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.

My LAQ always asks if I want it trimmed. I don't have her do it because I think it protects the edges in case it takes me a while to get the binding on.

This is really a helpful discussion for me, as I have not sent one out before, but am about ready to. Had not thought about this issue!

I trim, only when asked.
Squaring up quilts, When I set them up, I'm working on squaring your quilt up, setting it up with a level line.
Then on each edge, so that your quilt will be squared when it is returned. My thought is, you wouldn't want to cut into your border, you cut it at the correct width.
Not all tops are created equal, so the best thing for me to do is to make it as even as possible.
I do run a line around the quilt, especially with pieced borders, sewing inside the quarter inch, so that it doesn't show when the binding is put on.
Enjoy The Art!
Sue

The LAQ I've used actually won't trim. And after receiving the finished quilt back I'm glad she did not. This allowed me some flexibility in how exactly it was trimmed and I had a lot of extra fabric around the quilt. My LAQ said that she prefers not to trim that way there can't be any issues about whether she squared sufficiently etc. I think it is one area where there can be issues.

I ask my customers if they want it trimmed and then I write it on the work order before they sign it. I feel it's up to the customer. I also ask them if they want the trimmed edges stay stitched or serged.

I wouldn't expect a longarmer to do the trimming unless it was agreed in advance, because the quilter doesn't necessarily want the batting and backing trimmed even with the top. (I usually trim mine 1/4" larger than the top.) And I would expect an additional charge for trimming.

Very interesting! Did not know all these things.

I don't want mine to be trimmed. I like that extra batting to use for wall hangings, etc. I use the fusible tape to piece them together for another use. Works like a charm.

I don't trim, unless asked, and then all the scraps are returned with the quilt. I staystitch around the quilt edges.

Both quilters I have used did the trim and stiching. I gives it a
finished and ready to complete product. That is what you pay
for. I also got the leftovers back.

I serge the edges but only when they ask me to. Otherwise I send it back with all the edges on there still. But I always make sure to send any leftovers back with it as well.

I usually ask my LAQ to machine stitch the binding, then I do the hand stitching. So, yes.

No I want to trim my own.

I'm a LA and i stitch all edges down as a quilt. so when i remove the quilt from the rack its ready to trim and binde.. I DONOT trim the quilt i leave that for the owner to do. I have never had any complaints.

I usually do not trim for my customers unless I have to turn the quilt to stitch on sashing that I could not do while putting it through.

My Longarmer trims all my quilts and attaches the binding to the front so I just have to slip stitch to the back! I supply the binding 2.5" ready presssed in half and the backing! She has done approx 23/30 quilts for me over the past 10yrs, never had a problem! She always returns all the cut off fabric/batting.

My quilter always trims and I like that. She does a good job and it is less work for me.

My quilter does not trim before returning the quilt to me, regardless of what fiber content the batting is. I'll stitch a scant 1/4" from the edge all around and then trim when I use polyester batting, and then bind.

i do my own trimming because the person who does the quilting charges for it.the quilting alone costs enuf

NO! I had a very bad experience with a LA trimming the six quilts I brought her and she must have had a senior moment. Backing was too short on one...like it was still stretched on the frame...then she cut and the fabric returned and was way too short. ^&**^$ me off!
now I ask them to not trim. They have no problem NOT trimming when I ask. just let them know!

I usually square off and trim and return all scraps. I only have a small group at this time that I quit for, but going forward with new clients I will try to remember to ask them. Thanks for the thought provoking question.

after reading more of the comments, I will add I do not charge for the trimming (about the only extra I don't charge for. Most of my cutomers will have me attach the binding.

No, I like to square mine up as I am trimming the extra batting and backing off.

as a longarmer, I dont trim unless my customer wants me to. I do not charge for it. But before I had my longarm, my longarmer trimmed and it cause problems getting binding on a pieced border.

My LAQ does not trim my quilts. She bastes around the perimeter of the quilt after she finishes quilting it.
I always sew my binding on before trimming and I think this is the normal procedure and the reason she doesn't trim.
Plus this would be time consuming, I wouldn't want to pay someone to trim my quilts.

Mine serges mine and like that because it's ready to put the binding as soon as get the quilt back. Nice, neat edge

Thank you for this information. Now my question is do you put your binding on then trim or do you trim and then put your binding on? I bind then trim, and then hand sew binding down.

I trim, sew on binding, hand sew back down.

I attach the binding then trim.

the LQS that I work at never trim unless asked or if we do the binding but we send all extra fabric back with them

I was and am pleased that you do that. You do an excellent job, and I really appreciate it. The one time I had a LAQ'r not trim, I didn't like it.