backing preperation
 

Just asking, how many of you long armers iron or press the backings before they are quilted?

I do......especially the hard fold down the center.

I quilt on my DSM and I press my backing before pin basting.

Always. Every quilt.

Always. Otherwise you risk quilting wrinkles/ pleats into your quilt back.

I don't. I load it on the longarm and spray the visible portion very lightly with water. The tension of the machine takes out the wrinkles completely. I roll and repeat, roll and repeat, until all the wrinkles are gone.

I do...always!

I starch my backing to be stiff as paper. Not one gather, puck, or pleat ever.

Always iron them

I always iron mine after I wash it. I always try to remove the deep set fold lines. I really like Dunsters' way of doing it, It would save a lot of time. I am just afraid of wetting it too much.

I don't iron customers' backing unless it is very bad, I let them know it is their responsibility to bring the backing ready for quilting. I do have a friend that does not do a good job of pressing/ironing and I will redo some of hers..(she keeps me busy )

Can it be quilted on a DSM done this way, or is it hard to handle if it's stiff?

same here unless it's a wrinkle mess (like the end of bolt)

It helps a ***lot*** to starch the backing before quilting on a DSM. Starch stabilizes the fabric so it is much less likely to stretch or distort while you are quilting. Starch does not make the quilt sandwich hard to handle; it doesn't get that stiff.

I don't unless it's really bad. The frame will stretch out the wrinkles as you roll it. I have had a problem lately with backings being too small. I always measure them with the customer present and I might comment if the backing needs to be ironed better.

I always do because it prevents wrinkles and pleats when quilting.

[QUOTE=Jane Quilter;7581877]I do......especially the hard fold down the center.[/QUO Same here!

me three. Sometimes I use water and sometimes I use Best Press.