Definitely communicate with the client. Come to a mutual agreement and make sure she knows the risks of either way = pleats if you load it, ruined batting if you try to take it apart and it won't go. Good luck. Learn from the process, to get more information from the client before you agree to do a job, and to clearly state your requirements before the job, as to size of backing, not basting, top must be square and flat, etc, etc, etc.