Linda V. Taylor assists Alex with some long arm quilting.  Photo by Gregory Case Photography

Sometimes life gets in the way and you simply don't have time to quilt every quilt you've made yourself. When sending out a quilt to be finished by a professional, here are a few general guidelines to keep in mind:

1. Clip all thread 'hairs' from the quilt top.This keeps the longarm needle from getting hooked in the strays.
2. Clip threads from the seams on the back of the quilt so that the "tails" don't shadow through to the top of the quilt. This is especially important when you've used both light and dark fabrics in the quilt.
3. While Fido and Mittens may eventually enjoy lounging on your quilt, it's a good idea to remove pet hair from your quilt top, batting, and backing...unless you are OK with pet hairs being stitched permanently into the quilt. (This is also a courtesy to the quilter, who may have allergies.)
   
4. Carefully square up the top and backing; press and gently fold them. If you present the quilter with a balled-up top and backing, you may end up paying extra for her time to iron them.
5. Prepare your batting by taking it out of the package and letting it breathe and/or follow the manufacturer's directions to wash and dry it as you would your quilt. (Washing and drying will make the batting shrink slightly.) 
6. Keep in mind that if your quilt isn't flat and "square" when you hand it off it to the quilter, she may be able to make it better, but there is no guarantee that she can eliminate the "waves" completely.  
7. Be sure to communicate your wishes clearly (e.g., dense quilting, preferred design, all-over stippling, thread color, etc.). If you say "do what you think is best," you may be disappointed with the end results.
   
8. Plan ahead by getting your name on the quilter's schedule. Popular quilt professionals often have waiting lists of two to three months. Just because you want the quilt finished for a specific event (e.g., birthday, holiday, graduation, etc.) doesn't mean that you'll automatically jump to the top of the list. 
9. Finally, make certain that you understand all the costs involved BEFORE you agree to having your quilt finished. Each quilt professional has her own pricing scale. Your cost may include or be based on a variety of elements, such as the size of the quilt, the type and/or amount of thread used, the number of bobbins used, pressing, and so on.