Do you have the long arm quilter trim your quilts after they finish quilting? When using polyester batting I like to stay stitch mine before trimming, as polyester batting sometimes (quite often) pops back after it has been cut. Then there is not enough batting to fill the binding. This does not happen when using cotton batting. Some long arm quilters automatically do it without asking......

mine does not. i'd tell yours not to trim, how does she know how wide your binding is going to be, 1/2", 3/4" or maybe 1". plus its extra work for her.

I guess I am one of those who do it automatically. That was how my mentor trained me and I think it gives a nice finish to the quilt top to that the owner just has to put the binding on. When I am quilting the tops I always put a row of stitches within 1/4 inch of the quilt top edge and that way the batting doesn't have a chance to move and stabilizes the top before quilting. They can still put whatever size binding on that they wish. It will be interesting to see how most people prefer to have it and I might need to start checking before I just automatically trim. Everyone that I have done quilts for seem very pleased with how I do them.

Thanks for the question,
Sherryl
Candlequilter

I had a longarm quilter do that on two quilts and it made me mad. The corners weren't square, the sides weren't straight and they kept my backing scraps!! On one of the quilts it looked like she let a kindergartner trim it with those kids scissors!!

As a rule, I don't trim for my customers. However, I have some that have a difficult time handling the trimming so I do those and the charity quilts I do are trimmed to be passed on to the person who will do the binding. Also I will trim if someone asks me to do so.

The lady that does my quilts does stay stitch about 1/4" in from the edge and trims and I really appreciate it. Makes it so much easier to put on the binding.

That would work if they can cut straight

I put a line of basting 1/4" from edge of the quilt top and I do not trim the quilts. My customers would rather trim it themselves. Ok with me, that way there is no chance of me accidentally slipping and possibly cutting their quilts.

Trim is one thing .. squaring is another. I 've had it trimmed, not trimmed, trimmed and squared.
It does bother me when it is trimmed / or not and they have not basted the edges.
The first time I got one back and the full backing and batting was all just as it came off the machine( nothing was trimmed) I was more than a bit surprised, especially after I paid really big $$$ over $350.00. I suppose they may not want to risk a misstep and have accident in the cutting.
One of the things I like most is not having to prepare an area to trim properly.
I would be really upset if my trimmed excess batting and backing was not returned. Sometimes this can be a significant amount.
I guess it would clearer if the LA person stated if it was "binding ready"... and what that means to them.
I can deal with it all but not having the edges basted down , really really bothers me... ALOT!

The one LA quilter I've used did not trim, and that was how I wanted it, for two reasons:
1. I want the backing scraps
2. Our quilt wasn't quite square, and it was easier to square after the quilting with the extra batting and backing still attached

I actually worried a little that she would try to be helpful and trim it up for us. I really prefer doing it myself.