting.

Custom Quilters carries many choices in batting at competitive prices.   100% cotton; 100% wool; cotton/poly blend (80% poly 20%); 100% polyester, bamboo and soy.  We also offer fire retardant for children’s quilts. You can see these on the Batting page.

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1. Choosing a batting for machine quilting.

SAVE money, FUSABLE batting is not preferred for longarm quilting. Please do not purchase "Unbonded" batting.  It is very fragile and cannot be put on the machine.  The best batting choices are: bonded and/or needle punched polyester, cotton with scrim binder, or bonded cotton-polyester blends.  Suggested manufacturers of battings suitable for machine quilting are:  Legacy, FiberCo,Hobbs; Warm & Natural; and Quilter's Dream for cottons and blends. Polyester batting make sure listed as needle punched. 
Some factors to consider: 
Smooth look - polyester. 
Old fashioned look – 100% cotton.
Is it for a child – Rayon fire retardant.
Will it be hung on a wall?  Use a batting that drapes well.
Washed a lot – poly blend and heavier quilting. 
Light quilt or very thin – Bamboo/Cotton Blend, ultra thin polyester.  
Heavy quilt with loft – Polyester or wool with 1/4” Loft. 
Need a warm quilt?  100 % Polyester or wool.

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1. I have my own backing and/or batting.

The backing and batting needs to be EIGHT inches wider and longer to accommodate loading it onto the machine.  If your quilt top is 60” by 80”, the backing and batting need to be 68” by 88”.

Custom Quilters does not charge you extra to use your own materials.  Custom Quilters can seam and square the backing for you if you want to send yardage, please see pricing.

1. Sheets for backing.

Sheets may affect the overall quality of your quilt.  Higher thread counts above 300 can prevent proper stitching and may result in holes.  If you prefer sheets, less than 400 thread count, wash and press before shipping.  Also, keep in mind that Custom Quilters requires the extra eight inches longer and wider to aid in mounting the backing fabric. 

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1. Advice on making a backing.

Measure the quilt and make the backing at least 4 inches larger all around.  This means add 8 inches to the measurements (length & width) of the quilt and that should be the minimum size of your backing piece. 
Make sure you cut the selvages off the seam allowances that are going to be inside the quilt because they can pull the backing unevenly and cause puckers during the quilting process.
Leave the selvage on the outer edges as it makes a very stable edge to pin to the leaders and they will be trimmed off later when you put your binding on. 
Please make sure your quilt is trimmed even and all the edges are straight.  Custom Quilters prefers the seams to run across /side to side.  This provides a more even pull to the seam than from top to bottom.   

Also, keep in mind that Custom Quilters requires the extra eight inches longer and wider to aid in mounting the backing fabric. 

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1. What type of binding will Custom Quilters do?

Custom Quilters will do a bias grain binding with mitered corners.  Finishing can be by hand or machine (see price list for charges) or Custom Quilters will just attach the binding and you can hand finish it.   Please see binding page for the amount of fabric to send.  Generally one yard except for large quilts.  Any unused portion will be returned with your finished quilt. Scalloped edge binding carries an additional charge.

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1. Tee-Shirt quilts.

If you are doing a T-Shirt quilt, please use a good non-woven iron-on stabilizer on the back of the shirts.  The cotton knit fabric is impossible to quilt without adequate stabilization.  Because these quilts are challenging to keep tucks from forming, Custom Quilters will only do meandering on them so that the quilting process can be closely watched to prevent problems.  These quilts usually are going to a college dorm and you will be very happy you have a good sturdy quilting stitch like meandering on it after it has been washed over and over. 

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1. Denim or double-knit

If you are using a cotton-poly blend fabric, that is fine; or if you are using woven polyester fabric that isn't stretchy like double-knit. Custom Quilters can not quilt denim or double-knit polyester. 

1. Shipping my quilt.

Please read preparing Your Quilt for Shipment before you ship.

1. Turnaround time?

Turnaround time is the time span from when the quilt arrives in the shop to the time it is mailed back.  Turnaround time varies with the number of quilts on hand.  For messages about turnaround time, please see the home page banner.

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