custom quilting
 

What are the proper steps to quilt a quilt when using a long-arm? I will be doing free-hand with some ruler work. This quilt is for me, not for a customer. Is this the correct order?
1) Stitch in the first border and corners. (The first border is the first border that was sewn on, is this correct? Since the borders are basically a square around the center, how do you quilt the sides of the square as you are going down the quilt? I really don't want to have to turn the quilt if I can help it. Also, when the borders are done, should they be quilted 1/4" away from the seam line?). 2) Outline the areas on the quilt where I will put the motifs. Does everything have to be outlined? 3) Continuing doing this all the way down to the bottom of the first border and the corners. 4) Now can I go back and start quilting in the motifs? 5) There are two borders on this quilt. Do I quilt the outside border now? I am so confused as to how to go about this. Most of the other quilts that I have done, I just started at the top and went to the bottom. I was told I was doing this all wrong. I guess I was lucky because I had no wavy borders or anything. Since I have about four large queen-size quilts to do after this, I want to make sure that I don't mess anything up. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Brenda

Don't know who told you that you were doing it wrong, that's the way I do it. If I'm doing a fancy or intricate border I just cannot get it nicely done unless I turn it, but other than that I go top to bottom. Oh, unless I'm using different color threads in different areas.
As long as your project comes out flat and to your liking, you are doing it correctly. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Amen to what PaperPrincess said...and to heck with the "Quilt Police"! That's the way I do it too and they seem to be all right!

who told you you were doing it all wrong? i would ask that person---so what is right?
i've done many many quilts top to bottom- if the design i'm doing in the borders allow me to flow from top to bottom i do- if i need to turn the quilt to get the design right i do- i do my borders last- i stablize the quilt- generally quilt the (body) then the borders- roll to next section- stablize- quilt- borders- continue---to the bottom- if i need to turn it to accomplish my border design the rest of the quilt is all quilted & i unload- turn - load do border- unload- turn load- do border---generally only necessary for the 2 sides- generally i choose something i can do without having to turn the quilt.
do what works for you- don't worry about some (self-appointed quilt police officer ) who has determined that's (not her method so must be wrong) if we all did everything exactly the same way what would be the point of doing it at all?

I like to turn my quilts for the side borders. I have a zipper system on my leaders and float all my tops. Only the backing gets attached to the leaders with a stapler that turns the ends out instrad of in like when you staple paper. Pull the zippers off the backing and staple onto the sides. Sometimes if I'm doing SID I go over more of the quilt then go back and fill in. But I'm like the others and mostly work top to bottom.

I agree with what has already been said: You are doing things right. The only thing I would add is to baste down the side edges within a quarter inch as you advance the quilt. To keep the sides straight, I use both my vertical channel lock and also a longarm centering tape overtop the quilt. I have also heard of longarmers putting a piece of tape on the belly bar to mark the edges of the quilt top, but I never understood how that works, since the backing is larger and also ontop of the belly bar on my machine. I guess whether or not that works depends on your frame and how each piece is loaded.

I sent a message yesterday thanking everyone for their suggestions. When I checked this morning, that message never went through. I have no idea where it went (lol). Thanks to all of you again for your words of encouragement. I am going to go ahead and do the quilting on my quilt today. I will let you know how it turns out.
Brenda